Officials for the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District have made a startling disclosure: No new taxes will be needed to operate and maintain their planned $15.2 million aquatics and recreation center. Voters will decide on Nov. 4 whether the facility should be funded with a 20-year general obligation bond.

Those critical of the center have pointed out that the district’s own consultants are predicting an annual maintenance and operations revenue shortfall.

ORB Associates predict that once the center opens, there will be a $154,000 deficit the first year, dropping to a continued deficit of roughly $114,000 by 2020 as usage revenue increases.

Originally, the park board said the deficit would require a 4-cent voter-approved increase in 2010 to their current 15-cent maintenance and operations levy.

But Port Commissioner Matt Simms revealed a new plan based on a $250,000 “windfall” that the district hadn’t included in its budget, based on information provided by the Island County assessor.

Each year, the actual money received by a taxing district drops by as much as 1.5 cents, Simms explained. In 2008, the park will in fact receive about 10 cents.

When the current park M&O levy was passed in February, the county assessor re-set the amount the district receives back to

15 cents.

“This means we won’t need to ask for any tax increases as the regular levy will cover operating deficits in the first year after the center is built,” Simms explained.

Parks Commissioner Linda Kast said that there should be more than enough to make up the projected shortfall and also save some in a reserve fund should revenues or costs change.

“We knew there would be a bump, just not how much,” she said.

The county assessor’s report also noted that new construction values fell from $97 million in 2007 to

$59 million in 2008. That, coupled with dropping home prices, make all future taxing district revenues unclear.

But park officials insist there will be no new taxes in the future.

Provided voters agree, the community recreation center will be built next to the Community Park’s entrance on Maxwelton Road in Langley.

The park district is asking for a 20-year general obligation bond costing an additional

17.4 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to pay for the project.

The draft plan from ORB Architects includes an outdoor, heated six-lane lap pool, indoor leisure pool with water slide, changing rooms, hot tub, two multi-purpose rooms for parties, offices, a small kitchen, outdoor basketball court and fitness center.

Andy McRea, a supporter of the project, said plans for a climbing wall were dropped for a more promising source of income — a tennis center.

McRea noted that site work for the tennis center, including asphalt and electrical hook-ups for night lighting, is now included in the construction budget. The center will be completed later in partnership with private interests.

Not everyone in the community is happy with the park’s plans.

One local builder, Bob Dalton, said he believes $15 million is too much, although he admits a new pool would be a fine addition for the community.

“They have underestimated the costs to run the center,” he said. “The numbers seem to indicate a loss of $750,000 in the first five years alone. It’s too expensive for the number of people expected to use it.”

Others have called the rec center a “luxury” the community can’t afford amid the current economic climate.

Pat Scott of Freeland questioned how the original need for a pool grew into a full-sized community center.

Commissioners insist that the district has been collecting public input for years.

“For a long time now, we’ve run needs assessments from the public and, though a pool was at the top of the list, there were other desires expressed from seniors and other community members,” Simms said.

And McRea has argued that economically, bigger is better.

“A leisure pool brings in money to cover the cost of a lap pool,” he said. “The other facilities bring in money to help pay for both.”

Some in the community have questioned the validity of the park’s financial findings.

“Our consultant’s numbers aren’t bulletproof but they’re close,” Simms said. “Results from ORB’s latest community center project in Gray’s Harbor indicate they have a handle on costs.”

Scott is convinced the park district is on the right track.

“The community center is a long-term investment in our children and creates viable options for people of all ages. These are painful decisions in a down economy but sometimes you have to go for it. I’m voting for the pool because I think keeping young people on the island is worth it.”

But Clinton’s Doug Brand doesn’t agree.

“I think this project is inappropriate at this time,” he said.

Brand said the recreation center is too expensive, serves only a small group of users and the district still doesn’t have construction plans firmed up.

Brand was especially wary of the operating deficit and how it will be covered.

“They’re saying they’ll cover the annual shortfall of $154,000 with their current M&O dollars but even if property values rise, the money has to come from somewhere.”

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.com.