Center will only raise property taxes, rent

Get out and vote Feb. 7. Vote no on the Sandpoint Recreation Center/Lake Pend Oreille Recreation Tax District unless:

? You want your property taxes to increase $60 per $100,000 assessed valuation

? You want to fund someone else's special interest recreation, skating, swimming, water park

? You want to fund a special interest facility in Kootenai that the majority of us will never use

Renters, while you don't directly pay property taxes if passed this will probably affect you, too. I spoke with both renters and landlords and was told that if this passes the landlords will simply pass along the increased property taxes in rent increases

Further it is my understanding that:

? Even with the tax adults will be charged $5 per visit

? The land was donated by a relative of the main proponent, Robert Pierce. Smells like a special interest tax deduction for this person yet Dr. Pierce would increase taxes for the rest of us

? The place will not even be open all year

? Similar projects have failed elsewhere, Spokane with a much greater population than Sandpoint

So if you disagree with this "boondoggle" be sure to vote Feb. 7 and vote no. If you don't make this effort there is no one to blame but yourself when you see your property tax or rent increase. Vote, and vote "no."

PHIL POUTRE

Cocolalla