City of Cortez officials have reversed themselves on the outdoor swimming pool in Veterans Park.
They recently said it would not be open in 2027 because of budget constraints, but in a press release Thursday, they now say it will be open.
The release says the reason for the change is that officials recently learned that Cortez received a $700,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant in 2010 that helped pay for renovating the outdoor pool. A condition of that grant was that the city operate the pool
for “a period of 25 years from the date of completion of the project or the useful life of the project,” according to information from the city.
However, the pool, which was constructed in the 1950s, faces ongoing problems. It reportedly costs about $477,000 to run each year but brings in only about $86,000 in fees.
It leaks thousands of gallons a day and needs a $1.5 million renovation, according to city officials.
Total city revenue is expected to decrease by more than $500,000 in 2027.
The pool’s operation next summer will likely be paid for by delaying needed maintenance to city buildings, reducing the pool’s operating hours and increasing fees, or cutting staff compensation, according to the release.
Interested residents can weigh in at a budget forum next Wednesday at 6 p.m. or at the public hearing on the budget on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Both events will be in City Hall.
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