John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool is in jeopardy of going under.

A replacement levy for North Whidbey Park and Recreation District, the entity that owns and runs the pool in Oak Harbor, will be on the November ballot. Its success seems unlikely as district commissioners, swim club proponents and community members disagree about how the money should be spent.

The main point of contention is whether property taxes should support the North Whidbey Aquatic Club, a program that offers competitive swimming for both youth and adults.

Currently, the district subsidizes the salary of the club’s swim coach. He currently earns $61,000 in wages and benefits; taxpayers fund about $45,000 of that.

Three of the five commissioners are right when they argue that tax dollars shouldn’t be spent on someone who works solely for a club and not for the district at large.

The club should be self-sufficient.

Not to mention $61,000 seems like a pretty hefty cost for an employee. Commissioners are right to question the expense and role the position plays in the district.

The pool is a great public amenity for Oak Harbor. Generations of children have learned to swim there. It provides excellent exercise opportunities for people of all ages. The high school swim team uses the pool. And children love to splash in the chlorinated waves.

The commissioners and swim club members need to put past grievances behind them and get on the same page. It seems inevitable that public subsidies for the club are going away. Commissioners should make that decision and move on, instead of endlessly treading water.

The swim club is a welcome and important part of the pool. The club’s support for the pool will be vital to the levy’s success.

Let’s not let the disagreement drown the levy.