San Jose residents will get a splash of relief from the city's budget woes this summer, thanks to deals that will keep most pools and swim programs open.
A record $118.5 million budget shortfall forced city officials earlier this year to consider closing most of the city's six pools as well as suspending swim programs at Almaden Lake and a few high schools this summer.
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With the clock ticking on San Jose's June 30 budget deadline, city leaders appear to have cobbled plans together to keep public swim centers open in the Gardner and Cambrian neighborhoods and at Almaden Lake.
Despite a tight budget and an earlier plan to keep open only the Camden and Mayfair pools this summer, city parks staff said on May 20 that negotiations are finishing with a private operator to open the Biebrach Pool near the Gardner Community Center on June 14.
Almaden Lake is also expected to open June 16 rather than on Memorial Day weekend as it has in earlier years. San Jose Councilwoman Nancy Pyle challenged private donors in early May to raise $35,000—half the cost of keeping the lake open to swimmers and beachgoers this summer. Pyle's office agreed to pitch in the other $35,000 to meet its need of $70,000.