A 25-yard pool as a component in a community center facility will fit within the town's $15 million construction budget, but lose funds annually in operations, according to one consulting firm's numbers. Community Center Advisory Committee members heard this news recently as they work with the Sports Facilities Advisory (SFA) firm in an effort to arrive at the right balance of community center components and programming to fit their budget, and long-term goals. SFA in past weeks had provided the town with financials for a community center that included a 50-meter pool component, with construction costs roughly twice as high.

SFA has more recently provided information for a 25-yard pool/community center. Regarding that pro forma, First Selectman Pat Llodra this week confirmed that "SFA's analysis determined that funding is sufficient to build the entire facility of aquatics components and flexible/programmable space. However, SFA's analysis of projected costs for the facility to operate show that program/membership revenues would not be sufficient to cover the operational costs."

Following a conference call with SFA on September 1, those projections are being analyzed and refined by volunteers and professionals associated with the proposed project, she said. "Some modifications in the SFA cost/revenue projections will take place" as the Community Center Advisory Committee and others "have an opportunity for a deeper dive into the data," Mrs Llodra said.

During a conference call with SFA Vice President Evan Eleff on Thursday, September 1, advisory committee members sought to understand gaps in their financial projections, which anticipated a facility that would not be a tax burden to residents.

Geralyn Hoerauf with the firm STV/DPM, retained by the town to act as the town's representative throughout the planning, design, and construction of the Newtown Community Center, said, "This is a fact-finding mission. Part of retaining SFA was to provide data so the town can decide what to support going forward."

The financials for a smaller pool still showed a facility that would need to be "subsidized" each year, Mr Eleff said.

Regarding the assumed programming, staffing, and other incomes and expenditures, Mr Eleff said, "There can be changes. As with any financial forecast, there are assumptions that can be altered."

The Newtown Community Center Commission's (NCCC) final proposal in early 2016 described a facility of some 43,000 square feet comprising two main features, including at least 13,000 square feet of flexible, programmable space for general community use and an aquatics component with two pools - a lap pool of up to 50 meters and a zero-entry pool.

The aquatic/community center option is the result of nearly a year's worth of research and planning by the Community Center Commission. Members had sought to develop a model that would not be a future burden on taxpayers. In February of this year the commission had generated financials that compared potential expenses and revenues. Their estimates showed an aquatic center that would turn a profit, while a community center alone would operate at a loss. (See the commission's final report on the home page of newtown-ct.gov.) Once the plan was in place, a referendum date followed.

The Community Center Commission had originally believed that a 50-meter pool/community center was within budget. Members had received a construction estimate in early 2016 from STV/DPM, saying that a 50-meter pool and community center was feasible for their $15 budget. SFA gave their estimate in June to reflect a possible $32 million price tag. The former Community Center Commission had not done the construction estimates, said Kinga Walsh, a Community Center Commission member and Advisory Committee member.

Residents in April voted on the following referendum question: "Shall the $14,550,000 special appropriation and $5,000,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, and construction of a Newtown Community Center be approved?" At that time residents voted to spend a 2013 gift from the GE Foundation of $15 million intended to fund the development, construction, and operation of a community center. The GE gift includes $10 million to design and build, and another $5 million, at $1 million a year for five years, to underwrite operating expenses.

The town is bonding an additional $5 million approved in this year's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to supplement the initial $10 million capital gift given to the community after 12/14.

A Move Toward The Feasible

Ms Walsh had opened the meeting saying, "To recap why we are here," the town had commissioned SFA to assess the NCCC's proposal that included a 50-meter pool.

Ms Walsh said in a recent e-mail, "Upon learning that the construction estimate was too low (i.e., $30-32 million needed versus town consultant's construction estimate of $15 million), SFA's role shifted slightly." She said its work "moved away from validating the NCCC's work and towards creating a pro forma of what SFA believes is feasible (i.e,. 25 or 35 yard pool with community space) within a $15 million construction budget; therefore, the pro forma under discussion is … a new outline of what SFA believes is possible and with the now advisory group's involvement."

After reviewing SFA's draft report that included demographics, how many households would use the pool, membership fees, and more, advisory group member Bill Buchler had said, "I feel your numbers are conservative."

"We are very conservative in our numbers," Mr Eleff replied.

Considering a community center without a pool, Mr Eleff said they could, "but have not yet" done an analysis for that scenario. "They would have different staffing structures," he said. "If we put it out, the actual operation of each would have higher expenses," he said. Two of the biggest revenue drivers are related to a pool, he said. Funds would come in through drop-in charges and memberships for programs.

"Does it mean that you don't think a standalone would be self-sufficient?" asked Ms Walsh.

"Correct," Mr Eleff said. "Both would require subsidy and independently require larger subsidy."

Conversation turned to the possibilities of grants, sliding scale memberships, scholarships, an other options.

Members discussed and questioned some of the components that Mr Eleff's draft included, such as an indoor climbing wall feature, and other programming geared toward youth.

"There is a lot of the word youth in this report," Ms Walsh had said. She wanted to know why, and how the SFA had focused on youth when the project was for a community center.

"For the most part, youth participate in registered activities," Mr Eleff said. "Youth" is prevalent "not because facility use is skewed to youth … but a majority of programs registered and paid for is skewed toward youth." Arts and crafts activities tend to be skewed toward adults, he said.

"I am worried it will be perceived in the wrong way," Ms Walsh said. "I want to be sure your focus was community."

She asked of the climbing wall was a fad.

"Our experience is, if you control - market - the experience rather than letting people come on their own," the wall can be more of an attraction "as long as events are driving people to it."

"So, you need someone to market to these demographics?" Ms Walsh asked.

"We have noticed that the [Newtown] Parks and Recreation Department is very good at developing activities." He felt strongly that the recreation department will have a "significant role" in marketing opportunities.

John Boccuzzi, Sr, said that the prior Community Center Commission concluded "we don't need another sports facility, but flexible space." He said he was "befuddled about recreation space, it should be flexible space."

Mrs Llodra said to Mr Eleff, "The information is helpful and when we ultimately decide about programming, this will be helpful."

As the conference call came to an end, Mrs Llodra asked Mr Eleff again about exploring the financials for an ice arena.

Mr Buchler said, "Our goal is to create something that serves all generations …" He noted concerns about higher taxes and hoped a community center could "pay for itself." He asked, "Is there a recommendation to help us get there?"

Mr Eleff said, "You can get into the numbers and reduce the subsidy as much as possible."

Mrs Llodra said, "I think the plan goes forward." Mr Boccuzzi felt it looked good from a distance, "But we're still looking at a deficit."

Ms Walsh suggested they should not talk actual numbers until they had a final report. The advisory group and SFA will continue work in refining the numbers of costs and revenue.