City of Kingman Recreation Center & Bond Proposal – October 2025 Survey Results

vote4cblack
Oct 21
2 min read

The City of Kingman recently conducted a survey to measure community support for a proposed $85 million General Obligation Bond to fund a new indoor recreation and sports facility, Sunbelt Park expansion, and golf course improvements. The results offer important insight into how residents feel about the city’s priorities — and the message is clear: Kingman wants better recreational opportunities, but not at the expense of higher taxes.

What the Survey Found

Interest in a Recreation Center:43.7% of residents expressed interest in using an indoor recreation or community sports center.Younger residents (under 40) were significantly more supportive, while older demographics were less enthusiastic.
Taxpayer Willingness:Only 30.7% said they would support a property tax increase to fund such a facility.A strong 55% opposed paying additional property taxes for this project.
Bond Support:When asked if they would vote “Yes” or “No” on the $85 million bond question,only 25.7% supported it, while 70.3% said they would vote “No.”
- Voters aged 30–39 showed the strongest support (50%),
- while those 65+ overwhelmingly opposed the measure (78.8% “No”).
Membership Fee Willingness:Residents were somewhat more open to user fees or memberships, with 38.3% willing and 47.3% opposed — suggesting some interest in a self-funded model rather than a tax-funded one.

What This Means for Kingman

The survey data suggests a deep divide between community desire and fiscal tolerance. Residents agree that new youth and community spaces are needed — but they want smart, affordable solutions that don’t rely on large debt or permanent tax increases.

This mirrors what many of us have been saying for years:

“Let’s invest in Kingman’s future, but let’s do it responsibly.”

Instead of an $85 million bond, there are alternative pathways:

Phased development using state and federal grants;
Public-private partnerships that involve local businesses;
Leveraging existing spaces through renovations, not rebuilds;
Expanding youth and recreation programs through community partnerships before construction.

A Common-Sense Approach

This isn’t about opposing recreation — it’s about building smarter. Before committing taxpayers to decades of debt, we should explore scalable, sustainable, and inclusive solutions that bring real benefit to families, youth, and seniors alike.

I support expanding opportunities for our kids and improving quality of life —but I also believe every dollar matters, and Kingman deserves transparency, accountability, and fiscal common sense.