To the Editor:

Last March our elected officials strongly encouraged taxpayers to vote Yes for a Community Center plan providing for two pools - a zero-entry pool, a multipurpose 50-meter pool - and flexible meeting space of between 13,000 and 18,000 square feet. We were promised that the project would be financial viable and the $5 million dollars GE gave to operate the center would last many, many years. Some officials objected to not having a solid construction bid and operating expenses prior to asking the taxpayers for $5 million dollars in addition to the GE grant.

Fast forward and those officials were right. The consultant hired by the town reported that the money approved would not even cover half the cost of the project approved by the taxpayers. In addition, they reported that it would likely lose half-a-million dollars a year, and residents would have usage fees in excess of $1.2 million a year. It should also be noted that operating costs are not being transparently reported as much of the costs are to be buried in other town budgets, so the taxpayer will never actually know the extent of the yearly losses.

Now we are faced with a plan that sounds eerily like the original failed suggestion of a 25-meter pool and some meetings rooms, except now for an extra $5 million plus $1.6 million in interest in taxes.

I understand the eagerness of our elected officials to get this project going, but this request for funds was poorly planned, the project was inaccurately described, and promises were made to encourage a Yes vote which are now being reneged on. It's time to do this correctly and transparently. Create a vision and a plan for the building, get detailed and committed construction costs, develop a realistic budget with fully loaded expenses, and hold a new referendum to secure community approval. If that happens we will truly have a community center.

Bruce Walczak

12 Glover Avenue, Newtown         October 12, 2016