2026 Bond & Levy Information
Overview
Voter Mandate and Current Operations: In 1988 and then again in 1992, voters established the Hood River Valley Park and Recreation District’s permanent tax rate of $0.3498 per $1,000 of assessed value; that amount was frozen in 1997 by Measure 50. The purpose of that mandate was to fund the maintenance and operations of the Hood River Aquatic Center and the development of local parks and trails. For over 30 years, the District has operated under this authorization.
Since 1988, the District’s service area and responsibilities have increased significantly with community demand:
Outdoor Spaces: The District's parkland inventory has grown from 0 acres to 73 acres and 6 miles of trails, all acquired without property tax dollars, using System Development Charges (SDCs), grants, partnerships, and easements.
Community Education: In 2021, the District assumed operations of community education previously managed by the school district, which currently serves 3,600 participants and has no long-term funding.
Facility Lifecycle: The Aquatic Center upgrades funded in previous decades have reached the end of their functional life, with a 2017 engineering report assigning the facility a score of 44 out of 100 and subsequent 2025 engineering reports identifying that major systems, including electrical panels and fire sprinkler systems, do not meet current building codes or ADA accessibility standards. Engineers have noted in their assessments that a major system failure would result in a permanent facility closure.
A New Mandate for 2026: The District is now seeking an updated mandate from the community to address these expanded services and facility conditions.
Without a new funding authorization, the District’s current budget requires service adjustments, which may include:
Reductions in the frequency of park and trail maintenance.
The phase-out of community education programs once temporary funds are exhausted (end of summer 2026).
Reductions in operating hours at the Aquatic Center to manage rising repair costs.
The Bond Replaces the Pool
The bond is a one-time, long-term
loan used for capital construction,
designing and building a
replacement aquatic center and
related capital needs.
The draft bond amount is up to
$40,360,000, repaid over up to 25
years, with an estimated average
tax rate of about $0.64 per $1,000 of
assessed value (The actual rate can vary; the bond amount does not).
The Levy Operates Parks, Trails, Community Recreation, & Aquatics
The levy funds operations and staffing (lifeguards/front
desk/maintenance capacity), plus parks and trails
maintenance and sustaining community education programs.
The proposed levy is $0.33 per $1,000, raising about $1,064,052 per year for a fixed term of five
years. (The actual rate can vary; the annual levy amount does not).
Alternate Funding will be Raised to Support Extras
The Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that seeks private donations for facility enhancements that are not included in the bond proposal (i.e. play features, extra doors for fresh air, etc).
If the bond is approved, HRVPRD will obtain Oregon State Parks Local Government Grants for eligible outdoor features, like a splash pad, landscaping, and a patio on the north side of the building.
Out-of-district user fees will be increased to supplement the project and operational costs.
Ballot Measures
Proposition 1 - Measure #
Bonds to Construct a Rebuilt Aquatic Center
Shall the District issue bonds not to exceed $40,360,000 to replace rebuild the Hood River Aquatic Center on the current site? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.
If this measure is approved, Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District will use bond proceeds for capital costs related to the construction of a similar-sized rebuilt aquatic center. Bond proceeds shall be used in the following phases to ensure responsible planning.
Phase I – Final Design, Cost Verification, Sitework, Permitting, and Demolition
Phase II – Construction:
The rebuilt facility is anticipated to include:
Permanent roof
Updated to be compliant with current building codes and include energy-efficient improvements
Redesigned pool layout for safety, accessibility, and crowd circulation
Competition pool for lap swimming and teams
Warm pool for swim lessons, therapy, fitness, and recreation
Family changing rooms
Modernized mechanical systems
District maintenance space
Site improvements, furnishing, and equipment
Proposed concept of the rebuilt Aquatic Center on the same site.
Proposition 2 - Measure #
Five-Year Levy for Park Maintenance, Operations, & Recreation Services
Shall HRVPRD levy up to $0.33 per $1,000 assessed value for maintenance, operations, and community recreation for five years beginning 2026-2027?
Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District (HRVPRD) is facing a budget shortfall due to revenues not keeping pace with inflation, rising costs, increasing responsibilities, and no change to the tax rate. This measure would preserve current service levels and programming.
Without additional funding, HRVPRD will:
Reduce parks maintenance (less restroom cleaning, garbage pickup)
Reduce pool days
Cut community recreation and layoff staff (youth sports, enrichment, adult programming)
If approved, the five-year local option levy would fund:
Improved parks and trails maintenance (vegetation management, playground improvements)
Sustaining pool programs and hours (swim lessons, family swims, water fitness)
Continuing to provide community recreation
Proactive replacement of worn-out equipment, such as playgrounds, court surfaces, pumps, and HVAC, to avoid emergency failures and unplanned closures
Adequate staffing for parks maintenance, Aquatic Center, and recreation
Funds would be subject to annual audits & board oversight.
Community input is central to this plan. If the bond is approved, a citizen oversight committee would supervise the project.
What will these proposals cost you?
Levy Financial Impact: If approved by voters, the five-year measure at approximately $0.33 per $1,000 of assessed value, would raise roughly $1.06 million annually. These funds are designated for operating and maintaining the District parks and trails, the Aquatic Center, as well as youth sports and enrichment programs previously managed by the school district.
Bond Financial Impact: If approved by voters, the bond would be funded by property tax increases not to exceed $40.36 million to fund the design and construction of an aquatic facility on the current site.
The estimated tax rate is $0.64 per $1,000 of assessed value over 25 years.
Homeowner Impact If both the levy and bond pass the increase to the local parks rate would be about $0.97* per thousand of assessed value.You can calculate your property tax impact using the following formula or by visiting our tax calculator.
Assessed Home Value ÷. 1,000 x 0.97 = Annual Increase
Use the button below to see the impact on individual tax lots within the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District Boundary. Thanks to Hood River County for creating this WebMap tool.
Voting Information
Ballots will be mailed around April 29th.
Be sure to return your ballot before 8pm on May 19th
Ballots can be returned by mail (no postage required) or can be dropped off at a ballot box or voting location.
Is your voter registration and address up to date?
Check your registration at: Oregon's My Vote website.