The Tyrone YMCA will be holding a public meeting in the YMCA auditorium next Tuesday, August 13th at 7 p.m. to discuss and answer questions dealing with the financial troubles that have recently surfaced.
About a month ago YMCA Executive Director, Amy Hampton, discovered that the Y was delinquent on back taxes – federal, state, and local. The YMCA has found that now the total amount owed is roughly going to be around $70,000 which does not include interest or penalties added in.
The back taxes owed date back to the last 2 1/2 to 3 years. It has obviously put the Y in a tough financial position. Not only does the YMCA have to make up money monthly to keep current, they now must make even more money because those taxes were not being paid.
At some point, the IRS and the State are going to come looking for the money owed, and the YMCA is going to have to make some sort of payment plan to repay them. All of that must factor in with the Y’s ability to pay the bills presently, and buy the equipment and office supplies needed simply to operate.
“We’re now going to have a fairly large sum of money that we have to make up the difference of each month,” Hampton said. “That’s the position the Y is in at this point.”
The public meeting being held next Tuesday will be an informational session for the public. Hampton realizes that there are many concerns and questions about the financial future and the situation the YMCA is in right now.
“I think it’s getting to the point where everyone needs to know where we are at,” said Hampton. “The public wants to know what we are planning on doing about the situation and what kind of support we are going to need to get to where we need to go.”
Hampton assures the public that there will be time for a question and answer session during next week’s meeting. She will try to answer any concerns and questions anyone might have to the best of her knowledge.
“I think that it’s best that we get the information out,” stated Hampton. “We will give the facts as we know them to the public, so the public has the information. I know people have questions. People need to know where the YMCA is at this point.”
The YMCA and Hampton hope for something positive to come out of this financial crisis. Criticism is valuable and needed, but positive feedback and concern is priceless.
Not only is the public meeting being held to answer questions and provide information, but it will also be searching for ideas to develop a solution and/or prevention to the problem so it may never occur again.
The Tyrone YMCA is an important part of our community and the people who care and are concerned of its future will hopefully attend next Tuesday’s meeting.
