CAÑON CITY — The possibility of a new year-round recreation center coming to Cañon City is looking like it won't happen any time soon.
Items 6A & 6B on the ballot proposed a property tax increase of $44.47 and $25, respectively, per $100,000 of a home’s actual market value in order to help fund the project.
Three similar property tax increases have been proposed in the past in 1989, 2000, and 2006 which all failed.
Unofficial results as of 10:53 p.m. with 70% of precincts reporting
| Canon City 6A Rec Center Mill Levy | Votes | Percentage |
| Yes | 3,747 | 41% |
| No | 5,414 | 59% |
| Canon City 6B Rec Center Bond | Votes | Percentage |
| Yes | 3,898 | 43% |
| No | 5,268 | 57% |
News 5 spoke to those in the community who supported the initiative, who felt that now was the best time to finance the project.
"The prices on these facilities are going up and up and up and right now with bond prices... We'll be able to get the best financing we're probably ever going to get for this thing," said Jim Johnson, President of Board of Directors for Cañon City Area Recreation & Parks District.
"I think when you break it down, it is a doable amount for most homeowners... on top of what they pay in property tax, but I know any increase right now is not welcomed really," said Celeste Wilson, Owner of Chrysalis Consignment on Main Street.
Business owners, like Wilson, seem to agree that a recreation center will be good for tourism in Cañon City.
"I think it would keep people in our town, bring people from other communities, and if we could get other employment and companies, it would create better economic stability for our community," said Wilson.
The current community pool in Cañon City has "passed its useful lifetime" according to Johnson.
"It's wreaking havoc on our recreation budget because we have to subsidize it so heavily with repairs," said Johnson.
The current pool will ultimately close, no matter how the vote turns out for the recreation center.
For more information, visit the Recreation Department's website, or the community lead page in favor of the facility.
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