Platteville council approves advisory referendum question on replacing the family aquatic center, up to $6.9 million
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Summary
The council approved placing an advisory question on the April 2025 ballot asking whether the city should borrow up to $6.9 million to construct a replacement aquatic center; committee materials included tax-impact estimates and a schedule that would likely push construction work into 2027 if design begins after the referendum.
The Common Council voted to put an advisory referendum question on the April 1, 2025 ballot asking: “Should the City of Platteville borrow up to $6,900,000 for the construction of a replacement aquatic center?”
Parks committee chair Bob Gates presented the committee’s work, noting a public survey showing majority support for replacing the pool even if taxes increased. The committee recommended the advisory question to measure public sentiment and proposed the $6.9 million figure based on committee cost estimates and consultant input.
Council discussion focused on the wording and the fixed dollar amount. Some members asked whether an open-ended question would be clearer to voters; Gates and staff said the $6.9 million number was chosen to keep the ballot language simple and was within an evaluated range of roughly $6.4 million to $6.9 million. Committee members said they would pursue fundraising if project costs exceeded $6.9 million.
Staff cautioned that if the city waits until after the referendum to hire an engineer for design and construction plans, the earliest practical completion date would likely be 2027. The council approved the motion to place the advisory question on the ballot.
The Parks Committee and staff plan further public education, provide refined tax-impact estimates when available, and continue fundraising work if the advisory vote is favorable.