My husband and I travel to the Olney Swim Center in Montgomery County in order to swim competitively. Montgomery County has multiple indoor swimming facilities that are used very regularly by master swimmers, youth/high school swim meets, water aerobics, scuba lessons, etc.

Howard County has as high a demand.

Stacey A. Moffet

Ellicott City

user comments (4)

user milton says...

Howard County already provides a very high level of services to all of its residents. There are no residents of Howard County that are underserved by county government. We all benefit from well funded public schools, roads, libraries, recycling programs, etc. As a matter of fact, our total annual budget is astronomical (approaching $2 billion!). A swimming pool, an indoor 50 meter pool in particular, is a very expensive item that will serve the needs of a very small segment of Howard County citizens. This is an item that should not be constructed with public money. Montgomery County may have nice pools (although half the size of the pool the author of this letter is proposing), but Montgomery County also has a projected budget deficit of $250 million for 2010. I would rather not play “keep up with the Jones’” with a county that has gotten itself into financial trouble.

Posted 4:45 PM, 07.31.08 | Permalink

user juiceman says...

Hello User Milton... Your omnipotence is leaking through again...I'm sure you know so much about the staus of all of the residents of Howard County. Well..the facts are you seem to know very little...you're just mad that you choose to live in an area of the county that is afforded a double property tax...but I know you're still having trouble getting you head around that. The fact is that many of the county's best swimmers are forced to leave because of a dearth of appropriate, public facilities. In addition, there is a waiting list, often years long, at nearly each of the privately owned facilities for membership. PS...There are multiple 50 meter pools in Mont. County...you really need to do more research...apparently, the only piece of information with which you are familiar is the size of the county budget. You still fail to understand the relationship between service provision and quality of life...but you'll be learning. Perhaps you'd like to study the increasing serious crime rate, lack of youth facilities and increases in gang activity...I only hope better facilities can be built before these things visit a door in your vacinity.

Posted 7:39 PM, 07.31.08 | Permalink

user milton says...

Juice, I am not playing this game with you. I have a hard time taking you seriously when you suggest that gangs will take over the streets if we don’t build a 50 meter indoor swimming pool that costs $20 million. A single pool that the 300,000 residents of the county can share, right? You are obviously someone who believes that the government should tax us as much as possible and then provide unlimited recreation services for us. Well, many people disagree with that and believe that the line must be drawn somewhere. Quality of life does not come from unlimited taxes and government services, quality of life comes from the freedom to spend your money as you wish, especially when we already receive significant government services. I am just going to have to let the fallacy of your argument speak for itself, because Zeus knows you will insist on the last word.

Posted 8:11 PM, 07.31.08 | Permalink

user says...

Oh...I think we need far more than a 50 meter pool...and that's just to service some of the many residents who don't have the economic prowess to pay Columbia's fees (but I still say taxes.) However...I will agree with you...a line does have to be drawn somewhere...limitless taxes have the same detrimental effect as inadequate tax...I'm just not sure that this facility wouldn't do a whole lot more good than you purport. The kids of this county are in more trouble than many know...while things may look good on the surface, a closer inspection of adolescent activity at the Columbia Mall as dusk approaches is more than cause for concern. Senior citizens also face increasing challenges...in fact, they're abandoning a county that won't address their issues. Consequently, their single family and town homes are sold to folks whose needs compel the county to seek additional funds...then both you and I loose our ability to make a choice in how funds are allocated. So...one way or another, we're going to pay... Hence, I believe we have to build better facilities...as well as doing something to slow the growth...then, perhaps, taxes will stabailze. My two cents...but I really do understand your position.

Posted 10:56 PM, 07.31.08 | Permalink