CORRECTION: The Courier-Herald reported old information about the estimated cost of a new community center; the estimate has been updated from $14 million to $21.5 million, though the city of Enumclaw hopes a bond measure will only ask for $19 million. The article has been updated.
Enumclaw residents will have to cough up some change if they want a new community center.
On July 13, the City of Enumclaw blog post said they are considering asking voters for a bond with an initial projection of $0.33 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
For a bond to pass, there must be 60% or more voter approval. Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro said the community center’s bond amount, including a gym, has been estimated to be $19 million.
If this is a 20-year bond and an average resident’s home costs $420,000, their yearly property tax bill would rise by about $138.
Molinaro said the current project cost estimate for the community center is just over $21.5 million. A proposed bond of $19 million would cover most of the funding; the remaining funds will come from city reserves ($2.85 million) and state grants and private donations.
The city’s post said passing the bond could depend on these alternative funding sources.
WHAT ABOUT THE FINANCIALLY DISADVANTAGED?
At an Oct. 14, 2022, council meeting, council member Bobby Martinez expressed worry for residents who might not have the financial means to afford a property tax increase but will have to pay it even if they voted against it.
Some residents who may be financially disadvantaged are seniors, persons with disabilities, and disabled veterans. For them, Washington State offers a tax relief program that offers property tax reductions, deferrals, or exemptions, depending on each person’s situation.
The requirements for property tax reduction relief are to be 61 or older or disabled or to be a veteran with an 80% disability rating. The person must have an income below the limit threshold of $58,423. The requirement for a property tax deferral is If you are 60 or older or are retired because of physical disability, meet equity requirements, have lived in the home for more than nine months in a calendar year, and have an annual income of $67,411 or less for the previous year.
HOW THE IDEA FOR A COMMUNITY CENTER BEGAN
The community center was originally never going to be a community center; it was supposed to be a remodel of the local Senior Center. But after numerous discussions, the council saw this as an opportunity to build a community center and a hub for Arts Alive!, the Chamber of Commerce, Enumclaw’s Parks and Recreation Department, and the senior center.
The proposed building designs from Cornerstone Architectural Group present much shared common space, a large area for the senior center, a small exercise room, offices for the chamber of commerce, Parks and Recreation, and Arts Alive! In addition to the room for those amenities and office space, the design included the controversial gym.
GYM CONTROVERSY
The gym had much support from most council members, excluding Martinez and Councilmember Chris Gruner. Martinez thought the gym could be a waste of funds, citing no hard evidence that the community wants a gym at the community center.
“I just wanted to point out we still have no evidence or proof that anybody in the community wants this giant gymnasium,” Martinez said. “We spent a ton of time and resources developing it. I’m assuming we’re going to spend a lot more, and again, we don’t have a survey—we have some anecdotes from Facebook, and a couple people that came in here talked about it.”
Others supporting the gym say there are very few spaces where local youth can have organized activities, and having a gym — and expanding the city’s Parks and Rec programs — is a much-needed commodity. Molinaro said using the Enumclaw School District’s sports facilities brings in about $27,000 annually, but if the community center were to have a gym, it could bring in about $100,000 annually or $2 million over a 20-year bond.
