YES
ON
2A & 2B

Ballot Language PDF

Pb Swims submitted a citizen petition for Municipal Code changes (an ordinance) and a related tax to operate and maintain a public aquatics facility in Leadville. Rather than accept the ordinance changes, the City Council has instead decided that voters will vote on both the ordinance and the related tax separately in November.
The County Commissioners rejected Pb Swims’ proposal to refer a Pool Tax measure to the 2023 ballot.
The City Council of Leadville rejected Pb Swims’ proposal to refer a Pool Tax to the 2023 ballot.
The School District voted 3 to 2 against including the aquatic center on the 2023 school bond issue.

AN AFFORDABLE PUBLIC POOL IS UP TO US!

Voters registered in the City of Leadville will see a 1/2 Penny dedicated sales tax initiative on the November 2024 Ballot.
All revenue goes specifically to renovate, operate, maintain, and eventually replace the aquatic center.
The tax burden of operating and maintaining our pool will be shared with visitors.
A $100 purchase in the City would be taxed 50 cents. The tax revenue is estimated to generate approximately $450,000 per year based on 2023 City sales tax revenue.
The Pool has been closed since December 12, 2020.
Meanwhile, our tax dollars have funded hundreds of thousands of County tax dollars-in plans and studies.
The Lake County Board of Education, according to June 24, 2023 meeting packet material, has made a directional decision via the recent BEST grant to build an expansion at LCES rather than renovate LCIS where our public pool has sat empty for over 3 ½ years.

A DEDICATED SOURCE OF REVENUE IS NEEDED

In 1999, The Pool was shut down because the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department and the School District did not have money to renovate or operate the facility. The 1974 contract to operate and maintain the swimming pool was not honored by the Lake County School District.
In 2020 Lake County Aquatic Center (LCAC) was shut down for repairs, then “permanently” closed by the Lake County Commissioners April 2021. The 2003 Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to operate and maintain the swimming pool was not honored.
Foundations have expressed that the aquatic center would potentially be a fit for their grantmaking. However, their hesitation and concerns are around the longer-term sustainable operations of the facility.
Foundations have asked if there is a plan for a ballot measure or other financial support.
They have also questioned why Lake County School District, Lake County Government, and the City of Leadville are not partnering with Pb Swims.