Burns mayor says he doesn’t believe more taxes will be needed to pay park loan

With the town of Burns getting ready to borrow up to $300,000 to finish the first phase of its new park, some commissioners and citizens have expressed concerns over needing more taxpayer dollars to repay the note. But Mayor Landon Mathis says he doesn’t think that will be necessary. At Monday night’s commission meeting, Mathis said a preliminary offer of interest-free financing from TriStar Bank will not require the town to make a payment for up to five years. The mayor said the town is “already sitting on $100,000 right now,” referring to the remaining $63,000 of a state reimbursement grant and what he now expects could be as much as $30,000 generated by selling off timber on the park site. While finishing the project has not been put out for bids yet, Mathis said he expects the town will need far less than $300,000 to complete the phase through donations or discounts on materials and volunteer labor. He said since taking over the Burns Police Department, Chief Paul McCallister has already made reductions that are saving the town about $2,500 a month, which should be enough to cover the remaining cost of the project. The mayor also has said he believes once the park is finished it will begin to generate revenue through tournament rentals. But Commissioner Chris Holland, who voted against borrowing the money, said the town should not rely on the uncertainty of getting tournaments. “We should try to do this by trying to raise money any way we can,” Holland said. Mathis said officials will continue to work on fund-raising ideas. “Surely we can raise the money in five years,” the mayor said.