Thank you, Park District voters!
To our Tacoma community:
The first release of the Nov. 8 election results shows Prop. 1 – the restoration of the Parks Tacoma regular property tax levy – leading 62.5%. This type of levy requires a simple majority (50% plus one) for passage. This is a wonderful sign of community support and shows how much you value our staff’s hard work to provide amazing spaces and programs. While more ballots remain to be counted, these results look really strong – and we thank you.
The county will update election totals once a day over the next few days. In the meantime, we are putting the finishing touches on a draft 2023-24 budget to be submitted to the Park Board next week. It will propose making important investments in core areas, including safety, maintenance, and programs – all key areas that are funded by the levy. The Park Board will approve a final biennial budget in December.
We are grateful to all who voted – no matter how they voted – and to all who use our parks, recreation, and zoological system. We could not operate one of America’s best park systems without the strong support of our community.
Restoring the levy rate will maintain basic operations and support evolving community needs.
November 8, 2022 Election
Proposition 1: Park & Recreation Maintenance & Operations Levy
Regular Parks Levy Rate Declines to its 2009 Level
As the chart shows, the regular Parks Tacoma levy rate in 2022 is 46 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, which is the same level as 2009. Voters last approved restoring the regular levy rate to 75 cents/$1,000 in 2010.
Approval of Proposition 1 on November 8 would restore the parks levy to 75 cents/$1,000.
Restoring the Parks & Recreation Levy Rate Would Support:
Care for children. There are nearly 45,000 children in Tacoma, and Parks Tacoma offers all of them free access to community centers as well as events such as the Teen Late Night gatherings. In addition, all elementary and middle school students at Tacoma Public Schools can choose enriching activities in the after-school programs called Beyond the Bell and Club Beyond. The start-up funding for the afterschool program is ending.
Restoring the levy rate would support keeping these programs affordable and welcoming to all youth, regardless of means.
Care for parks. The Park District’s 70+ parks need daily care and maintenance, which is facing pressures from increased labor and utility costs. Parks Tacoma crews pick up an average of 215 cubic yards of trash every week (enough to fill more than 7 garbage trucks), as well as mow, prune, clean, repair and more – all beginning at sunrise before anyone else arrives.
Restoring the levy rate would fund consistent levels of maintenance throughout the park system.
Care for forests. Parks Tacoma’ urban forestry team cares for more than 1,000 acres of forested parklands. Summers are getting hotter and drier, and more tree canopy is needed for equitable wellbeing around Tacoma.
Restoring the levy rate would fund additional work to plant, mulch, water, and prune trees, as well as support collaboration with the Tacoma Fire Department to develop a comprehensive wildfire prevention plan.
Care for safety. Costs for security patrols increased from $158,000 in 2019-20 to just over $1 million in 2022 alone – an increase of over 530% – as the Park District’s contracted security respond to a growing number of incidents.
Restoring the levy rate would support the creation of a citywide Park Ranger program and fund extra “hotspot” safety patrols in parks experiencing security challenges.
Parks Tacoma at a Glance
Parks Tacoma has a mission to create healthy opportunities to play, learn and grow. The independence parks district spans across the city to provide a wide range of services and locations. If approved, the levy would support maintenance and programming across over 3,000 acres:
- 70+ parks
- 80 miles of trails
- 1,000 acres of urban forest lands
- 66 playgrounds
- 5 pools and 10 spraygrounds
- 4 Community Centers: People’s, Eastside, Norpoint and STAR
- SERA, Peck & Heidelberg sports complexes and fields throughout the city
- Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
- Northwest Trek Wildlife Park
- Seymour Botanical Conservatory
- Tacoma Nature Center
- Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
- Meadow Park Golf Course
- Point Defiance Marina
What the Levy Supports
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Health, Safety and Security
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- Development of a new Park Ranger program to enhance security and good behavior in parks.
- Improvements to lighting, security, and alarm systems.
- Inspections, maintenance, and repairs of spraygrounds, pools, plumbing, heating and ventilation systems.
- Routine cleaning and sanitization of park restrooms, community centers and other public facilities.
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Parks Maintenance
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- Care & cleaning of 70+ parks, including new areas like Dune Peninsula, Swan Creek Park uplands, and improvements to sports complexes.
- Maintenance of nearly 80 miles of trails.
- Replacement of aging picnic tables, benches, and garbage bins, as well as enhanced landscaping to address gaps in underserved areas of our community.
- Litter pick-up and trash removal to keep parks clean and safe.
- Routine cleaning and sanitization of park restrooms, community centers and other public facilities.
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After-School Activities and Care for Children
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- Affordable and accessible before- and after-school care, clubs, sports, and activities through the Beyond the Bell and Club Beyond community partnership at Tacoma Public Schools.
- Free 18-and-under youth memberships at all community centers so kids and teens have safe and welcoming spaces to play, learn and grow on weekends and during out-of-school hours.
- Summer and school break camps to support kids and working families.
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Forest Protection
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- Steward the care of approximately 30% of Tacoma’s tree canopy – more than 1,000 acres of forests, including the rare ancient forest at Point Defiance Park.
- Manage a robust volunteer program to maintain forest health by removing invasive plants and establishing tree and understory plants to enhance our community’s tree canopy.
- Partner with other organizations to preserve and protect these highly valued public lands in a busy urban area.
Cost of Investment for the Average Homeowner
Under state law, the maximum levy rate for metropolitan park districts like Parks Tacoma is 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. A different state law limits the collection of property tax revenue, and it has been eroding the Park District’s regular rate since 2017.
The average residential property value in Tacoma in summer 2022 was $493,000, according to the county assessor. Restoring the regular levy rate to 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation would cost the owner of that property an additional $11.91 per month in 2023, as compared to the amount paid in 2022.
If approved, Proposition 1 would be in effect for six years and the levy rate would never exceed 75 cents/$1,000.
Remember to Vote
Find a ballot drop-box location near you.
Make a plan and vote early – every vote counts.
