We at The Advocate are strongly endorsing a yes vote for the City Livability Services Levy, Measure 2-141. We think voters approved it last time because it conflates well with the community’s values, and because it’s always been high value per property tax dollar spent – and this time, we think it’s an even better value.
This levy helps fund both the Parks & Recreation Department and the library – and both departments have transcended expectations these last few years. For instance, when this levy was last extended by voters, the library promised to retain its added hours and programs – but now they’ve also added free delivery services, which has been a boon for folks that are homebound.
And then, there’s the Parks & Recreation Department, which kept their promises from the last go-around, and then also transformed the Chinitimini building into a full-fledged community center. Called C3, the center offers everyone from young children to older adult scores of programs, many of which offer a scholarship if needed.
Majestic Theatre supporters also have good reason to vote for this measure. The current levy limits what Parks & Rec can budget for the theatre, and the renewal doesn’t. In questioning during our CitySpeak town hall, Parks and Recreation Director Meredith Pettit said the venue’s budget would likely double under the new funding scenario, even as the assessment rate on property owners would remain unchanged.
Also, social services will see a boost. The current Livability Levy budgets $360,000 annually for City grants to area social service agencies, and if voters approve this latest version of the levy, that will increase to $480,000 – which is a 25% increase.
All of this added value, and all at the same rate taxpayers have been spending, $1.07 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Objections answered
During our CitySpeak town hall on this measure, a number of viewers expressed their wish for more social services funding as part of this measure. Mayor Charles Maughan responded that our community’s library and parks are, in fact, social services, available to people regardless of income or housing status. He also pointed out that when he was raising young children of his own, that finances were tight, and that it was parks and the library that were available to his family for free.
We agree with Maughan, and even though we would like to see more funding for social services generally, we have to acknowledge the millions our community already spends that is funded outside the purview of this measure.
As no small aside, our paper has long supported the idea of a separate social services levy, specifically pointed at housing and mental health. But, we see Measure 2-141 as an entirely separate matter, and supportable even without its set aside for social services grants.
Also, unlike bond measures for which a tax levy can go on for decades, state law requires operating levies like the one called for in Measure 2-141, to go before voters every five years for renewal or rejection.
We bring this up because our CitySpeak audience expressed significant concern that City officials seem poised to potentially spend big on upcoming infrastructure and facilities projects. But, we think voters can decide on that separately. Essentially, we don’t think this is a problem right now, and if voters see it as a problem in the future, state law allows them to easily reign in the spending later.
Also, we appreciated the concerns expressed that collecting these dollars through a property tax is somewhat regressive – impacting lower income and fixed income individuals disproportionately – and we agree. We believe state leaders need to enact reforms that more reliably tie taxes to means, including local option taxes – and we believe there should be property tax freezes for people on fixed incomes.
However, we believe the value delivered by Measure 2-141 far outweighs these concerns. Parks and libraries intrinsically equalize and elevate a community, and in our fair little burg, the extra dollars we’re all paying for these services are being used exceedingly well. In short, we believe Measure 2-141 is fully worth it, and we are entirely supportive of its approval.
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