Northampton Borough Council has finally given the go-ahead to begin renovations to the public pool in preparation for its reopening in the summer of 2026 after months of deliberation, presentations, and public feedback.
The borough did not take the decision lightly since fixing the pool would cost around $95,000 and homeowners are already anticipating a 2.5 mill tax hike in 2026. Though there may have been some expenses, the community's benefit from the pool far exceeded them.
Members of Northampton Council expressed their reservations about the idea, pointing to the already-planned tax rise for the new year. Many feel conflicted and many pushed to have the Pool reopen.
Even though the pool has consistently lost money, Councilman Trevor Stone believes the borough should do what it takes to keep it open. He went on to say that if the pool were no longer available, people would have to swim in rivers and quarries, which are both unsanitary and potentially dangerous, and in agreement is Councilwoman Judy Haldeman, who supports doing all we can to keep the pool open. However, if the pool's income keeps going down, prespectives may be shifting.
In addition to restoring the pool to its original condition, several council members and Mayor Pristash see this opportunity to modernize the facility in a manner that attracts and retains community members. Mayor Pristash acknowledged the potential for the city to mitigate the impact of the loss over time. He used the example of other cities that have improved their pools by adding water slides and waterpark attractions to boost attendance and income.
The pool repairs may be covered by the allocated funds for 2026.
Borough Manager Brian Welsko committed to doing all in his power to complete the task. The borough may be able to apply for grants and other forms of supplementary cash with the additional year, but that there is "no certainty" that anything would be available beyond 2026. It is possible that the repairs may not be finished in time for the 2026 season due to factors such as materials, weather, expenses, or other obstacles.
Any resident with thoughts, questions, or concerns about the pool's future should feel free to reach out to borough personnel.
While the town starts fixing things up, Councilwoman Kutzler wanted to make sure people knew that they shouldn't fall for anybody pretending to be the borough's official solicitation agent or that the borough isn't collecting money for the pool.
The borough's strategy had Kutzler's approval.
Also, in 2026, the Northampton rubbish collection price will go up by $80. Republic Services has a 5-year contract with the municipality. In the first year of the contract, there is a rise of $430 ($400 for seniors), and there will be annual increases throughout the term.
Residents may save $395 ($365 for seniors) on their trash charge if paid early (before March 15). The late fee is $475 (or $440 for seniors) for payments made after April 30. Two new 95-gallon totes will be distributed to households by Republic Services. The trash won't be picked up until it's in these bags.
Additionally, in 2026, the borough intends to raise the real estate tax by 2.5 mills.
The aim for next year is not to have another tax hike, despite knowing that the hike was needed.
The public is welcome to evaluate the preliminary budget at the borough office until Thursday, December 18, when council is next scheduled to meet.
