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Special District White Paper <br /> j <br /> FY02 will be about $7.3 million. In addition the youth recreation local option levy will provide $1.6 <br /> million revenue in FY02. The City employs about 90 FTE staff to deliver these services. (Appendix <br /> H provides additional detail on City FY02 park and recreation services). <br /> The district formation or process may be initiated when a citizen's group decides that park and <br /> recreation services might suitably be provided to the residents of Eugene by a special district. The <br /> proposal would likely be accompanied by extensive community discussion, discussions with the <br /> City and other jurisdictions in the metropolitan area, and detailed analysis showing it to be <br /> financially feasible. This would likely take between 6 -12 months. <br /> Formation of a new park and recreation special district or annexation to an existing district requires <br /> approval of the Lane County Boundary Commission. Because the current metropolitan plan <br /> requires consolidation of services, amendments to the Metropolitan Plan will have to have been <br /> developed and adopted with the support of the Cities of Eugene and Springfield and Lane County. <br /> Boundary Commission policies may need revision as well. These processes will take up to 12 <br /> months, and could occur concurrently with the community discussions and analysis. <br /> The operating cost of providing park and recreation services by a special district to Eugene <br /> residents is assumed to be about the same as the amount budgeted for these services by the City. <br /> So, in order to serve the Eugene territory at a continuing level, the district will need to expend about <br /> $11.5 million, the same amount as the City is now spending from the general fund and youth <br /> recreation levy. <br /> Some of these resources can be obtained from user fees by the district. Within the Eugene- <br /> Springfield metropolitan area, Willamalane Park and Recreation District generates about 20% of its <br /> needed revenue with user fees, close to the 23% Eugene currently raises from fees. To be <br /> conservative, this example uses 20% as the target level for user fees within the territory of Eugene <br /> under a special district. This amounts to $2.29 million in annual fee revenue, leaving net needed <br /> resources from a tax levy of at least $9.16 million. <br /> Permanent maximum tax rates do not change once approved by the voters. Permanent maximum <br /> property tax rate limits for the Willamalane Park and Recreation District, the River Road Park and <br /> Recreation District and the City are shown in the following table. (Refer to Appendix B for additional <br /> detail.) <br /> Jurisdiction FY02 Permanent Property Tax Rate Limit <br /> $/1000 Assessed Value <br /> Willamalane Park and Recreation District 2.0046 <br /> River Road Park and Recreation District 3.0559 <br /> City of Eugene 7.0058 <br /> Park and recreational facilities and equipment now owned by the City could be retained in the <br /> ownership of the City and either leased to the special district or operated by the City under <br /> agreement or contract with the district. Alternatively, parks and other facilities could be sold to a <br /> park and recreation district without violating the provisions of the GO bonds recently approved by <br /> Eugene voters. Program services could be provided either by the district's staff or City staff under <br /> agreement or contract with the district. <br /> Special Districts Paper - Final 11- 8- 01.doc Page 28 of 41 <br /> City Council Agenda page 52 <br />