Setting the Record Straight: A Fact-Based Look at Shoreline Proposition 1

Aquatic Center Design

Setting the Record Straight: A Fact-Based Look at Shoreline Proposition 1

By the Prop 1 – Pro Statement Writers
- Krishnakant Nammi - Susie McDowell - Buddy Smith

Calling Shoreline’s Proposition 1 a “luxury pool” makes for a provocative headline, but it obscures the real question before voters: Does a growing city of more than 60,000 residents believe a public pool is basic community infrastructure worthy of investment?

Our community has spent years investigating how to replace our municipal pool that closed in 2020. The proposed facility will include an eight-lane lap pool, recreation pool, warm hydrotherapy pool, diving area, universal changing rooms, classrooms, and community spaces.

These are not “luxury” amenities. They support swim lessons, water safety, school and community athletics, exercise, rehabilitation, senior fitness, and programming for residents with different physical abilities.

To ensure everyone can make an informed decision on the upcoming ballot, let's look at the real facts behind the concerns raised.

Are there "significant risks" with this project?

The Fact: The City never stated that there are significant risks with this project. A review of project details on the Shoreline City Council Staff Report for Action on Resolution No. 562 reveals the financial plan is transparent, structurally sound, and operating costs are clearly built into the proposal from the start. 

Page 8b-1 explicitly states, “revenues generated by the MPD and pool facility user fees are anticipated to cover all expenses related to constructing and operating the pool facility.” Page 8b-6 discusses the 66% operational cost-recovery model designed to keep the pool accessible and affordable for Shoreline residents.

Public infrastructure like roads, libraries, and parks costs money to operate. Prop 1 would create a Metropolitan Park District (MPD) structured to provide ongoing funding for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the pool. This is a fiscally responsible way to fund the pool long-term. 

Typical of a public pool facility, user fees and other facility revenues will cover approximately 66% of the operating and maintenance costs. These facts mean that taxpayers aren’t writing a blank check; rather, the people who use the pool are contributing a significant portion of the operating costs.

Could interest rates on bonds force the cost of servicing the bonds, and thereby tax rates, to “increase dramatically”?

The Fact: The tax rate has a strict legal cap. By Washington state law, an MPD cannot charge more than $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The City expects the initial property tax rate to be $0.55 per $1,000. While the exact starting rate depends on market conditions when bonds are sold in late 2027, it cannot legally cross that $0.75 line. Just like a fixed rate mortgage, once the bonds are sold, the interest rate for the city can never increase. You can read the details on Slide #3 of the city’s official legislative presentation for Shoreline Resolution No. 562. Best of all, the board setting this tax rate is our elected City Council, who answer directly to voters during every single election.

Does the measure add 33% to city property taxes and increase total property taxes by approximately 5.5% to 7.5%?

The Fact: Your city tax is only a small fraction of your total property tax bill, which also includes schools, county services, and EMS. When you look at your total overall property tax bill, the pool adds a 5.5% overall increase. For a median Shoreline home, this works out to about $35 a month. You can see exactly where your tax dollars go by typing your address into the online King County Assessor Property Viewer. 33% is an alarmist number that is calculated based on the increase in the city’s share of the overall tax bill.

The cost of waiting is higher than the cost of building. Some people question whether now is the “right time.” The right time was years ago. Every year we wait, construction costs rise, another cohort of kids grows up without nearby swim lessons, and Shoreline residents have to leave our city to swim.

Can the city address its projected deficits, fund essential obligations (including sidewalks, public safety, and existing park measures), and successfully raise taxes further to pay for future public school projects?

The Fact: The City of Shoreline and Municipal Parks District (MPD) will be completely separate financial entities. City budget shortfalls are a separate, state-wide structural issue. State law caps regular city property tax revenue increases at 1% per year, but the cost of running a city rises much faster with inflation. Because of this, Shoreline faces general operating deficits starting as early as 2028 when the current general levy lid lift expires. This challenge faces almost every city in our state, and the City Council will likely ask voters for a routine levy lid lift renewal in 2028 to fix it. The pool project has its own dedicated, voter-approved funding source via the MPD and will not affect or be affected by the city's general operating budget.

With the project at only approximately 10% designed, is the cost estimate sufficiently reliable?

The Fact: "Only 10% designed" is exactly how responsible public projects work. No city spends millions of taxpayer dollars fully designing a building before voters have decided whether to fund it. Early stage estimates are standard practice for ballot measures, and Shoreline’s pool estimates are built on the highest-quality data currently available. If high inflation or changing construction costs do hit the project, the city has immediate safety valves in place. The MPD can modify the building design, adjust user fees, or implement operational cost-cutting measures to keep the budget strictly balanced.

Will vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities get no tax relief?

The Fact: Relief is built in for those who qualify for county relief programs. While state law does not allow an automatic deduction on this specific type of voter-approved tax, protection exists for low-income seniors and disabled residents who already have their property values frozen by the county. If your home's value is frozen, your pool tax will be calculated using that lower, frozen value and not today's higher market prices.

Seniors and people with disabilities rely on warm water pools for low-impact exercise and therapy, and this proposed pool is intentionally designed for that accessibility.

Should we just use nearby pools instead?

The Fact: “Use the neighbor’s pools” isn’t a plan. Neighboring pools are already completely full. Relying on other cities to serve Shoreline’s 60,000 residents is not a realistic strategy. Pools in Edmonds, Lynnwood, and Mountlake Terrace are aging and crowded, and their swim lesson slots fill up within minutes during online registration for Shoreline residents. Our local high school swim teams currently have no public pool in Shoreline to practice in. Shoreline children who don’t have the resources for private clubs have no place to learn how to swim, putting them at higher risk of drowning in Washington’s plentiful natural waters. Let's build an easily accessible public pool where all of our children can learn to thrive.

Were public-private partnerships fully explored?

The Fact: Yes. The idea of a regional or private partnership isn't new. In 2023, Shoreline joined a North King County regional aquatic feasibility study to look at building a joint facility with neighboring jurisdictions. Unsurprisingly, every city wanted the pool built in their own backyard, and a regional agreement could not be reached. The city has studied this for years, and Proposition 1 is the direct result of that work. Additionally, this local project is eligible for a $5 million grant from the King County Parks Levy.

Choosing the Community We Want to Be

Prop 1 is fundamentally about what kind of community Shoreline wants to be. Take a moment and think about the city we want to leave to our children and grandchildren.

In 1968, local voters passed a Forward Thrust bond measure that built 17 public pools across our region, including Shoreline's original municipal pool. That single investment gave our community a shared place for swim lessons, exercise, and family memories for nearly 50 years. Now, it is our turn to build a legacy for the next generation.

On November 3rd, we urge you to join your neighbors in voting yes on Proposition 1. This is a long term investment in swim safety, senior fitness, rehabilitation, recreation and community infrastructure. Shoreline has waited long enough. Let Shoreline Swim! Learn more: https://letshorelineswim.org/