Pool’s future secured with levy reauthorization

CHELAN COUNTY – A property tax levy that supports the maintenance and operation of Howard Hopkins Memorial Pool received enough votes to pass in the Aug. 6 election.

Upper Valley Parks and Recreation Service Area (PRSA) Proposition No. 1 authorizes the imposition of regular property tax levies of 15 cents or less per thousand dollars of assessed value for six consecutive years. The proposition received 71.45 percent approval, with 1,807 ‘yes’ votes, and 722 ‘no’ votes in the final Aug. 20 ballot count. 

The entire PRSA levy goes toward the Howard Hopkins Memorial Pool, accounting for approximately 50 percent of its maintenance and operations costs. It must be reauthorized by vote every six years. The last reauthorization occurred in 2018, when voters chose to renew the 11-cent levy. 

Washington state's levy limit regulations restrict a district's total tax revenue increase to one percent per year. According to previous reporting in The Leavenworth Echo, as property values rise, the tax rate is typically adjusted downward to ensure compliance with this one percent limit. Because of this, PRSA is currently collecting 8 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. 

In 2024, the PRSA collected $197,000 through the levy, with 25 percent fulfilled by the city’s Lodging Tax and 25 percent fulfilled by pool use fees. The pool’s budget included $387,000 in maintenance and operational costs, with an additional $30,000 in emergency repair costs. The total $417,000 requires capital reserve dollars in order to make up the difference of cost exceeding revenue. 

The recently approved levy rate is estimated to generate $463,000 in annual revenue for PRSA, which is about $266,000 more in tax revenue annually.

“As a City Council member on the PRSA Board and resident of Leavenworth who learned to swim in the Howard Hopkins pool, I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results of the 6-year maintenance and operation levy for the city pool. This increase from 11 cents per $1,000, which was passed in 2018, to 15 cents will allow the PRSA to allocate more funds to keep the current pool open for another six years and hopefully add some much needed amenities like more shade, expand seating options, and maybe a slide or other feature,” said City Councilmember Shane Thayer.

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