Early votes say 'no' to Lake Park pool

Early indications show voters are on their way to again rejecting an indoor aquatic center at Lake Park High School.

Based on early voting totals, roughly 60 percent of voters are saying "no" to a borrowing proposal and a tax rate increase that could fund pool construction and operation.

On the first question, which asks permission to borrow $8.5 million for pool construction, 638 of 1050 voters have said "no."

And on the second question, which seeks a tax increase to bring in an additional $390,000 a year to operate the aquatic center, 652 of 1034 voters said "no."

The aquatic center is proposed as a 23,500-square-foot building containing an eight-lane, 25-yard competition pool and a smaller pool with warmer water to be used for swimming lessons and athletic rehabilitation. If approved, it could be built at Lake Park's east campus on Medinah Road in Roselle by a targeted completion date of August 2015.

Lake Park High School District 108 officials estimate construction would cost $9.1 million, and pending voter approval, the district planned to contribute $600,000 from reserves to close the gap.

Supporters said the pool's benefits include a home base for the school's swimming and diving teams and a location to provide water-safety education. Opponents questioned whether now is a good time to be borrowing $8.5 million and raising taxes.