During the 2020 presidential debates, Pete Buttigieg made a great point when he said politicians often tout a program or project because it’s the largest or most expensive of its kind rather than measuring the benefits delivered.

That’s what came to mind as I watched the pool dream bloom from $19 million in 2019 to $40 million two years ago – versus an engineering estimate of $10 million to rehabilitate the old pool.

Maybe the latest iteration will ballpark at $20 million to $30 million. Still, it feels like we’re shopping for a Cadillac instead of a Chevy. It’s a lot of money for something most of us will never use, and we have five other (small) pools for those who choose to live in Ludlow, Cape George or Kala Point.

Polls

Having the JeffCo Aquatic Coalition conduct the survey is akin to sending lettuce by rabbit, though the latest survey is better than those prior. Two years ago, the survey didn’t offer an option to indicate opposition, as if we were going to build a new pool no matter what. Another, earlier survey only polled pool and recreation users, who of course supported it in a landslide.

At least the new survey allows opponents to say a new pool is “not important to me.” Online only, it’ll be no more than a reflection of those motivated to take the poll.

In a “wellness survey” a decade ago, Port Townsend residents ranked ideas they thought could “improve health and well-being:”

1. Affordable housing

2. More/better jobs

3. Better access to mental health care

4. More help for residents dealing with stress/mental health

5. Less substance use/abuse

No, the pool didn’t make the top five, but it continues to be top of mind for city and county leaders because of vocal and well-organized proponents. I think we should keep “opportunity costs” in mind if we spend tens of millions on a pool, which would lessen our ability to fund other needs and wants. For example, the city’s transportation improvement plan is largely unfunded, although the new transportation district tax is helping.

The wellness survey highlighted issues that make it difficult for people to get a foothold here and hang on as affordability slips away. Million-dollar homes are no longer a novelty, and people will keep moving here whether or not we replace the pool.

As a retired city planner and economic development manager, I think investing in infrastructure and incentives for jobs, affordable housing, and transportation is more worthwhile than a deluxe swimming pool, especially for people of modest means.

Affordability

An additional 0.2% sales tax would have generated $1,843,870 in 2024, according to the county treasurer. (The city rate would rise from 9.4% to 9.6%, and the county rate, including the transportation district in effect April 1, would rise from 9.2% to 9.4%.) The Aquatics Coalition proposes using that revenue to secure a 30-year, 5% bond of $20 million for the primary pool funding. With annual payments of $1,210,218, that would leave $633,652 for operations.

A recession would cut that revenue, and given the bells and whistles contemplated in the survey, it’s hard to imagine borrowing less than $20 million (at $30 million, debt service would be $1,854,400, leaving zero for operations). Of course, interest rates could be higher by the time construction starts.

While it makes sense to pick a more central location if the whole county is required to pay, a 2014 pool feasibility study concluded Hadlock would attract only half as many users as Mountain View. That has implications for user fees and the risk of sales tax revenues being insufficient.

Process

It’s not clear what we’ll learn from the Fort Worden PDA debacle and subsequent finger-pointing. It appears the PDA borrowed more than it should have based on optimistic or perhaps flawed revenue projections – and a lack of oversight. Ultimately, taxpayers will have to make good on its obligations.

So here we are looking at a public facilities district (PFD) with the authority to change the project and its location or even cancel it. Under state law, PFDs can also incur debt, seek voter-approved property taxes and levy lodging taxes on facilities with more than 40 rooms.

We’re probably talking at least $20 million in debt plus significant operating costs – and the need to keep user fees low enough that people will swim. All of which brings to mind what a pool proponent said years ago when a metropolitan park district was being considered for pool funding: “You don’t have to get it all on the first bite.”

Let’s make sure we don’t get so deep in debt we can’t live within our means.

Barney Burke is a former Leader reporter, PUD commissioner, city planner and economic development manager.