Liberty Lake residents voting on tax to build $9 million Town Square community center

Voters in Liberty Lake in Tuesday’s election will decide the fate of a proposed $9 million new community center near Town Square Park.

In 2016, the city tried to get a $12 million bond approved for a similar project, which included an aquatic center, but the bond failed at 56 percent – 4 percentage points lower than what was needed to pass.

City Administrator Katy Allen said the City Council got anecdotal feedback from the community indicating that it was the aquatic center residents didn’t support.

“This time, there is no pool,” Allen said. “We just want to check the pulse on the community and see if people want a community center.”

The city has not solicited new design plans but will to use the old plans – without the pool – as a starting point if the bond passes.

“There is no final design for this community center yet,” Allen said. “If the bond passes we will have a lot of public meetings to determine the final design.”

The proposed community center would be a meeting and gathering space, and it would house the Liberty Lake Library. The current library location would be leased to help offset costs.

The 30-year bond would cost Liberty Lake residents approximately 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value – about $101 for a home valued at $270,000.

Allen said Liberty Lake is growing, and there’s a shortage of meeting space for community groups.

“We are a growing community and some people think we really need a community center, others don’t,” Allen said. “Now we will know.”