What’s next?
Once again, Aquatic Center is in financial limbo and, as usual, answers prove to be elusive

By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:29 AM PDT

An 8-year-old Pioneer Elementary School student plugs his nose as he watches other students at play in the Aquatic Center pool. The center has been the subject of discussion regarding the 2009 to 2011 biennial report, which shows that the center’s cost will far surpass the amount of money it brings in.

Ontario — The Ontario Aquatic and Fitness Center’s ability to stay financially afloat through the next budget cycle is in the hands of the city’s revenue committee, slated to meet next week.

At a March 19 city budget meeting, Ontario Finance Director Rachel Hopper said the center is expected to spend $213,113 more than it brings in through revenue during the next budget cycle. The center gains revenue through such items as pool rentals and swimming classes.

“This should be one of the items that the revenue committee talks about,” Interim City Manager Mike Kee said. “(The Aquatic Center) historically loses money.”

Kee said that one potential fix could be to use some of the money brought in through the recreation center to help pay for the Aquatic Center.

“I’m sure that’s one of the things the revenue committee will talk about,” he said.

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Ontario Budget Committee Chairman Bruce Hunter brought up the Aquatic Center at the budget committee meeting March 19.

“What we’re trying to do is come up with something that the residents of Ontario will buy into,” Hunter said. “They need to understand that we are in trouble. We haven’t saved the swimming pool, haven’t saved the library. We can’t keep running the way we’re running.”

Doug Dean, one of the members of the revenue committee, said he also believes he has a solution to the center’s sinking funds.

When outlining his plans for the revenue committee, he pointed out that Four Rivers Cultural Center is currently financed twice from the Transient Occupancy Tax fund and wondered if that second tax could be used to finance other programs.

The Transient Occupancy Tax is a tax placed on local hotels and motels to finance community programs.

“We might have to do some things we don’t want at this time so that we can get to smooth sailing at a later time,” he said.

Ontario Parks and Recreation Director Kathy Daly seemed to be in the dark as to what plan might be proposed.

“We haven’t gotten any updates,” she said.

Daly said the information she has received is from the 2009 to 2011 biennial budget, which was discussed at the March 19 budget meeting. During the past few years the Aquatic Center has weathered one financial crisis after another.  

In 2006, the budget committee voted not to provide additional funding to the pool other than what was already allotted, putting the center in danger of closing.

As a result, the city hired a consultant to perform a cost analysis on the center. At the time, the city also looked forward to the one-time payment of $430,000, stemming from a Qwest franchise fee litigation settlement, which was budgeted for the 2007 through 2009 biennium. However, because the payment was a one-time only deal, the money will not be on the books for the next budget cycle.  The Aquatic Center has also made a few attempts to raise funds for the building. Following the center’s possible closure in 2006, community members banded together to donate $5,000 in funds to help the Aquatic Center, which Daly called a “Band-Aid” fix. The center also held a taco feed, silent auction and raffle, which raised more than $3,000. Two large checks from local auto dealerships are posted in the center’s lobby, and a large water cooler jug sits out to collect donations from the public.

Though there is more to be discussed, Kee said the Aquatic Center’s lack of funds isn’t a surprise for the city of Ontario.

“I don’t think we’re anywhere different than we thought we would be,” he said.  The revenue committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. April 2 in the Ontario City Hall’s council chambers.

“Hopefully City Hall will be big enough for the first meeting,” Ontario Mayor Joe Dominick said. “But I kind of hope it isn’t.”