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Special District White Paper — Draft for Internal Review Example 3: Addition of Park & Recreation Functions to the Lane County Metropolitan Wastewater Service District County service districts are permitted by their principal Act to provide park and recreation services among many other permissible services. Park and recreational functions could be added to the current purpose of the Lane County Metropolitan Wastewater Service District. The District's name could be changed to reflect the broader functions. A permanent maximum tax rate could, but would not have to be proposed. This is an important point since the boundaries of the MWSD include the incorporated areas of Eugene and Springfield and surrounding unincorporated urban area The additional park and recreation services would likely not be provided to areas within the District that are already served by Willamalane Park and Recreation District or River Road Park and Recreation District. Since these districts already have permanent maximum tax rate limits and levy operating taxes, electors in those areas of the CSD would not be likely to support an additional tax rate for the CSD for the same purposes. The Boundary Commission has authority over initiation of additional functions by the MWSD (ORS 199.476). Only Boundary Commission approval is required; an election concerning the additional functions is not required by state statute. A resolution detailing he additknel functions to be addedImustfirit be adopted by the MWSD Board (the County Bo rd facts 4 D istrict; Board arAd filed with the Boundary Commission. The District Board could al o p propose a nevYmaximum permanent property tax rate adequate to support the proposed untiohs. �' _ t 3 As in a new park and ecreation distnct,\a p rmap operating tax rate limit of up to a maximum of $5.50 pe $1000,AV pould tie proposed If a permanent maximum tax rate were pursued, the full range of possible service t armight be provided by t ie MWSD should be considered before a decision is reached on the proposed tax rate. The proposed permanent maximum tax rate is subject to the double majority rule, or may be placed on a general election ballot in an even - numbered year Once the voters approve the district's permanent property tax rate limit, the maximum rate cannot be altered. If the rate limit is set to provide revenue adequate for only two services, such as wastewater services and parks and recreation, then the district could not accommodate additional services in the future. The principal Act allows a CSD to levy assessments on particular properties that benefit from district facilities. Assessments cannot be used to fund park and recreational services, but they could be useful for funding facilities. Determining the direct benefit of a park facility to an individual property may be difficult, however. The principal Act requires that assessments in the district shall, so far as practicable, be apportioned within the district in accordance with the special and peculiar benefit each lot or parcel of land receives from the service facilities. Assessments may be levied by the CSD board and are not voted on. If 50% or more of the affected property owners, representing 50% or more of the affected property within the district object in writing to the assessment, then the proposed service facility will not be implemented. Draft #5 Page 31 10/24/01