Locals Say City Should Pay for South Valley Pool

The fate of South Valley Middle School's swimming pool, which is scheduled to be , has become a heated issue in the Garlic City. 

The Gilroy Unified School District needs $147,000 for pool repairs and an additional , but can only contribute $80,000—the amount set aside to pay for the pool's demolition.

Many community members, including school board officials, think the city should fork over the needed money to pay for the pool. 

“It would be a good move for the city, the council and for the community if the council stepped up to the plate to keep the pool open,” said Domingo Payne, GUSD Board of Education trustee. 

Council members offered to contribute $117,000 toward the pool's repairs and maintenance in April, but school board officials refused the funds, Councilman Peter Arellano said. 

“We voted to give them the money they asked for to keep the pool open,” he said. “The school district then said they could not spend the money because they couldn’t guarantee that they would have the money to keep it open the next year. So, they decided to close the pool, and that’s the last we heard from them.”

The school district apparently turned down the council's offer because of a misunderstanding that led city staff to believe the district only needed half of $300,000, when in fact every dollar is needed from the city, Payne said. 

Council Says School District Can Bear the Cost of the Pool

Arellano said while community sentiment has turned toward having the city pay for the pool, that the pool belongs to the district, which has the money to keep it open.

“They have the money, but it's low on their priority list,” he said. “What are they saving other than the pool? Do you want the pool or do you want three teachers?”

According to board member Jaime Rosso, in order for the district to fund the pool, funding for basic services like adult education and elementary school music would have to be cut.

"It's really hard justifying spending that kind of money for a pool,” he said. “As much as we hate to lose it, we simply don't have the wherewithal to do it."

Community Asks Council to Dip Into Their $26 Million

Pool supporters argue that the city council has $26 million in reserves, which is why the $300,000 needed for the pool should be a drop in the bucket. 

Payne said he understands the city council has to keep a certain amount of money on reserve for emergency purposes, but believes the pool is worth touching the council’s “rainy-day-type fund.”

“It’s pouring on the east side,” Payne said. “The pool will be the last asset they have for some good, healthy activity.”

Councilman Peter Leroe-Muñoz said the city is required to maintain a certain amount of money in reserves, which is why taking money out is easier said than done.

“We need to have it as a safety net there,” he said. “The council does have discretion over how to use it in certain situations. It’s a balancing act between keeping the safety net and the city’s priorities.”

While Leroe-Muñoz said he’s open to hearing financing options from the district, Arellano said he sees one clear-cut solution.

“For me, buying it outright is a viable option,” Arellano said. “If we are going to pay the full amount to repair the pool, fix it and keep it in usage every year, I want more control. Sell it to the city and we’ll run it.”

City council members will consider cutting a check for the entire $300,000 needed to maintain South Valley’s pool during their July 16 meeting. But GUSD Superintendent Debbie Flores says action is needed immediately. 

 “We are losing millions of gallons of water everyday due to a leak," she said. "We need to act on the pool now."

Do you think the City of Gilroy should pay the $300,000 needed for the pool? Or should the school district sell the pool to the city and allow them to run it?