Parks Levy on the Ballot - Vote Now!
Updated
4/27/2010 – 9:00 pm results
67.4% Yes (18,631 votes)
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The Metro Parks special election ballots are due tomorrow. If you haven’t voted, now is the time to do it.
Official Ballot Title: The Board of Park Commissioners of the Metropolitan Park
District of Tacoma, Washington adopted Resolution No. FtR9-TO concerning ongoing
parks and recreation maintenance, operations and security. If approved, this proposition would fund basic safety and maintain neighborhood parks and restrooms, children’s playgrounds, playfields and family community centers; preserve wateafront access, trails, greenspaces, lakes and Point Defiance Park/Zoo; and continue sports and recreation progmms for children and families. This proposition increases the Distrjct’s property tax levy rate to SO. 75 per S 1,000 of assessed valuation for colledian in 2011, as allowed by RCW 84-55. This levy rate shall be used to calculate subsequent levy limits.
We do like our parks. Have you voted yet … how about now?
Filed under: elections, parks
13 comments
R rainlover April 26, 2010
Just dropped ours off at the county/city building. Had to go through security to get to the drop box. And yes we love our parks!
D David Koch April 27, 2010
Dropped mine off today too. GO PARKS!
L LovesTacoma April 27, 2010
Even if you are not one of those that utilizes the parks, they make a difference in the lives of others and that results in a better community and you do benefit from that. Vote Yes and vote for a great city, community and more.
P Park User April 28, 2010
Just Voted NO! Everyone is cutting back, why do the parks need more money? They need to find ways to do more with less. They need to become more efficient like everyone else. How many of the YES voters actually know how the money will be spent?
L Lowell April 28, 2010
It is very easy to say, “do more with less.” It is a lot harder to dig through the budget and actually make the cuts, especially with a budget that is mostly personnel. It takes a lot of workers to take care of parks.
Since you asked whether we know how it will be spent, did YOU do your homework? Please tell us how the parks department can maintain the parks to good standards without the tax levy.
P Park User April 28, 2010
I bet alot of the YES voters thought it was a vote whether or not they like parks. Who doesn’t like parks? But, I bet most of the YES voters don’t calculate how much of their property taxes will increase with this YES vote or they don’t own real estate. I looked very carefully at the YES fliers and there’s lots of fluff in there. Many Dept’s including the PARKs need to be challenged harder to make those serious cuts rather than just adding more levies to bring in more income to solve their budgets.
M Mofo from the Hood April 28, 2010
When is the Park Department going to send a maintenance guy over to Wright Park on the Division ST. and Yakima Ave. side? Because for countless months one of the bright white lady statues has been covered with a clear plastic tarp that is taped at her neck and at the top of the pedestal. Other than that, Wright Park is a real showplace.
T tacoma1 April 28, 2010
@ Park User
I like our parks. I voted yes. I knew it would cost me lots of money. Money well spent, IMO. One of the reasons I live in Tacoma is to be near Pt. Defiance Park. I’m pretty sure I’m not that unique. And btw, it gets tiring listening to all the anti govt. teabagger types expecting sumpin for nuttin. Just saying.
D dolly varden April 29, 2010
Nice to see the exceedingly non-silent minority fail again to stop a worthwhile levy from passing. By a lot.
L Lowell April 29, 2010
As I expected, still no specifics from Park User. There never are from these folks.
P Park User April 29, 2010
I AM making a general statement, that gov dept’s increase levy’s to pay for budgets, meanwhile private sectors make layoffs and reduce costs. And it’s not something for nothing that I am expecting, I want accountability for how the money is spent. You all should be asking, is the money being spent carefully. I wish I had deep pockets like you folks, I would vote YES for every levy.
T tacoma1 April 29, 2010
@Park User
I’m pretty sure that among one of Timmy Eyman’s many nuisance initiatives, he actually snuck in a decent one that requires all State and local govts. to be audited up the gazoo. I don’t need to see the audits. Just not that anal. I just need to know that the audits are getting done.
And I live in the City of Tacoma, rather than Timbuktu, because I want parks, transit, a well funded police department, and I want my neighbors to have access to social services. It’s not about deep pockets, its about priorities.
M Mofo from the Hood April 30, 2010
Wright Park Update:
The woman statue standing at the Division ST. edge of the park has been disrobed of her plastic tarp. (see #7)
Thank you to whoever.