The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

PRESCOTT – Unlike city pools in the neighboring towns of Waitsburg and Dayton, which are funded by tax dollars and maintained by the cities, the Prescott pool is funded through an annual levy and maintained by the Prescott Parks and Recreation District (PJPRD). Each November the PJPRD must seek community support to pass a maintenance and operations levy that will keep the pool, and Field View Park, operating for another year.

"Funds from our yearly tax levy run the pool and the park," said pool co-manager Len Conlee. "Gate revenues and grants fund equipment replacements, upgrades, and improvements."

As a junior taxing district PJPRD faces the extra challenge of meeting the 60% super majority vote required to pass the levy each year. In the last seven years, the M&O levy failed to pass just once; and then only by 1.41%. In 2009, voters returned a 58.59% support vote, just enough short of 60% to cause the pool to close for the 2010 season.

The levy has passed each year since, with 69.04% of Prescott voters supporting the levy last year.

"We often get asked how Prescott can support a pool and Walla Walla can't," said PJPRD Chair Patsy Adams. "Our pool and park are the center of the community all summer. Life here revolves around these facilities. We are so pleased that the voters support us with their positive votes."

Adams said the board works hard to seek only what is needed to operate and maintain the pool from the voters, and works to procure grants for capital improvements and upgrades.

"We have been excellent stewards of the M&O funds," she said. "We don't ask voters for anything other than the budget necessary to keep the pool and park operating."

The district is seeking a M&O levy of $110,050 to fund the pool and park for 2016. Walla Walla County officials estimate that this will result in an added tax rate of $0.35 per $1,000 of assessed value. This would translate to an added tax of $35 for a $100,000 home.

While the overall budget amount is nearly the same, the valuation is down from $0.37 per $1,000 last year and $0.40 per $1,000 in 2013.

Adams said the district completed a successful 76-day swim season this year with an average daily attendance of 66 swimmers. Sixty-one children took swim lessons over four two-week sessions. Through a generous donation from Northwest Grain Growers, lessons are free for children living in the 99348 zip code.

Prior to its June opening, the pool hosted groups from Prescott School, Vista Hermosa Elementary School and College Place Public School for end-of-year parties. Walla Walla Camp Fire, Vista Hermosa Day Camp, and Jubilee Leadership Academy regularly brought groups to the pool throughout the summer, Adams said.

The PJPRD also hosts special summer events such as concerts in the park, fun swim days and a car show.

The PJPRD board has actively pursued grants to fund a number of upgrades, including the new handicap accessible walkway from the parking lot to the park, an enlarged picnic pad and handicap-accessible barbeque that can be rotated for easy access. A new sunshade was installed inside the pool this year as well.

The board recently approved the purchase of new playground equipment for the park, which should be installed this spring. The old slide and jungle gym had to be removed due to insurance requirements.

The improvement projects have been funded through grants from Sherwood Trust, the Yancey P. Winans Testamentary Trust, the Association of Washington Cities, the Blue Mountain Community Foundation and the Pacific Power Foundation. The board will continue to seek grants and donations to complete the playground enhancement project.

"We don't have the money for big kid equipment yet, but you've got to start somewhere. We'll continue to work toward that," said Adams.

The PJPRD maintenance and operations levy proposal will be on the November General Election Ballot, which must be postmarked no later than Nov. 3. Because the population of the district is so small, Adams says it is important for voters to mail in those ballots.