Earlier this week, representatives from the City of Carroll asked the Carroll County Board of Supervisors to consider a proposal that would help fund about half of the planned Rec Center improvements. City Manager, Mike Pogge-Weaver, said they were not looking for the board to take action yet, but wanted to give them the background and outline the next steps the county would need to take to support the project. The city is working towards a Sept. 8 bond referendum vote for residents on the rec updates and additions with the nearly $13.4 million estimated cost split between general obligation bonds and proceeds from Local Option Sales Tax (L.O.S.T.) revenue. Director of Parks and Recreation, Jack Wardell, discussed the plans for the 45-year-old facility, starting with the pool.
They are talking of adding a lap swim and water walking area and a water slide. The plans add another gym adjacent to the current one and an elevated walking track along with updates and additions to the locker and rest rooms and select communal areas. Pogge-Weaver explained there is a sunset on their L.O.S.T. program of Dec. 31, 2023. To finance the project, they have to eliminate the sunset. He said there is a quirky part of state law regarding this request—dating back to 2012 on the last L.O.S.T. vote.
The county would represent the unincorporated areas, but when the city puts it out for a vote, only residents of Carroll will cast ballots. Pogge-Weaver added the projections show minimal or no impact to resident taxes.
Supervisor Chair, Rich Ruggles, added this does not change the county’s language in their L.O.S.T. guidelines and they will not incur any debt if they agree to the city’s sunset extension. The resident vote to extend the sunset date requires it pass by 50 percent plus one. The general obligation bond referendum would require 60 percent plus one to pass. The supervisors will evaluate the proposal and announce their decision at an upcoming meeting.
