By Steve Ritchie
Five years ago, with the future of the City of Silverton’s swimming pool in doubt, voters narrowly passed a five-year operating and maintenance levy for the pool. The tax funds supplied by the levy’s passage not only kept the pool open in the peak summer months, but also enabled it to remain open year-round.
With the current levy expiring in June 2018, the City of Silverton has placed a new five-year levy for the swimming pool on the Nov. 7, 2017 ballot. The levy amount is for the same amount as the previous one, $275,000 annually, or $1,375,000 over the five years.
For many Silverton residents, being able to use the pool throughout the year has provided a range of benefits. Seniors take advantage of exercise classes, children take swim lessons, exercise enthusiasts ply the water during lap swim times, and school and club swim teams hold practices and competitions.
The Silver Falls Family YMCA has contracted with the City to manage the swimming pool since 2001.
Brandon Lemon, Marion & Polk YMCA vice president of sports and aquatics, oversees the operation of the Silverton pool. Lemon is enthusiastic about the partnership between the YMCA and the City of Silverton, and says the YMCA programs serve all ages of the community.
“We cater to everyone at the pool. Our programs start at six months old (for infant-and-parent water recreation) and go all the way up to aquatics classes for seniors. We have the diehard swimmers here every day at 5:30 or 6 in the morning, and it ruins their day if we are not open because of a mechanical problem. We have the swim teams using the pool year-round and hosting their meets here.”
Lemon tells a story about an older gentleman, a regular pool user, who stopped him recently to thank him for the affordable membership, and added,
“I haven’t missed a day (at the pool) in the last 60 days. I have been here every day. I may not look like I have lost a lot of weight, but I just feel so much better.”
Lemon says the number of YMCA members in Silverton is rising, and is now over 600. Families who join as members get free YMCA youth sports.
In addition, YMCA pool statistics show a pattern of consistent swimming pool use by the community. During the peak summer months of July and August 2017, the pool averaged nearly 200 people a day, and, on some days, it surged to almost 500.
Becky Ludden served as treasurer for the Friends of Silverton Pool PAC in 2012, and is a strong advocate for the pool. She says the pool quickly became the focus of her exercise regimen after she moved to Silverton, and also provided a caring group of friends.
“As newcomers our first group of friends were people we met at the pool,” Ludden said. “The lap swimmers, exercise group, and pool staff became our core group. We all worked together to promote passage of the pool levy five years ago and learned more about each other as everyone brought hidden strengths to that process… I have been part of a special group who reach out to welcome, assist, and care for others. The pool and its users made us feel at home, not strangers in Silverton.”
Her experience in the previous campaign to pass the pool levy has Ludden a little nervous about next month’s election, especially since the last levy passed by just 168 votes (out of 4,160). The measure’s Explanatory Statement notes that, if the measure fails, the City will be unable
to continue year-round operation of
the pool.
“It’s always hard to pass a tax levy of any kind,” Ludden said. “But this one will cost the homeowner less than before.” (See overview for an analysis of the levy and the tax impact.)
“Having a year-round pool is an important asset to the community. Recreation, yes, but lap swimming, swim teams, and exercise classes to improve mobility are all health benefits offered at this facility. In addition, the pool provides a social meeting place for long time and new residents of all ages. It is an essential part of where we live.”
Levy Overview
The Silverton pool was originally constructed in 1939. Voters passed a 10 year, $1.2 million bond in 2003 to fund a number of improvements to the pool and to construct a new bathhouse.
In 2012 voters passed a $1,375,000 levy to operate and maintain the pool on a year-round basis. This levy expires June 30, 2018. The City has “no identified alternatives to fund operation of the pool past June of 2018.”
The proposed levy would raise $1,375,000 over a five-year period, but the impact on individual homeowners will be less than the current levy due to community growth and increased assessed value.
According to the city “the levy would result in an estimated annual collection of $0.3659 per $1,000 of assessed value, or approximately $73.18 a year for a home with an assessed value of $200,000.”
The levy would fund replacement of the pool cover and improvement projects recommended by the 2017 Pool Facility Assessment.
Supplemented by user fees, memberships and fundraising, the levy would also maintain current programs at the pool, including exercise classes, swimming lessons, physical rehabilitation, training and competition for swim teams, lap swims for all ages, and handicap access.
