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Park director urges voters to renew Clark County parks levy; commission voices support
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Summary
Leanne Castillo, director of the Clark County Park District, told the Springfield City Commission that a May 5, 10-year renewal levy would preserve existing park funding based on 2011 property valuations and is not an increase in taxes; commissioners voiced unanimous support and encouraged residents to vote.
Leanne Castillo, director of the Clark County Park District, told the Springfield City Commission that a 10-year renewal levy on the May 5 ballot would preserve the district’s current funding and is not an increase in taxes.
The levy is based on 2011 property valuations, Castillo said, and is designed to maintain services rather than raise revenue. “It is not an increase in taxes,” she said. She described the measure as a 0.6-mill renewal that translates to “approximately $21 for every $100,000 that your home is assessed.”
Why it matters: The district relies on that levy for about 75% of its maintenance budget, Castillo said, supporting mowing, athletic fields, tree work, multiuse trails and other green-space upkeep across 33 parks. She told commissioners the district manages roughly 2,100 acres of parkland and about 30 miles of local bike trails, and also participates in a larger connected trail system stated in the presentation as roughly 350 miles regionally.
During the presentation Castillo offered homeowner examples based on 2011 valuations: one home with a current value stated at just over $520,000 was paying about $54 a year under the levy; another home with a valuation around $195,000 was paying about $16 a year. She said the district provides broad programming — from nature education to summer camps and specialty events — and distributes print guides to households to promote activities.
Commission response and financial context: The commission praised the park district’s stewardship and encouraged voter support. “I believe the commission, in the last meeting, we resolved, to support this levy, and we encourage our citizens, to vote, in the favor of this levy,” the Chair said.
When asked how spending compares to similar districts, Castillo said the park district spends about $1,284 per acre versus $3,700 per acre for comparable organizations, and reported operating expenditures of $25 per capita compared with a cited national average of $94. She also reported a 36.7% cost recovery rate versus 24.6% for comparable peers and stated the district operates with 82% fewer staff than organizations of similar size.
Commissioners noted partnerships with local groups — including the Springfield Arts Council, which stage events in parks — and the practical benefits parks offer for attracting residents and businesses. Multiple commissioners urged voters to consider rising costs and the fact that the renewal seeks to maintain, not raise, the levy level established in 2011.
The commission took no formal vote on the levy itself during the session. The meeting ended after a procedural motion to conclude the work session was moved and seconded and passed by unanimous roll-call vote.
