River City needs the Wayne Theatre

Harry L. Colman / News Virginian
Published: April 15, 2007

Waynesboro should provide substantial funding for the Wayne Theatre in the Capital Improvement Plan being developed by council. I disagree with the opposing arguments on the Wayne Theatre project. If my local, state, and federal taxes help fund a renovated Wayne Theatre I'm not being triple-dipped; instead I'm getting the biggest possible return on taxes. These federal tax credit dollars require matching local investment, which can come from both private contributions and local tax funds. They are just like the nice 401K offered by my employer. If I don't have enough sense to put in 6 percent, then the company won't match 6 percent. I lose their money. And if some city council members cause Waynesboro to lose the tax credits that the Wayne Theatre volunteers have found for us, they haven't saved us any money. What they will do instead is guarantee that the federal taxes citizens of Waynesboro already pay, regardless of this project, will go to some other city instead of ours.

The city has not given the Wayne Theatre to private enterprise. That is another falsehood! It has first given it to the Economic Development Authority, which is appointed by council from private volunteer citizens.  EDA will in turn transfer ownership to an LLC which is a requirement in order for this project to qualify for over $1 million in tax credits that both benefit local business and bring that federal money directly into Waynesboro. The LLC is just to meet the federal requirements until the final transfer to the non-profit Wayne Theatre Alliance.

I've read that tickets at the renovated Wayne Theatre will be $40 and it is only for the "elite." Wrong again!   Different events will have different prices. Some tickets might even be $100 to bring in major name entertainment, but a Saturday morning kiddie show might cost the same 25 cents we once paid. For sure if your non-profit uses this facility, or your church holds its Easter production at the theater, you'll set your own ticket prices, if any, and pay a reasonable rent. The theater is for all of us!

The city should indeed invest tax money into the Wayne Theatre project because the city will gain on ticket sales taxes, real-estate taxes, and increased meal taxes when the Wayne succeeds. The federal government won't get more, the tireless Wayne Theatre volunteers will still be working for free, and the citizens and businesses who have already pledged over $1 million dollars won't make a direct profit from the success. The tremendous profit potential is all for the city.

As chairman of the Waynesboro Planning Commission, I understand why we went to the effort with City Council, the tree street association, and our local churches to craft a new Historical Preservation ordinance.  But how can some council members see value in paying court costs to prevent a church from tearing down one old house and not see that the city also has a financial responsibility to help restore the most significant historical structure in our whole downtown- The theater was donated to the city by its former owners with an expectation that the city had enough foresight to invest in itself. And Mr. Lucente, surely a businessman like you understands the difference between investing in our city versus just another good charitable cause.

The most insulting thing I've heard is that when my wife and I walk through the door of a beautifully restored Wayne Theatre, some folks may think they're subsidizing us, in spite of our direct contributions and taxes. As a citizen, I pay for many services I may never use. I've never had a fire truck at my house, never called on the city welfare department, never needed social services, and haven't checked 10 books out of the library in 35 years. I haven't had a child in the Waynesboro Schools since 1989, and when the city police gave me a speeding ticket 20 years ago, the judge made me personally pay for that service.

But when the Wayne reopens, if some citizen still thinks you're subsidizing me and that you, your children and grandchildren will never use the theater then let's do the math, and see just how much of the city's contributions were really paid from your real-estate taxes. Prove to me I really owe you and I'll write you a check.  But let's be fair. We'll also calculate whether you've used more in some other city services than I have so I can claim I've subsidized your welfare, education, fire protection, police calls, or food stamps. In that case, you can write your check to the Wayne Theatre Alliance. Because this is a project every single councilman and every single citizen should be supporting.

Harry L. Colman is chairman of the Waynesboro Planning Commission.