The budget for the Worthington city pool complex renovation has now ballooned by nearly $4 million over its original plan to an estimated $19 million.
The city initially planned for the project to cost $15.4 million, but an increase in construction costs and additional features added to the pool by Worthington City Council brought the price tag up to $19 million. Work began in January and has the Worthington pool complex closed this Memorial Day as pools in other Columbus-area municipalities are opening for the summer.
Worthington City Council unanimously approved floating another $2.5 million in bonds toward the pool complex project cost at its May 18 meeting, bringing the total amount monetarily allocated to the renovation to around $18 million.
This is the final anticipated funding package for the pool complex renovation, Worthington City Manager Robyn Stewart told The Dispatch.
Stewart said the total budget for the project is around $19 million, which includes around $16.8 million for construction costs. The city won’t allocate any additional funds to hit its $19 million estimated budget until the project is over and it has the final cost of the pool. Any extra costs will then come from the city’s capital funds, she said.
“We do not want to borrow money for expenditures that might not occur,” she said.
The pool bonds approved May 18 were bundled with bonds for water and sewer improvements into one bond package to save costs. The city plans to pay its debt on those bonds using income tax revenue, according to the bond legislation.
Worthington has been working toward renovating its aging outdoor pool facility next to Thomas Worthington High School for years. The city purchased the pool’s land, previously owned by the Worthington City School District, in July and signed a 20-year lease with nonprofit Swiminc to operate the new pool in December.
The project now has three funding sources: The $11.4 million bond levy approved by Worthington voters in 2024, $4 million appropriated from the city’s capital funds and the $2.5 million bond approved by the council on May 18.
Rates for pool goers will be determined by Swiminc once the project is complete. Stewart said the city does not set pool prices and does not operate the pool.
The pool will remain closed throughout 2026. It is expected to reopen before the 2027 season.
Reporter Nathan Hart can be reached at NHart@dispatch.com, @NathanRHart on X and nathanhart.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Worthington pool project budget grows as city approves more bonds
Reporting by Nathan Hart, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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