Bonding Highly Unlikely In Funding Parks and Recreation Plan
Seeking public approval for issuing bonds with a property tax to repay them is a highly unlikely source to pay for the Parks and Recreation Master plan. Mayor Winfield noted, at last week's council study session, that residents have continually voted down such bond measures over the years.
Seeking public approval for issuing bonds with a property tax to repay them is a highly unlikely source to pay for the Parks and Recreation Master plan. Mayor Winfield noted, at last week's council study session, that residents have continually voted down such bond measures over the years.
Winfield noted that the survey the town conducted last year asked what people would want assuming there would be no new taxes to pay for such. "This means that it would not cost them anything."
Town staff acknowledged this. In fact, it appears that staff never considered bonding to be a viable funding source. "Our community doesn't really have an appetite for a bond initiative" to fund parks, according the Parks Director Kristy Diaz-Trahan. "We do know that there are financing options available that can be used." She noted that funding for parks is on a "pay as you go" basis. That's how we moved the needle somewhat at Naranja Park over the last seven or eight years." Indeed, it is becoming quite a park as we noted in our posting: "Naranja Park... Building Over Time... Meeting Resident Needs."
Funding from various sources
According to Winfield and others speaking at the study session, some of the funding can come from sources other than from the town. For example, funds from the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) may be available to pay for trails funding. In fact, Winfield and Vice Mayor Barrett recommended to staff that they move trail spending timing up to take advantage of these funds.
According to Consultant Mike Svetz of Pros Consulting, the half cent sales tax the town enacted to subsidize municipal golf can be used for work at the community center. This includes paying for improved parking and repaving tennis courts.
Also, council believes that there may be opportunities to partner with third parties, like Pima County and the Amphi School District.
Three facilities are 65% of the $62 million plan
The Plan calls for $62 million in spending in the next ten years. Projects are classified in groups (see panel above, right). The cost is driven by three items: $17 million to build out Naranja Park; $13 million for the Community Center; and $10 million for trails. Indeed, spending to repurpose the "clubhouse" as a community center begged the question, asked by Council Member Bohen, as to whether the town had considered starting from scratch, building something new. Diaz-Trahan said they had not.
Winfield: Target Town Spending $25 million in capital spending over 10 years
The challenge will be to prioritize spending. Hopefully, this will be done based on the statistically valid survey that formed the baseline for the study. Winfield set a target for which the town would be responsible of $25 million in capital spending over ten years.
In addition, as Mayor Winfield noted, priorities must also consider the ongoing maintenance cost of the facilities. For example, trails can be maintained at minimal cost whereas park equipment requires relatively more cost. Also, as Svetz noted at the meeting, there are opportunities to break projects, such as the Naranja Park buildout, into phases.
Initial priorities presented to Parks and Recreation Commission last night
Last night, the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Commission met to discuss project priorities and funding the the plan. Svetz presented project priorities and funding sources. His plan targeted the $25million Winfield capital spending cap by dropping spending on Naranja Park and the Community Center visionary, rebuilding projects.
Next Step: Community Meeting on March 30
Staff will host a community meeting on March 30. This meeting also will focus on the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Capital Improvement Project (CIP) priorities and funding expectations.
---
