Springville looks at $20 million bond

SPRINGVILLE — Springville folks could be asked to vote on a proposed bond that could go as high as $20 million as early as August — a plan that, if approved, would bring a substantial property tax increase.

The City Council is considering a bond election to finance a new recreation center and is also considering adding in money for a new city hall, a public safety building and renovation of an existing city-owned building for the city library.

At Tuesday's council meeting, three architecture firms presented recreation center plans ranging in price from $17.8 million and $19.9 million. The various plans by Barker, Rinker, Seacat Architecture of Denver, Water Technology Inc. of Wisconsin and Ballard King Associates of Highland Ranch, Colo., included items ranging from an aquatic center with indoor and outdoor pools, spas, a lazy river, a spray area with slides to a gymnasium, a 40-foot high indoor climbing wall, party rooms, a baby-sitting room and an indoor jogging track.

The plans brought a mixed response from residents attending the meeting.

"This thing from heaven" is not appropriate for government to provide, said resident Karen Ifediba. "The purpose of government is to provide service to the people, not to provide entertainment."

Resident Brad Moss took the opposite tack.

"Make it the best in the county," Moss said. "First rate and first class and maintained that way. . . . It should be a pristine facility."

Mike Snelson was also supportive but preferred seeing the public safety building at the top of the building list.

Former City Councilman Wilford Clyde offered his support, but wants the council to determine first just how much the city can afford.

A $20 million bond would bring a $138 per year boost in property taxes on a $150,000 home. Councilwoman Dianne Carr said that would make Springville homeowners the highest taxed in Utah County. Paring the bond to $12 million would make the city's tax rate comparable to Provo, according to a city staff report.

While a date for the bond election has yet to be set, getting it on an August ballot would require the council to pass a resolution in early July, said City Manager Layne Long.

The city staff has pegged the cost of new city buildings, the new recreation center and the renovated library building at $27 million while the city consultant estimates the cost at $33.69 million.