Lacey staff outlines proposed Metropolitan Park District plan, recommends 45¢ levy per $1,000 assessed value

Jennifer Wilson, Lacey parks director, briefed the Parks, Culture & Recreation Board on March 5 about the city’s proposed Metropolitan Park District measure and the timeline for the August 5 special election.

Wilson said City Council directed staff to prepare a ballot resolution for a levy of 45¢ per $1,000 of assessed value, which the presentation estimated would generate about $5.9 million per year and roughly $225 per year for an owner of a $500,000 home. “The work group recommended 45¢ per $1,000, which would generate just under $6,000,000 annually for parks,” Wilson said.

Wilson said council also discussed project priorities and asked staff to provide geographic mapping of candidate projects across the city. The work group’s recommendation allocates 60% of levy revenue to capital projects and 40% to maintenance and operations; staff noted that capital spending is likely to be heavier in early years and maintenance costs will grow once projects are completed.

Wilson said the MPD boundary will be the city limits (the “local” MPD model), not the broader urban growth area, and that the levy would apply to all properties inside the city (residential and commercial). She explained that a regional MPD model — which would include multiple jurisdictions and a separate governing board — is an alternative that could be pursued in the future but would require restarting the process.

Staff described a draft schedule that calls for council action on ballot language and a resolution by the auditor’s May 2 deadline, followed by an April–August public information campaign. The city attorney reminded council and staff that city resources cannot be used to advocate for or against the measure; staff may provide factual information but not use city devices or property for advocacy.

Wilson and staff also described updates to the parks capital improvement program that informed the MPD project list, including grouping spray parks together and removing an expensive pool from the near-term deliverables. Wilson said the city added a $150,000 annual maintenance-and-operations allocation in the MPD plan for an indoor playground the city would build and operate if funded.

Board members asked questions about whether the levy rate will change over time, whether property values affect the tax paid, and whether urban growth areas would be included. Wilson said the levy rate (cents per $1,000) itself is fixed in the measure; tax paid by a property changes as assessed values change. She said urban growth areas are outside the local model boundary unless and until they are annexed into the city.

Wilson encouraged board members to review the council meeting recording for full discussion and noted staff will return with additional materials as council finalizes the resolution and ballot language.