Is a Sports Complex a High Priority Issue?

[combatpilot]

The Marble Falls City Manager believes that a Regional Sports Complex is highly desired by Marble Falls citizens and that we are willing to increase our property tax rates to pay for such. First, I do not believe Marble Falls citizens, taxpayers and voters believe a Sports Complex is a high priority issue. We have many other issues such as bad streets and over taxation. This idea that so called civic leaders believe we must have a laundry list of new projects is out of control.. The City of Marble Falls cannot even keep up the maintenance of existing parks, right-of-way and code enforcement. And they want to add new additional burdens.

I hope the new council sees through this ruse. Take care of what you have. Don't add new projects. Work to lower property tax rates. That's why we have three new council members, and the two defeated males (who wanted new projects) are out.

Put a Regional Sports Complex to a vote. Don't do an end around by slipping it to the EDC where citizens don't have a vote. (Unless you want to endanger the whole EDC Program which can be recinded by an election called by 10% of registered voters).

[Caretaker]

Its not just the manager that believes this. Its Most of the council as well as the EDC..Dont think that just because 2 got voted out that much has changed. Also take a look at the list of potential New EDC members.. 6 Ex or current council members,2 ex or current P&Z members,2 sitting edc members and a couple new faces have their names in the hat for a spot..And we all KNOW how they are picked..It will still be good ole boy politics.

Not only can the city NOT keep up with the things you mention. They cant or wont take care of things they are committed too by State law..Some things are Kept very quiet.Swept under the rug so to speak.

As to the recall or recined election stuff. I beleive that is 10% of those who actually voted.436 cast ballots this time.So you need 44 signatures.

[Reapp]

My property taxes are way too high as it is, I'd vote no as well.

[Sabrered]

Just a quick note to my fellow Disabled Veterans: Legislation passed January 2010 and signed into law by Governor Perry exempts all 100% Disabled Veterans as rated by the Department of Veterans Affairs an exemption from all property and school taxes.

[Nomos]

*** They cant or wont take care of things they are committed too by State law..Some things are Kept very quiet. Swept under the rug so to speak. ****
It would be helpful to the rest of us if you (and others) would speak openly about what is "kept quiet" or "swept under the rug."

[Caretaker]

It would be helpful to the rest of us if you (and others) would speak openly about what is "kept quiet" or "swept under the rug."

Are you familiar with the Lake Marble falls Subdivision?Thats the Involuntaryily Annexed land that was used solely to allow the Flatrock Development to come about.. Without that Subdivision being annexed FR would never have happened and would NOT be in the city limits today.LMFs subdivision was annexed in 2008..The people were told they would get Services with in 2 1/2 years. Oct 2010 was the 2 1/2 year mark.There are NO water lines in place. Taxes have been collected by MFs from All these property owners yet they dont recieve the Same Level of services..They do not reep the same Benefits as other areas do.Also Taxes nearly doubled for many of the tracts in that subdivision in 2008 just because they were annexed..You hear about FR and the Hospital but the LMFs Subdivision not nearly a peep about it.
So I think "swept under the Rug" or "Kept quiet" is very appropriate wording.I have other words I could use but since I,m a nice guy I will refrain.And Gramma always said. If you cant say something nice then dont say nothing at all.

[swpilot]

NOT WITH TAX DOLLARS....Does anyone here on this forum pay TOO LITTLE taxes???...growing up in West Texas we would just go to the fields at school and play....

[swpilot]

Furthermore if you do not pay taxes you should not be commenting on this particular thread.....people that do not pay taxes should have the right not vote....well maybe they should but their vote counts as a quarter vote.....make sense to me

[butchkemper]

This forum is notorious for ignoring facts and the newspapers don't always get it right either. If you really want to know what is happening, go to the meetings, listen, and participate.

I attended the City Budget Workshop and participated in the discussions. I know that using property tax revenue to pay for the sports complex was never considered or discussed. In fact, property tax revenue was specifically eliminated as funding source. The funding discussion was for the EDC to issue bonds and to repay the bonds from sales tax revenue.

A trip this past spring by some City Council members and City staff to visit sports complexes in the area found that the additional economic activity and increased sales tax revenue caused by the sports complex repaid the facility construction costs in very short time. The operational costs were covered by direct revenues from the facility.

While the sports complex does provides additional space for local sports activities, the primary community benefit is increased economic activity from tournament play. Large groups of people come to town to play in tournaments; they stay in local hotels, eat in local restaurants, shop in local stores.

One important thing to keep in focus: the sports complex is an idea that is being discussed and not a decision that has been made. There are many issues to be settled before a decision occurs.

Butch

[grumpy]

If we need any new project at all, it would be a by pass highway to relieve the traffic congestion on 281. The big trucks and manufactured buildings are not going to stop anyway because they can't park. Many times people just don't go or delay going to a business because they want to avoid 281 all they can.

[butchkemper]

A highway by pass is a TXDOT size project, well beyond the capability of Marble Falls, and TXDOT is broke. So, do not hold your breath.

Also, a highway by pass is not desired by many of the business community.

Butch

[depot]

SWpilot-it seems it could be that simple to just go to the school fields and play if you want , unfortunately the city as well as the school has allowed the MFYBSA monopolize on the fields, yes, even the ones owned by the school district (Behind Colt and the Middle School). During the Leagues season, which is close to year round, no one can use those fields. The only place allowed is the field at Johnson Park which is an adult field.
Many children are driving to Austin to be able to play at a more advanced level than is offered by the League.
Many adults have to go to other places, including Galloway Hammond, thus giving them the revenue, to be able to play and host tournaments.
I agree, there are many other more important things for the City to spend our tax dollars on but the Sportsplex is a good idea, it will help generate a bunch of money for our City and local businesses. We do have many fields in town-Childers, VFW, Rotary, Middle School and Johnson Park, the better thing to do in the immediate future would be to have more access for everyone to these fields rather than have them for the use of one group.
I have gone to many of these meetings and have supported the sportsplex for the future and have offered my opinion on items surrounding it. I urge all to go to some meetings and see what is going on with your City and its' future. I have even taken my daughter so that she can begin to learn the process of Government.

[combatpilot]

Butch:

I have serious doubts that Regional Sports Complexes can pay off. The types of little league baseball, football and soccer tournaments that might come to Marble Falls to play in a regional event, will bring in only the players parents and families. Most will come in from within 100 miles of Marble Falls. Most will bring their food with them and drive back home that evening after the event. Most will spend very little in the community. If their team continues to the second day, they will drive back the next morning.

There are Regional Sports Complexes in Cedar Park, Leander, Round Rock and Georgetown. There may be ones in Brady, Llano or Fredericksburg. We will have to compete for tournament hosting with these cities. This means adding manpower at the city or chamber to go do the recruiting which will add to the city or chamber's general operating expenses. The City of Marble Falls is beginning to sound like the Democrat Party, tax and spend...tax and spend. What has happened to fiscal responsibility?

I'll give you this thought. Let's put the regional sports complex to a vote. Let's vote to reposition the 1/2 cent sales tax for economic development. The 1/2 cent tax currently brings in $1.6 milion annually. Let's vote to spend 1/4 cent for economic development and 1/4 cent to bond approximately $8 million to construct a Sports Complex. Let's see how the vote goes. Otherwise, our citizens may call for a dismanteling of the MFEDC, or vote the 1/2 cent sales tax dedicated to street repair and improvements. I'll vote for that!

[countryboy]

A highway by pass is a TXDOT size project, well beyond the capability of Marble Falls, and TXDOT is broke. So, do not hold your breath.

Also, a highway by pass is not desired by many of the business community.

Butch

Maybe the minority of the Biz community would be happier with a simple Fly over MFs. Put in an elevated freeway like the one in austin. That way all those who do not want to see these places or buy from them can zip right on past..

[countryboy]

Furthermore if you do not pay taxes you should not be commenting on this particular thread.....people that do not pay taxes should have the right not vote....well maybe they should but their vote counts as a quarter vote.....make sense to me


Uh Hum. Everyone pays taxes in one form or another last I recall.Or are you refering to property taxes?

[butchkemper]

I am fairly certain that part of the process to develop the Sports Complex will include a feasibility study which will answer the questions concerning the economic impact and projected usage. The process is moving along slowly and there will be lots of time for community input.

The current method for allocating the EDC funds is working well and I do not want to reduce our flexibility of responding to economic opportunities because funding is totally allocated.

The EDC goal is to create jobs and increase economic activity which will grow the community economy, put money in people's pockets, and increase the funding available to support the city budget.

Butch

[KINGCHIP]

I like the idea of a Sports Complex, but don't think the time is right. We just can not afford it. These complex do draw many families to town, but the few jobs would be a maintenance person or two, and a few weekend minimum wage jobs. Not worth the expense. Why do we not attempt to draw some decent industry? We have rail head, we have water, we have labor. For that matter, we have Gypsum. why not bring in a sheetrock plant? How about grabbing one of the gun manufacturers that are having trouble in the NE? Spending money to draw a few more tourists is not worth the price.

[Caretaker]

I like the idea of a Sports Complex, but don't think the time is right. We just can not afford it. These complex do draw many families to town, but the few jobs would be a maintenance person or two, and a few weekend minimum wage jobs. Not worth the expense. Why do we not attempt to draw some decent industry? We have rail head, we have water, we have labor. For that matter, we have Gypsum. why not bring in a sheetrock plant? How about grabbing one of the gun manufacturers that are having trouble in the NE? Spending money to draw a few more tourists is not worth the price.

Excellent suggestions..A place that manufactures sheetrock would be very smart move since the gypsum is local.Plus it could have the Made in Texas Label... A Gun plant with the Made In Texas label would be even better..They both would go well with the Tourism industry too..

[KINGCHIP]

No biggie, Caretaker, just using my head and a little common sense, instead of taxpayers money.

[Caretaker]

No biggie, Caretaker, just using my head and a little common sense, instead of taxpayers money.


If those who got handpicked or voted into power thought like that and used common sense the property owners/taxpayers would not have to worry..But.

[ohcuriousone]

Hey Chip,

Where's the gypsum? If you are talking about the Huber plant that's calcium carbonate, or limestone and it doesn't go into sheetrock.

Ask some of the families that drive to select softball tournaments 45 week-ends a year if they would rather have a sports complex here. They know what they spend and it's amazing. There are no less than 10 families driving in different directions every week-end for their kids.

[KINGCHIP]

Hey Chip,

Where's the gypsum? If you are talking about the Huber plant that's calcium carbonate, or limestone and it doesn't go into sheetrock.

Ask some of the families that drive to select softball tournaments 45 week-ends a year if they would rather have a sports complex here. They know what they spend and it's amazing. There are no less than 10 families driving in different directions every week-end for their kids.

OK, maybe not a sheetrock ingredient, but the stuff is used for something that we could probably package, refine, whatever, here.

I guess you don't know me or the kids. I put many miles on chasing baseball and especially softball tournaments across the country, mostly in state, but also to Colorado springs to the Firecracker, and to Nationals in OK City. Yes, I know about travel ball.

So you add a few minimum wage jobs to town with a sports complex. This is during the tourist season also.

[Feline]

It would be nice to get some more industry here that could use that limestone, My cousin works for a company called Custom Building, they make Wall joint compounds and home building supplies. He told me that everyone one of there products is made with the rock right from Marble Falls. They should put a plant here.

[mrdonkhan]

"If you build it, he will come".

[Immune]

I already pay for a mega football stadium I didnt want to pay for, I sure wouldnt want to pay for something else. If someone really wants something like this, they should get some private interests involved. There are also non-profit organizations that like to get involved in these sort of projects as well.

[Caretaker]

I already pay for a mega football stadium I didnt want to pay for, I sure wouldnt want to pay for something else. If someone really wants something like this, they should get some private interests involved. There are also non-profit organizations that like to get involved in these sort of projects as well.

I agree with ya on that.. I want to point out that about a year or so ago when talk of a complex was just starting to hit the news. A promonent land owner on the southside did an Opinion piece in the papers here. He talked all about how MFs needs one and that Someone should step up to the plate and Donate some land to make this happen. Gee one would think with FRESH water lines running all across the familys land that he would Donate some of that land since He has enough of it.But Nope he wants others to do it.

What the city should do is lower the tax rate back to say 0 and send out a list of all the wish list projects like this to the property owners. Let them know what the projects re and ask if they would like to donate to the cause.If enough folks want it then these things would happen. If not then they dont. That way its not stuff down the throats of those who are opposed.

[Beagle]

or better yet.. put it on a ballot.

[Caretaker]

or better yet.. put it on a ballot.

A ballot would be a good thing to do as long as the Voters have ALL the figures known ahead of time. Remember what happened with the Bond elections for the ISD. No one was told about Manzano mile before hand and look who footed the bill.

[Immune]

A ballot would be a good thing to do as long as the Voters have ALL the figures known ahead of time. Remember what happened with the Bond elections for the ISD. No one was told about Manzano mile before hand and look who footed the bill.

No, it was the same old "It's for your kids future" line. Most of the people I talked to didnt even know what that last bond was, they were just told its for the kids and they had to vote yes or the kids would suffer or some such garbage but I am not trying to reopen that can of worms, I am just stating that I am tired of paying for these projects and if you dont pay for them, they take your house....lol
God bless America.