Voters May Support New Tax for Parks

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District received a boost when a survey released last week showed voters would probably support a new tax for local parks.

The parks board then asked consultants to put together a plan for a new tax.

“We really do need to go forward with an assessment district,” said parks spokesman Rick Johnson. “Our funds just aren’t there in large enough numbers to maintain what we have.”

The survey showed that 65% of the 400 residents polled would probably accept higher property taxes to support the park system.

Although 86% of respondents found the variety and number of parks to be adequate or somewhat adequate, respondents showed a willingness to pay to help the parks. Survey consultants recommend the district consider a fee of $20 to $22 a year for the typical household.

Park officials say the cash-strapped district has had to survive for years with a budget too small to support the district’s needs. Statewide changes in the allocation of property taxes has meant cutbacks that have forced the district to spread its maintenance programs thin, slowing the planned development of parks.

The cuts have added up to millions of dollars over the years for the district, which covers Simi Valley and Oak Park. The district has 41 developed parks, a population of 127,000 and includes 3,332 park acres, up from 2,319 acres in 1991.