University Place: People demand recreation programs

Metro park district supporters editorially chided “no” voters in the University Place Press (current edition) for defeating the ill-defined tax proposal in April. Publicly maligning those who voted against the proposal and denigrating the city’s financial future does not help the community find affordable, realistic solutions for recreational services.

Those favoring city-administered recreation programs attended a recent City Council meeting to plead for program continuation. Citizens requested better, more transparent communications from the council, revised budget priorities and reinstatement of recreation services for 2017 and beyond. The Council was asked to release 2017-18 biennial budget numbers immediately for public review and discussion.

There is an ongoing need for UP’s $400,000 recreational programs. To pay for them, citizens suggested reducing city executive positions and management costs, beautification, community events and regional growth center planning expenses.

Responsibility for what comes next clearly rests with the City Council. It should implement the will and priorities of University Place voters. The city needs a full-service balanced budget within current revenues, including recreation programs.

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 10:15 AM with the headline "University Place: People demand recreation programs."