Prop 2 Camas Pool Bond = A Financial Disaster For Camas (Vancouver: how much, homes)

[USDefault]

Camas is a vibrant city, with superb schools, lots of professionals, and a solid financial footing. But Camas also is small, with a population of ~ 25,000. The population number alone should make plain the political lunacy of even proposing to spend a whopping $78 million on a Camas pool. Well, it started as a pool, but now has ballooned into a "community center." Even if the population was ten times what it is now, spending this much money on a pool and community building would be a stretch. But given Camas's size, this is pure idiocy.

This $78 million Prop. 2 Camas pool proposal needs to fail, and fail hard. The proposed bond will cost residents a lot in property taxes, at least $500 per year to start, and a heck of a lot more after that. Incredibly, even with that tax burden, the "community center" is estimated to operate at a massive yearly loss, ensuring the taxes will be even higher. Worse still, even if you are a homeowner paying $400, $500, even $600 per year in property taxes for this thing, you'll still have to pay annual membership dues for access, with some admission estimates at $800 per annum per member (admission prices are speculative; right now residents have no idea how much it will cost for membership, but there absolutely will be annual membership fees/dues).

This recent article sums just a part of the financial burden:

Camas officials, residents wade into pool controversy

The dollar impacts

According to information from the city, if the bond passes, residents will pay an additional $1.04 per $1,000 in assessed property value starting in 2021 and lasting for the next 20 years. The city projects residents’ tax rates for that year will total $14.35 per $1,000 of assessed property value when including state, local and school taxes. That would increase to $14.83 per $1,000 of assessed value by 2039, according to the city’s tax projections.

That equates to adding roughly $474 per year to the tax bill of a home with an assessed property value of $464,400, which is the median assessed value in Camas, according to the city. For 2021, that homeowner would pay $6,800 in property taxes, and by the city’s estimate those taxes would increase to $10,034 in 2039. . . .

Both the total of the bond figure and tax impacts had residents concerned that passage of the bond could price people out of their homes. Those fears weren’t quelled when the city put out some financial analysis on the projected community center. The earliest the center could open would be in 2022. According to information from the city, the center would operate at an annual loss of $843,496. Opponents of the bond say that's too large of a financial hit.

Here's another take from an anti-Proposition 2 campaign: Vote No On Camas Pool Bond. According to one analysis, a whopping 30 percent of all Camas property taxes could go solely to fund construction of and cover the massive operating losses of this "community center."

[texasdiver]

At some point in the planning of this project there was discussion of making a joint community center and pool with the city of Washougal and siting it somewhere between the two cities which would double the tax base in support. I'm not sure how, but when the project finally popped up in the planning stage they had it sited along Lake Road in one of the worst congested intersections in the city as anyone who drives to and from Camas HS can tell you.

If they pull the plug on this project they should go back to trying to do a joint project with Washougal. Maybe use some of the industrial land down at the waterfront that is ripe for redevelopment.

[MechAndy]

Wow!
Am I correct with thinking everybody could get their own pool and have a few bucks to spare if paying that much?
Hope they never do that where we are at.

[TheOrca]

#1 way to help society is by not taking money out of their pockets.

I say no to any sort of government spending.

[StealthRabbit]

I brought a Community Center / Library / pool / senior center / health club proposal to City of Camas in 1982.
They rejected it, So I added School support and presentation. That was rejected...

Colorado had built them via lottery funds, so my proposal was complete with funding proposals, plans, suppliers, and operational instructions. Colorado offered FREE community seminars for other states and communities to learn how to implement this.

Proposal was $3m in 1982 = $8m today.

Seems to have EXPLODED in costs. (small wonder)

So... for the next 40 yrs... I will continue to drive to HR or Mt Hood College or Beaverton to swim in a 50m pool (daily) .

Vancouver built a couple 'wading' pools, but no 50m lap pool (nor will Camas build one).

I loved NZ and Australia were towns smaller than Camas were serving 25,000 persons / month at indoor community lap pools. But... they have public HC, so health / fitness is a priority for cities and residents.

Really too bad considering the benefit and extent a true Community Center could be utilized in a crummy climate.
School and senior programs still keeps our Colorado Community Center very busy, and Camas / Washougal has missed out on that for 40 yrs.

Our CO town has (4) indoor pools ~ 38k population.
Cost to swim laps. $0.75

[TheOrca]

24 hour fitness has a lap pool open 24 hours a day right in tech center

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by TheOrca

24 hour fitness has a lap pool open 24 hours a day right in tech center

Thanks, but VERY short <20m, 4 lanes, and not affordable. (for working class / retirees)

I will stick with 50m pools (No public ones in WA south of Olympia)

[USDefault]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Vancouver built a couple 'wading' pools, but no 50m lap pool (nor will Camas build one). ... I loved NZ and Australia were towns smaller than Camas were serving 25,000 persons / month at indoor community lap pools.

Camas has plenty of pools. Lacamas Athletic Club has both indoor and outdoor heated pools, including outdoor 25m lap pool with plenty of lanes, also gym, basketball court, sauna, whirlpool, etc. Cascade Athletic Club in Fisher's also has three pools, including indoor and outdoor pools.

Plenty of options for residents -- and the membership fees for these clubs is a fraction of what it would cost in property taxes + membership fees for Camas Proposition 2 "community center." Plus if times get tough, you can cancel private club membership. Whereas the annual cost burden of the Camas "community center" (read: debtbomb center) will never, ever end.

[notnamed]

Originally Posted by USDefault

Plenty of options for residents -- and the membership fees for these clubs is a fraction of what it would cost in property taxes + membership fees for Camas Proposition 2 "community center." Plus if times get tough, you can cancel private club membership. Whereas the annual cost burden of the Camas "community center" (read: debtbomb center) will never, ever end.

Covert effort to weed out undesirables and gentrify Camas?

[TheOrca]

Originally Posted by notnamed

Covert effort to weed out undesirables and gentrify Camas?

Increased taxes have inverse gentrification effects.

Rich people move, and the poor people stay.