Lake Forest Park Council Backs King Co. Parks Levy

King County is asking voters to approve a parks levy for upkeep and expansion of regional parks, and the Lake Forest Park City Council says they should.

In a 3-0 vote at its regular council meeting Thursday, the council approved a resolution in support of Proposition 1, which is on mail-in ballots in voters’ hands now for the Aug. 6 primary election.

“Parks are difficult to fund for a small city like Lake Forest Park,” said Councilwoman Sandy Koppenol in a statement from the city announcing the vote. “We typically have to piece together the funding from several sources. Often the Parks Levy money we receive is the last piece of the puzzle.”

The King County parks levy measure would tax property owners 18.77 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $56 per year for the owner of a home valued at $300,000. If approved, the levy would replace two set to expire at the end of 2013.

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Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford, in supporting the resolution, said King County made a significant investment in upgrading the Burke Gilman Trail through Lake Forest Park and there needs to be funding to maintain it.

A portion of the levy would be used for operations and maintenance, capital improvements and new park acquisition for the county’s regional park and trail system. A smaller portion of the levy proceeds is distributed to cities for local park uses.

Lake Forest Park would receive about $28,000 a year in direct money, approximately the same amount it has received under the current levy, the city said.

The council voted 3-0 in favor, with Councilman Don Fiene abstaining, citing a potential conflict of interest from his involvement with a non-governmental organization that has received funding from King County Parks.