During that year, a card swipe system will enable town recreation officials to accurately determine how many users are town residents and how many are county residents, which will likely form the basis for future funding agreements. The center, originally scheduled to open in January, is now set to open sometime this summer. The county has contributed to the operating expenses of the recreation programs in Canton and Waynesville for years, a payment that helped offset the expenses incurred because a majority of users are from outside town limits. However, that was based on the new recreation center being open in January. It has not opened, and the town has not received the money, according to Finance Director Eddie Caldwell.
County commissioners are reluctant to increase their contribution to the town.
Stevens said he would wait to see what kind of recommendation County Manager Jack Horton makes before finalizing a decision. Commissioner Wade Francis said if funding the town's program required a tax increase, he would not vote for it. Mary Ann Enloe said she would not support a large increase in the recreation allocation to the town. It will be extra difficult, if not impossible, to come up with any new money for Waynesville. Town aldermen met with county commissioners last May and officially requested help with the operating expenses of the new center.