A tax for the Hamilton County Park District has turned into a bitter political fight over the $265 million it would raise during the next 15 years.

        The Hamilton County Park District levy will be on ballot May 7. The 1-mill replacement levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $29 a year — up from the $17 it has cost since 1988 — and raise $17.7 million annually.

THE PARK DISTRICT

• Annual operating budget, $26.9 million.     • Proposed tax levy on May 7 ballot would replace a levy passed in 1988. The new tax would generate $17.7 million a year for 15 years.     • The district encompasses 17 parks and nature preserves on 13,324 acres, as well as 949 acres of conservation easements.     • Created in 1930 under the leadership of then-Cincinnati Mayor Murray Seasongood.     • Governed by a three-member Board Of Park Commissioners who are appointed by the Probate Court judge and serve without pay.     • An independent government agency, not part of Hamilton County government.     • More than 1,000 employees during the peak summer season.     • More than 500 volunteers who donate more than 65,200 hours annually.     • 7.87 million visitors; 69 percent of Hamilton County residents' families have used a Park District park in the last year.     Source: Hamilton County Park District

        People on both sides of the issue agree the county's park system is run well.

        The dispute centers on whether a portion of the levy money should be shared with Cincinnati to help with the operations of parks within the city.

        Jon Brady, director of the Hamilton County Park District, said it was never the intent of the levy to subsidize municipalities, most of which have their own park districts.

        “Our role is not the same as a city park district,” Mr. Brady said. “Eighty percent of our land has to be preserved in a natural setting.

        “The city would like a lump sum of dollars with no strings attached. That's not what the levy was for. Voters want the (county) park board to be responsible for the money and be regional green space providers.”

        City officials don't agree. They say voters in the city wouldn't vote to give their tax dollars to the county if they knew those dollars weren't supporting the likes of Eden Park, Ault Park and Mount Airy Forest.

        Roger Ach, vice president of the Cincinnati Park District Board, said the levy amounts to “taxation without representation.” The county parks don't do city dwellers, particularly the poor, much good because they are in far-flung locations and charge admission.

        “I voted for this levy (in 1988) because I assumed the money would be spread proportionally in places like Cincinnati, Norwood, Anderson Township and Green Township,” Mr. Ach said. “Now they want us to support a levy with no specific purpose. Given the history, I find that difficult to do.”

        Mr. Ach said about $3 million a year for city parks would be appropriate, half of the $6 million annual increase in the levy revenues.

        The county's 17 parks and nature preserves constitute more than 14,000 acres of wildlands. The park board oversees an annual budget of nearly $27 million.

        About 60 percent of the money raised for the levy would go toward continued operation of the parks and improvements. Of the remaining amount, one third would go toward buying new lands, one third toward developing those new acquisitions, and one third for services such as nature education.

        Nancy Hamant, president of the county park board, said some of the levy money will be spent in the city of Cincinnati and elsewhere whenever the park board can make partnerships with another municipality work.

        Open land in Green Township, for example, is under heavy pressure from developers. The park board may work to find smaller tracts of land to buy, then turn over the operations to the township.

        “Our intention is to work on parks everywhere,” Ms. Hamant said. “But our mission is to preserve green space in the county. We do not believe it's responsible stewardship to send a check and say: "Make whatever use of it you want.'

        “If we start down that road, we'd have to say Anderson deserves a share. Pretty soon, there goes the budget.”

        Former Cincinnati mayor Tom Luken said his concern is that the county's park board has no accountability. It does not answer to the county commissioners, city council or any other elected official. Park board members are appointed by a judge.

        “They have no answerability,” Mr. Luken said. “They're going to buy property. From whom? At what cost? If (the levy) goes down, the parks won't close. They'll come back and we'll work out something reasonable.”

        County parks director Mr. Brady said if the levy fails next month, the park board would likely put the levy back on the ballot in November.
       
       

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