Due to lack of resources, the Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Department (PRPL) has closed or removed several facilities (gazebo and wading pool at South Park, tennis courts at Castle Rock Park, playground equipment at Pioneer Park, etc.) in parks over the past three years. Park facilities will continue to close unless additional revenue is raised. With little to no increases in the department operations and maintenance budget for the past 10 years, maintenance in the general fund parks (Pioneer Park, South Park, North Park, etc.) is continuing to decrease. It was calculated in 2010 that PRPL has over $9 million in deferred maintenance in parks city-wide.

At the June 20, 2011 work session, the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery (PRC) board recommended that City Council establish a park district and an annual assessment to fund a wide variety of park improvements and maintenance.  That recommendation was contingent on completing the Library bond election.  Creating a district is a two step process, this one being the first.  If Council approves the Resolution of Intent, all Billings property owners will receive notice of it and have 30 days to protest the district's creation.  The second step is for the City Council to conduct another public hearing (12/19) and consider adopting a resolution that will actually create the district.   

The PRC board and the Billings Chamber of Commerce/CVB recommend that three years after the creation of a city-wide park district the Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Department submit a plan to City Council on how to dissolve/reduce existing park maintenance districts that are not funding unique enhancements. The Board and Chamber also recommend that funds generated from the park district should not supplant existing parks funds received from the city’s general fund.

The Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Department and the PRC Board developed a three-year spending plan (see attached) on how to start addressing the deferred maintenance and improve maintenance.  The PRC Board recommends that property owners be assessed $2 million annually. A person with a property valued at $100,000 would pay an estimated $16 annual assessment. If the district is approved December 19, 2011 the department would start receiving funds December, 2012.

Staff and the City of Billings Park, Recreation and Cemetery Board have analyzed the following alternatives.
1) Approve the Resolution of Intent to Create a city-wide park district and set a public hearing for December 19, 2011.
2.) Do not approve the Resolution of Intent to Create a city-wide park district.  Maintenance will not improve and facilities that deteriorate will continue to be closed or removed from the parks. 

The proposed fiscal year 2013 assessment for the district is estimated to be 12.39 mills.  A $200,000 home owner would pay approximately $32.00 and a $100,000 home owner would pay approximately $16.00 annually.  The goal is for the assessments to produce $2 million per year. 

Staff and the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Board recommend that Council approve the Resolution of Intent to Create a city-wide park district and set a public hearing date for December 19, 2011.