Redmond Parks and Rec levy looks set to fail

Published 4:01 pm Tuesday, November 5, 2024

The Redmond Park and Recreation District five-year levy to fund operations for a new community center was not passing in preliminary election results Tuesday night. In early results, 67.5% voted no and 32.5% were in favor.

The Redmond park district passed a $49 million bond in November 2022 to fund the new community center. The levy would raise $1.1 million in the first year to fund operations for the building, including staffing, utilities and pool chemicals. Over five years, the levy would raise $6.3 million.

The park district had a similar levy on the ballot two years ago, and it did not pass then either.

The new recreation center is in the early stages. It will be a 56,000-square-foot building with two pools, one with eight laps for lap swimming and the other a leisure pool with a hot tub and slide. It will also have an open fitness area, a gymnasium lined for several sports and group fitness classrooms. It is scheduled to open in early 2026.

The new center will allow the park district to expand sports camps, cooking classes and activities for families in the afternoons and early evenings, among other activities.

Even with the anticipated revenue the new center will bring in, the park district still estimates it will need $1.4 million to operate the building in its first year. The Cascade Swim Center will reduce its hours regardless.

The levy would authorize an increase in taxes of 21 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

That would translate to $52.56 per year or $4.38 per month for an average-priced home.

Construction on the recreation center is expected to start in November.

Voters to decide on Redmond Area Park and Recreation District operations levy

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