The Eugene Register-Guard published a letter to the editor from the SCCO board requesting the city consider a feasibility study for a park and recreation district. The River Road Park and Recreation District has offered to pick up some of the cost of the study. Here is the link to The Register-Guard:
http://registerguard.com/rg/opinion/35852393-78/consider-parkrec-special-district.html.csp
Here is the text:
The Eugene City Council is considering placing one of four options to fund parks and recreation on a future ballot. At the low end of options, the average homeowner would pay $36 per year, while at the high end the average owner would pay $240 per year. The city is also looking at other funding options including a park service fee, a restaurant tax, shifting funds from other programs and more.
There is another option to the ongoing park funding issue. The Santa Clara Community Organization proposes that the city of Eugene consider an economic feasibility study for a parks and recreation special district that would encompass the entire city. A special district would collect taxes dedicated to parks and recreation only. Highly successful special districts operate in Springfield (Willamalane), Bend and Tualatin. There are at least 10 more park and recreation special districts in Oregon. Special districts are not just for small to mid-sized cities. Seattle converted its park system to a special district in August of 2014.
An economic feasibility study is required by the state in order to create a special district. The study will provide the information needed to make a decision regarding the creation of a special district with stable funding for parks and recreation. The SCCO strongly encourages the Eugene City Council to initiate an Economic Feasibility Study.
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