Simplified: The city is once again delaying decisions on a proposed $77 million bond for new pools at Frank Olson and Kuehn Park. This time, city officials are citing uncertainty around the November election.
Why it matters
- This isn't the first time a vote on funding both a new outdoor pool at Kuehn Park and a new indoor aquatic and recreation center at Frank Olson Park has been delayed.
- Back in May, councilors were expected to vote to pass the bond before four new faces joined the City Council. That vote was delayed to September because councilors couldn't agree on pricing models.
- City Finance Director Shawn Pritchett on Wednesday said they'll once again delay a council bond decision, citing concerns about economic uncertainty during the November election as well as uncertainty about the potential ramifications if voters pass a measure to eliminate sales tax on groceries.
- Those economic concerns, though, aren't stopping the city and council from moving forward with other aspects of the city's capital spending plan – including plans to purchase land for a future Riverline District.
"The budget can always be modified next year if we anticipate a significant fluctuation in our anticipated revenues," Finance Director Shawn Pritchett said. "The anticipated debt service for the aquatics and rec bond also continues to be included in (next year's) budget and in the capital program."
Tell me more about the aquatics bond
The $77 million breaks down like this:
- $47 million for Frank Olson recreation center
- $18 million for a new Kuehn Park pool
- $9 million for a westside recreation center (formerly Sanford Wellness Center at Tea/Ellis Road).
- $3 million for updates to the westside rec center.
Here's a closer look at the specific amenities each of the proposed new pools is expected to have:
Megan Raposa
What do City Councilors have to say about the delay?
Largely, they're very supportive.
"It’s way too much money to commit if we have any doubts about how Election Day might impact the city's financial health," Councilor Jennifer Sigette said.
- Sigette also noted that there still isn't agreement among the council as to what all should be included in the bond, a sentiment Councilor Miranda Basye echoed.
"I don't think it's a secret that there's been conversations about who are we serving with this and what is going to go in it," Basye said.
Councilors Rich Merkouris and Richard Thomason also noted their approval of the decision to delay a bond vote. Merkouris added that it shouldn't impact the timing of when these projects are finished.
"Of course, we all want superb pools," Councilor David Barranco said. "But my priority is maintaining excellent credit to unlock the best possible rate."
Why delay pools and not other capital projects?
Though the vote on the bond itself is delayed, the anticipated expense of taking out that bond is still part of the city budget councilors will be voting on in the coming weeks, Pritchett said.
So, essentially, everything that's been talked about as being part of the budget is still in the budget. All that's changing right now is the timing for when the city actually initiates the bond.
What happens next?
Councilors will vote to approve the 2025 budget over the next couple of weeks.
