Objections to the proposed pool

  • The pool is not self sustaining (annual operating losses over $1 million dollars, best case.)

  • The initial pool design is quite small for a $25 million dollar project (4 lanes, limited open swim, splash pad, and small slide.)  Future designs could change the configuration, but the cost is in the ballpark if not on the low side.

  • Once Vienna commits to a $1m+ annual subsidy, everything else becomes harder (parks, infrastructure, maintenance, etc. )

  • The financial analysis of the pool has not been evaluated by independent parties, it could be much worse than projected.

  • Vienna residents have not had a public forum to decide if we really want an indoor pool.

  • We have two fully featured large county pool facilities with easy access from Vienna having similar fees Vienna residents will pay for 'our' pool.

  • This is the largest non utility expenditure by the Town of Vienna, it will have a big financial impact on taxpayers
  • There are nearly an unlimited range of sustainable options for the land, what do we want Vienna? (park, ball fields, outdoor splash pad, tennis, dog park, pavilion, ....)

References

1) ~$25 MILLION TOTAL PROJECT COST

Town Council documents state that the design and construction of the aquatics & fitness center are estimated to cost about $25 million.

 • Patch
https://patch.com/virginia/vienna/pool-fitness-center-advance-funding-agreement-approved-vienna-council

2) VERY SMALL POOL

The pool will have only four lap lanes and a maximum capacity of 110 occupants, which is too small for typical swim team use. The building footprint cannot be expanded due to parking requirements.

3) $3 MILLION ADVANCE APPROVED BEFORE FACILITY IS EVEN APPROVED

The Town authorized a $3 million advance for design and project management before approving construction of the facility and without a defined, reliable funding plan for long-term operations.


• Patch
https://patch.com/virginia/vienna/pool-fitness-center-advance-funding-agreement-approved-vienna-council
• Town Council continuation file
https://vienna-va.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?FullText=1&GUID=A02779C0-A52C-4C60-8629-F2BB6FF93FB4&ID=7101444

4) NO RELIABLE PLAN FOR PAYING OPERATING COSTS

Under the Town’s projections, the facility is expected to cost approximately $2.8 million per year to operate and run an annual deficit  about $1.5 million. The Town has cited unspecified savings and potential sponsorships to address this shortfall.

5) NO INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Town has not commissioned an independent, third-party financial analysis of construction or long-term operating costs. As a result, key assumptions — including market conditions and nearby competing facilities — have not been independently evaluated.

6) PARKS & REC MASTER PLAN: NO INDOOR POOL NEEDED

The Town’s recently published Parks & Recreation Master Plan states that the need for an aquatic center has been met by three existing facilities near Vienna. The Plan also emphasizes prioritizing maintenance of existing facilities over construction of new ones.

7) TOWN SURVEY RESULTS DO NOT SUPPORT AN INDOOR POOL

The Town’s statistically valid survey combined indoor and outdoor pool interest into a single question, preventing residents from indicating a preference between indoor and outdoor pools.

8) LONG-TERM MUNICIPAL DEBT (BONDS)

Construction would be funded primarily through municipal bonds, committing the Town to long-term debt service. This could limit the Town’s ability to borrow for other future projects.


• Patch
https://patch.com/virginia/vienna/pool-fitness-center-advance-funding-agreement-approved-vienna-council

9) MEALS TAX INCREASE — FUNDING USE UNCLEAR

Vienna increased its meals tax to 4% effective Jan. 1, 2026. While early discussions linked this to major capital projects, Town Council later stated it would be used for a backlog of maintenance items. It is currently unclear how much, if any, meals tax revenue will be used for the pool.