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“Of
the partnerships created by the transformation of the parks system, this
one is the most important,” said Councilmember
Carolyn Edmonds, chair of
the Natural Resources, Parks and Open Space Committee. “County residents
deserve a say in the fate of the 25,000 acres of parks, trails and open
space that play such an important role in their communities.”
“From
Lake Washington to the Cascades, we have an incredible public investment in
our parks, and it would be a tragedy to lose that,” said
Larry Phillips,
chair of the Budget and Fiscal Management Committee. “When you do the math,
it’s clear that we need this levy revenue to keep our regional parks and
trails open and fully accessible to all King
County residents—including city dwellers who want to get
outside and play.”
Due to
an ongoing structural gap between revenues and expenses, King
County evaluated many options for continued funding of parks and pools
located within incorporated cities. It came to the conclusion that it needed
to transfer or mothball local facilities located within cities and focus its
resources on such regional facilities as
Marymoor
Park, the King
County Aquatic
Center and the King County Fairgrounds, and on parks and pools
in the rural unincorporated areas.
Last
year, the council took a series of steps to adopt a new entrepreneurial
blueprint. One of those steps was a recommendation from the Metropolitan
Parks Task Force to place before the voters a levy to operate and maintain
regional and rural parks and facilities still under county control. The levy
that will go to the ballot is smaller than the levy recommended by the Task
Force. It
would cost the owner of a $250,000 home $12.25 a year and would expire after
four years.
“The
voters of King County have demanded efficiencies and accountability in
government before asking for tax increases,” said Councilmember
Jane Hague,
chair of the Growth Management and Unincorporated Areas Committee. “The new
parks system is an example of our commitment. Now we are asking county
residents to work with us to ensure the future of this system.”
“This is a critical time
for King County parks and I commend the King County Council for its support
in bringing this important issue to the voters,” said King County Executive
Ron Sims. “The leadership of Councilmember Carolyn Edmonds deserves special
recognition. Over the past year, she has shepherded legislation supporting
parks' transition to a more entrepreneurial way of doing business. Thanks to
her efforts, parks have undergone tremendous innovation in the past six
months.”
"I would also like to
recognize the efforts of all the members of the Metropolitan Parks Task
Force in guiding the new direction of parks and recommending this modest
levy be put before voters, and note particularly the efforts of Co-Chairs
Gene Duvernoy and Bob Wallace and Task Force members Steve Ohlenkamp and
Lynn Claudon deserve special recognition,” added Sims.
“This is an important step
because the blueprint we have put together for the parks depends on a
strong, stable funding source,” said Edmonds. “This is an opportunity to
create the foundation that will ensure that these parks will be available
now and into the future.”
The County Executive must
sign the legislation and the Clerk of the Council
must certify it for the county’s
Records, Elections and Licensing Services Division before the levy is
formally submitted to voters.
Read more about this legislation on the
King County Council’s
LEGISEARCH system at
http://mkcclegisearch.metrokc.gov
and type in “2003-0071” |
