SOAR forms political action committee

The Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation has formed a political action committee to campaign for a publicly funded recreation district in Sisters.

Voters will decide in the November 3 election whether to fund a tax base for the Sisters recreation district. Proponents are asking for a property tax rate of 22 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. The tax base is expected to provide about $100,000, which would fund a major portion of SOAR's budget.

SOAR PAC is chaired by schools superintendent Steve Swisher. The treasurer is Kathy Spezza.

"It is time that this tremendous program gets the secure funding it has earned," said Colin Adams, Board President of SOAR. "The benefits that SOAR has given this community, in terms of supplying healthy activities and a place to be after school gets out, cannot be underestimated."

The Commission on Children and Families and the Sisters City Council have both been staunch supporters of SOAR. With a youth population now exceeding that of the baby boom generation and an increase in juvenile crime, communities across the nation are seeking ways to help juveniles find appropriate ways to spend their time.

"SOAR is this kind of solution," said Wally Rietz, a member of the Commission on Children and Families. "With the After School Latchkey program and the number of summer activities, Sisters youth have little time to be bored. "

"The reality is that most parents work, and are not at home when their children arrive home from school," said SOAR supporter Carole C.B. Davis. "This gives the children too much time to create their own diversions, often undesirable types of activity, vandalism, petty theft, 'hanging out' where other kinds of trouble lurk. We have found a solution to this situation in SOAR. We have to save this program."

For more information on the SOAR PAC, call 549-9679.