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 City-wide 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.

The PRC board and the Billings Chamber of Commerce/CVB recommend that within 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) that starts to address the deferred maintenance and to 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.

The City Council approved a Resolution of Intent to create the district at its November 14 meeting.  Notices were mailed to all property owners in the district (city).  State law provides that if owners of property that will be assessed for over 50% of the total assessment submit written protests to the district's creation, the City Council may not create it and may not reconsider the issue for 12 months.  Staff will report at this meeting about the protests and their effect on the Council's actions.  If the City receives an insufficient protest, the Council will be asked to approve the attached Resolution that creates the district.  

Staff and the City of Billings Park, Recreation and Cemetery Board have analyzed the following alternatives.
1) Approve the Resolution to Create a city-wide park district.
2.) Do not approve the Resolution 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.
 3) Do not approve the Resolution to create a city-wide park district and direct staff to prepare a proposal for Council review that would establish a referendum/public vote on whether to create the park district. 

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.  The assessment is intended to supplement and not to replace the present funding for parks.

Staff and the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Board recommend that Council approve the Resolution to Create a city-wide park district.