VILLAS – Lower Township voters will encounter a non-binding referendum question on their ballot Nov. 5. They will decide whether to approve construction of a $10.5 million state-of-the-art aquatic center, that proponents say won’t raise property taxes.
The exact wording of the ballot question is: “Do you support the construction of a proposed $10.5 million state-of-the-art aquatic center in Lower Township at the Cape May County Airport with the understanding that the township’s projected financial contribution would not exceed $8.5 million and would not require a tax increase?”
There have been numerous Spout Offs submitted in opposition to the center; however, no one has spoken against it during Lower Township Council meetings.
During an interview in his office, James Ridgway, manager, Lower Township, clarified some questions about the proposed center.
He explained that the origin of the idea for an aquatic center came several years ago, from the Recreation Advisory Board’s 10-year master plan, which included plans for an indoor, year-round pool, if it became economically feasible for the municipality.
Over the last few years, the idea became economically feasible, according to Ridgway, and the recreation department was assigned to look at similar facilities to see what they might want to include, add or remove from a pool facility here.
Ridgway said one feature council members wanted is the eight-lane competition pool required for high school swim meet use and state swim competitions. The recreation department looked at eight-lane facilities in Neptune and Deptford.
The list of what an aquatic center in the municipality would include was compiled, and council hired LAN Associates to complete a feasibility study to discover if the pool they wanted could be built for $10 million. The two-year study cost $58,000.
With all that the municipality wanted, and some additions by LAN, including water slides (for revenue purposes), the price tag came in at roughly $15 million. Ridgway said LAN looked at similar facilities throughout the country.
The municipality asked county Open Space for the $15 million, Ridgway said. The county came back with a $2.6 million offer ($3 million with certain stipulations, like Open Space plaques in the building).
Council asked LAN to scale back the planned meeting areas, remove the slides and make the therapy pool smaller. The new configuration came in at $10.5 million.
Deduct the open space money, and the bond would be roughly $7.5 million. Township Auditor Ford, Scott told council at that price, the municipality could afford to build the aquatic center without raising taxes.
There is no promise that running the center once it’s built won’t raise taxes, but Ridgway said there are several revenue sources that would cover costs for the foreseeable future.
Projected costs to operate the aquatic center are currently $800,000, but Ridgway said he expects them to be closer to $600,000-$650,000. He said revenue could be about the same.
“This is a non-profit enterprise, so we won’t make money on this,” Ridgway explained. “Expenses could exceed revenue.”
The township expects to hire 20-30 employees, mostly part-time lifeguards, Ridgway said. Cutting the slides also cut the number of lifeguards needed.
“When you have a slide, there has to be a lifeguard at the top of the slide and one at the end of the slide, in the pool,” said Ridgway.
One cost-saving measure is the county offer to locate the pool at the county airport property in Erma, on a 50-acre lot for $1 per year.
“That offer is significant. It is a central location for county residents, there are other amenities already there, and New Jersey Transit is working on running buses to the airport,” Ridgway said.
He pointed out that the municipality will pay off $20 million in debt service over the next five years, and those payments could be used to run the aquatic center. Other sources of income that could be used to offset operating expenses are:
- Municipal Utilities Authority by law – The municipality is entitled to 5% of its surplus every year. Currently, the municipality receives between $125,000-$150,000.
- OceanFirst Bank – Newly named the municipality’s depository, OceanFirst Bank guaranteed $385,000 per year for three years on deposits.
- Cape Regional Rehabilitation Center – Ridgway estimates $100,000 in payments to use the therapy pool. Construction consultant James Rutala read a press release at the Sept. 16 information meeting indicating Cape Regional Medical Center might build a rehabilitation facility adjacent to the aquatic center. Rutala said talks are ongoing with hospital officials regarding the addition. According to the release, Joanne Carrocino, president and chief executive officer of Cape Regional, brought the idea of a facility adjacent to the aquatic center to the Cape Regional Health Systems Board of Trustees, and they are supportive of the idea.
- Ridgway said the municipality, which pays $600,000 yearly for dispatch service through the county Office of Emergency Management, will receive a $100,000 discount now that Wildwood Crest and Stone Harbor have signed onto dispatch services, as part of the agreement. That money could be reallocated to pay for the aquatic center.
- Ratables have increased in Lower Township, with an increase of $18 million this year, adding $288,000 in revenue to municipal coffers, and another source to cover aquatic center expenses.
- Other possible sources of revenue include state swim meets, use of the eight-lane pool by county high schools and facility naming rights. Ridgway explained the amounts those sources could raise would vary.
Ridgway said the proposed aquatic center is a quality-of-life issue.
“Lower spends a lot of money to provide a good one for residents through youth sports, parks, recreation, and special events, and we don’t make money off any of them,” he said.
One of those amenities afforded residents is the current municipal pool, located at Winslow Avenue and Rosehill Parkway in North Cape May. Ridgway said whatever the outcome of the referendum, that pool will remain for several reasons: the municipality recently spent $50,000 to upgrade the pool bottom and filter system that will last for many years into the future; residents have stated they like the outdoor pool in summer; residents have stated they like the short distance from the pool to the bay beaches; and neighborhood seniors prefer the proximity to North Cape May.
To contact Carl Price, email cprice@cmcherald.com.
