Bond & Levy Project Page

FAQS

Election Update

Proposed concept of the rebuilt Aquatic Center on the same site.

Dear Residents,

Thank you to everyone who participated in the May 19 election. We are grateful for your engagement, your voices, and your commitment to the future of parks and recreation in the Hood River Valley.

We recognize that this outcome does not reflect every voter’s preference, and we approach this moment with humility and respect for all perspectives.

With the passage of both the bond and the levy, our work now shifts toward implementation. We are committed to transparency, accountability, and clear communication at every step.

We invite you to stay connected:

Our immediate next steps in beginning to move forward with the pool rebuild are:

  • Begin hiring an owner’s representative.

    • An owner’s representative is a construction expert hired by the District to act as our advocate on the Aquatic Center Rebuild. They will help coordinate designers and contractors, manage the budget and schedule, and ensure the project is delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with public requirements.

  • In early June, begin recruiting and reviewing applicants for the community oversight committee to guide and monitor progress.

  • Continued updates on the rebuild process and timeline will be shared through our communication channels. 

  • Rolling out summer swim lessons and fall community recreation programs.

Thank you again for your trust and continued involvement in our community.

With appreciation,
Everyone at HRVPRD

Community input is central to this project. We will be forming a citizen oversight committee to help supervise the project.

 

Short Summary of Funding

The Bond Replaces the Pool

The bond is a one-time, long-term
loan used for capital construction,
designing and building a
replacement aquatic center and
related capital needs.

The draft bond amount is up to
$40,360,000, repaid over up to 25
years, with an estimated average
tax rate of about $0.64 per $1,000 of
assessed value (The actual rate can vary; the bond amount does not).


The Levy Operates Parks, Trails, Community Recreation, & Aquatics

The levy funds operations and staffing (lifeguards/front
desk/maintenance capacity), plus parks and trails
maintenance and sustaining community education programs.

The proposed levy is $0.33 per $1,000, raising about $1,064,052 per year for a fixed term of five
years. (The actual rate can vary; the annual levy amount does not).

Alternate Funding will be Raised to Support Extras

  • The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that seeks private donations for facility enhancements that are not included in the bond proposal (i.e. play features, extra doors for fresh air, etc).

  • If the bond is approved, HRVPRD will obtain Oregon State Parks Local Government Grants for eligible outdoor features, like a splash pad, landscaping, and a patio on the north side of the building.

  • Out-of-district user fees will be increased to supplement the project and operational costs.

The videos below give information about the ballot measures.

Background

In 1988, the Hood River Valley Park and Recreation District was formed with the authority specifically to build and manage a new pool. In 1992, through an advisory measure, voters approved expanding their authority to include “Parks and Recreation services besides pool operations” under the existing tax base. In 1997, Measure 50 changed how local governments collected taxes and froze the districts’ permanent tax rate at $0.3498 per $1,000 of assessed value.


Since 1988, the District’s service area and responsibilities have increased significantly in response to community demand.

  • Outdoor Spaces: The District did not start building and maintaining parks and trails until 2003. For the last 23 years, the District's parkland inventory has grown from 0 acres to 73 acres and 6 miles of trails, all acquired without property tax dollars, using System Development Charges (SDCs), grants, partnerships, and easements. 

  • Community Education: In 2021, the District assumed operations of community education previously managed by the school district, which currently serves 3,600 participants and has no long-term funding.

  • Facility Lifecycle: The Aquatic Center upgrades funded in previous decades have reached the end of their functional life, with a 2017 engineering report assigning the facility a score of 44 out of 100 and subsequent 2025 engineering reports identifying that major systems, including electrical panels and fire sprinkler systems, do not meet current building codes or ADA accessibility standards. Engineers have noted in their assessments that a major system failure would result in a permanent closure of the facility.

2025 Pool Options Study

What will these proposals cost you?

Levy Financial Impact: If approved by voters, the five-year measure at approximately $0.33 per $1,000 of assessed value, would raise roughly $1.06 million annually. These funds are designated for operating and maintaining the District parks and trails, the Aquatic Center, as well as youth sports and enrichment programs previously managed by the school district.

Bond Financial Impact: If approved by voters, the bond would be funded by property tax increases not to exceed $40.36 million to fund the design and construction of an aquatic facility on the current site.

The estimated tax rate is $0.64 per $1,000 of assessed value over 25 years.

Homeowner Impact: If both the levy and bond pass, the increase to the local parks rate would be about $0.97* per thousand of assessed value. You can calculate your property tax impact using the following formula or by visiting our tax calculator.

Assessed Home Value ÷ 1,000 x 0.97 = Annual Increase