Posted: 5:15 p.m.Monday, March 7, 2016

MetroParks seeks levy renewal and increase

By Ed Richter

Staff Writer

BUTLER COUNTY — 

Votersnext week will consider Issue 6, a six-year levy renewal and increase to fundMetroParks of Butler County, an action that MetroParks officials say will allowfor improvements at some of its 4,500 acres of land across the county..

MetroParksis seeking to renew its current 0.5-mill levy and a 0.2-mill increase to fundits operations starting in 2017. The current revenues for the park districtwith the current 0.5-mill levy are $3.4 million.

Ifvoters approve the request during the March 15 primary election, it wouldgenerate about $5.16 million for the parks system.

Therenewal and increase would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 would be$24.50 a year or about seven cents a day or an additional $9.19 a year,according to an estimate from the Butler County Auditor’s Office.

Thecurrent 0.5-mill levy costs that same owner of a home valued at $100,000 about$15.31 a year.

“Thefunding will be used to keep the parks open, clean and safe,” said KellyBarkley, MetroParks senior manager of community relations. “In addition, whenthe parks are open, they are a real asset to the county.”

MarkHecquet, executive director of the Butler County Visitors Bureau, said theVoice of America Park in West Chester Twp. attracted some 40,000 spectators andparticipants from 14 major events assisted by the visitors bureau. He saidthose events alone represented a direct economic impact of just under $4million and about $13 million in overall economic impact to the county.

“Certainlythe VOA park has been a tremendous economic benefit not only to the surroundingarea around VOA park but to the entire county,” he said.

Barkleyalso said levy revenues have also helped to fund various partnerships,collaborations and sponsorships for capital projects, including the proposed River Center facility inMiddletownas well as the expansion of the sports fields at Voice ofAmerica Park in West Chester Twp. andworking with the city ofFairfield on its Marsh Park expansion.

MetroParksis working on other partnerships with other communities to improve recreationalopportunities as well, including its purchase last year ofWeatherwax Golf Course in Middletown.

“We’vereceived a lot of positive feedback,” Barkley said. “Passage of the levy would bea vote of confidence that we’re doing our jobs.”

MetroParks’levy revenues help to maintain the parks as well as subsidize most programmingcosts for county residents, Barkley said. In addition, all county residents,which she calls the “park customers and owners,” can obtain a free motorvehicle permit to access all of the parks.

Theincrease was needed, she said, as state budget cuts has cut its funding forparks by 50 percent and that operational and maintenance costs have increaseddue to increased park visitation. Barkley said without the levy funding,MetroParks would need to close parks and/or reduce park maintenance as it doesnot receive any funding from the county’s General Fund.

ISSUE 6: MetroParks of Butler Countysix-year 0.5-mill renewal and 0.2-mill increase

·                      Would cost a property owner $24.50 per $100,000 of taxable valuea year, which is broken down at $15.31 for the renewal and $9.19 for theadditional millage.

Projected levy expenditures:

·                      63 percent for operational expenses such as maintenance,programming, utilities, safety, land stewardship and management.

·                      9 percent for repairs and replacements such as updating worn-outinfrastructure, playgrounds, restrooms, pavement, athletic fields,trails/walkways and buildings.

·                      28 percent for capital improvements for construction of newfacilities, local match for state and other grants, and for planning anddesign.

Source: MetroParks of ButlerCounty; Butler CountyAuditor’s Office