To the Editor:

If you care about having a Potsdam Recreation Program and are a property owner, please vote YES on Thursday, April 10. If you are not a property owner, urge property owners you know to vote YES. The future of the program depends on it.

Believing that a program that is a town-wide benefit and supports the youth of more than the Village should be operated and paid for by the Town, the Village Board has voted to discontinue funding for the Recreation Program from Village taxes at the end of 2014. Village taxpayers would (and should) continue to pay, but should do it through their Town taxes. This change would promote Efficiency and Fairness.

The best opportunity for Potsdam Recreation to improve and thrive is under Town control. The program will be run much more efficiently if one government entity operates it. The program serves a larger area than the Village, and the Town better matches this area and can better represent its interests. Financial inequities will disappear, too. Currently Village taxpayers pay one-third more per $1000 assessment than those of the Town. ($0.98 vs $0.66)

The Town and Village Boards have worked together and signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Town to assume control of Potsdam Recreation. On Thursday, April 10th, at the Town Hall, there will be a referendum for property owners in Potsdam Village and the Town Outside (no Norwood Village) to vote to approve the Town doing this. With the Village discontinuing funding through village taxes, the future of Potsdam Recreation depends on this vote. If you care about continuing a Recreation Program for the youth of Potsdam, vote YES on April 10th at the Town Hall on Elm St.

There will be two informational meetings about the referendum on Monday, March 31st and Thursday, April 3, at 7 p.m. in the Potsdam Civic Center Community Room above the Police Station. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the issues, get more background on this change in operations, and ask questions.

Eleanor Hopke

Potsdam