Public support remains strong for an indoor recreation center in Warrenton. That is one of the findings from a survey gauging interest in the proposed project that were disclosed to city officials last week. Survey results showed 76.4 percent of respondents said they would visit the facility at least once a week if it offered programming that was most important to their families. An additional 12.7 percent said they would visit less than once a month. Three years after voters narrowly shot down a sales tax increase, 75.1 percent responded that they would vote in favor of a proposal to fund the indoor facility. Another 9.9 percent said they might vote for the facility, with 11.7 percent and 3.3 percent stating they would vote against or were unsure, respectively. A similar survey conducted in 2008 revealed that 53 percent of respondents said they would vote in favor, while 17 percent stated they opposed a sales tax increase for the project. In another survey question this year, 33 percent showed support for a quarter-cent sales tax increase, 29.7 percent for a half-cent sales tax and 18.3 percent for a one-tenth sales tax. Nineteen percent said they were opposed to a sales tax increase, a figure that decreased in half compared to 2008 results. The city received 313 responses from an online survey conducted between mid-September and Oct. 21 that was open to everyone. In 2008, 413 responses were received. That survey was open only to city residents. Many of the survey responses mirrored those received in 2008. "The survey was positive," said Terri Thorn, the city's director of operations/finance officer. "It's clearly something the community wants." Earlier this year, city officials renewed talks on the possibility of constructing an indoor recreation center, after voters defeated a half-cent sales tax increase by 76 votes to fund the project in November 2008. Had the proposal passed, the city's sales tax would have increased from 7.975 to 8.475 cents. A simple majority was needed for passage. The city paid $21,250 to Ballard King and Consultants, a firm specializing in recreation facility planning and operations, to update a feasibility study this year. This was the same company that completed the study in 2008. City officials are considering constructing an indoor facility that would include a gymnasium, walking track, fitness equipment and multipurpose rooms. It would be built on 7 acres the city owns along Market Street behind the Warrenton 8 Cinema complex. Though survey results show support, city officials are still discussing how to proceed and whether the city can afford to operate the facility. Even if a sales tax initiative was passed, officials agree an aquatic center would need to be eliminated from any proposed project to help lower construction and operating costs. Even then, they still don't know if the city can afford the project. A lot of the uncertainty relates to sales tax revenue received by the city that is needed for the project. If a quarter-cent sales tax increase was approved, an estimated $405,919 could be allocated annually - $325,460 from the new sales tax and $80,0460 available from an existing quarter-cent capital sales tax fund. If a half-cent sales tax was passed, estimated revenue would increase to $731,379, of which $650,919 would be generated from the new tax. However, the potential annual debt service on a $13 to $15 million project is estimated between $965,000 and $1,111,000, according to a sales tax analysis provided by the city. The city has until Jan. 24, 2012, to place a sales tax measure on the ballot for the April election. Mayor Greg Costello applauded the board for proceeding with the feasibility study. "If you look at the companies that have come in and the growth we've had, you have to be excited about that," he said in regards to sales tax revenue. "The downside is you don't know what is going to happen at the outlet center. That is the other piece of that. We have stabilized on sales tax. I think we could see an increase, but it's an unknown." Other survey results were: • A significant shift between the 2008 and 2011 surveys results concerned how the operating costs should be funded. This year, 58.2 percent feel the operating costs should be covered by tax dollars, while only 21 percent responded that way in 2008. • The results showed 65.2 percent felt the center should be a high to a very high priority for the city. By comparison, only 41 percent felt that way in 2008. • The top five components respondents indicated they would use several times a week were: indoor track, 142; cardiovascular equipment, 118; group exercise space, 104; weight group, 93; and leisure pool, 92. • The majority of the survey respondents were 25-44 years old (62 percent). In addition, 55.3 percent of the responses were from city residents, with an additional 20.4 percent located within one to three miles.