This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
This article is part of a series which will be published by the Longmont Observer this week providing more information on ballot issue 3B, a sales tax increase of 0.18% in the City of Longmont to fund the construction of a competitive swimming pool and ice rink.
Of the decisions before citizens on this year's election ballot in the City of Longmont, the most contentious is easily Ballot Issue 3B, whose formal title is "Authorizing $45,500,000 of revenue bonds and a sales and use tax rate increase of 0.18% to fund a competitive pool and ice rink." The proposal is a plan to build a facility owned by the City of Longmont which would include a 25 lane lap swimming pool, an ice rink sized for hockey but also available for ice skating and figure skating, and a fitness center.
Proponents of the ballot issue, like Longmont Mayor Brian Bagley, describe it as an important effort to continue to improve city amenities in order to continue to attract high-income residents to the city who will subsidize other city services. "This is something we can afford," said Bagley at this month's mayoral debate against challenger Schuyler Trowbridge. Bagley has repeatedly described the facility as being a recreation center like the one on Quail Road, "but instead of a basketball court it will have a 25 lane pool and ice rink."
Detractors derisively refer to the proposed facility as "Ice Town," a reference to popular NBC sitcom Parks & Recreation. Those who use the term to refer to Ballot Issue 3B draw comparisons to the perceived excess, lack of necessity, and cost of the facility.
Over the next week, the Longmont Observer will publish a series of articles exploring a few of the important questions around Ballot Issue 3B:
- Where will the facility be located?
- Can the city afford to build and operate the facility?
- How comparable is this facility to the existing rec center?
- Does the city need another pool?
