Proposal Key Facts
What is the new bond proposal?
Voters are being asked to consider two ballot measures in the May 19, 2026, local election.
A capital bond of $40.3 million to replace the aquatic center. Estimated tax rate of $0.64 per $1000 of assessed value for 25 years.
About the Aquatic Center Bond
What is the total cost of the bond, and what does it cover?
Proposed Capital Bond: A measure not to exceed $40.36 million to fund the design and construction of an aquatic facility on the current site. The plan includes a competition-sized lap pool, a warm-water pool, and a multi-use space on a single level for ADA accessibility.
The estimated tax rate is $0.64 per $1,000 of assessed value over 25 years.
The graph below shows these cuts visually. Note that the $72.25 million project cost from 2024 is that project’s cost, with inflation added only to the aquatic center portion.
How is this bond proposal different from 2024?
The 2026 bond proposal has been reduced by more than 40% from the 2024 proposal. It now focuses only on replacing the aquatic center, keeping it approximately the same size, while improving functionality, and includes fundraising and grants.
The previous proposal included non-pool items (purchasing Parkdale Park, developing Westside Park, and securing the final, missing link of the Indian Creek Trail), as well as a community center that would have been part of the aquatic center. Those capital items have been removed from the proposal.
What is included in the rebuilt pool design?
If the bond is approved by voters, the final detailed architectural design will be completed with public input. The above picture is a concept design for the proposed facility as part of the updated pool options study.
The new pool is designed as a replacement for the current facility, with minor upgrades to improve accessibility, safety, and usability. These include: the therapy pool and wade pool are combined to make the “warm” pool more multi-use. The “warm” pool is closer to the entry and locker rooms to make it easier to reach for all ages. A permanent roof is included to enhance building longevity, improve energy efficiency, and reduce ongoing roof maintenance. All structural, mechanical and electrical systems will meet or exceed current building codes.
How will the project be phased?
The rebuild will happen in two stages, totalling at most $40.3 million in bond dollars:
Phase 1: Design, bidding, permitting, and demolition
Phase 2: Construction
The bonds will be sold in a series (2 rounds). The first round will be sold in 2026 to fund phase 1; the second round will be sold in 2027 to fund phase 2.
This phased approach will enable the district to go through a competitive bidding process before financing the 2nd portion of the bond. There are two significant benefits of this approach:
A more refined, contractor-informed construction budget will be used to know how much actually needs to be borrowed. If actual bids come in lower than current estimates, less will need to be borrowed.
The cost of the bond to taxpayers will be phased in over 2 years, instead of all at once.
There is a risk in this approach that interest rates will go up between phases 1 and 2. However, the district board is prioritizing more precise construction cost estimates, closely monitoring them, and working to mitigate the impact of inflation on the project.
Why can’t the pool be renovated instead of rebuilt?
Under current building codes, initiating a major renovation on one system triggers a legal requirement to bring all other systems up to 2026 standards simultaneously. This means that the current building would need to be torn down and replaced by a code-compliant one.
Cost Comparison: Renovation vs. Replacement
Renovation Cost: According to the 2025 Facility Condition Assessment, the current building contains several non-compliant safety systems, including fire suppression and electrical panels. The estimated cost to bring all current systems into code compliance without changing the facility layout or size is $30 million.
Replacement Cost: The proposed bond of $40.36 million funds a new facility on the same footprint, designed to meet modern ADA standards and current community demand, with a minimum 50-year lifespan.
Operational Impacts of Renovation
A staged renovation would require multiple, separate closures of the facility. Additionally, using the District’s limited reserve funds for individual repairs does not address the underlying structural and building code deficiencies identified in the engineering report.
How long will the pool be kept open if the bond doesn’t pass?
In short, the District will keep the pool open as long as it is safe and financially responsible to do so, and we will clearly communicate when that is no longer possible. This is increasingly difficult, as engineers have already determined that the facility is at the “end of its useful life.”
To explain further:
The Aquatic Center has exceeded its expected lifespan and could experience a major failure at any time. Repairs will only postpone an eventual failure and must be balanced with the financial and workforce needs of the broader parks and recreation system. The District will evaluate each issue based on safety, cost, long-term feasibility, and community impact. The District intends to keep the Aquatic Center open as long as it is safe, meets required codes, and is financially responsible and feasible to do so. When it is no longer prudent to keep the pool open, the District will communicate that decision clearly and in advance whenever possible.
If the bond passes, what is the timeline for the pool rebuild?
June 2026 -Issue Request for Proposal for an owner’s representative to manage the project
July 2026 - Issue Request for Proposal for Design-Build (DB) team or Construction Management at Risk (CMAR), Select by August 30.
Design, Sitework/Permitting (9-12 Months)
Architectural and engineering design
Environmental review and permitting
Cost Estimating
Spring 2027: Sell Bonds after design milestones and cost verification
Site preparation and demolition of the existing facility
Summer 2027: Construction of new facility (12-18 months)
About the Levy
What is the new levy proposal?
A 5-year $0.33 per $1000 of assessed operational levy for parks maintenance, pool operations, and recreation services.
What does the Levy pay for?
The Levy pays for 3 categories of services:
Sustain Recreation services — youth enrichment, youth sports, and adult offerings.
Provide Aquatic Center programs and facility operations — keeping the pool clean, safe, and appropriately supervised with lifeguards and other necessary staff.
Maintain Parks and trails — scheduled maintenance, routine repairs, cleaning services, and vegetation management.
It also creates a Lifecycle replacement plan, ensuring there is funding to replace equipment at the end of its useful life. This includes items such as playground components, irrigation controls, court surfacing, pool filters, etc.
Currently, there is only money to fix the most urgent issues. Unplanned Pool Costs Take Money from Other Programs: Right now, major unplanned pool repair costs are impacting the budget that is designed to fund other HRPRD services, such as trail maintenance, youth programs, parks, and more.
Why does Parks and Rec need the Levy?
HRVPRD has been tasked with more and more responsibilities over time, with no change to the tax rate.
Keeping Up with Trail & Park Growth: Our inventory of parks and trails has quadrupled in 15 years, yet maintenance staffing has remained the same, sharing a single person between the pool, eight parks, and nearly six miles of trails. If approved, this levy would provide the personnel needed to manage 73 acres of community land, including ball fields, shifting our service from reactive repairs to proactive management.
Protecting Community Recreation: Since 2021, the District has stepped in to save youth sports, summer camps, and enrichment programs for over 3,600 participants. The Levy closes the funding gap that fees alone cannot cover, ensuring these essential programs remain available for all local families.
What will be cut if the Levy doesn’t pass?
Parks and Trails: Parks and trails maintenance will continue to be reduced, with a reactive maintenance approach and a focus on safety. General upkeep, such as trash pickup and graffiti cleanup, will occur less frequently.
Pool operations: The Aquatic Center will be closed one to two days a week, indefinitely. Closures and program cuts will be applied roughly uniformly across user groups (like swim team, family swims, etc.), so that no single group receives preferential treatment. Operating hours may also become less reliable without the appropriate funding for staff and maintenance.
Recreation programming: without levy passage, all youth and adult recreation programming will cease in September 2026. And staff will be laid off.
Why did Parks and Rec take over managing Community Education from the School District?
For many years, the Hood River County School District repeatedly asked the Parks and Recreation District to take over management of Community Education. While Community Education clearly aligns with Parks and Recreation’s mission, the District consistently declined. The reason was straightforward: Parks and Recreation did not have the facilities or the stable, long-term funding needed to responsibly manage the program.
In 2020, Community Education was shut down due to COVID-related regulations. At that point, the School District again approached Parks and Recreation—this time with a temporary solution. The School District offered to fund two full-time positions for three years and to provide Parks and Recreation with priority access to school facilities, creating a short-term bridge while longer-term funding could be secured. To prevent the permanent loss of community recreation programs, Parks and Recreation agreed to step in and keep these services alive.
About the Overall Proposal & Property Taxes
Can you tell me a little bit about Oregon’s Property Tax System?
How will my total property tax rate increase?
If both the bond and levy pass, your overall total tax rate will go up approximately 6-7% next year. The exact percentage depends on where you live, because different precincts have different totals. You can see the impact on your tax bill, based on assessed value, by clicking the button below:
Financial Responsibility & Oversight
If the bond is approved, what kinds of oversight will there be?
Owner’s Representative/Project Manager - An Owner’s Representative (OR) acts on behalf of the public agency to protect the owner’s interests throughout design and construction. The OR serves as the owner’s day‑to‑day advocate, coordinator, and technical advisor, helping ensure the project is delivered on time, on budget, and in compliance with public contracting requirements.
General Contractor - The General Contractor (GC) is the entity contracted to physically build the project in accordance with the approved plans, specifications, and public contract requirements. The GC is responsible for delivering the construction work safely, on schedule, and within the terms of the contract.
Citizen Oversight Committee - A Citizen Oversight Committee (COC) provides independent, community‑based oversight of bond funds to ensure that money approved by voters is spent only for the purposes described in the bond measure—such as the design and construction of a replacement aquatic center.
The committee’s role is focused on transparency, accountability, and public trust, not on managing or directing the project.
Elected Board of Directors - Five Elected Board of Directors represent the citizens of Hood River Valley. Two or three candidates are elected in May of every odd year. They meet on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:00pm. The public is encouraged to attend (virtually or in person) and they always hear public comment. They get monthly updates, review financials, set policy, and approve the budget for the Parks and Recreation District.
Can pool admission prices be increased to cover all the costs for the pool?
Pool admission rates will increase, especially for out-of-district users. Pools are costly to build and operate, so most large community pools use a mix of public funding and user fees. Our model is a public community pool: tax dollars help keep admission affordable for most people. Other models — private gyms/country clubs, funded primarily by memberships, or university pools funded through institutional budgets — rely less on local tax support and are often less accessible.
How much will pool admission fees go up with a rebuilt facility?
Whether or not the measures pass, regular in-district fees will be increased moderately to keep up with rising costs. The out-of-district rate will be approximately 50% more than the in-district rate. For instance, if an in-district price is $6 per visit, the out-of-district price would be approximately $9. These changes will take effect in September 2026, when they are generally updated.
Important change: The out-of-district rate will become the default, and a simple proof of residency will be required to receive the in-district rate.