Contributed
The Board of Park Commissioners met on July 16 and took a major step in securing the necessary future funding to further support Great Parks of Hamilton County. By unanimous vote, the Board approved a resolution to place a 1.8 mill tax levy on the November 2020 ballot.
This step forward is part of a multi-year vision and master plan process that addresses the needs of Hamilton County residents, preserves greenspace, protects natural resources, resolves critical infrastructure issues, and improves parks and facilities. Great Parks currently receives funding through earned revenue, grants, philanthropic donations, public-private partnerships, and a 1.0 mill tax levy (2017-2026).
“Our goal is to secure essential funding that will allow us to be a great resource for Hamilton County residents,” says Great Parks of Hamilton County CEO Todd Palmeter.
In January 2019, Great Parks completed its first Comprehensive Master Plan. During the 18-month process, a team of outside consultants and staff listened to and worked with residents and community leaders to develop five goals and establish eight priorities that will guide the agency over the next ten years. Examples include expanding the regional trails network to connect Winton Woods and Sharon Woods to their local communities and increasing access to nature to provide educational opportunities for diverse audiences.
The resolution must be submitted to and approved by the Hamilton County Board of Elections by August 5, 2020, in order to be placed on the ballot.
The estimated annual cost to a homeowner per $100,000 value is $63.00, or $5.25 per month.
The levy term will be 10 years, 2021 to 2031.