Snyderville Basin voters will decide whether to approve or reject a $71 million general obligation bond to fund the construction of a new recreation facility after the Summit County Council authorized the ballot measure this week on behalf of the Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District.
Basin Recreation last month unveiled plans for a $150 million general obligation bond to build a climbing facility in Jeremy Ranch and an aquatic center in Silver Creek, but community members and the Summit County Council questioned the project’s cost and need. Residents noted they are already paying for multiple Basin Recreation bonds in addition to the district’s base tax rate.
The district’s executive board and Executive Director Robert Parrish spent the past two weeks revising the proposal to make it more palatable to councilors and residents and suggested a $71 million bond instead, which is half of the district’s original request.
However, Parrish said the cut means the district won’t be able to build both facilities or include all specialized amenities. He said the district would likely construct a building in Silver Creek similar in size to the current Fieldhouse, although a smaller community center or outdoor equipment could still be installed on the Cline Dahle parcel in Jeremy Ranch.
For primary homeowners, the bond would add $12.09 for every $100,000 of a property’s taxable value, so a parcel worth $1 million would pay $120.90 in addition to the district’s base rate and other bond debts.
Secondary-home owners and businesses would pay $21.99 for every $100,000 of a property’s taxable value. That means a business or second home worth $1 million would pay $219.90 in addition to other costs.
Parrish said some of the district’s three outstanding bond debts — two from 2015 and one from 2017 — would expire by 2028, when the district plans to start construction and draw on the new proposed bond funding. Bond B from 2015 expires in December 2028, while the bond from 2017 expires in 2030.
Bond A from 2015 does not expire until December 2034.
Parrish said resolving some of the district’s debt would even out the cost for taxpayers, saying that residents would likely only need to pay for all four bonds, plus the base tax rate, in 2028. After that, at least one of the bonds will have expired, lowering the overall price tag.
Basin Recreation also has $6.3 million in its capital improvement fund, which Parrish plans to use to cover soft costs, like building permits and architectural designs, to delay when the district needs to draw on the bond in an effort to save taxpayers money.
Parrish said the district would hire a general contractor early in the process, too, to ensure the design doesn’t end up more expensive than anticipated.
The Summit County Council unanimously voted to place the bond on the Election Day ballot, with several councilors praising Parrish and the executive board for taking community feedback to heart throughout the proposal process.
“Thank you very much for coming back with a different proposal,” said County Councilor Tonja Hanson. “I think it will bode well with the constituents who were concerned about this. They had sticker shock … so I think your board and what you’ve done is very wise.”
Only voters in the Snyderville Basin within the Basin Recreation boundaries will see the bond measure on their ballot. Interim Summit County Clerk Malena Stevens said most residents living in the 84098 ZIP code are within the boundaries, but residents with a 84060 zip code — which covers most of Park City proper — are not.
Basin Recreation will hold another public hearing and provide information on potential building designs on Sept. 23.