Kittitas County commissioners are scheduled to vote next week to create a Public Facilities District.
Local officials have been talking since last year about the formation of a countywide Public Facilities District, or PFD, to raise money for the proposed Upper Kittitas County Community Recreation Center, as well as a new Ellensburg Community Fieldhouse and Kittitas Valley Aquatic Center.
PFDs are municipal corporations that have independent taxing authority. The taxing districts can raise money by sales taxes, user fees and charges, admission and parking taxes, and bonds.
The formation of a PFD is supported by the Upper Kittitas County Community Recreation Center Alliance, a nonprofit that represents Upper County communities, as well as the city of Ellensburg, Kittitas County and the Kittitas County Conference of Governments.
Supporters of the PFD have proposed a 0.2% sales tax to generate money for the three projects. Sale tax increases can be approved by a simple majority vote at the ballot box.
Late last year, county officials asked the Washington State Department of Commerce to launch an independent review of a Kittitas County PFD to determine if the proposal is financially feasible.
The verdict: Yes.
According to the analysis by C.H. Johnson Consulting, sales tax revenues will generate between $4.1 million and $5.36 million annually between 2027 and 2043.
Operational funding for the three projects will total approximately $3.1 million annually, according to the study.
"The formation of the PFD appears to be a viable funding mechanism to support the proposed projects," the study said.
"Accrued revenues will be sufficient to cover both PFD administration and project operating support costs," the report added.
The assessment assumes the PFD is formed next year, with all projects under construction or operational in 2028.
The cost of the proposed recreation center in the Upper Valley has been estimated at $50 million.
Replacement of Ellensburg’s 46-year-old pool has an estimated construction cost of $25 million, with annual operating costs of $1 million. The city is also considering a $15 million facility to replace the Ellensburg Racquet and Recreation Center, which was destroyed by an arson fire in December 2022.
County commissioners will vote on a resolution to establish a PFD at their meeting Tuesday, July 21.
The resolution includes the creation of an independent five-member board to govern the new taxing district.
The PFD board will be made up of two members appointed by the board of county commissioners, two members appointed by the Ellensburg City Council, and one member chosen by the other four members.