Another vote possible on pool project
GREENSBORO — Voters might get a second chance to consider a proposed aquatics center.
Some City Council members are considering putting a bond referendum on the ballot in 2010, asking voters to pay an additional $6.8 million to build a swim center at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Voters approved $12 million for pool construction and design as part of a 2008 parks and recreation bond. But the cost of a revenue-generating, regional-competition pool complex is more like $18.8 million, city staff members say.
Tourism officials suggest covering the funding gap with hotel tax revenue. But some council members said the issue should be put back to city voters.
“It is the people’s money, so why not just put it on the bond referendum?” Councilman Danny Thompson said. “We’ll just give it to the people to vote.”
It’s unclear whether enough council members support the idea to get a referendum on the ballot in 2010, and five supporters would be needed. At least one council member said he wants to consider all the implications of the idea before making a decision on whether to support it.
But the bond idea could be raised when the City Council discusses the pool Dec. 15. The issue also could be discussed at a retreat Friday and Saturday.
As its first act of business after being sworn in Dec. 1, the newly elected council decided to reconsider the previous council’s plan for the $18.8 million, three-pool complex at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Some residents have applauded that decision, arguing that the city had not been open about the details of the plan or the costs associated with it.
Putting the issue back to the voters would be a chance to test whether the residents really want the project, council members said.
“It seems to me it restores their trust in us,” Councilwoman Trudy Wade said. “It makes it fair.”
If such a referendum was approved, it would mean that the council could have property taxpayers pay for the difference in the pool complex costs.
Under the current financing proposal, the $6.8 million funding gap would be paid by hotel revenue tax — money collected from visitors to the city when they rent a room.
A portion of the hotel revenue must be spent on coliseum projects. An estimated $1.6 million of that tax revenue will be available in 2013, which would start paying off the aquatics center debt if the City Council pursues that option.
Councilman Robbie Perkins argued that using the hotel revenue allows the residents to get a first-class center for the cost — $12 million — of a community pool.
He fears putting the pool on a second ballot would kill the project.
“It is a great strategy for someone who doesn’t believe in the project and wants to kill it,” Perkins said. “If I were trying to kill a project, it would be one of the ways I would do it. It’s pretty slick.”
But proponents of the second bond referendum say putting it on the ballot doesn’t mean the extra expense has to be paid with property tax money.
Slowing the process could give the city time to recruit corporate or nonprofit partners to help shoulder the costs.
Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com
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