The Cañon City Recreation and Park District board made two official decisions at a special board meeting Tuesday regarding the potential replacement of the R.C. Icabone Pool.
First, the board decided to include the pool’s construction in the 2025 budget to meet the requirement of certifying next year’s budget by mid-December.
“That doesn’t mean that we are going through with construction plans,” said Kyle Horne, executive director of the rec and park district. “It just means that it is in the budget, and it continues to give the recreation district options.”
Second, the board decided to increase funding in the 2025 elections line of the budget for election-related expenses.
“The intent would be to go to the voters in November of ’25 to ask for a mill levy increase (to operate the pool), but nothing has to be made official until August of 2025, if there is going to be a ballot question,” Horne said. “It doesn’t mean that the rec district is committed to going to the voters (next) November, it just means that we have budgeted for it, so if that’s the direction we do go, we have the ability to do it.”
Horne said more than 40 people attended Tuesday’s board meeting, with public comments lasting over an hour.
“They provided feedback on the pool, and it was heavily in favor of following the will of the voters,” Horne said. “…Voters have given permission to build a pool, but we do not have the funds in which to operate it.”
Voters in this month’s presidential election approved Fremont County ballot question 2A, which proposed a 0.30% sales tax increase for pool construction, and question 6B, which allowed the recreation district to incur debt to finance pool bonds. However, question 6A — a 4-mill property tax increase to fund pool operations and other rec district needs — failed.
Horne is encouraging community members to attend future rec meetings to share their opinions and ensure their voices are heard, including those who oppose the construction of the pool. The next regularly scheduled rec board meeting is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at the rec district’s meeting room, 575 Ash St.
On Monday, the Cañon City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to impose the 0.30% voter-approved sales tax to fund the pool’s construction. A second reading is scheduled for Dec. 2. If approved, which it likely will be, the tax increase will take effect on Jan. 1 and sunset on Dec. 31, 2050.
If the pool project doesn’t proceed, but the tax for the pool construction is collected, the city will ask voters where to reallocate the funds.
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