The Creation of

MVA Recreation District

Things to Know:

Development:

Mission Valley Aquatics volunteers gathered more than the minimum 600 signatures on the petitions which allowed a discussion with the County Commissioners regarding the creation of a recreation district.  The County Commissioners approved the recreation district and are allowing MVA to proceed with a mail-in ballot to request a levy of 7 mills in the proposed district (same boundaries as Sch. Dist. #23).  The ballot will be mailed out January 10^th and need to be returned by 8:00 p.m. on the 29^th.  Presuming the community is in support of the levy and, when it passes, we will receive $2 million in pledges and will begin a major fundraising campaign.

General Questions about Mission Valley Aquatics:

Where?           2.5 acre parcel in Ridge Water Development (across the highway from Safeway at the old mill site, behind the Department of Transportation buildings)

When?             2008 if the recreation district tax passes and if fundraising goes well

How much?   $7 million total needed. Currently have $2,370,000 in pledges ($70,000 individual pledges, $300,000 approximate value of land donated, and $2 million contingent on the passing of the recreation district tax).

Levy?              Proposed property tax of 7 mills, approximately $14.36 per year on a property with a taxable value of $100,000 (currently 7 mills is approximately 1% of your property tax).  Funds will not be levied until construction of the facility begins, funds will be used to operate and maintain the facility.

How?              Additional funds for construction will be raised by soliciting private and corporate donations and grant writing.

What?             An 8 lane 25 yard lap pool, warm water therapy / instructional pool, shallow entry pool with play features and a slide, hot tub, sauna, and special party room.   Our main focus is an indoor aquatic center, other amenities to the facility will depend on funding.

Sustainability?  The recreational district tax allows for operation and maintenance of the facility.

Who will operate?  A Recreation District Board, to begin the board the County Commissioner will appoint the first 3 member for the first year.

Board & Committee Members?  Hu Beaver, Mac Binger, David Waterman, Barbara Monaco, Raina Stene, Mitch Young, Jennifer Shipley, Tana Seeley, Co Carew, Chanel Lake, Ed Leas, John Azzopardi, Shannon Nunlist, Nancy Hemphill, and Connie Plaissay

Why?  We need an indoor facility to provide safe year-round recreational opportunities for individuals of all ages.  Aquatic programming will provide education, health, fitness, & enjoyment.

Recreation District

• The recreational district will be the same as Polson School District #23 boundaries: From Rollins, to Yellow Bay, and Minesinger Road, also included is the Valley View area.
• Although the boundaries are the same the recreation district is not affiliated with the school district. 
• The school district boundaries represent our service area.
• There are approximately 5,900 voters within the recreational district boundaries. 
• On October 4^th,the County Commissioners approved the creation of a recreation district and are allowing MVA to proceed with a mail-in ballot to request a levy of 7 mills in the proposed district.

Mail-in Ballot and Recreation District Tax

• The ballot will be mailed out on Jan. 10, 2008 and needs to be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Jan. 29^th. 
• The language on the ballot reads:
  • FOR the creation of the Mission Valley Aquatics Recreation District that may not levy more than 7 mills of property tax for the operation of the district.   
  • AGAINST the creation of the Mission Valley Aquatics Recreation District that may not levy more than 7 mills of property tax for the operation of the district.
• The proposed property tax mill levy for the district is 7 mills, to determine the amount to be levied on your property multiply the taxable value of your property by .007.  The taxable value can be found on your property tax statement on the upper right hand side.
• 7 mills will provide for an operation and maintenance budget of $225,000.  One mill is equal to $31,854 (the recreational district tax base is $31,854,710).  Once the facility is operating and the income from user fees stabilizes we plan to decrease the about of money levied.
• If the levy passes no funds will be levied until the construction of the facility begins.  Construction will not begin until all $7 million is pledged.  Levied funds are for the operation and maintenance of the facility, construction funds will be raised separately.
• There will be no difference in the daily user fees for individuals in-district or out-of-district.  In-district residents will receive a discount on yearly pool passes.  We hope many of those who are paying the tax will see the benefit of this facility increasing the value of their community.

Questions

• Individuals can register to vote and vote at the elections office up until the 29^th by bringing in their Montana driver’s license.  To determine if you are a registered voter in the proposed district, call the elections office at 883-7268.
• Everyone registered to vote in the proposed district will receive a ballot in the mail, which includes property owners and non-property owners.
• MVA chose the recreation district boundaries to be the same as School District #23 boundaries because it represented the 20 minute service area for the facility.
• It will cost MVA approximately $1.00 per mail-in ballot which will total approximately $6,000.  Our advertising budget will be approximately $2,000.

Please contact Tana Seeley if you are willing to make phone calls to friends, family or others to inform them of the mail-in ballot.  Please inform people of our website www.mvaquatics.org where they can review the Feasibility study and Business Plan. 

For additional questions please email mvaquatics@polson.net or call MVA at 883-4567 or Tana Seeley at 883-9264.  Thanks for your support!