Parks Levy
Parks, Trails, and Open Space Replacement Levy
Click on the image to view the full infographic.
The measure will generate an estimated $66 million per year from 2014 through 2019 through a CPI-indexed property tax levy lid lift of 18.77 cents per $1,000 of assessed value – an estimated $56 per year for the owner of a home valued at $300,000. It replaced two parks levies, the King County Parks Levy and the Open Space and Trails Levy, which expired at the end of 2013.
Parks Replacement Levy Informational Brochure 2013 (11x17 version, 4MB)
Parks Replacement Levy Informational Brochure 2013 (8.5x11 4-page version, 3.8MB)
Read the levy ordinance #17568 (PDF).
Parks Replacement Levy Frequently Asked Questions 2013 (PDF).
Press release: "Council sends proposed parks levy to August ballot" - April 29, 2013.
2012 King County Parks Levy Task Force
In June 2012, King County Executive Dow Constantine convened a panel of business and civic leaders to help define a path to funding King County's parks, trails, and open space upon expiration of the current levies at the end of 2013.
Press release: "Citizen task force recommends continued levy support of King County parks, trails, open space" - November 28, 2012.
The group met from June to October 2012. Meeting agendas and other materials can be found here.
2008 - 2013 Voter-Approved Parks Levies
In 2007, King County voters approved two property tax levy lid lifts to support park operations and open space and trails for the period of 2008 - 2013.
The King County Parks Levy ordinance can be found here.
The Open Space and Trails Levy ordinance can be found here.
As required by the levy legislation, a Parks Levy Citizen Oversight Board (COB) was established to monitor the expenditure of levy proceeds. The nine-member COB was appointed by the King County Council and convenes annually.
What is the King County Parks Levy?
Want too know more about our levy and its benefits? Watch this short video.
Levy Citizen Oversight Board
The levy ordinance established a Citizen Oversight Board, which is appointed by the King County Executive and consists of one representative from each council district. The Citizen Oversight Board meets annually to review Parks' levy expenditures from the previous year and makes recommendations for implementation of the levy in the coming year.
The 2018 Citizen Oversight Board meetings (reviewing 2017 expenditures):
- Weds, Sept 19 (Meeting Agenda)
- Weds, Sept 26
- Weds, October 3
All meetings are public and will take place from 5 - 7:30 p.m. at Parks World HQ at 201 S Jackson St, Ste 700.
Read the Citizen Oversight Board findings:
- COB report on 2016 Expenditures
- COB report on 2015 Expenditures
- COB report on 2014 Expenditures