Title
Receive a report on the Tax Assessment for the County of Sonoma as a model for potential tax measures to support Monterey County Parks.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Parks Commission:
a. Receive a report on the Tax Assessment for the County of Sonoma and models for potential tax measures;
b. Discuss the potential of establishing a Tax Assessment for Monterey County Regional Parks;
c. Approve the forwarding of recommendations for discussion with additional stakeholders and public agencies;
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Funding of the Monterey County Parks Department (now a division of the Resource Management Agency (RMA)) has been in decline since 2010. While costs were down for RMA-Parks in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017-18, it was attributed mostly to the movement of staff to different cost centers within the RMA.
Based on the findings of the 2015 Monterey County Parks Department Strategic Plan, continued demographic trends will place an increasing demand for parks and trails in the upcoming years. Escalating costs, deferred facility maintenance, and increasing natural resource threats have Parks funding stretched to an unsustainable level. These circumstances put a valued resource at risk and added pressure on County Parks (a.k.a. Regional Parks) to raise fees, such as executed in January 2019. While labor, utility, and maintenance costs have increased, the last five-year fiscal period shows that General Fund dollars for Regional Parks have remained relatively constant, averaging approximately $5.5 million per year. Although RMA-Parks is becoming increasingly dependent upon fees, park fee increases disproportionately impact those least able to pay them. Individuals with limited means cannot afford to access our open spaces and the important benefits associated with that access. Without a new dedicated funding source, the Regional Park system is at risk of a major decrease in service levels, public safety, routine maintenance, and closures ...
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