(KNZA)--Organized opposition to the City of Hiawatha's plan to build a new three screen theater complex is speaking out based on what they say is their concern for the future of the Brown County community. The theater would be funded by a ½ cent retailers sales tax which voters will say yay or nay to on April 1st. 

Hiawatha residents Ian Schuetz, Dusty Jones, Emily Davies and Brian Shefferd don't always see eye to eye politically. Where the four come together is what they believe to be flawed planning for what they view to be an unsustainable business. 

Schuetz says the group reached that conclusion based upon the numbers made available through the city's feasibility study. “I don't think that we can afford it,” Schuetz says. 

“The city is projecting that there's going to be ninety people a day, 365 days a year, at this theater in order to essentially break even. Looking at the numbers, we see that they can only be off by four people a day. That's eighty-five people per-day, every day of the year, before they start to lose money. Another thing is that out of 627 incorporated cities in Kansas, there would be only four that would have a higher sales tax rate than Hiawatha if this was to pass.” 

Davies has worked extensively with the city-provided numbers, putting together a spreadsheet to evaluate the calculations. “I don't think that the projections are right, and the numbers show that if they're not right the city will lose money on this,” Davies told MSC News.  “I just think that yes, it would be wonderful to have a new theater in town, but if it's going to lose money, it's not worth it.” 

Davies is also critical of the way the ballot question for the ½ cent sales tax is worded, and opposes the fact that the collection of those funds will be ongoing. “I think people need to realize that passing the sales tax increase would give the city a blank check. Economic Development and Recreation could be pretty much anything, [and] the city would now have a continuous fund to finance future projects like this without needing the blessing of the voters.” 

Jones, meanwhile, was pleased when he first heard the city's proposal for the theater. 

However, he has grown to question the numbers and the feasibility. “I absolutely am in favor of the idea,” Jones said, “but the thing that I am most concerned about is when the numbers don't come out at a favorable position for the citizens of the town.”

Additionally, Jones is concerned that should voters approve the sales tax increase for the theater they won't be willing to a approve a possible bond issue for the upgrade of Hiawatha schools in USD 415. “We hear that out schools are in need of $5.4 million to $7 million dollars worth of repairs. I know that our town will never pass two in the same year.” 

Shefferd is also discouraged by the numbers released in the city's feasibility study, saying it's clear to him that the theater will be a monetary loss if constructed. “We're looking at losing money every year for as long as the doors are open.” 

The group of four say they would welcome a new theater to Hiawatha, but simply don't believe the city's proposal is the best way to make it a reality.