To convince voters that they really do plan to fund park improvements without raising the overall tax rate, Park District commissioners have put it in writing.
The Park District board adopted a resolution last week promising that if voters approve a 15-cent increase in the corporate fund tax rate, the board will cut 15 cents from the bond and interest fund tax rate, keeping the district’s overall rate the same.
The board cannot shift bond and interest fund money to the corporate fund, because it is illegal to use taxes collected to pay debts for any other purpose, said Park District director Steve Scholten.
The resolution also gives timetables for improvements to specific parks and for construction of the proposed recreation center at Springfield Park.
If the referendum proposal passes, park staff will install equipment at Circle, Westlake and Seasons Four Parks this year; at Leslie, Tompkins, Sunnyside and Lakeview Parks in 1994; and at Indian Lakes, Springfield and Stratford Parks in 1995.
The Friends of the Parks referendum support group will put signs in each park outlining specific improvements, Commissioner Mike Yerly said. Work on the Springfield Recreation Center would begin this fall and end in spring 1995, the resolution states. The remodeling of Johnston Recreation Center would begin right after the Springfield Park facility opens.
Referendum campaign workers hope the prospect of new gyms and play equipment will entice wary voters.
“Last fall, we concentrated just on explaining how the funding would work,” Yerly said. “This time, we’re still doing that, but we’re focusing more on what residents will get if the referendum passes.”
