5 days ago
'Struggled': Here's why Easton's town pool is closed for the season
Whether or not Easton voters approve a $7.3 million tax levy limit override, one result of the town's money crunch is plain to see. The town pool won't open this summer.
Town officials have already shuttered the 101 E. Lincoln St. facility in North Easton for the current season.
Town Administrator Connor Read explained the decision in a February budget change memo.
"Since the pandemic, the Pool has struggled programmatically to cover expenses through its program and membership fees," he wrote. "[Health and Community Services] has worked diligently with the Recreation Commission to bring new approaches to the Pool to increase membership and shore up its finances, but the progress hasn't closed the yearly operating gap."
That means the town can use the money that would have covered 16 seasonal pool staff, plus maintenance costs, can be shifted to support other programming.
"As undesirable as it is to see a community asset like the pool close for the season, the elimination of existing HCS programming personnel who manage 142 unique community programs per year enjoyed by thousands of residents instead would be an even more regrettable outcome," Read wrote.
The sandy-bottomed pool isn't the only municipal service at stake in the Proposition 2 1/2 override vote that ends on Tuesday, June 10. Without the increase in taxing authority, town officials say there will be widespread cuts. Those are expected to include the equivalent of 47 full-time jobs at the schools, plus job losses at Fire, Police, Public Works and Town Hall.
In-person voting for the special Easton election is Tuesday, June 10 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Oliver Ames High School Gym, 100 Lothrop St. Early in-person voting is over.
If you are voting by mail, your ballot must either be dropped in the secure ballot box at the town offices 136 Elm St. by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10 or received by the town clerk by that time. This close to election day, the town recommends using the dropbox.
Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@ or connect on X at @HelmsNews.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Easton town pool closes amid budget crisis. What to know
