Estimated costs to completely renovate the Crown Park outdoor Camas pool were up to $2.19 million, yet the city closed that pool in 2018. In 2019, costs of a “replacement” have ballooned to $72 million for a 78,000-square-foot facility with multiple pools, fitness center, and meeting rooms. Add $6 million for existing sports field improvements for an exorbitant $78 million 20-year bond on November’s ballot. These construction costs will add approximately $1.04 per $1,000 property value to annual property taxes — $500 for a $480,000 Camas home.
Camas families and businesses will be forced to pay annual bond taxes, even if they never use the facility. To actually use the facility, hefty membership or use fees will be charged. Operation costs are not included in this bond. User fees will cover some costs, but a new parks tax district and added taxes are being considered to pay for operations and projected losses for this massive center.
Local schools rent gyms, rooms, theaters, and fields to community groups. Nearby athletic clubs offer pools and/or workout facilities, and it is unfair for Camas to compete with or push out longtime businesses. This unnecessary, elaborate pool center is too expensive for many Camas residents.
