City Council, for the first time ever, is asking residents to vote yes for a property tax increase. The increase will fund the construction of a new outdoor pool.
As I served on the pool task force in 2023, I learned from the pool 's consultants that maintaining a functional pool will take about $4 million for needed repairs. The repairs could last up to 30 years and the city could easily cover the cost out of surplus budget.
However, the other members of the task force were promoting a new pool from the onset. The pool consultants proposed a design option for $15 million.
With new council leadership at the helm, they immediately favored the new pool option and asked city staff to prepare ballot language, which they approved in July.
At a time when city property taxes are at an all-time high and inflation is crushing the most vulnerable residents in Worthington, I question why council leadership would take the steps to put a greater strain on many residents.
One of the main topics of discussion in the past few years has been affordability in Worthington. Now council is apparently putting affordability on the back burner by asking you for a property tax increase.
There's no question that most residents (like me) support the pools and outdoor swimming. But the city can easily fund pool upgrades to maintain operations for the foreseeable future. Without a tax increase.
The amount the city is requesting pales in comparison to the previous school levy and the likely upcoming school levy next year. But is this the straw that breaks the camel's back for many residents?
The past few years, when I was on council, many residents approached me asking me if there is anything that could be done about the increasing taxes because they were being “taxed out of Worthington.” Many of those people have since left the city. I fear now for the remaining residents who are struggling to buy groceries. Yet we might be demanding they pay to build a new pool.
Will counsel forget about the issue of affordability in Worthington? Maybe they are hoping for the non-affluent people to leave the city - like many already have.
At the very least, council is putting a serious question to the voters that is extremely divisive for our community.
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