No YMCA is big loss for Catoosa County
Dec 24, 2009 | 2033 views | 5 
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The North Georgia YMCA has announced that it will close its doors permanently in March. This will be an unfortunate loss for the northwest Georgia community. No longer will be available the programs for young people that have helped build strong bodies and character. Especially missed will be the programs for older adults that have helped them preserve their health and maintain an active life.
Sadly, except for the actions of a few shortsighted county officials, the YMCA would by now be located in a new, modern, fully equipped facility on Battlefield Parkway. About two years ago the blueprints had been drawn, the building site secured and the money available. In fact, the groundbreaking ceremony had taken place. Then the Catoosa County commissioners shot the plans down by threatening that if the facility was built they would not honor the long-established tax-exempt status of the YMCA and would assess them many thousand dollars in taxes. Of course there is no way the YMCA could accept this. The YMCA has since tried to work with the county officials to find a way to remain in the area but these efforts have been unsuccessful. It has been made abundantly clear that the YMCA is not welcome in Catoosa County.
It is hard to understand how leaders of a county that claims to be progressive and concerned about the well-being of its citizens could have such an attitude. The YMCA is not in competition with privately owned spas and gyms. In fact, it coexists peacefully with them in other cities such as Chattanooga. If there is any question as to the purpose and goals of YMCA I would suggest a look at their website.
Jim Nation
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They were trying to force the community to give me, give me, give me, what they wanted for themselves, not the taxpayers.
My own local gym, The Wave, doesn't get tax breaks and you can join now for only $19 a month. Heck, the Y was waaaay more than that. And calls themselves a non-profit org. Right! Head on down to the Wave and tell em Here2Opine sent you!
I have little specific respect for most of the things the current and past Commissioners have done or are doing, but they are right in not spending Catoosa taxpayer money on what should be a self sustaining YMCA. Letters keep blaming the Commissioners when they have no input on that tax exempt status. It seems all the Y supporters want to blame someone else when the problem really is that by the YMCA admission they were not self supporting.
You say the YMCA coexists peacefully with Chattanooga. Did the Chattanooga taxpayers give property to the YMCA? Did the Chattanooga taxpayer pay for all the site work, paving the parking lots and future maintenance at the Chattanooga YMCA's? Did the Chattanooga taxpayers give the YMCA $500,000 in cash to help build a building that wasn't going to pay taxes in the future? Why does the YMCA expect all that and more from the Catoosa County taxpayer?
The issue isn't tax exemption, the Catoosa Tax Board probably has no problem with that when the proper organization files for it.
The issue isn't the quality of the YMCA organization, everyone knows of the good programs the YMCA and their members provide. But WHY does the Catoosa County taxpayer have to subsidize those programs? Where are the members in Catoosa like those that fully support the Y in other locations?
If the YMCA is truly a non-profit organization supported by charitable members, then do it.
Leave the Catoosa County taxpayer alone.
I proudly voted for and supported the SPLOST referendum for youth sports and recreation. I never imagined that the YMCA would attempt to hijack this money to support their own sports leagues. But that is what they are demanding in this package. I am outraged at this.
I'm a taxpayer. I applaud the principled stand that some courageous commissioners have taken to resist the money grab that has been attempted by these people from Chattanooga.And the other commissioners need to ask if the YMCA was given land and subsidy for their facilities in Hamilton County. The answer is no.
Finally , by their own admission, the Catoosa County Y has never been self sustaining. That means that if your commission hands them land and money,it will just be a down payment on a never ending need for more money.
Nobody wants the YMCA to feel unwelcome, but everyone wants them to be a good neighbor that pays its own way instead of asking for millions in handouts.