Talking Points

  • Pools save lives and provide a variety of aquatics activities for all age groups and skill levels 12 months a year.
    • Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths nationally for children aged 1-14. (CDC 2005)
    • Alaska’s drowning rate for ages 0-14 was almost 2.5 times the national average for 1981-2002. ( Alaska Health & Social Services)
    • Children ( and adults)  learn water safety and how to swim in pools, 56,000 swim lessons were taught in 2007.
    • Life saving skills are taught & learned in pools.
    • Pools provide year round recreational opportunities for all ages, skill levels, and types of water related activities. 
    • Swimming is a lifetime activity; in 2007 more than 260,000 people entered the pools to get in the water.
  • Anchorage pools are aging and now require large capital repairs to continue safe operations.
    • West Pool opened in 1972-73; rebuilt & reopened 1996-97.
    • Dimond Pool opened in 1973-74; renovated in 1990-91.
    • East Pool opened in 1973-74; renovated 1991-92.
    • Service Pool opened in 1983.
    • Bartlett Pool opened in 1987.
    • Bartlett, Service, & Dimond Pools require the most work, totaling an estimated repair cost of $3.175 million to preserve the buildings and repair the pool facilities.   See Proposed Project List.
  • Repair costs of the 5 Anchorage pools total nearly $4 million. Proposition 4 authorizes bonds to be issued only if there is an appropriation of State funds. We are seeking a 1 to 1 match.
    • If Proposition 4 passes and the State appropriates less than a 1 to 1 match ($2 million dollars), then there will not be enough money to carry out all the needed repairs. 
    • If the State does not appropriate any funds for pool repairs, then no bonds will be issued even if Proposition 4 passes.
    • Proposition 4 requires support from Eagle River, Chugiak and Girdwood to pass but they will not be assessed to pay the pool bonds.
    • Bonds will be issued by the Municipality of Anchorage and thus a majority of the voters across the municipality have to approve it.
    • Though technically part of the MOA, Eagle River & Chugiak properties are part of the Eagle River Parks, Recreation, and Community Development and are taxed according to the guidelines set forth by the Eagle River Parks & Recreation Board of Supervisors. Girdwood properties are part of the Girdwood Parks & Recreation Department and are taxed according to the guidelines set forth by the Girdwood Parks & Recreation Parks Commission.
  • For a $300,000 home, the annual expense will be $4.29 - less than a deluxe coffee or a fast food meal.
    • Base cost is $1.43 per $100,000 of home’s assessed value.
    • $100,000 home, annual expense will be $1.43
    • $200,000 home, annual expense will be $2.86
    • $400,000 home, annual expense will be $5.72
    • $500,000 home, annual expense will be $7.15

     

    Copyright 2007 - People for Pools
    Last Update: 10:02 PM on Thu, Mar 13, 2008
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