Foothills Park and Recreation District residents will have at least two opportunities to get more information about a mill levy increase question that will be on the November ballot.
Foothills staff is seeking to educate residents on the benefits of supporting the 4-mill increase that would raise taxes by approximately $96 per year for a home valued at $300,000. The district has roughly 93,000 residents in south Jefferson County.
“We’ve gotten really good feedback,” Foothills Park and Recreation executive director Ron Hopp said. Hopp has also been going to neighborhood association meetings and giving presentations.
“Hopefully (residents will) get a bit of a clearer understanding of where the district has come from the last four years,” said John Bradley, chairman of the Foothills Park and Recreation Board of Directors.
The board voted unanimously to put the mill levy increase question on the ballot at its July meeting. The language was finalized at the August meeting. If passed, the district would add $3.7 million to its $22-million budget in 2015. The additional funds would go toward replacing and updating aging infrastructure and trail repairs. The district has identified approximately $60 million in needs.
Around $5 million of the additional funds would go toward improvements at Clement Park. In December 2013, the district OK’d a master plan that called for just under $25 million in improvements. The earmarked funds could be used to leverage more money in matching grants, Hopp said.
“I think it’s great they are reaching out to inform,” resident Diane Suchomel said. “The park definitely needs some updates and repairs.”
Foothills had mill levy increase questions denied in both 2006 and 2008. The two previous approved increases came in 2000 and 1982.
“We hope that people will take the time to educate themselves,” Hopp said. “I’m confident that if they take the time to do that, they’ll support the effort because it will be worthwhile.”
Meetings
What: Informational sessions about the mill levy increase proposed by Foothills Park and Recreation
When: 7 p.m. Sept. 18 and Oct. 14
Where: Peak Community Wellness Center, 6612 S. Ward St. in the Littleton area
