Letter to the Editor: Vince Foglia Supports Ela First

To The Editor:

I am writing to voice my support for Ela First in the upcoming election and to share my perspective on some misinformation about Ela Township and the Foglia YMCA. Together, they have done great work for the community, and I was upset to hear candidates for Ela Township office attacking this work. 

In 2000, Ela Township made a $1.5 million contribution to a YMCA Capital Campaign. Through this deal, Ela Township agreed to a 25-year lease for a 2,500 square foot Senior Center and 1,000 square foot Youth Center. This agreement served the people of Ela Township well for the last decade.

However, in 2011, both the YMCA and Ela Township had outgrown their space. As a result, Ela Township and the YMCA negotiated a buyout of the remaining 13 years on the lease, and the YMCA reimbursed Ela Township $400,000 to reclaim the additional space. The money from the buyout and the $460,000 savings from maintenance/operations of the facility over the course of the original lease enabled Ela Township to purchase the old Post Office for $700,000. This purchase was accomplished without borrowing money or raising taxes. 

While the purchase allows Ela Township and the YMCA to continue expanding, the true beneficiaries are the residents and taxpayers of Ela Township. They are able to gain additional space and increased services without having to pay an additional dime in taxes, now or down the road. 

Because of all the wonderful benefits for the community, I was surprised by the Ela Tax Reform Party’s criticism of the investment Ela Township made in the YMCA in 2000 and the subsequent lease buyout negotiation. Without the buyout, Ela Township would have had to raise taxes or incur debt for the purchase and conversion of the old Post Office into a Community Center. I do not see how this is a bad thing for tax payers.

The election campaigns have been filled with misinformation regarding reserves and taxes. They claim that there is upwards of 5 million dollars in reserves when in actuality, the number is 2.2 million. Candidates are also saying they will distribute almost the entire reserve to residents, but what they don’t admit publicly is that such a move would then require tax increases or borrowing for budget stability and future projects. 

Ela is one of the best run townships in the suburbs, and I am proud to endorse Ela First. I hope you will go out and vote for Ela First on April 9^th to continue leading us forward.

Vince Foglia