The fate of a new swimming pool in Yuma rests in the hands of the voters.
Ballot Question 2A submitted by the City of Yuma seeks permission to raise funds for constructing, equipping and operating a new swimming pool. The ballot question asks if the city’s debt can be increased by an amount not to exceed $6 million, with a maximum repayment cost of $9.5 million, utilizing sales and use tax revenue bonds or other financial obligations.
The question asks that a 0.75-percent sales and use tax be imposed beginning January 1, 2026. The increase, geared solely toward the swimming pool project, would terminate on the first day of the calendar year following the final repayment of all bonds or refunding bonds, which is anticipated to be January 1, 2042. Collection of the sales and use tax revenue is capped at $1.5 million in the first fiscal year, and then by whatever amount is generated.
(The max repayment might be lower than what is on the ballot, it depends on the interest rate when issued. Also, the capped revenue from the sales tax the first year also is higher than anticipated.)
If the ballot question is approved, the city and its bond counsel will move forward with the bond issue, likely before the end of the year. It is unknown now when the project would be put out to bid.
If all goes accordingly, the pool likely will be ready for swimmers in the early summer of 2027.
If the ballot question is defeated, Yuma won’t have a pool.
The city has concluded building a new pool is more beneficial and cost-effective than attempting to repair the current pool, which was built in the 1960s.
Essenza Architecture has produced a new conceptual drawing of the pool complex, a design that better fits the city’s budget for a new pool. It includes a zero-entry area with play equipment, three swimming lanes, a diving well and slides, along with a diving well, as well as a separate kiddie pool.
The drawing includes the splash pad to the east. However, that is not part of the pool project. The city already has paid for the splash pad, and preliminary work already has begun on its installation. The splash pad will be in operation next year.
So what will the 0.75-percent sales/use tax mean to those purchasing goods in Yuma? The city has produced fact sheet about the pool project and the tax.
• It would be less than 3¢ more for one gallon of milk, priced at $3.50.
• It would be about 2¢ more for a loaf of bread, priced at $2.50.
• A $50 grocery bill would be about 38¢ more.
• $100 in gasoline would be about 75¢.
• $500 in back-to-school shopping (for example) would be about $3.75.
The funds can only be used for the pool, and as stated above, the sales/use tax will sunset after all the bonds have been repaid.
The city has stated it will provide regular updates on the design, spending and construction of the pool complex.
Also, the plan is to keep entry fee schedule that was in place when the current pool was last in operation. It is stated it will keep costs consistent and affordable for families, while ensuring the sustainability of the new pool. Those fees are $1.50 for 6 and under, $2.00 for ages 7-14, $2.50 for 15 and above, and those over 65 get in free.
Chief ballot question
Voters living within the City of Yuma are being asked to change the city charter in the upcoming mail-ballot election.
Ballot Question 2B asks for Sections 7.2 and 7.8 of the Home Rule Charter of City of Yuma be amended to change the authority and supervision of the Police Chief and Police Department from City Council to the City Manager.
Under the charter, the council has the authority and supervision of the city manager, city clerk/treasure and police chief.
Mayor Tim McClung told the Pioneer there has been discussions for quite a while about making the change. Then it was learned during the city manager search earlier this year that the vast majority of home-ruled cities with a council-city manager setup have just the city manager under the council’s supervision.
If passed, the police chief will answer to the city manager, not the council. It will be the city manager’s responsibility to handle the hiring and firing (if it would come to that) of the police chief.