News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
The Sisters Organization for Activities and Recreation is asking voters for a recreation district tax base of approximately $100,000.
The recreation district tax on the November 3 ballot would be 22 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation, or $22 per year for a $100,000 house. The district would basically cover the Sisters School District, excluding Black Butte Ranch, which has its own recreation facilities and programs.
According to SOAR Director Tom Coffield, the recreation provider needs the stable funding base to keep operating when the grants that launched the program dry up. One start-up grant of $16,000 has already expired, and the City of Sisters has not renewed its $5,000 pledge to the program. Another grant of $13,000 is in its last year.
SOAR's budget as of July was $127,000. Much of it is made up of donations from individuals, service clubs and charities, along with funds from user fees. The lost grants total $34,000.
"What that means," Coffield said, "is our answer to staying alive is either we fund-raise more or we get a tax base."
Large scale fund-raising is not a good option, Coffield argues.
"Sisters gets hit extremely hard for fund-raising," Cofield said. "We're just another one of those people knocking on the door."
And, Coffield added, door-knocking is not an efficient way to raise money, since a substantial portion of each donation must be plowed back into further fund-raising efforts.
The tax base would cover only 50 percent of SOAR's budget.
"If this recreation district tax passes, we'll still be going after non-tax dollars," Coffield acknowledged.
Having a tax base will allow SOAR to pursue grants that demand stable matching funds. That means less fund-raising from the local community, Coffield indicated.
Becoming a Boys and Girls Club would not change the fund-raising situation and would limit the kinds of programs SOAR could offer, according to Coffield.
SOAR served 1,093 people in its last quarter (July 1-September 30), for a total of 7,305 "user days," according to Coffield's figures. While most of SOAR's programs are directed toward youth, the organization also offers programs rafting trips, athletic activities and open gym times for adults.
Some of SOAR's programs pay for themselves through user fees; others lose money.
SOAR endeavors to keep user fees as low as possible ensure that everyone who wants to can participate in programs. Those who could afford higher user fees are asked for donations.
Coffield said SOAR once tried to raise user fees for activities, with the understanding that those who couldn't afford higher fees couldask for reduced rates or free entry.
Last year, they raised the basketball camp fee from $15 to $25, Coffield said. Many past participants didn't show up. When Coffield sought them out to find out why, he said they eventually admitted that they couldn't afford the higher rate. And, Coffield said, the kids or their families wouldn't ask for a price break.
Given that experience, Coffield said, SOAR's directors decided to keep user fees down, even if they are artificially low, so that people wouldn't be forced to choose between swallowing their pride or not participating.
That means some programs lose money and have to be carried.
SOAR's "latch-key" program, which provides activities for kids whose parents are at work, is a substantial money-loser, according to Coffield. Coffield estimates that the program loses more than $1,500 per month during the summer when it operates long hours and $600 per month when it operates after school.
The program charges $1 per hour prepaid, $1.25 per hour for walk-ins.
Coffield acknowledged that the program is heavily subsidized, but he argued that it keeps school-aged kids occupied positively during the after-school hours when they are most prone to potential trouble.
"There are not many options for child care in this community for this age of child," Coffield said.
He cited national statistics that indicate that the prime time for juvenile crime is from 3 to 6 p.m. - after school lets out and before parents get home from work.
The SOAR election campaign has heavily emphasized the program's supposed crime-prevention value.
Coffield acknowledged that "no program can guarantee to prevent crime." He acknowledged that juvenile crime has flared up occasionally in Sisters despite the presence of SOAR. But he insists that the availability of positive activities can keep kids on the right track - and divert some who are headed in the wrong direction.
"They can't be out commiting a crime while (they're) here in an activity," Coffield said. "If we can get their attitude turned around in a positive way... it definitely turns the odds more in our favor."
SOAR often emphasizes it's efforts with "at-risk" children, but Coffield acknowledged that most of the program's participants are not "at-risk" - they just want to have fun.
Coffield said he has no problem asking the community to make that possible through their property taxes.
"I think it's great that the kids have a place to go and have a good time," he said. "I think it's a great thing to spend community dollars for youth in our community to have fun."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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