MetroParks board discusses its levy options

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mill Creek MetroParks is considering several options for the levy it plans to put on the November ballot.

Those options, park Treasurer Kevin Smith explained at a meeting Monday, include a renewal of the 15-year, 1.75-mill levy that currently funds the park, a 1.75-mill replacement levy and a 2.0 replacement levy with additional millage.

Although board President Lou Schiavoni said he does not yet know which option the board will pursue, board members Scott Schulick and John Ragan both expressed support for the 2.0-mill replacement with additional levy.

“None of us can run our households on 2001 money, and neither can the park. So I’m very supportive of looking at replacement options, because we need to take into account where inflation has been over the last 15 years,” Schulick said.

The park now operates on a 15-year, 1.75-mill levy that generates about $6.5 million annually and costs the owner of a $100,000 home $175 per year. That levy is based on 2001 property values and will generate funds through 2016.

“If we went for renewal, we’d really have to tighten our belts and look for some other sources of income,” Schiavoni said.

A renewal would generate exactly the same amount as the levy currently does. A 1.75-mill replacement would generate $381,920 more, and a 2.0-mill replacement with additional would generate $1,368,910 above the current amount.

A replacement levy would cost taxpayers more, since it would be based on 2015 property values.

The park administration has about $29 million just in capital improvements planned for the next several years, Executive Director Aaron Young said.