Carroll volunteers who sponsor recreation programs for children and adults want county officials to know their activities fill an important need and deserve to receive county money.
Leaders of Carroll's recreation councils say they were upset recently when some members of the county Planning Commission said recreation projects were not a high priority in the budget.
"We were concerned with the misinformation or lack of understanding of what recreation councils do for the county," said Kevin G. Null, president of the New Windsor council.
He also is president of the Carroll Association of Recreation Councils, an umbrella group formed about two months ago.
Association members decided to write a letter to the County Commissioners and Planning Commission members after learning of a remark made by Planning Commission member Robin B. Frazier of Manchester last month.
The Planning Commission, a group of appointed residents, is paring capital budget requests before recommending a fiscal 1996 capital budget to the commissioners.
At a Nov. 23 work session, Mrs. Frazier said, "My deep-down feeling is I don't think the government has an obligation to provide recreation for the people. If the people want to recreate, join a spa."
Asked to further explain her remark, Mrs. Frazier said Friday that she's not opposed to recreation and parks programs, "but when you have a tight budget, it's an extravagance."
"We have to look at what's a necessity first. Parks are fun. I like that. But I don't think anybody wants to raise their taxes for that," she said.
Mr. Null, who has been involved in recreation programs for seven years, said recreation programs provide more than fun for residents.
"It's more than going out and playing ball. We're developing young adults and providing them with a sense of community service and some role models.
"Sports activities are secondary. We're providing a place for everybody to play, regardless of their ability," he said.
Mrs. Frazier said residents may join church sports leagues or recreation programs sponsored by community groups. She added that she would listen to requests for funding from recreation council members.
Planning Commission Chairman Dennis P. Bowman and member Robert H. Lennon also expressed concern at last month's meeting about spending money on recreation programs when the county has an obligation to provide adequate schools and roads.
Mr. Bowman said last week, "Carroll County has never given a high priority to recreation, but the government has a role in recreation and parks."
Mr. Bowman, a former president of the Union Bridge Recreation Council, said he places recreation low on the budget priority list.
"If money were no concern, it would be a different story," he added.
Members of the Carroll Association of Recreation Councils are writing a letter to county officials and hope to send it by the end of the month, Mr. Null said. They will invite commissioners and Planning Commission members to recreation council meetings to learn more about the programs, he said.
The county has 20 recreation councils that sponsor sports programs, and other activities, including karate, cake decorating, art, music and square dancing. The councils are run by volunteers with assistance from the Carroll Department of Recreation and Parks.
A department annual report for the 1993-1994 fiscal year, the most recent available, showed that 8,597 volunteers worked 391,086 hours on programs for which 25,173 people registered. Also during that year, volunteers raised $1.1 million for programs.
The department's operating budget for that year was $1.9 million out of a county budget of $130 million. The department's capital budget was $793,690 out of a county budget of about $33 million.
Commissioner Donald I. Dell, who recently started his second term, said last week that he hasn't always believed recreation programs were important. "I've changed my attitude since I've been in office," he said. "I think they're excellent programs and commend all the volunteers."
Commissioner W. Benjamin Brown said he will give equal consideration to requests for funding for recreation programs as to requests for schools, roads and other projects. Recreation programs serve a purpose, he said.
"If they [children] have a ball or a bat in their hand, they're less likely to pick up a stone," he said.
Jody Ledford, president of the Sandymount Recreation Council, said the councils offer programs that are less expensive than similar programs run by private companies.
Many children would not be able to afford to take tae kwon do lessons from a private teacher, but can through a county program, she said.
For example, if a business ran the Sandymount youth soccer program and paid its workers $5 an hour, the program would cost $200 per child, she said. About 200 children are involved in the 10-week program, and volunteers log about 5,000 hours, she said. The council charges each child a $20 registration fee, she said.