LEROY - A joint effort between the City of LeRoy and the LeRoy Park District could result in a $4.5 million recreation center that would include indoor and outdoor pools, indoor track, basketball court and activity rooms.

The plan is contingent on a half-cent city sales tax that will be put to voters in the April 17 election.

The LeRoy City Council on Dec. 4 directed City Administrator Jeff Clawson to advance the sales tax referendum process. Two days later, the Park District voted 5-0 to endorse the concept.

The plan comes after two failed property tax referenda that would have repaired or replaced the current outdoor pool.

"As far as the park board members, we feel this is our only hope: to team up with the city, and hopefully the public will see this as a joint venture," said Park Board President Samantha Gulley.

Clawson and two park board members have been working on the plan, and the administrator said "in trying to evaluate the failed referendum, we wanted to address the main reasons they did not pass."

Their findings revolved around two things: Property tax increases are rarely approved, and it is costing a lot of money to fund a facility used just three months a year.

Gulley agrees expanding the concept to include an indoor use should make it more useful.

"People won't support that kind of money for just an outdoor pool, but maybe an indoor one they can use for 12 months a year? Maybe that will be seen as more useful," she said.

Clawson said the sales tax would generate an estimated $140,000 a year. That, along with the park district's annual $100,000 in real estate levies, would help pay off bonds that would likely be issued to construct the rec center.

What's next?

The city has until Jan. 29 to get the issue on the April ballot. Clawson said the next three months would be spent on an intensive public education campaign.

"The one thing I guarantee is, if they aren't educated about the issue, they didn't want to be," he said.

If voters approve the sales tax, the city would likely seek a $400,000 state grant to help fund a portion of the construction. If all goes well, Clawson sees letting of bids by early summer and beginning construction by August.