Lafayette Weighs Water Park Tax, Ranked-Choice Voting

City leaders to consider ballot measures for November election.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:20pm

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A serene oil painting depicting an empty park bench overlooking a municipal water park, with the warm glow of the sun casting long shadows across the scene, conceptually representing the importance of maintaining public recreation spaces.A tranquil scene of Lafayette's beloved water park, the focus of an upcoming ballot measure to extend critical funding for its upkeep and improvement.Lafayette Today

Lafayette city officials are set to discuss extending a local tax that funds a popular water park, as well as the possibility of implementing ranked-choice voting for the upcoming November election. These potential ballot measures will be considered at an upcoming city council meeting.

Why it matters

The water park tax extension would provide continued funding for a key community amenity, while ranked-choice voting could change how Lafayette residents elect their local leaders. Both issues are likely to generate significant public interest and debate.

The details

The existing water park tax is set to expire soon, and city leaders must decide whether to put an extension on the November ballot for voters to consider. Separately, the city council will weigh a proposal to adopt ranked-choice voting for future elections, which would allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference.

  • The Lafayette City Council will discuss these ballot measures at their next meeting on April 15, 2026.
  • The November 2026 election is the target date for potentially putting these measures before Lafayette voters.

The players

Kady Doelling

The Lafayette City Manager, who is overseeing the discussions around the water park tax and ranked-choice voting proposals.

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What’s next

If the city council approves putting the water park tax extension and ranked-choice voting on the November ballot, Lafayette residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on these issues during the election.

The takeaway

The upcoming Lafayette City Council meeting will be crucial in determining whether these two high-profile ballot measures move forward, setting the stage for a lively public debate in the months leading up to the November election.