Stephanie Pedersen: So whose idea was the aquatics center anyway?

You’ve heard the sayings:

“If you build it, they will come.”

Or how about, “Don’t have kids if you can’t afford them.”

The city decided to build a $10.6 million baby and apparently never figured out how much money it would cost to take care of it.

That’s where we are now.

In 1999, Muscogee County citizens voted in a SPLOST to build a new pool. Later, Muscogee County citizens voted in yet another SPLOST to turn that pool into an aquatics center with the potential to attract thousands of people to our area every year.

Was there ever any discussion concerning upkeep?

We’ve built it. And a few big meets certainly have come. Just like “Field of Dreams” said would happen.

What you don’t see in that movie or apparently in Columbus, Ga., is how much it cost to keep major amenities open for the public.

We’re in a tough economic time in which tough decisions must be made concerning the Columbus Consolidated Government’s upcoming budget. Essentially, we’re out of savings.

The past few weeks are just the precursor to what appears to be a tight budget season ahead. The CCG can’t dip into reserves to balance the budget.

We need garbage trucks (to pick up your trash just once a week now) and more funding for the Parks and Recreation department. We need to give raises to our law enforcement officers so we can keep the police we’ve trained and improve on the number of officials we have keeping us safe.

Essentially, Columbus needs money. And as far back as I can remember, voters in Columbus have never seen a Local Option Sales Tax they didn’t like. It’s because of that history that I don’t understand the negative reaction to the tax-freeze referendum.

You’ll pay two more cents on every dollar you spend, but you won’t pay more property taxes?

You’ll spend more money on road repairs, but you won’t properly fund your government for the above-mentioned amenities you seemingly voted for twice?

Explain it to me, Columbus. Because right now, I don’t understand your thinking.

I live in Phenix City and enjoy Columbus’ amenities because my mortgage would be hundreds more for the same house in Muscogee County. I’ve heard some people call the tax freeze a visitor’s tax.

You could also call it the “please live on the outskirts of our city” tax.

Because that’s what it is, and now you can’t pay the bills. And you can’t keep the aquatic center open without shutting down other facilities.

Whose bright idea was it to have this facility in the first place?

Oh yeah, the voters. Possibly the same ones who are grumbling about the tax-free referendum.

Imagine that.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 1:49 PM with the headline "Stephanie Pedersen: So whose idea was the aquatics center anyway?."