By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green voters will likely be asked to support a 2-mill replacement levy for the city’s parks and recreation programs in November.
If passed, the owner of a $150,000 home will pay an additional $12.61 annually for the levy over the next five years.
“The difference to taxpayers is very little,” but collectively the replacement levy will bring in an additional $151,794 for parks, said Kristin Otley, director of the city’s parks and recreation department.
The parks and rec board voted Monday evening to recommend the replacement levy to city council, which will make the final decision to put the issue on the November ballot.
The levy committee had three options – a renewal 2-mill levy which would bring in the same amount, a replacement 2-mill which would bring in more for property valuations that went up since the last levy five years ago, and a brand new higher millage.
“We certainly didn’t feel this was the right time” for any new millage, said Cal Bowers, a park board member who serves as liaison with the levy committee.
“It’s not that we couldn’t use it – people want more,” Otley said. “But a lot of people are still recovering from COVID.”
The current 2 mills bring in $954,225 a year for the city parks and recreation programs, with the owner of a $150,000 home paying $79.27 a year. The replacement levy with the same millage will generate $1.1 million.
Bowling Green voters have traditionally been strong supporters of park levies when they appear on the ballot.
The last time a parks and rec levy was on the Bowling Green ballot in 2016, it was a brand new levy – asking voters to support an increase to 2 mills from the previous 1.6 mills that had been in place for 15 years.
Even with that increase, the levy passed with nearly 70% of the votes.
Otley is hopeful voters – who flocked to the parks during the pandemic – will again show their support in November.
“They understand the essentialness of what we do,” she said.
According to Otley, the property tax levy and the percentage of city income tax dedicated to the parks makes up one-third of the parks and recreation revenue.
A master plan is currently being conducted to identify goals and challenges faced by the parks and recreation department during the next five years. One of the big expenses will be a new roof needed for the community center, Otley said.
A survey recently showed that local residents support the parks and programs being offered.
“Clearly there’s support for what we’re already doing,” she said.
