Expected to be on 2018 tax bills: Colfax learns 2016 Parks & Rec levy actually passed on majority vote

A new chapter in the saga of the Colfax City swim pool surfaced Tuesday when city council members learned the 2016 proposal to form a park and recreation district and levy a tax of 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation had actually passed. City Administrator Dodd Snodgrass and City Attorney John Kragt reported the measure passed because it needed only a majority vote for approval.

Kragt noted the city at the time had a “super majority mindset” which turned out to be incorrect when the ballots were counted in November of 2016. The proposal was believed to have required a 60 percent approval which it failed to do.

The final vote on the proposal as 755 yes and 620 no for a 55 percent approval.

Snodgrass and Kragt Tuesday reported their findings on the 2016 vote has been supported by the city’s municipal research agency.

After the council learned the 2016 proposal had actually passed, the council authorized Colfax Finance Director Chris Mathis to take the finding to the assessor’s office and attempt to get the levy measure certified for this year’s tax collections.

That would provide levy revenue of approximately $82,000 for this year and change the financial outlook for operating the pool.

The city at the end of its 2018 budgeting session had decided to keep the pool closed this year unless $32,000 in “outside funds” could be raised to bolster city funds to operate the pool. That decision was made after the council learned another year of deficit operation of the pool would essentially consume the last of reserve funds in the parks budget.

Plans for a fund drive to get $32,000 in donations by a March 31 deadline have already been in the works.

Council members Tuesday noted getting the levy on this year’s tax statements would result in pool fund revenue building up as the taxes are paid.

The revenue would allow the city to operate the pool and possibly consume some of the reserve revenues which could eventually be replaced from the proceeds from the tax levy later in the year.

Councilman Blaine Golden Tuesday night suggested the park board could also review a proposed higher pool fee schedule which it had approved in an effort to increase revenue. Golden noted in some instances the fee hikes were “Draconian” and suggested the fees would serve to cut down use of the pool.

The 2016 ballot proposal for the pool was advanced by former City Administrator Michael Rizzitiello who pointed out the city would eventually need another source of funds to support the pool operation.