KASSON — Voters in Kasson will decide on Tuesday if the city will build a new aquatic center.
Parts of the city’s present pool are more than 70 years old and the newest part is about 30 years old.
To bring the pool up to state safety code standards and to repair or replace deteriorating equipment would cost about $1.4 million.
The referendum authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for $2.8 million for a new aquatic center.
If the bonds mature in 15 years, this equates to about $10 per month in increased property taxes on a $150,000 house, officials said. Twenty-year financing would equate to a $100 annual increase on the same home’s taxes.
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Towns in the region that have built new aquatic centers have recorded big jumps in pool attendance.
Stewartville’s new aquatic center built in 2008 draws an average of 37,000 swimmers per summer now. Prior to 2008, the pool averaged about 12,000 swimmers per summer. The Stewartville swimmers cover all expenses for the center except the original $2 million general obligation bond financing.
The Kasson pool currently costs the city about $50,000 per year to keep it operational, officials said.
