As initial returns show strong voter backing for parks, King County thanks supporters

With two King County Parks levies winning big after initial returns Tuesday night, county officials were busy thanking supporters today for their help in strengthening the financial health of the parks system.

Once approved, the two 5-cent, 6-year levies together are expected to raise $217 million for King County Parks to restore maintenance levels and park infrastructure to 2002 pre-budget crisis level, and to preserve open space and to provide more recreational opportunities.

“I can’t thank our supporters and our park users enough,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “This looks to be a huge victory for everyone who cares that our wonderful parks remain open, are better maintained, and that critical open space and trails that enrich our region's quality of life and protect water quality are preserved and expanded to meet future growth."

Sims also attributed voter support to the hard work the Parks Division has accomplished through its business plans since the budget crisis of 2002.

“I think at the end of the day, voters appreciated that King County Parks has kept faith with them since the budget crisis,” he said. “We have been innovative in finding new funding sources through business and community partnerships, and through entrepreneurial activities, to keep our parks clean, safe and open. Our Parks employees deserve a lot of credit.”

Partnerships have been formed via naming rights and entrepreneurial activities with such industry leaders as Starbucks, Group Health, Cirque du Soleil, and U.S. Bank. And community partnerships have helped bring world class amenities to King County facilities at little to no cost to King County taxpayers.

King County Parks director Kevin Brown echoed Sims’ thoughts.

“Our supporters, combined with the progress our employees have made on our business plan, are the reasons the citizens of King County overwhelmingly came out in favor of supporting the region’s big backyard,” Brown said. “The business plan asked us to be more entrepreneurial, work to transfer those in-city and UGA parks, identify operating efficiencies, develop more partnership and volunteer opportunities, be more strategic on capital projects, and refocus our mission to be a provider of regional and rural parks, trails and open space. As we look back on these last four years and the goals and challenges outlined we can all be proud of the fact that there is a check next to each of these tasks.“

Sims convened a task force in November to explore options for funding and securing the future of King County's budget-challenged parks system. The task force in March recommended two modest property tax levies for an August ballot.

Sims ultimately recommended a 5-cent, 6-year levy to replace King County Parks' current 4.9-cent operating and maintenance levy that expires at year's end. The levy would not only keep parks open, but also would restore maintenance to pre-2002 budget crisis levels.

The Executive likewise endorsed a companion 5-cent levy that would enable King County Parks to protect and preserve shrinking stretches of unspoiled open space and to acquire and develop trails. The companion levy includes matching grant money for open space and trails within King County cities and some funding support for Woodland Park Zoo to expand environmental education and capital programs across the county and for green space enhancements on zoo grounds.

King County owns and manages more than 25,000 acres of parks and open space and 175 miles of trails — one of the largest systems in the country – but it experienced a major funding crisis in 2002. With its parks and facilities threatened with closure, the Parks Division embraced extraordinary change and innovation and now partially pays its own way (about 24 percent of the division budget) through partnerships, increased user fees and entrepreneurial ventures.

The budget crisis led to significant maintenance reductions, transfers of some parks and facilities to other jurisdictions, and a shift in focus to regional parks, open space and the regional trail system.

Voters approved a reduced 4.9-cent, four-year operating levy in 2003 to keep parks open. That levy, which funds more than 55 percent of the parks' operating budget, expires at the end of 2007.