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The property tax would have raised $1 million a year for 10 years.
The proposed income tax would generate $2.57 million a year to pay for the initial list of projects proposed by Operation Recreation along with a second sheet of ice near Hobart Arena. The ice sheet was added to the proposal as options were reviewed following the property tax withdrawal.
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There is no organized opposition to the tax proposal.
The proposed project list in the Operation Recreation proposal includes:
Duke Park: A nine-field baseball/softball complex; three youth soccer fields; improvements of infrastructure to consolidate park maintenance operations; expanded parking; added park entrances; and other park enhancements. The fields would include those for Troy Junior Baseball, which has been talking about a new home because of flooding at its complex next to the Great Miami River north of Troy.
Miami Shores Golf Course: Complete renovation of clubhouse; installation of outdoor practice driving range.
Senior Citizens Center: Repair/renovations to roof, siding, foundation, doors, windows and concrete; restoration of shuffleboard courts; parking lot resurfacing.
The project also would include a privately funded Miracle League baseball field for those with physical disabilities. The field would be built with the additional fields at Duke Park.
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A $1 million commitment over 10 years announced recently by The Troy Foundation would be used to pay for the Miracle League Field at an estimated $500,000 with the balance going to other ancillary needs of the projects, said Bobby Phillips, Operation Recreation committee president. The $100,000 a year is contingent on the income tax approval May 2.
»Troy Foundation matching money to help non
Mayor Mike Beamish said the proposal goes hand in hand with his goals for protecting the city’s recreational amenities and enhancing them as well as the city can.
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“This (proposal) is one-quarter percent but will generate so many activities for so many organizations. We need activities for all ages and this takes care of all ages,” Beamish said. Updated and added recreational facilities can only add to the city’s attractiveness to families and others employers would like to attract to fill local jobs, he added.
“It affects every strata of our city, whether you use it or not,” Phillips said of the facilities.
From an economic development standpoint, the facilities would allow for added events such as tournaments and ice skating activities, bringing money for hotels, restaurants and other businesses visitors would frequent, he said.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
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