Lacey property owners might again be asked to pay designated tax to support city parks
The creation of a Metropolitan Parks District in Lacey — an idea that was shot down by voters in 2018 — is back before the Lacey City Council again after a work group recommended the city take that step.
The Parks Improvement Funding Workgroup was formed by the city council, then its 15 members set to out to review parks expansion and replacement projects identified in the city’s six-year Parks Capital Improvement Program.
Lacey has more than 20 parks, including the popular Wonderwood and Rainier Vista parks, plus the city has big plans for the future development of the 400-acre Cuoio Park north of Britton Parkway.
Evette Temple, chairwoman of the work group, made the recommendation to create a Metropolitan Park District during Tuesday’s council meeting. She said the group encourages the city to move forward with a ballot measure that would levy a property tax of 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, which would raise about $5.9 million annually for parks.
How much would that cost Lacey residents? The city provided this example: The owner of a home assessed at $500,000 would pay $225 a year, or $18.75 per month.
The council also could consider a phased approach, which would mean a lower levy rate at first, but one that would eventually rise to 45 cents per $1,000, Temple said.
Most council members expressed support for the idea, but none more than Michael Steadman, who said investing in parks is good for the local economy and good for all ages, and would promote a healthy lifestyle.
“And so again, I support this 110,000%, if there’s such a thing, and I will tomorrow, and I will promote it, and I’ll be a part of it in any way I can,” he said.
Council member Lenny Greenstein said he needs more information about the proposal. He wants to know how the money would be spent, and whether lodging tax revenue could be used, particularly for the Regional Athletic Complex on Marvin Road, east of Nisqually Middle School.
Greenstein said if you talk to local hoteliers, they will tell you the RAC puts heads in beds.
“I’d like to take a really deep dive into looking at using more of those funds, particularly for the RAC,” he said.
He also wants to know the proposed timing of the ballot measure because the city already has to go out to voters to renew the voter-approved Transportation Benefit District, which raises money via a sales tax for road maintenance and improvements.
“To go two years in a row to the public asking for money is a little scary, especially in this current economy,” Greenstein said. “I don’t know that it’s that easy to pass anything like this at the moment.”
Mayor Andy Ryder said he is not in favor of going straight to 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
“I think that’s a conversation that we need to have,” he said. “I would like to see, you know, what does it look like at 25 cents?”
But Greenstein offered a note of caution, saying that if the city goes with a graduated levy rate, they need to make sure it’s done correctly.
“You’ve got to be really careful in how the Department of Revenue defines that function because it’s really easy to mess up,” he said.
The council will again discuss the proposed Metropolitan Parks District at a work session Jan. 14, according to comments made at the meeting.
So what happened in 2018? The city went out to voters with a parks tax proposal of 47 cents per $1,000 of assessed value and it failed, 52% to 47%.
This story was originally published December 18, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
