Committee backs countywide parks tax option, directs staff to design transition and spend Lake Wylie district balance on access

A York County parks committee voted to recommend a countywide parks funding option and directed staff to design the transition approach and how to allocate capital or stipends, and it approved using the remaining Bethel Lake Wylie tax-district balance to open one property for public access.

The committee voted 2-1 to advance “Option 4” — a countywide revenue approach — with staff asked to evaluate how much of the revenue should be reserved for capital versus used to reimburse municipalities or provide registrant stipends. The committee also approved using the balance remaining in the Bethel Lake Wylie tax district to provide basic access to one of that district’s properties (Woodend), subject to financial restrictions on those funds.

Why it matters: the committee’s recommendation would change how about $1.6 million that the county currently allocates to municipalities for active recreation is handled, and it begins a multi-step process to implement the county’s parks master plan. Committee members debated whether York County should remain primarily a provider of passive recreation while municipalities run active recreation programs or whether the county should expand its own active-recreation operations.

Discussion and key details

Councilman Hockney framed the debate around two long-term choices: whether the county should focus on passive recreation and let cities run active programs, or invest to operate active facilities itself. He argued that keeping municipalities responsible for active recreation is the better near-term option and urged fixing the funding formula rather than abruptly cutting municipal allocations. “I believe a $1,600,000 investment in the entire county to have municipalities run our active recreation is the best decision this council can make,” Councilman Hockney said during the meeting.

Committee members and staff reviewed usage and cost examples. Staff presented data showing program registration counts and non-city user ratios; Tom (staff/data analyst) cautioned that registration counts are unduplicated program registrations and not unique persons, and that a stipend or reimbursement approach would add administrative work. As Tom put it, “if you’re going to be a stipend system… it’s going to be a little bit of an administrative burden.”

Committee discussion included several options that were raised repeatedly: - Maintain the current $1.6 million municipal allocation while redesigning the formula to better reflect usage and costs. - Move to a countywide tax (Option 4) and either (a) dedicate a portion to capital projects municipalities can apply for or (b) create a per-registrant reimbursement or stipend paid to municipalities for county residents who use municipal programs. - Phase any change in over multiple years (members suggested a three-year transition) to allow municipalities to adjust budgets and avoid abrupt service gaps.

Cost and program examples mentioned in the meeting

- Field Day Park: committee discussion used Field Day Park as a local example of an active facility with both operating costs and debt service. Committee members cited an annual combined operating-plus-debt-service figure in the range of about $2.2 million for that park area (staff noted debt service will eventually expire but operating costs will remain). - Catawba Bend: purchased by the county (participants referenced an acquisition around 2018); committee members said no funding had previously been budgeted to complete phases set out in the master plan. - Bethel Lake Wylie tax district: staff reported roughly $3,000,000 remaining in that district’s balance; the committee approved using that balance, subject to financial restrictions tied to that tax district, to provide basic access at one property (discussed as Woodend during the meeting).

Actions and next steps

- Recommendation on Option 4: The committee moved and approved advancing Option 4 (countywide revenue) with direction that county management develop and evaluate a transition plan addressing whether to use funds for capital or to create formulas/stipends for municipalities. Vote: 2 in favor, 1 opposed; mover/second not specified in the transcript. Notes: the motion asked staff to return with design options (capital vs. stipend, and possible phasing).

- Bethel Lake Wylie allocation: The committee voted to use the remaining balance in the Bethel Lake Wylie tax district to provide basic access to one property (Woodend), subject to the tax district’s financial restrictions and staff’s recommendations on what “basic access” would require. The motion passed unanimously (recorded as all in favor; specific vote count not specified).

- Minutes and executive session: The committee approved the January 28 minutes by unanimous consent. The committee then moved into an executive session to discuss legal advice concerning potential sale of properties in the Beverly Lake Wilder/Beth-el Lake Wylie holdings; that motion was made and seconded and the committee returned afterward.

What staff will do next

Staff was asked to: (1) draft a clear recommendation and options memo to the full council that details Option 4’s design choices (capital set-aside, stipend per-registrant, or other formulas) and a proposed phasing schedule; (2) specify administrative impacts and estimated costs for a stipend/reimbursement system; (3) present the exact remaining balance and allowable uses for the Bethel Lake Wylie tax district and an itemized estimate of what it would cost to open the selected property to basic public access (parking, trails, minimal facilities, staffing implications); and (4) return to the committee with more detailed cost estimates and a staff report for the full council to consider.

Ending

Committee members emphasized this will be an iterative, multi-meeting process tied to budget deadlines; several members said they preferred a phased approach that gives municipalities time to adjust. The committee’s recommendation will appear in a staff report to the full York County council for final decisions and budget adoption.