In Response to Judgment Tax

by Beverly Hoffman

April 29, 2021

Dear Editor, Bethel City Council and YK Delta Folks,

During the last two April City of Bethel Council meetings I listened to council members and community members kind of shaking my head when they made comments regarding healthy infrastructure and living beyond our means. For decades that has been the volunteer life work of myself and many others to provide healthy opportunities inside and outside and trying to figure out ways to pay for it.

If you are trying to deter unhealthy habits in a community you need facilities like YK Fitness Center, Phase I, and Phase II the multi-purpose gym as well as well maintained trails and parks. Truth is some will continue to live in front of TV or computer… but many will seek out that trail and park, gym and pool to teach their children about healthy options.

For statements that negate that in favor of a bigger police force or other facilities (that are needed too) to deal with our community problems of abuse and violence is really sad to me. We need the spaces and places to connect and that support healthy choices in order to prevent or deter the issues and behaviors that our emergency responders and other organizations are forced to address.

The editorial by my relative whom I respect, questioning our efforts to teach kids how to swim and that Phase I is not affordable was misguided with misinformation and honestly hurtful. Calling it a judgment tax had its own judgment undertones. Questioning the make up of council and YKHC intentions? I too am a lifelong resident concerned about our community and how we want it to look. I love this town for its diversity and inclusiveness. My hometown will continue to grow as young and old move to Bethel for jobs and services. Yes we need the city, my tribe, Orutsararmiut Native Council and organizations to work together to keep that healthy community vision growing. Healthy bodies, healthy teeth, mental health education has been on going for decades yet we cannot deny that diabetes, tooth decay, obesity, abuse, homelessness and mental illness grows.

Some history, The Phase I and II business plans (all three of them) show that in order to provide healthy opportunities the city was going to provide some resources such as in-kind water and IT and some admin services to the facility. We – the voters – voted successfully on a 1 cent on the dollar tax to support it and again to keep half a cent with the pool and direct the other half a cent for the general fund for needed city services.

After that vote out of the blue, city administration or council at that time decided that the YKFC was a commercial enterprise and we are no longer provided water as in kind but we are also charged a commercial rate. It was never meant to be a profit making entity but we hoped to break even thus fees. But our current financial position is that about $130,000 annually is taken out of the dedicated savings account fund where that tax was deposited. That amount is practically what the city charges for all those services that were supposed to be in kind. In other words, if we had followed the business plans, the facility would have achieved sustainability. To be clear: the City has never “subsidized” the YKFC. The City is paying for the facility through our ½ cent of voted-for tax. The gap is also made up from our voted-for tax out of the dedicated fund.

A half cent on the dollar for healthy options. The other 5 and half cents goes for roads, police, and water and sewer and other needed city services. That sure doesn’t sound extravagant. A half cent on the dollar for good people doing good and healthy activities does it? In addition the facility ALSO pays city sales tax.

If we could get that half cent back it’s likely we might not have looked at an excise tax on sugary addictive beverages causing so many healthy problems. But I am glad we did for the dialogue and awareness though difficult about sugary drinks. I appreciate all the comments about the problems with this particular tax but to see the ugliness and attacks on some good people was bothersome.

That industry would plaster in glossy mailers, the photos and phone numbers of our council and that was wrong and disgusting. They were the brunt of ugly comments, e-mails and phone calls and this was uncalled for. Those of us who wanted to look at this option did not call our fellow Bethel-lites with ugliness but yes we did call out the beverage industry who spent thousands and thousands of dollars because of the threat to their profit off of sugary drink addiction. I had many respectful conversations with those who opposed the tax and still welcome discussion.

So please let’s move forward with kindness and tolerance in this small town and figure out how we can get things done to benefit not just the problems but the good. Whether you are life long, long time or short time residents, if you have good ideas about funding healthy infrastructure, trails and parks please please get a hold of me and other members of your Parks and Recreation Committee. If you would like to donate to the Multi purpose gym fund it is being set up along with the Lifesaver Endowment Fund at bcsfoundation.org. The Lifesaver Endowment Fund through its growth pre-covid and post-covid provides over $10,000 annually to access the YK Fitness center through free swim lessons, free teen nights, half price Saturdays for everyone. This will happen again as soon as the pandemic allows us to safely do so. Quyana.

-Respectfully Beverly Hoffman, community member and volunteer.

Example: 9075434113