Sunnyside Council OKs 2% Utility Tax to Reopen Pool for 2025 Season

Deputy Mayor Galvan and the Sunnyside City Council voted 3-1 on Feb. 2025 to raise the city utility tax by 2% to fund operations and reopen the municipal swimming pool for the 2025 season.

The vote followed a public hearing that drew swim-team parents and board members, a Daybreak Rotary representative offering a $50,000 commitment, and residents who both supported and opposed the measure. Councilor Hart moved the ordinance; Councilor Frosto seconded. Councilor Ripley cast the lone “no.”

The measure, as explained by Deputy City Manager Debbie Zabel and later by Finance staff, is written to take effect no earlier than March 1 and to terminate on Dec. 31, 2025, unless the council votes to extend it. “There is a section that does provide for it to terminate earlier or for the council to extend it,” Finance staff said, and added that the revenue “would be collected and placed into a separate fund” with expenditures accounted for in that same fund so the money is traceable.

Why it matters: pool advocates told the council the facility serves youth, swim teams, seniors and regional competitions that bring visitors and local economic activity. Janet Aguirre, vice president of the Sunnyside Rotary Swim Team, said the Sharks fielded about 100 swimmers this year and that the team’s 2024 championship meet drew roughly 400 athletes and families. “The Sharks’ swim meets stimulate our Sunnyside economy,” Aguirre said, noting weekly out‑of‑town visitors who patronize restaurants and lodging. Daybreak Rotary volunteer Britney Baima read a letter committing $50,000 toward pool equipment and startup needs; the letter listed specific items totaling $38,377.39, plus sales tax.

Opponents and concerns: residents raised questions about the tax burden on seniors and the lack of a longer-term funding plan. Theresa Hancock’s submitted statement, read into the record, warned that a $2 monthly increase could be a burden for Social Security recipients. “Given the average increase to seniors…is definitely under $50 a month…even $2 a month is a burden,” the statement said. Javier Lopez (Sunnyside resident and parent of a Sharks swimmer) urged the council to prefer a one‑year sunset and a voter bond for long-term funding, calling a flat utility tax “a temporary fix” without explicit long-term accountability.

Council and staff responses: Councilors and the city manager said staff and a finance subcommittee had explored multiple options, including grants and fee changes, and that the utility tax was selected to provide immediate, widely distributed revenue. The city manager noted the public information page on sunnysidewa.com had drawn about 7,000 visits during the outreach period. Councilors and staff emphasized the ordinance contains a Dec. 31, 2025, termination date, and that funds would be ring‑fenced for pool operations. Councilor Hart stressed safety and swim lessons as a primary rationale: “If kids don’t know how to swim, they drown,” she said, calling swim lessons a public‑safety priority.

Costs and impacts cited at the hearing: staff estimated each 1% of the tax would raise roughly $25,000 citywide, making a 2% increase approximately $50,000 in additional annual revenue. Officials projected the change would translate to about $2–$3 extra per month on a minimal residential bill, with variation for higher residential or commercial customers.

Next steps and oversight: staff said the tax ordinance will be published, take effect five days after publication (no earlier than March 1), and the city could terminate it earlier if funds prove sufficient. Finance staff said the city could present periodic revenue-and-expenditure reports to council during 2025 to show how the segregated pool fund is being used. Council members said they will continue pursuing grants, sponsorships, advertising and other revenue strategies to avoid making the tax permanent.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance — increase utility tax by 2% to fund the 2025 swimming‑pool season. Motion by Councilor Hart; second by Councilor Frosto. Roll call — Deputy Mayor Galvan: yes; Councilor Hart: yes; Councilor Frosto: yes; Councilor Ripley: no. Outcome: approved (3–1). Effective date: no earlier than March 1 (five days after publication); sunset/termination date: Dec. 31, 2025, unless the council extends or terminates earlier.

What’s next: staff will place the ordinance in the legal newspaper, begin collecting the segregated revenues if the publication timing allows, and continue outreach and fundraising efforts, including coordination with Rotary, swim‑team fundraisers and grant applications.