Provo considers bonding for 2 new recreation facilities

PROVO (Deseret News) — Residents may be asked to bond for two recreation facilities this November — at about the same cost as was being considered for a single new center.

Thanks to low construction costs and low bond rates, City Council members were told Tuesday that they can add a fieldhouse addition to the Peaks Ice Arena to a bond proposal for a recreation center with exercise facilities, swimming pools and a senior citizens center.

And all at less cost to residents than the city had anticipated.

The council has until Aug. 11 to work out the details, but it did authorize city staff members to prepare the numbers for a $47 million bond election on Nov. 2.

If approved, Provo residents would face a tax increase of about $53 a year for a $200,000 home for four years. In the fifth year of the 20-year bond, that amount would change to $96. However, residents wouldn't see any change in their total bills, because at the same time, Provo would retire an existing bond for the Provo City Library at Academy Square.

"I like the idea of going up front and getting everything you need," said council chairwoman Midge Johnson.

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