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Covington parks panel lays out three levy scenarios, urges clear public education
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Summary
Parks commissioners outlined three Metropolitan Parks District levy scenarios — $0.23, $0.37 and $0.75 per $1,000 — showing how each would allocate partial funding for local parks projects and differing capital reserves; commissioners urged simple visual education to show where property-tax dollars go.
Parks & Recreation commissioners presented detailed scenarios for a potential Metropolitan Parks District (MPD) on Jan. 27, laying out three levy-rate options and what each could pay toward local projects.
At a council briefing, a parks commission representative (speaker 10) said a $0.23-per-$1,000 levy would pay about 19% of the cost of a synthetic, lighted field at Covington Community Park, about 6% for extending Jenkins Creek Trail, and roughly 28% toward a first-phase master plan for Jenkins Creek Park. A $0.37 levy would shift funding to allow roughly 25% of a Founders Park build-out while holding the community-park share near 19%. At a $0.75 levy, the commission said project shares remain governed by state law but the city’s capital reserve grows substantially.
Speaker 10 summarized projected capital reserves under each scenario as approximately $87,000 at $0.23, about $715,000 at $0.37 and more than $2.5 million at $0.75 per $1,000. The commission noted an overall statutory cap on MPD-eligible investment (speaker 6 cited a cap “around $11–11.5 million”), meaning the MPD would not fully fund every listed project on its own but could provide matching funds to leverage grants.
Commissioners and council members pressed for clear public education about how property-tax dollars are currently allocated and suggested a simple color-coded graphic showing which taxing authority gets which share. "If you color-code it, people can see visually where their money goes," one commissioner said, urging that the education materials highlight how little returns to Covington from some county levies.
Commissioners also stressed that an MPD is a long-term funding tool rather than a quick fix. The presentation included estimates for increased maintenance funding and staff support tied to the levy (speaker 10 said $150,000 added for maintenance at the $0.23 rate and $300,000 at $0.37). Commissioners recommended further analysis by city staff and a more fully vetted financial model to present to voters.
Next steps: staff will present a formal MPD finance model and public-education materials at forthcoming forums; the parks commission plans to continue outreach ahead of a voter decision point.
