I've had a few questions about the proposed recreational (taxing) district for Madison County and the recreation center that would be built in Rexburg with the tax money. Here's my take on this proposal.
The short version: I'm against it.
A bit longer version is below.
Recreational Tax District & Recreation Center
Madison County doesn't need a new taxing district for this.
I'm a proponent of city and county open spaces and parks. Often government entities are in a good position to acquire, manage, and maintain parks that all the public can enjoy.
However, I don't think government entities should use tax payer money for things such as recreation centers. Recreational facilities don't seem to rise to the level of community necessity that would require forced taxpayer subsidies, unlike, say, a library or cemetery taxing district, which I generally support.
We have private owners who operate event centers, gyms, rock wall climbing facilities, and other health and fitness oriented businesses for those interested. And for the college students and college faculty and staff in Rexburg, the university offers high quality facilities already.
We would all pay a new tax for the facility to just exist each month, and then we would have to pay an additional fee to actually use it. This seems too much to ask--that residents of Madison County pay each month for a facility that many of them wouldn't be able to afford to pay again each month to actually use.
In the example Rexburg posted on their FAQ page, a family would be paying $83.53 each month to use the facility. (Or $44.53 each month even if they never used the facility.) I can think of a lot of other things people might need that money for--like a dozen eggs.
Finally, the facility would be located in Rexburg. Not particularly convenient for those in the county outside of Rexburg.