The Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District is readying a $15 million to $18 million bond proposal to go before voters.

“Our timeline is for a November election,” Skyler Archibald, executive director of the district, said Monday at a board workshop. “We still have several months — but we do ourselves a disservice if we wait too long to gather community input, answer questions that might come, and also hopefully develop a group that can generate a lot of support.”

The district’s board of directors met to determine whether to bring an expansion plan to the ballot, and if so, how to finance it.

If placed on the ballot, the bond would be voted on by residents of the independent taxing district, who include most residents in the Seaside School District, excluding Cannon Beach and Gearhart.

Last May, district board members discussed the possibility of expansion, either funded through a bond or system development charges — the fees paid by builders to the city for essential infrastructure. Over the past three years, the district has invested about $60,000 to consultants for building expansion.

The district’s base expansion plan would add a second level to the aquatic facility on Broadway in Seaside. The plan would create a new entrance, more efficient office layout and a gym.

Two preschool rooms, an administrative office, lobby expansion, party room and storage would also be included.

Board member Michael Hinton said the bond measure might not pass the first time around, but it would be worth making the effort. “It makes sense to go out and ask for the bond, and we’ll play to win,” he said.

Board member Jeremy Mills expressed concern that the community would support the bond. “I don’t know if it’s going to float,” he said. “I believe we need to do it. But I struggle with asking for more money. … It’s not going to be easy.”

Board member Veronica Russell said she favored expanding the facility, particularly with rising construction costs making the project more expensive by the year.

The timeline will unfold over the next month or two, Archibald said after the workshop. The district has until Aug. 17 to file with the county for the November election.

The expansion project won’t be “an easy sell,” Alan Evans, the board president, said, “but you never know unless you ask.”