Council Committee to Discuss Sustainable Parks Funding Ballot Initiative
Douglass Park playground. Source: VisitLex
In Tuesday’s Budget, Finance, and Economic Development (BFED) Committee, David Lowe and Victoria Meyer of the Lexington Parks Advisory Board will present an overview of the Parks Sustainable Funding ballot initiative. This ballot initiative seeks to place a referendum for creating a new dedicated property tax for Parks and Recreation project funding on the November 2024 ballot. The campaign is a partnership between the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Trust for Public Land, and Trees Lexington. If fully adopted, the Parks Sustainable Funding tax initiative would collect an additional 2.25 cents per $100 on all taxable property to support a dedicated Parks Capital Fund.
This Fund would be used exclusively on capital improvements for parks, starting with projects outlined in the Parks Master Plan.
The City would continue to fund operating expenses such as staff salaries and programming through the City’s Budget using the General Fund.
If passed, the referendum would raise roughly $8 million annually for the Parks Capital Fund. The average Lexington homeowner would pay roughly $53 per year.
The 2018 Parks Master Plan identified approximately $100 million worth of projects in Lexington’s parks.
To appear on the November general election ballot, at least nine Councilmembers must vote to place the measure on the ballot. This vote in Council must take place at least 90 days before the general election, which will be on November 5th.
The Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee will meet Tuesday, March 19th at 1pm in Council Chambers. You can attend in-person or watch live on LexTV.
