Community Investment Pays Dividends

Dear Editor,

Hospitals, schools and municipal works are highly visible and important community assets that help to attract and retain fami­lies as they are a reflection of community values. Locally elected people oversee the expenses and operations of these local gov­ernments. Retaining students by providing services requires funding to perform routine operations and maintenance and then that once-in-a-while infusion of large dollars for major renovations or upgrades. It has been 30 years since the last renovation. The state recognizes the need to provide funding for major renovations and is willing to invest more than $4 million into a proposed renova­tion at Dayton School District. The Dayton School District board of directors, most of whom are small business owners and all are property owners concluded unanimously that the Dayton School District facilities are in dire need of significant renovations.

Dayton has beautiful assets that synergize with our hospital and potentially modernized school - Main Street, the court house, Blue Mountain Station, Best Western Hotel, and Ski Bluewood. Speaking specifically about mainstreet, somebody or some bodies saw the obvious disrepair back in the 1980's and potential benefit of a renovated Main Street and courthouse and worked tirelessly to raise funds to renovate these community assets. Our students are currently receiving their education in an equivalent of what Dayton mainstreet looked like in the 1980's.

Are we willing to make that investment in this critical community asset and retain current plus recruit future families? Are we willing to act now and capitalize on the state's commit of $4 million? Are we willing to act now while interest rates are at record lows, construction costs are as low as they have been in decades, and before our facili­ties literally crumble under our feet? Are we rationale enough to recognize that deferring this decision will only cost more in terms of actual construction costs to local tax payers but also in terms of retaining current and recruiting future families to our community? I suspect that those people who answer no have not attended any of the informational workshops to learn about the lengthy review and assessment, spent much time in the facil­ities, seen the district budget associated with paying local tax dollars to fix unanticipated mechanical failures, or had the opportunity to compare our facilities with neighboring school districts.

If not now, then when? Join me in voting yes.

Steve Martin

Daytonsame