‘Y’ in Tigard unlikely as election results come in

TIGARD, Ore. (KOIN) — Tigard voters shut down a ballot measure to approve funding for a community recreation center, early election results indicated Tuesday night.

Ballot measure 34-241 created a lot of controversy because of the lack of clarity regarding the cost.

Election results posted at 9 p.m. Tuesday showed 67% of residents voted against the community center, with 33% voting for it.

Tigard City Manager Marty Wine told KOIN 6 News construction of the building would be determined by a public process, but only if voters approved the measure.

That means the measure could have cost homeowners more or less than what the city projected. The measure called for issuing bonds for up to $34.5 million, which would cost taxpayers 0.51 per $1,000 of assessed value each year. That’s about $122 a year for a house worth $240,000.

“I think that’s the part, you know, the controversy part, that people on the no side of things wonder about, the cost and setting on some of those details before it goes forward,” said Wine.

Supporters of measure 34-241 formed The Friends of the Tigard YMCA, but a yes vote doesn’t mean the new facility will be run by the YMCA.

“The operator of that center and the location of that center, so where it would be located and what would be in the building, would all be yet to be determined,” said Wine.

The YMCA has contributed more than $30,000 dollars to The Friends of the Tigard YMCA campaign.