I would like to correct an error I made in my recent opinion piece regarding Redmond’s new recreation center.

I stated that Measure 9-175 was asking for an increase in the permanent operating levy for the Redmond Area Parks & Recreation District. That is incorrect.

The ballot measure asks for a 5-year temporary operating levy. If passed, it would supplement the existing permanent operating levee.

The impact is the same as what I described last week. The temporary levee and the permanent operating levee, combined, would pay for the increased expenses of operating the new large facility.

Lest you think RAPRD is asking for too much, consider the predicament the Madras Aquatic Center finds itself in.

The Madras pool was built in 2008 and the recreation district that supports it was established a few years later. Unfortunately, the district operating levee adopted was not enough to pay for the pools’ ongoing operating expenses.

The district also had some significant management problems, which damaged public trust and made finding a way to increase revenue more difficult.

Currently the Madras pool is open 28 hours per week, Tuesday through Friday, seven hours per day. It is not open Saturday or Sunday. Imagine how frustrating this is for community members who want to use the facility.

Richard Lance

Redmond

Editor’s Note

Editor’s Note

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