Following the 2024 election the City of Cañon City and Recreation District were faced with some uncertainty with authorization approved to build a pool, but no funds to operate it.  After multiple discussions and public meetings, both decided to collect the sales tax and go back to the voters in November for operations.  In the meantime, planning on pool design and engineering would begin so we wouldn’t fall behind and face even higher pricing due to inflation.  Over the past decade the cost to construct commercial public pools increased annually between five and eight percent, depending on the year.

Through a partnership, the City and Recreation District selected Barker Rinker Seacat as the architect, GH Phipps as the Construction Manager at Risk, and Wember as the Owner’s Representative.  The design work began in June with public meetings, stakeholder groups, and focus groups.  This work reaffirmed the original plan for the facility from the feasibility study in 2024.  However, due to price escalation a few adjustments were made.  Some of the cuts to the building program included the current channel (lazy river), a small spa, and a potential addition of two outdoor lap lanes.  The water slide was now considered an add alternate and would  only be constructed if funding allowed.  The leisure pool and lap pool were still attainable.

While this work was going on, the City and Recreation District looked at numerous options for operational funding.  It was determined only funding for pool operations would be explored and  additional funding for operations of the District would not be included.  In late July of 2025 there were only two options left on the table, a mill levy increase through the District or a 2.25% Excise Tax through the City.  In August of 2025 at a combined meeting the City Council and the District’s Board of Directors chose to move forward with the Excise Tax to be collected by the City. The funds would be used for pool operations and anything left over would go the City for quality-of-life improvements such as parks.  As it was a City of Cañon City question only residents of the City were eligible to vote.

On election day the voters of Cañon City said no to the Excise Tax.  A total of 5,662 votes were cast.  3,095 (54.66%) voters said no, while 2,567 (45.34%) said yes.  The results put the issue back to where it was a year earlier, there is authorization to build the pool but no funding to operate it. 

Construction on the pool has not begun.  Other operational funding opportunities are being explored.  The Recreation District Board of Directors, as stewards of the District,  has stated that a pool will not be built unless there are sufficient operational funds.