PG Bond Election Results

Number of Precincts: 15

Total Votes: 2623

Yes: 1719 - 65.54 %

No: 904 - 34.46 %

Pleasant Grove will get its community center.

After many years of analyzing the need for a new recreation facility in Pleasant Grove, more than 65 percent of the city's registered voters participating in Tuesday's Utah County Primary Election cast their ballots in favor of authorizing the city to issue general obligation bonds for the purpose of financing all direct and related costs associated with the construction of the community center.

"I think this is a clear mandate from the citizens of Pleasant Grove that they want a new recreation center," said Pleasant Grove Mayor Michael W. Daniels. "This is an incredible voter turnout for an off-time election and I am proud of them for taking this all seriously. It is a great message for our city and now we will work on giving them what they are asking for."

In an amount not to exceed $5 million, the bonds will be backed by property taxes collected by Pleasant Grove City over the next 25 years-the lowest cost financing option available to municipal government.

Last year, Pleasant Grove City council members voted to nix plans for a $14 million bond planned to fund three new city projects-a library, recreation facility and fire station. City managers were directed to reevaluate those plans after financial numbers proved to be fiscally unwise for the city.

Recreation officials went back to the drawing board several months ago and came back with a proposed center planned with an expansion capability of approximately 50,000 square feet, three times the size of the current community center.

The new facility, planned to be built in the city's Gateway Area near the I-I5 freeway interchange, will replace the existing facility that was erected in 1908 and still services almost 1200 individual participants in programs offered by the city's recreation department. The center will be completed in three phases and will include exercise facilities, classrooms, recreation offices, an arts center and a variation of aquatic amenities.

According to Pleasant Grove's Financial Advisor Jason Burningham, the city currently has $2 million in its capital projects to fund such a project, but needed to bond for up to $5 million, the remaining costs for the project. The increased tax burden placed upon residents in the city will be minimal, Burningham said.

"The current minimal debt obligations of the city and low level interest rates put this project at a comfortable level in terms of affordability," said Burningham. "The impact to a single family residence valued at $200,000 will see an increase of $21 a year in their property taxes. Commercial entities are assessed 100 percent of the fair market value and a property with the same value will see an increase of $3.20 per month, $38 per year."

Pleasant Grove resident Cami Arnold said she feels having her property taxes raised is a small price to pay when looking at the overall benefits the new center will bring to Pleasant Grove.

"This is a family based community and I think it's worth continuing that good community feeling by supporting the need for a good center," said Arnold. "We should all be willing to do more for our great city, and I know we will see the great benefits this center can provide."

Daniels said the city will now begin the official design work for the facility getting into planning details, tying down commitments and putting plans into place hoping to see the first phase completed within the next 18 months.

According to Kim Jackson, Utah County Clerk Auditor, the final votes of the General Obligation Bond Election will remain unofficial until the end of a 14 day canvas period where absentee ballots postmarked before June 26 and valid provisional ballots are counted.

This story appeared in North County on page A1.