Officials erased the outdoor leisure pool from the budget Monday, saving nearly $844,000.

In making the cuts, officials opted to provide basic plumbing and electrical for an outdoor pool, with the idea that one would eventually be built. The same goes for an indoor climbing wall, which also was dropped because of the budget cuts.

“It may not be tomorrow. It may never happen, but it would be a mistake to build it later without the plumbing and electricity available to it,” said Bountiful Mayor Joe Johnson, one of five mayors and county representatives who oversee the center.

The cuts, which included $200,000 in furnishings and fixtures, came about because recent construction cost estimates came in higher than expected for the proposed $18 million facility.

“This is a tough time to do construction,” Bountiful City Manager Tom Hardy told the center's board of directors.

The initial cost for the center came in at nearly $2.7 million over budget. Hardy blamed the overruns on increasing construction costs. He noted the overages were discovered before construction started, giving officials a chance to make changes to the facility to save money.

Officials previously reduced the center by 15,000 square feet by cutting the number of bathroom stalls, racquetball courts and meeting rooms. Monday's reductions should bring the budget to within about $300.

“We think we have done what our constituents have asked us to do and that is go over it again and see where we can trim,” he said.

But some say the changes came too late.

“They should have done this before instead of promising people the sun, the moon and the stars,” said Ronald Mortensen of the tax watchdog group Citizens for Tax Fairness. “Remember, they are their own taxing entity now and we anticipate they will come back to the taxpayers for more.”

The center can save by using equipment such as the crashboards and ice-grooming machines from the current hockey arena.

lorib@sltrib.com