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Pueblo West board hears update on potential $9 million aquatic center funding; soil testing not yet complete
Summary
District officials told the Pueblo West Board of Directors on Aug. 13 that roughly $9 million could be available from the district’s capital projects fund to support a proposed aquatic center, but the board has not yet approved any spending and geotechnical soil sampling has not been completed.
PUEBLO WEST, Colo. — District officials told the Pueblo West Board of Directors on Aug. 13 that roughly $9 million could be available from the district’s capital projects fund to support a proposed aquatic center, but board members have not yet approved any spending and geotechnical soil sampling has not been completed.
The district manager, Christian J. Hynes, said the $9 million figure is the sum of (1) committed and restricted funds carried forward in the capital projects fund, (2) previously assigned funding for the aquatic center, and (3) audit and TABOR-related corrections from 2024. Hynes said the $3 million referenced by a public commenter represented restricted/committed balances and previously assigned funding and that an additional amount identified in the 2024 audit brings the total to about $9 million. He told the board, “That money is potentially available, it hasn’t been allocated for that purpose.”
Why it matters: the district can only spend those dollars if the board formally assigns or appropriates them, and the board must weigh competing capital priorities before reassigning funds. During public comment, resident Joe Mahaney asked, “are we robbing Peter to pay Paul?” raising the concern that shifting capital funds could leave other projects unfunded.
Supporting details: Hynes said the earlier $3 million is a combination of previously assigned capital project funding plus corrections tied to TABOR (Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights) excess adjustments. He told the board that a 2024 TABOR correction of about $1.8 million was part of the calculations and that the board would decide whether to designate the remaining capital project balance for the aquatic center. Hynes also said the board has not set a final appropriation amount for the facility, and that any decision to spend would be a future board action.
Board members pressed staff on next steps and timing. Director Potter asked whether soil samples had been collected; staff replied the borings had not been completed yet and that they would follow up. Director Potter said he wanted the district to “push hard” to complete soil testing and suggested the work could be done without formal bidding if the cost stayed below procurement thresholds; staff said they would confirm procurement status and follow up.
Discussion vs. decision: The board discussed funding sources, transparency around how the $9 million total was assembled, and the need for geotechnical data. No appropriation, motion, or vote to allocate funds for the aquatic center was taken at the Aug. 13 meeting.
What’s next: Staff said they will provide further breakdowns of the capital project fund balances and a timetable for soil borings; any formal assignment of funds or appropriation for design or construction would require a future board action.
