Toledo Area Metroparks to have 0.9 mill levy on November ballot

7/25/2012
BLADE STAFF

The Toledo Area Metroparks will ask voters for a new 0.9-mill operating levy — a funding source the agency said will pay for developing new park areas and operations while preventing budget cuts.

The Metroparks board of directors voted 2-0 this morning in favor of placing the levy on the Nov. 6 ballot. Directors Scott Savage and Fritz Byers cast the two votes. Lera Doneghy was not present for the meeting. Although she participated by conference call, Ms. Doneghy could not vote by telephone.

If passed, the proposed levy would generate about $7.1 million annually for 10 years. It would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 an additional $27.56 annually, said Metroparks spokesman Scott Carpenter.

Mr. Carpenter said the newly proposed 0.9 mill levy would take the place of an existing 0.3 mill levy that expires at the end of 2012. That levy was passed in 2002.

“The one that is expiring was only to purchase land,” Mr. Carpenter said. “This would also be to do maintenance, development of new park areas, and operations.”

The Metroparks already has a 1.4-mill operating levy, which also runs 10 years. It was replaced in 2007.

The Metroparks levy will be one of seven on the ballot for Toledo voters and one of five for Lucas County voters living outside the city of Toledo.