The city of Warrenton asked voters this week if it could borrow up to $7.5 million in bonds to pay for a new aquatic center, and voters responded with a solid “Yes.”The bond issue was the only question on the ballot of a special election held Aug. 8 in Warrenton’s three wards. Voters approved the bond issue with 70 percent voting yes.The city of Warrenton now has permission to finance construction of the aquatic center — which has an estimated cost of $5.3 million — by selling general obligation bonds. These bonds are a type of promissory note that the city guarantees to pay back using tax revenue.Warrenton’s Board of Aldermen now also has the authority to increase property taxes without another public vote, if necessary, to pay off those bonds. However, city leaders say there will be no tax increase, and that existing revenue will be enough to pay for this bond issue.The aquatic center will be built west of the intersection of Warrior Avenue and Highway 47, partially visible from Scenic Regional Library. Construction is planned to begin this fall and finish in fall 2018.A 7,000-square-foot indoor pool and 2,400-square-foot outdoor pool are planned at the facility, which will also have a party room for birthdays.City officials said even if the bond issue had not been approved, the aquatic center would have been constructed using a different type of financing with a higher interest rate that doesn’t require voter approval.Ballots by the numbersAbout 11.5 percent of voters turned out to decide this issue.There are 4,650 registered voters in Warrenton; 534 of them went to the polls on Tuesday, according to the Warren County Clerk’s office.The vote was split with 376 voting in favor of the bond issue and 158 voting against. Each of the city's three wards had a similar split:• Ward 1 — 140 voted yes, 66 voted no. Ward 1 had the best voter turnout with 14 percent.• Ward 2 — 125 voted yes, 54 voted no. About 11 percent of Ward 2 voters came out to vote.• Ward 3 — 87 voted yes, 33 voted no. Ward 3 had the lowest voter participation at 8 percent.There also were 29 absentee ballots submitted, with 24 of those voting yes.

About 11.5 percent of Warrenton voters decided the bond issue Aug. 8.

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