We don’t agree with the imposition of new taxes, when the public is already taxed for parks, particularly when many who would be taxed on their property do not use the Parkway and many who do use it, live outside of the tax area and won’t have to pay.
Adjacent property tax increases are appropriate for a neighborhood park resource, but not for one that is regional like the Parkway.
While we do however, agree with the creation of a Joint Powers Authority, depending on its composition, to manage the funds raised should the increased tax burden be accepted by property owners, the preferred strategy (which is working well with the Sacramento Zoo and Central Park in New York) is to contract with a nonprofit organization to manage the Parkway and the nonprofit will have the ability to develop a supplemental funding stream from philanthropic sources.
It is much better to raise money from people who choose to help a treasured resource which they use, than coercing it from those who may not want to pay for a resource they never use.
Assessment would pump up American River Parkway
By Ed Fletcher - efletcher@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Saturday, November 24, 2007
An assessment district benefiting the American River Parkway would be a big boost for the long-underfunded trail system and nature preserve, local open-space advocates say.
Depending on the assessment amount chosen by area elected officials – and assuming property owners approve it – the district could nearly double the money available for maintaining and improving the parkway.
"The funding in the past has barely been enough. It hasn't been enough for capital improvements," said Frank Cirill, president emeritus of the Save the American River Association. "The costs keep going up. The population keeps going up."
The parkway's annual budget of $6.2 million could jump to between $8.1 million and $11.6 million, depending on the amount chosen by lawmakers and approved by property owners.
The parkway is currently funded through Sacramento County's general fund (about $4.5 million) and revenue generated from parking fees, parkway passes and other programs ($1.7 million).
Under the plan being formed by local governments along the river, residents within a half mile of the parkway would pay somewhere between $18 and $48 annually. Property owners between a half mile and 3 miles of the parkway would pay half that amount annually.
