While the Parkway certainly needs money, this is a very poor way - and an extra burden on already over-burdened property owners - to get it, for two major reasons:
1) There is already a history of financial shortfalls for the Parkway over several years that has not been addressed effectively by management, and there is really no guarantee that managerial effectiveness will be brought to the use of the proposed extra funds.
2) The Parkway is a regional resource, and only charging those property owners who are closely adjacent to it is unfair to those who live in the taxed area who don’t use the Parkway, and to those who live outside the taxed area and do use it.
Prior to raising existing taxes, it is important to meet the minimum threshold of demonstrating that the increased taxes will be used equitably and efficiently.
Based on past experience, that minimal threshold cannot be met by current Parkway management.
County assesses support for parkway property tax
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, October 5, 2007
Plans to boost funding for the American River Parkway through an assessment of nearby property owners are moving along.
Next week, thousands of Sacramento County residents living within a 3-mile-wide band along the American River Parkway from the Yolo County line to the El Dorado County line can expect to receive an information sheet and a one-page survey gauging support for the plan.
