Defeat of Measure R will dismiss youth sports, specialty
classes
The Hollister Recreation Department may be one of the first city
services hit by budget cuts in the coming weeks due to the failure
of Measure R, but some groups say the services will still be
offered by other agencies.
Defeat of Measure R will dismiss youth sports, specialty classes
The Hollister Recreation Department may be one of the first city services hit by budget cuts in the coming weeks due to the failure of Measure R, but some groups say the services will still be offered by other agencies.
The San Benito County YMCA has been extending services and programs throughout its tenure in the county and continues to do so. It has even expanded its partnership with Workforce Development on a voucher program for disadvantaged families that cannot afford to pay the fees charged for classes and programs offered through the YMCA.
“I think there are certainly subtle differences between us and the rec department,” said Lou Bettencourt, executive director of the San Benito County YMCA. “As a whole the YMCA is more family-oriented, but we provide many of the same programs and classes.”
The YMCA will continue to offer the same programs they have, but will not be picking up any of the programs that might be lost if the recreation department is disbanded, Bettencourt said.
With the downfall of Measure R, the 1 percent sales tax, several city services including Hollister Police Department, Hollister Fire Department and the Recreation Department are all potentially on the chopping block. The measure would have raised Hollister sales tax from 7.25 percent to 8.25 percent.
Voters defeated the seven-year tax increase by 52.1 percent.
Since the city faces a shortfall of $2.8 million, the entire laundry list of services must be cut in order to keep the city operating in the black, said Councilman Doug Emerson.
“We can’t become the recreation department,” Bettencourt said. “I think there will be a definite impact on this community, but the Y will help out where it can. Still, I think residents will be affected with the reduction of programs offered through the city.”
Currently, the recreation department offers youth sports including flag football, basketball, wrestling, T-ball and softball. They also offer adult sports such as softball, basketball and co-ed volleyball.
Most of those activities, at least for youths, are already offered through the YMCA, but adult programs would likely be lost at least until the YMCA has their new facility completed.
All swim programs, including summer aquatics, swimming lessons and recreation swimming will disappear. Special interest classes such as cartooning are likely to be on the chopping block, too.
The YMCA does not have a swimming pool, but has plans to construct a pool with the creation of their new facility.
Recreation Department Director Clay Lee said the programs offered through the department have always been for everyone and nobody has ever been turned away because they couldn’t afford to pay.
“To my knowledge in the 20 years I’ve managed the rec department we’ve never turned anyone away and I’ll leave it at that,” Lee said. “If we didn’t have a scholarship program in place we wouldn’t turn charge them,”
One possible impact is that juvenile crime may climb without the recreation programs as a deterrent.
Eugenia Sanchez, a newly elected member of the city council and outgoing member of the Hollister School District school board said recreation services are good for kids because it keeps them occupied through learning and allows them to socialize.
“I think everyone needs to be a part of something.” Sanchez said. They need to be able to share their gifts.”
Bettencourt agreed. Studies have shown recreation activities have an impact on character development, he said.
“That’s part of the reason that we try to instill core values in all of our programs,” Bettencourt said. “We try to build a kid’s spirit, mind and body through all the activities we offer. A lot of times juvenile crimes are the result of a lack of things to do. That’s one of the things we do, we give kids something to do away from home.”
Still, other special events such as next weekend’s breakfast with Santa and some of the other specialized programs now offered by the recreation department will be lost completely.
Patrick O’donnell can be reached at po*******@pi**********.com
