District has felt the impact of minimum wage increases

PRESCOTT – Unlike the city parks and pools of Waitsburg and Dayton which are operated and maintained through city budgets, the Prescott Joint Parks and Recreation District (PJPRD) must go to the people each November to secure funding for the coming year’s operations of the Prescott Pool and Field View Park. The PJPRD is asking voters to approve a $115,000 maintenance and operations levy request, Proposition No. 1 on the current General Election ballot.

Pool co-manager Yvonne Gibbons said the district has felt the impact of the minimum wage increase, which went from $9.47/hr. in 2016 to $11/hr. in 2017, and which will increase to $11.50/hr. in 2018. Gibbons said that expenses have remained on budget, but the $5,000 levy request increase reflects the impact of the minimum wage increase.

“We do everything we can to hold expenses as close as we can and look for savings wherever we can find them. The minimum wage increased our payroll, but also the cost of goods and services because everyone else has to pay their staff more, too,” Gibbons said.

A 6o percent super majority approval vote is required to pass the levy which Walla Walla County officials estimate will amount to 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. In both 2015 and 2016 voters approved levy amounts of $110,050 to fund pool and park operations.

Last year, voters supported the levy with a 62.95% yes vote, allowing the pool to complete a 71-day season with an average attendance of 69 swimmers this year. Through a generous donation from Northwest Grain Growers, 42 children living in the 99348 zip code area were able to participate in free swim lessons.

The pool hosted groups form Prescott and College Place public schools for end-of-year parties and Vista Hermosa Day Camp and Jubilee Leadership Academy brought groups to swim throughout the summer.

Donations from Northwest Grain Growers ($5000), Northwest Farm Credit Services ($5,000), and Prescott Community Church ($500) as well as donations from the Wildhorse Foundation, Blue Mountain Community Foundation, Pacific Power Foundation, and Yancey P. Winans Testametary Trust allowed the PJPRD to complete Phase 2 of their playground equipment upgrade.

“We don’t use any tax funds for capital improvement or replacement projects. The levy is strictly for operating and maintenance costs,” Gibbons said.

The M&O levy has failed to pass just once, and then only by 1.41%. In 2009, voters returned a 58.59% support vote, just enough short of the 60% to cause the pool to close for the 2010 season.

“We hope everyone will get out and exercise their right to vote. We want people to know that we are always open to input and suggestions and there are several areas where we could use volunteers, also,” Gibbons said.