By: Diane Benjamin
Tari and I agree: Forming a Park District is a terrible idea. We even agree on why: more government, more layers of government, more taxing bodies, more bureaucracy, and the inability to shift spending to other priorities if the budget is a separate government entity.
The Budget Task Force put this on their “We should explore” list.
If you live in Bloomington – contact your alderman today. Tell them No, NO, Don’t you dare!
Contact information here: http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=48
Scary that Tari and I agree?
When he is right, I’ll give him credit!
The way I understood how this park district would have worked is that even people living in the county their real estate taxes would have to pay for the district.
I respectfully disagree. I don’t like the idea of moving money from Parks and Recreation to another Department or project. Let each Department have to work within their own budget. Robbing Peter to pay Paul has been a problem in this city. In this case , it’s ok if there is another taxing body. At least we will know where the taxes are dedicated to, and that’s in the Park District. Since that cost would be sucked out of the City of Bloomington, then one would think our city taxes would be lowered proportionally. I believe Mark is right, the folks living outside the City limits would have to pay for the district through their real estate taxes. This is great way to rid the City of the zoo, and spread the cost!