TCW Editorial: Mostly ‘For,’ a little ‘Against’

On March 13, Fort Smith voters will consider the extended use of a 1% sales tax that will refinance bonds, pay for the issuance of new bonds and support operations of the Fort Smith Fire Department and Fort Smith Parks & Recreation Department.

Specifically, the Fort Smith Board of Directors want permission from city voters to do the following.

— 0.75% of 1% sales tax to fund bonds for these projects
• Refinancing of existing sales tax bonds equaling $55.38 million (This must be approved by voters before bonds may be issued on the other projects.)

• Wet weather sanitary sewer system work — $71.07 million

• Water transmission system work — $28.12 million

• Fire service improvements (Station at Chaffee Crossing; new fire equipment; renovation of older fire stations) — $9.11 million

• Construction of aquatics park at Ben Geren Park — $4.26 million

— 0.25% of the of 1% sales tax will support Fire and Parks Department operations, to include:
• Operating cost of Fire Station 11 (Chaffee Crossing);
• Construction of a fire training center;
• Firefighter equipment and training;
• A sinking fund to help pay for future fire equipment purchases;
• Construction of two ballfields at Ben Geren Park to replace those removed when the National Cemetery was expanded;
• Aquatics facility operations;
• Improvements in facilities and maintenance at Creekmore Park, Fort Smith Park, Tilles Park and Wilson Park;
• Construction of a softball tournament-quality sports complex at Chaffee Crossing; and,
• Construction of soccer fields and park facilities along Riverfront Drive.

The water and sewer infrastructure projects are necessities voters should support. Also, a new fire station at Chaffee Crossing is critically important to the fire safety rating of all Fort Smithians, and is vital to the continued growth of the Chaffee Crossing area. The City Wire encourages Fort Smith voters to vote “For” the bond refinancing, the water and sewer work, and the fire station construction.

The City Wire does not encourage voters to support the aquatics park.

Why not the aquatics park?

First, The City Wire believes an aquatics park would be a tremendous asset to the region. But if you delivered what passes for the proposed aquatics park business model to a banker, the banker would rightfully ask you to come back with a better handle on pricing and operations.

The best example of our concern with the plan is the estimated annual loss that Sebastian County and city of Fort Smith officials are, apparently, willing to assume. It seems an unnecessary loss to take — especially if we are to believe the aquatics park feasibility study conducted by Ballard King & Associates.

In the study, the aquatics park would lose an estimated $113,472 in year one, with the loss down to $82,318 by year five.

Also, the daily fee is recommended to be $5 for ages 5 and up, and $2 for ages under 5. The study also estimates 117,000 annual visitors.

And this is the problem. If officials raised ticket prices by $1, the estimated loss would be a gain. Also, it’s doubtful the $1 increase would price the park out of business. Compare that to a movie ticket, or a few hours at Chucky Cheese. Hell, the Alma Water Park daily fee is $7 for ages 3 and up, and that small area is packed.

Another concern with the aquatics park is the lack of any apparent comprehensive planning. It is, as the first President Bush might say, all about the vision thing. How is such a facility part of a broad recreation plan for the city and region? When did we as a community gather to decide an aquatics facility was the best way to improve cultural amenities? We’re not saying it is not needed; but simply curious where it might fit in the list of a more thoroughly considered list of amenities.

Again, we encourage Fort Smithians to vote “For” the water, sewer and fire department improvements. However, we can’t ask voters to support a project that does not appear to have a well-considered pricing and operations plan.