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Posted on Mon, Jul. 27, 2009 10:15 PM
Renew sales tax to keep a good thing going in Platte County
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Nine years ago Platte County officials pledged to carry out an ambitious plan to buy park land, build new trails and erect community centers. Voters endorsed a half-cent sales tax for the $60 million proposal.
Today, it’s clear that county officials kept those promises, which has helped make Platte County a more desirable place to live. The county has more than 86,000 residents and is adding 1,500 a year, many of them young people.
Now the county wants to take another huge step forward: Renew the parks tax for 10 more years and invest most of the funds — an estimated $76 million over the decade — to improve existing programs.
It’s an excellent plan, and the half-cent tax on next Tuesday’s ballot deserves a “yes” vote.
Parks Director Brian Nowotny says residents have told the county they want to “take care of what they got” with the initial tax.
A recently updated parks system master plan includes good ways to do just that with an extended sales tax:
•Build more miles of trails and better connect them.
This is a key to developing a larger and more popular system, much like the one in Johnson County, for growing numbers of bicyclists, runners and walkers. Platte County expects to add more than 12 miles to the Southern Platte County loop, and build 10 more miles of trails to connect the already popular Platte River greenways to the Prairie Creek greenway. The Weston Bluffs Trail, with its enjoyable views, would be extended by 4.5 miles.
•Upgrade the community centers.
The Platte County North facility would add more fitness equipment, a larger gym and more lap lanes for swimming. Platte County South would gain larger aerobic areas and extra lap lanes in the pool.
•Add more acres of park land and increase amenities at existing community parks.
As examples, the county wants to put in new playgrounds and walking paths at both Platte Ridge and Platte Purchase parks, and preserve some natural areas in parks.
With the expert handling of revenues approved in 2000, parks officials have earned the right to ask for an extension of a tax that has done so much to make the area more attractive to current residents. Voters should endorse the renewal as a way of investing in a better future for Platte County.
Posted on Mon, Jul. 27, 2009 10:15 PM
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