1.  When were the pools built?

• Dimond and East Pools were opened in 1973
• Service Pool was opened in 1983
• Bartlett Pool was built with state funds and opened in 1987
• The new West Pool was opened in 1997

2.  Why were the pools built?

• Pools save lives.
• Alaska has one of the highest rates of death by drowning in the United States.
• Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths nationally for children aged 1 to 14.
• People learn water safety and to swim in pools.
• Pools provide year around recreational opportunities for all ages, skill levels, and types of water related activities.
• Past Anchorage citizens believed that they were important and needed.  They still are.
• More than 56,000 swim lessons were taught in 2007 even though Service Pool was closed to lessons for about six months.

3.  Why do we need these pools when there are others in Anchorage like the Alaska Club, H2Oasis, and the universities?

• The commercial pools require either a large entry fee or a monthly membership fee to use them.  The Municipal pools do not.
• The APU, UAA, and YMCA pools do let you walk up and pay to enter, but they are already at or near capacity with the five Municipal pools open.
• The Municipal pools are a public resource, like libraries or schools.
• In 2007 people used the Municipal pools more than 260,000 times. 

4.  What are the major repairs that are needed?

• Service Pool: The original roof and liner are 25 years old and need to be replaced.
• Bartlett Pool: The original roof is 21 years old and needs to be replaced.
• Dimond Pool: The building exterior is 35 years old and needs to be replaced.
• The estimated cost of these non-pool, building repairs is $1.66 million.  The Service pool liner is an additional $400,000.
• The water filter systems of all five pools need to be repaired to keep the pools safe.

5.  What is the total estimated cost of the proposed repairs?

• The total, allowing 15% for contingencies and cost increases, is $4 million.

6.  Why do the repairs require bonds rather than being paid as part of the regular budget?

• The Municipal operating budget has not made any provision for accumulating funds for major capital repairs.  It provides an amount for capital repairs and maintenance that is not sufficient to do regular, preventative capital maintenance to all the buildings and facilities the Municipality owns.
• Large capital repairs can only be paid for by bonds or money obtained from the State of Alaska.

7.  Will we still be paying the bonds when the same work has to be done again?

• The major repairs described in (2) above all have expected lifetimes of 20 years or more.
• The bonds have a term of 20 years, but they normally are paid off more quickly.  Anchorage’s bonds have a payment history of being paid over a bit less than 9 years (weighted average), so the repairs will outlast the time the bonds are being paid and less interest is paid..

8.  If the proposed repairs total $4 million, why does Proposition 4 seek only $2 million dollars?

• If Proposition 4 passes, bonds will only be issued if funds are also appropriated in the State budget.  We are seeking a full match from the State.
• If the State does not appropriate any funds for pool repairs, then no bonds will be issued even if Proposition 4 passes.

9.  What will the cost in increased real property taxes be?

• If the full $2 million in bonds is issued, it will require 60 cents per year per $100,000 in assessed valuation to pay off the bonds
• The owner of a $300,000 house will pay $1.80 a year for the pool bonds.

10.  The proposition authorizes taxes for operation and maintenance; what is this about?

• These bonds are needed to borrow money to make capital repairs because money was not saved for them.
• The proposition authorizes the Municipal Assembly to budget money to be dedicated to the operation and maintenance of the five pools.  It sets a maximum amount.
• Each budget cycle the Assembly will have the authority to assess tax for a dedicated fund which will accumulate for pool capital repairs.  At present valuations, up to $100,000 per year can be set aside and accumulate interest until it is needed to replace another roof or other capital repair.
• The Assembly will also have the authority to assess tax for regular maintenance of the five pools.  This money is either already being spent for maintenance or should be in order to avoid deterioration. At current valuations, a maximum of  $35,000 would be raised and the general maintenance budget could be reduced.
• The Assembly also will have the authority to assess a tax to increase the operating budget of the repaired pools.  At present values and costs, an additional 1,000 hours of pool operation could be funded.
• The Assembly is not required to use this authority or to fully fund all of it in any budget.
• This will be an issue every time a budget is put together.

11.  What is the maximum tax that could be imposed for operations and maintenance?

• The maximum is 83 cents per year per $100,000 in assessed value.
• The owner of a $300,000 home would pay $2.49 annually for $35,000 of maintenance,  a capital repair fund off $100,000 which will bear interest for future repairs, and increased pool hours.

12.  If Proposition 4 passes, but the State does not appropriate matching funds, then what happens?

• No bonds are issued.
• The Assembly does not have the authority to assess taxes for operations and maintenance.

13.  Will Eagle River, Chugiak, and Girdwood have to pay anything under this Proposition?

• No, only property within the Anchorage Pars and Recreation District will be assessed.

14.  Does Proposition 4 have to be passed by Eagle River, Chugiak, and Girdwood?

• Yes, because the bonds are issued by the Municipality of Anchorage and a majority of the voters have to approve it.

15. What is the maximum cost per year if Proposition 4 passes, is matched by the State and the Assembly and Mayor levy taxes for the full operations, maintenance, and capital repair fund?

• For a $300.00 home, the maximum cost will be $4.29, less than the cost of a deluxe coffee or a fast food meal.
• In 2008 the Municipality is planning to pay down the principal on Parks and Rec bonds by $1.438 million. If Proposition 4 passes this means that Parks and Rec bond debt will create a net increase in bonded debt of less than $600,000. And this means that the change in annual taxes for Proposition 4 will be less than shown here.

16.  Why should the State of Alaska appropriate matching funds?

• Pools are a public safety facility.  The State should support public safety statewide.
• Bartlett Pool is the only 50 meter competitive pool in the State.  It is used by competitive swimmers of all ages from all over the State.  In 2007 more than 3,500 people competed there.  Swimmers and coaches from outside Anchorage and the Valley spent more than 2,800 nights in Anchorage.  This does not count parents and spouses.
• If the State funds are provided and the Proposition passes, then the pools will be on a sound financial footing and further bonds or State money won’t be needed.