TO THE EDITOR:
Dear Dan Detkowski, Gary Kopp, and Cindy Olsen— Washington Township Trustees— in your letter published in the Nov. 10-16, 2021 edition of The Record, you state: “Romeo-Washington-Bruce Parks and Recreation pays the school district $25,000 annually for use of school facilities. Taxpayers already pay a school tax. Therefore, paying again via parks and recreation appears to be a double tax.”
Let me help you understand why your statement is incorrect. You are blending two separate topics.
The monies paid by the Romeo-Washington-Bruce Parks and Recreation entity to the Romeo Community School District is to cover the rental of space, utilities and use of school personnel as well as maintenance of space, maintenance and chemicals for swimming pool use — etc.
Those monies are directly related to operational costs incurred by parks and recreation. These costs and policies apply to all entities such as churches and dance studios that use our school district facilities. Common sense dictates that when you “use or borrow” someone’s facility you must pay the costs that may be incurred.
The tax dollars paid to school districts is operational and educational in nature. School tax dollars and parks and recreation rental funds are completely different and serve entirely different purposes. Any and all monies coming from parks and recreation does not operate a school, staff a school or pay to educates its students. Those responsibilities are funded through school tax dollars.
It is misleading and irresponsible that three elected township officials would not understand this process. Stating that our residents are paying a double tax, and/or that school district education funds should be used to supplement parks and recreation is false.
Susan Hier
Washington Township
TO THE EDITOR:
In the Wednesday, Nov. 10 edition of The Record, there is a letter to the editor from Washington Township Trustees Cindy Olsen, Dan Detkowski and Gary Kopp mentioning “Many residents have told representatives from Washington Township that we should be running our own department” referring to parks and recreation.
As a representative and 24-year resident of Washington Township, I wanted to let you know that I am not part of the representatives mentioned in that letter. They cowardly mention “representatives” instead of themselves.
Weekly, since August, I have been to every football game (home and away) talking to residents both on the field and in the stands, as well as numerous soccer and volleyball games. I have also spoken to others at attending parks and recreations concerts in the park, Peach Festival activities and veteran events as well as senior center events.
Being out in the community, I have never heard once that Washington Township should be on their own for parks and recreation. In fact, it has been just the opposite, and which I agree. Keep Romeo, Washington and Bruce as part of the Tri-Community working as one, not independently of each other.
Given their underlying message and tone, I am concerned that after all the workshops at taxpayers’ expense to help update the parks and recreation articles of incorporation, which are needed to avoid issues down the road, that Trustees Olsen, Detkowksi and Kopp have a preconceived mindset. My fear is that when we finalize the workshop with a nonbinding agreement, a no vote will be cast based upon the fact that they will say this is not what I consented to even though every opportunity was given to everyone.
What was failed to be mentioned in their letter is the township also receives funds and grants outside tax revenue so that the full millage is not necessary. In addition, as our tax base continues to rise, so will revenue to the township. These funds, COVID funds/grants, state revenue sharing, ARPA and others, help subsidize the current tax rate, which is the sixth lowest in the county. Parks and recreation as well as STAR Transportation receive no subsidization and must rely on the full millage. The parks and recreation tax collected is not part of any operation of Washington Township, belongs to parks and recreation with their ability to decide how to use the funds, not those who sit in the “golden chair” making decisions from afar.
Reach out to these trustees and tell them to keep parks and recreation together with Romeo, Bruce and Washington Township. Their email addresses are Cindy Olsen olsenc@washingtontwpmi.org, Dan Detkowski detkowskid@washingtontwpmi.org and Gary Kopp koppg@washingtontwpmi.org.
Mike Nicley
Washington Township Treasurer
EDITOR’S NOTE: Mike Nicley had provided photographs of sporting and community events to both The Record and our predecessor, The Romeo Observer, for years before his appointment and election as treasurer. This letter reflects his opinions on this matter.
