Committee hears bill to let more rural districts levy for pool operations

Senate File 37,61 would eliminate an outdated population‑density requirement that currently prevents some rural northern districts from levying for school‑pool operating costs.

Sponsors and rural superintendents told the committee that school pools provide essential water‑safety instruction, community recreation, and competitive sports opportunities in areas where alternative facilities are scarce. Superintendents from districts in the region described longstanding pools that serve hundreds of students and community members and said annual operating costs for a single pool can be on the order of $150,000.

The bill does not create a new program or mandate levies; rather it allows local boards the option to levy for operating expenses if they choose. Sponsors noted concerns about property‑tax impacts and said levy equalization would be desirable to avoid shifting costs to local homeowners; the fiscal note estimated a statewide cost on the order of $1.1 million under certain uptake assumptions.

The committee adopted an A1 amendment to broaden coverage and laid the bill over for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.