Cedar Hills, Highland and Alpine have until Sept. 24 to decide whether they want residents to vote this year on creating a special recreation district, which could mean a joint recreation center for the cities.

The building would cost between $16 million and $27 million. Highland city administrator Barry Edwards said estimates show that it could cost residents $200-300 more a year in taxes.

The Highland City Council considered the issue at its Sept. 4 meeting, but will decided to put off a decision until Sept. 18.

"We do not have enough information nor a clear idea what the wording would be to put it on the ballot at this time," Councilman Steve King said.

The $16 million plans include a basketball court and a running track. It would have three swimming pools, including one for races. A drop-in day care would be near the entrance. There would be a weight room and a place for aerobic and jazz dance classes.

Although no location has been identified, the facility may be north of Lone Peak High School. Details of how the costs would be shared are still to be determined.

The more expensive version would include two basketball courts, and the running track above would double in size. There also would be a racquetball court.

"Cedar Hills is having a hard time affording the costs of its golf course," said Councilman Brian Brunson. "Are they in any financial position to take on a bond for thisfi Highland is in the midst of building a justice center, a city building and a fire station. We also bonded for the purchase of new park land. Altogether the city is facing $15 million in debt."

However, he also said putting it before the voters was one way to get a good sense what most of the residents wanted. A survey, which was sent to a sample segment of both cities, came back with the conclusion there would be some level of support for a recreation facility.

Edwards said, "Recreation facilities have never paid for themselves. They must be subsidized. Ongoing costs would have to be taken into consideration."

City attorney Dave Church explained the way a special service district works.

"If the district is created, it becomes a new governmental entity," he said. "The question about how much the facility would cost and what is to be built would be up to the board. Typically, board members are appointed by the cities involved. The proposal would have two parts. First, the district has to be approved by the voters, then the people would have to vote on a bond to pay for the facility."

Each city would vote independently on the recreation district. If one city did not approve it, the other two cities would have to decide if they could continue with the project.

Councilwoman Kathryn Schramm said she was worried about people on fixed incomes having to pay more taxes. She believes in a fee-based system, in which people who want to use a recreation center can pay to do so.

Councilwoman Claudia Stillman said she had three things that would need to be resolved before she felt comfortable supporting a bond for the facility.

"First, if a board were created would our citizens have adequate representative on the itfi Second, I talked to the swimming coach at Lone Peak High School and he said neither plan had a competitive pool for diving or 10 lanes for racing," Stillman said.

She said such a pool would cost at least $10,000 more.

"Third, what does the $200 to $300 it would cost the citizens of Highland refer tofi Is it the based on their property valuesfi" Stillman asked.

Mayor Jay Franson directed staff to have the answers to those questions available when the matter is discussed on Sept. 18.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B8.