The city will likely have to delay building a new $10 million to $12 million recreation center for at least two years, according to Parks Director Roger Moellendorf.
The parks department doesn't have the money to build or operate the center because of the slow economy, he said. A 1996 voter-approved quarter-cent sales tax for parks and open space is not generating enough money for the project, he said.
The city got about $782,500 from the tax for parks building projects this year compared with $978,000 two years ago.
Moellendorf will ask supervisors today to end a $992,000 contract with Metcalf Builders to manage the project. The city has paid the builder about $34,000 of the contract since signing it in March 2008.
Moellendorf said the city has about $7 million for the project, but state law requires the city to have all the money needed before it starts construction.
The parks department probably wouldn't be able to operate the recreation center if it could build it, he said. Operations costs would be about $1 million a year, 80-percent of which would be covered by usage fees.
The parks tax and the city's general fund wouldn't have enough money to subsidize the remaining $200,000 a year, however, Moellendorf said.
"We're kind of caught with a double whammy," he said.
The city planned to build the 35,000- to 40,000-square-foot center beside the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada's new building at Russell Way and Northridge Drive. It could include gyms, a fitness room, jogging track and outdoor water play area.
The city had planned to negotiate an agreement that would allow the Boys & Girls Club to use the recreation center and the city to use the club's new building.
Boys & Girls Club Chief Professional Officer Hal Hansen said in a statement that the club hopes it can reach an agreement with the city.
"While we are disappointed that the economy has forced the city to delay the construction of the recreation center, the Boys & Girls Club is currently moving forward with site work and plans on opening the new club for the start of the school year in August," he said.
The club decided to construct the new $5 million, 12,600-square-foot building after it outgrew the building at Stewart and Fifth streets.
City supervisors could raise sales taxes an eighth-cent without voter approval for the center. This would generate between $970,000 and $1 million, depending on the economy, said City Finance Director Nick Providenti.
Moellendorf said the new sales tax money would help the project, but he doesn't think supervisors have the "political appetite" to raise it.
Mayor Bob Crowell said the city could raise sales taxes in the future if a project "with the right vision" was presented. The board shouldn't consider the tax this year for the center or likely any other project, he said.
"My sense is now is not the time to raise sales taxes in Carson City," he said.
WHAT: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting
WHEN: 8:30 a.m. today
WHERE: Sierra Room, Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.
DETAILS: A copy of the agenda is at www.carson-city.nv.us. Go to the board of supervisors link under the city government tab.
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