Parks Sustainable Funding Ballot Initiative to Receive Final Vote
Douglass Park playground. Source: VisitLex
Council will soon cast their final vote on whether or not to place the Parks Sustainable Funding ballot initiative on the November General Election ballot. The initiative will receive First Reading - where the item is read, but no vote is held - in April 11th’s Council Meeting, and will most likely receive its final vote during Second Reading in April 25th’s Council Meeting.
Council voting for this this initiative would not mean that the new property tax is official; rather, they are voting on whether or not to place the proposal on the November ballot for Lexington voters to make the decision. Lexington voters will have the final say on if this proposal passes or not.
The Parks Sustainable Funding ballot initiative proposes adding a new property tax of 2.25 cents for every $100 of taxable property, the revenue of which would go to a dedicated fund to use for parks improvement projects.
This Fund would be used exclusively on capital improvements for parks, starting with projects outlined in the Parks Master Plan.
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.
The City would continue to fund operating expenses such as staff salaries and programming through the City’s Budget using the General Fund.
The ballot initiative is being led by the the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the Trust for Public Land, and Trees Lexington.
Council will give the Parks Sustainable Funding ballot initiative First Reading on Thursday, April 11th at 6pm in Council Chambers. The initiative will most likely receive Second Reading and get its final vote on Thursday, April 25th at 6pm in Council Chambers.
