Upper Valley Parks and Recreation Service Area levy reauthorization holds strong in latest ballot count

CHELAN COUNTY – A proposition that supports the Howard Hopkins Memorial Pool maintained over 70 percent approval in the Aug. 9 election update.

Upper Valley Parks and Recreation Service Area (PRSA) Proposition No. 1 would reauthorize a six-year property tax levy that funds 50 percent of the community pool’s annual operations budget.The proposition must receive 60 percent of voter approval for reauthorization. If the levy does not pass, the pool could face a significant reduction in operations or the possibility of a permanent closure.

For this election, the PRSA proposed a higher levy rate, at 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. According to Upper Valley Aquatics Boosters (UVAB), the higher rate would generate around $463,000 in annual revenue for the PRSA. 

This year, the pool’s 2024 budget includes $417,000 in maintenance and operational costs and emergency repair costs. Capital reserve dollars were used to make up the difference of cost exceeding revenue. 

As of 5 p.m. on Aug. 8, the levy authorization received 1,765 votes of approval and 704 rejections. Just over 22,600 ballots had been counted, with an estimated 225 remaining. The next ballot count is anticipated for Aug. 20 at 2:30 p.m.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media