Some residents have voiced concerns about the large recreational hub, namely its cost and location. And they're right. A tax that claims to benefit the entire county should do just that. Making money should not play a factor in the decision to improve county recreational facilities. Communities that do not have recreational centers should be the first in line for the money the tax would generate.
Recreational centers can be a great way to bring a community together.
They can provide a center for community activity and help deter juvenile crime by providing a place for young people to go after school and on the weekends, giving them something constructive to do with their time. Every community should have such a hub of activity and this tax could make the idea a reality. The tax could be voted on by next March and in that time public comment must be looked at, plans must be changed and approved and sites for these recreational centers must be found. If the task force is serious about changing the recreational center plan, they must start soon. At the very least, the task force owes it to the people of Alachua County to let them know how the money is going to be spent before they vote on the 1-cent sales tax increase.