A recent Beachcomber editorial lamented the slow decision-making of the Vashon Park District regarding the proposal to create a dome or bubble over the existing Vashon Park District pool on the high school campus (“Park District needs to act on pool cover proposal,” April 19). The editorial described the apparent reluctance to accept an offer of $80,000 from the Seals swim team — school-age swimmers, their parents and sponsors — to construct the bubble, saying acceptance should be “no-brainer.” All five of the Vashon Park District (VPD) commissioners have read this editorial and agree that it is anything but.

We on the VPD board applaud the swim team for its generous financial commitment. Moreover, we agree that a pool is a tremendous community asset, all the more so if it is available year-round. But why don’t we jump at this apparent Godsend?

One reason is that we have no money to spare. We are still repaying debt incurred years ago for various reasons. We are almost out of the hole, but are not there yet and won’t be this year. Even the apparently modest extra $55,000 that VPD is estimated to incur from year-round operation would have to come at the expense of deficit finance or the curtailment of other programs, including deferred maintenance.

The Park District operating funds come mostly from property tax levies that voters approved in 2015; we cannot raise taxes to meet higher expenses the way many government entities can.

Moreover, past experience of the park district, as well as many other public and private entities, suggests that estimates of operating expenses are likely to be too conservative. Many things can and do go wrong, especially with a complex more than 40 years old, like the VPD pool, that would be used for 12 months instead of the current three months per year. Projected revenues for this project are little more than guesses. No one knows for sure, but the net cost to the park district of year-round operation could well be 50 percent higher than projected or it could be less. A major repair could put the net cost at double the estimates and possibly close the pool. If the park district’s deficit exceeds $55,000, the entire extra cost would be borne entirely by VPD. Put another way, virtually all the risk of the project falls on VPD.

Finally, there is history. The Vashon Pool came into existence as a consequence of the Forward Thrust bond issues of 1968. For whatever reason, most of the pools built around King County with Forward Thrust money were covered pools, but Vashon’s — located in one of the smaller communities — was not. King County subsequently considered, then rejected the idea of covering the Vashon Pool. Then, when the pools, especially the indoor ones, became too expensive, King County unloaded all or most of its pools on various groups, including the Vashon Park District.

The park district took over the pool in 2010 instead of it remaining with King County or the Vashon Island School District. The decision was apparently highly controversial since it was seen as a “money pit.” Indeed the summer operation alone costs VPD nearly $80,000 over and above extraordinary maintenance, making it one of the largest items in VPD’s budget.

None of this is to say that we will ultimately reject the bubble, only that experience has taught us to be cautious. It is hardly a “no-brainer” to accept a gift that could incur major additional expense to a tight VPD budget.

— Doug Ostrom is the vice-chair of the Vashon Park District board.