Water park project heading to Pasco voters. It could open in 2 years

Pasco residents will finally get a chance to vote in April on a proposed aquatic center.

The Pasco Public Facilities District board voted 4-1 this week to ask taxpayers to increase the local sales tax by two-tenths of a percent to help pay for the project.

The $40 million, 25-year bond would build an indoor/outdoor aquatic facility.

The measure will be on Franklin County’s April 26 special election ballot.

The project has been in the works in various forms for more than a decade.

In 2013, a regional effort by the Tri-Cities Public Facilities District to fund a $35 million facility failed to get off the ground, when voters across the Tri-Cities rejected a sales tax increase request.

At Tuesday’s meeting, only board member Caroline Bowdish opposed moving forward with the vote.

Citizen committee

The next step in the process will require the district to put together “pro and con” citizen committees to raise money and campaign on either side of the issue.

The board itself cannot campaign for the proposition or use public facilities to either support or oppose the ballot issue.

Pasco Administrative and Community Services Director Zach Ratkai said residents interested in serving on either committee should contact the Pasco City Clerk’s Office.

Once applications are submitted, the clerk’s office will contact residents who wish to join the committees.

Water park plan

As proposed, the facility would be built on about 4.6 acres in two phases — the first at nearly 47,000 square feet and the second just over 13,000 square feet.

The first phase of the proposed Pasco water park could include indoor and outdoor pools, party room and more.
The first phase of the proposed Pasco water park could include indoor and outdoor pools, party room and more.

Ratkai said the location of the facility in Pasco is still to be determined.

The first phase would include an indoor leisure pool, outdoor activity pool, party room, outdoor concessions and locker rooms.

It could be ready to operate in 2024, with 16 total full- and part-time workers.

The second phase is projected to be 12 to 15 years out with the cash balance from the bond. That phase would involve an indoor, eight-lane competition pool.

Sales tax

A local sales tax bump needs to be approved with a vote of at least 50% or more of the voters. It would be implemented immediately.

That means customers shopping in the Pasco area would be taxed 2 cents on a $10 purchase, 20 cents on a $100 purchase and $2 on $1,000.

While the sales tax collections would go toward the bond repayment, revenue from the aquatic facility once up and running would cover operating expenses.