The Sweet Home City Council has agreed to provide $16,494 to School District 55 to help pay for the operation of the pool throughout the summer.

District 55 administrators initially proposed cutting funding for the pool to resolve a projected revenue shortfall of $1.1 million for the 2010-11 school year.

Some 25 people spoke against closing the pool at a meeting on June. About 125 people attended the meeting. Since then, the district asked the city for assistance for the summer, and the administrators pulled the pool from a list of recommended cuts.
In the meantime, pool users and supporters are exploring the formation of an aquatics district.

The district would impose a property tax of about 24 cents per $1,000 based on a School District estimate.

Initially, the district and pool supporters had hoped to get an aquatics district on the November ballot, said Supt. Larry Horton, but the soonest the proposed district could be placed on the ballot will be May 2012.

At this time, the district is continuing to fund the pool, but it was recommended that the district approach the city for help with the summer program, Horton said.

The summer program runs for two months, June to July and July to August, Horton said. The total cost is $32,988.

He requested that the council pay for half during the council’s regular meeting on July 13.

“Without the city’s help, we will need to implement reductions in our pool program with possible closure coming in the future,”
Horton said.

The initial request was in June, but both the city and district were near the completion of their budget processes, and adding the expenditure was procedurally more complicated than taking action after July 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.

The state and school districts received a “12th-hour” bailout by the federal government in the past, said City Manager Craig Martin. He asked Horton whether it is a possibility again this year.

“It’s possible, highly unlikely,” Horton said. “We’ve pretty much been told not to expect the federal government’s assistance.”

“We have to do whatever it takes to keep the pool open,” said Councilor Scott McKee Jr. “If we can find a way, we should do it.”

Councilor Jim Gourley echoed his support for the pool.

Corky Lowen, a Sweet Home resident, emphasized the role the pool plays in public safety.

“You know, if we lose one child, this money is not enough to replace it,” she said.

While he thinks everyone involved in the meeting were all strong supporters of the pool, Mayor Craig Fentiman said, the city does have other issues affecting its decision.

Officials said putting money toward the pool is likely to complicate negotiations with city employees.

“I’m in a very awkward position,” said Police Chief Bob Burford, whose children used the pool throughout their education. The city is holding the line in current contract negotiations with police officers and general employees, and it is offering no wage increases.

“This is going to be a problem for negotiations,” Burford said.

The district is in the same position with bargaining, Horton said, and the teachers and administrators stepped up and tentatively agreed to cutting four days of school along with a freeze on cost-of-living adjustments. The classified employees also have agreed to cutting four days of the school year.

The council voted 6-0 to use funds from its $5,000 community grants program with the remainder from its contingency to assist the School District.

Last year, the council used only $2,000 from the grant fund, Martin said. It has had no applications for grants since the grant cycle opened in July.

Councilors attending the meeting included Fentiman, Gourley, McKee, Laure Fowler, Eric Markell and Ron Rodgers. Greg Mahler was absent.

The School Board has approved nearly half of the recommended cuts to resolve its $1.1 million shortfall. The board will meet in a work session on Aug. 9 to discuss the remaining proposed cuts.