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Commission approves Brown Bridge Trust ballot proposals for parks funding and interfund loans
Summary
On May 19 the City Commission approved ballot language to ask voters whether Brown Bridge Trust principal may fund park capital and whether the trust may be used for interfund loans under certain conditions.
The City Commission on May 19 approved language to place two Brown Bridge Trust charter amendments on the November ballot after a recommendation from an ad hoc committee charged with drafting voter proposals.
Proposal one would ask voters to authorize use of up to $3,000,000 of Brown Bridge Trust principal for city park capital improvements and for projects that increase access to city parkland. The ad hoc committee recommended a five‑year authorization period (November 2025 through November 2030) and said it will develop a proposed prioritized project list through public input and Parks & Recreation Commission engagement; the committee intends to present that list to the commission by mid‑September so voters receive project context before ballots are cast.
Proposal two would ask voters to allow interfund loans from the Brown Bridge Trust of up to $5,000,000 cumulatively at any one time, on the recommendation of the city treasurer, when an internal loan is financially advantageous versus external borrowing. The interfund‑loan authorization would be in perpetuity rather than limited to a five‑year window; the ad hoc committee provided an example in which an interfund loan could reduce borrowing costs for a major city capital project.
Committee members noted Brown Bridge oil and gas royalties have declined substantially from earlier highs and now generate a smaller annual royalty stream; interest earnings from the trust currently flow to the general fund. The commission approved placement of both measures on the November ballot.
