For a fourth time, residents have turned down a proposed community recreation center.
Voters rejected a proposal for a $30 million community recreation and aquatic center that would have been operated by the Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District during Tuesday’s coordinated election.
The Issue 6A operating mill levy proposal was turned down with 5,414 votes against the question and 3,747 in favor.
Issue 6B, the general obligation bonds question, was turned down with 5,268 votes against the question and 3,898 in favor.
“It goes without saying we are saddened by the results of this election,” said Kyle Horne, the executive director of the Cañon City Area Recreation and Park District. “Though there’s been a desire to add a recreation center to the Cañon City community for decades, this effort was citizen-driven and tremendous input was solicited and utilized to create the solution proposed.”
He said the district will continue to provide the best quality services it can within its limited budget, and they’ll take a step back and listen once again to learn more about what the public wants from its recreation district.
Question 6A was a mill levy question that would have raised the district’s current mill levy of 3.509 to 7.009 to help fund the operations and maintenance of the proposed recreation center, as well as ongoing recreation district operations and building reserves for the recreation center.
Question 6B was a $30 million bond measure that would have funded the construction and equipping of the proposed recreation center.
A bigger picture look at the need for a community recreation center
A previous scientific survey indicated that voters did not want sales tax raised in order to support the 61,000 square foot center, but rather property taxes. The local sales tax rate is 8.4%, which is tied for 46th in the state.
The center was proposed as a means to replace the failing RC Icabone Pool that opened in the summer of 1967 with an expected life expectancy of 25-30 years.
Three previous tax questions dealt with remodeling or replacing the existing pool:
- 1989 – $1.97 million dollar bond to rehab the existing pool and create an indoor facility with some fitness components. The question failed 67% to 33%.
- 2000 – $9.7 million dollar bond for a new recreation center. The pool was showing its age and replacement was needed. This also included a mill levy increase for the operation of the facility. This question failed 55% to 45%.
- 2006 – $10 million bond for construction of Pathfinder Park and for some needed repairs to the existing outdoor pool. This question failed 75% to 25%.
Proponents this year saw the cost as an investment in the youth, community and the possibilities of expanded recreational opportunities for all district residents. Opponents felt that many residents are barely surviving economically, especially seniors with fixed incomes.
Others would like to see the district revisit the recreation center idea at a future election, but in a more modest, scaled-back form.
“I want to personally thank the many good people who drove this effort forward,” Horne said. “Perhaps next time we’ll make it across the finish line.”
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November 03, 2021 at 12:35PM
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Cañon City voters reject proposed community recreation and aquatic center - Canon City Daily Record
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