Pool supporters in Leavenworth push community efforts as levy heads to ballot

LEAVENWORTH—As the option to reauthorize the Upper Valley Park and Recreation Service Area (PRSA) levy arrives on August ballots, the Upper Valley Aquatics Boosters (UVAB) are finding ways to reignite excitement in the community pool and save it from possible closure. 

The August ballot will give voters the option to vote yes or no to re-authorize a PRSA levy that supports the Howard Hopkins Pool. The levy would cost 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for properties in the service area.

The levy accounts for 50 percent of the pool’s maintenance and operation budget. The city’s lodging tax fills 25 percent, and the remaining 25 percent is supported by pool use fees.

“I just want people to understand just how serious it is that we get a healthy levy passed for a normally functioning pool. We're really not going for anything bigger…We're just trying to have a pool that has a proper maintenance and operations budget to become the community asset we think it can become,” said UVAB member Kurt Peterson.

UVAB, which Peterson says has about ten members, was formed in the spring to assist the PRSA Board in raising awareness for the levy. The group consists of swim team parents, parents of children in swim lessons, and those who utilize the adult exercise classes. Since then, the group has tabled at a Community Engagement Night, hosted the early summer “Splash Bash” at the pool, and is now handing out flyers.

“We're realizing that a lot of people maybe don't know that they're part of the PRSA, and therefore have access to the pool at a reduced PRSA rate. They just assume it's Leavenworth and Leavenworth city limits only. So we are trying to just get the word out and say, ‘Yeah, this is your pool too,’” said Peterson.

The PRSA boundary, which includes Peshastin, Leavenworth, and up Chumstick Highway, must vote to reauthorize this levy every six years. The last reauthorization was in 2018, for 11 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for properties in the service area. 

After the first collection year that the levy is set, the levy rate drops as new construction occurs and assessed values are increased. PRSA’s annual property tax collection may only increase up to one percent based on the first year’s collection. Because of this, the 2024 collection rate is eight cents per $1,000 of assessed value, totaling $197,000 in collected tax revenue this year.

The city budgeted $387,000 in maintenance and operational costs for 2024. However, it increased to $417,000 this spring to cover $30,000 in emergency liner repairs, dipping into capital reserves. 

Because the levy accounts for 50 percent of the maintenance and operation budget, failure to re-authorize a levy could mean closing the pool until the city finds another funding option. During its July 11 meeting, the PRSA Board discussed funding alternatives, such as private investment, or the City Council voting to fully include the pool in its budget.

“If the levy fails and the City Council votes to include the full operation of the pool and its budget, then the benefits of pool, the discount rates, would no longer be extended to the PRSA boundary. It would only be extended to the city limit residents,” said City Administrator Matthew Selby during the meeting.

Election day is August 6.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media