Parks Levy History

Parks Levy History

In 2001, King County approached the City of Mercer Island about transferring long-term ownership and operation of Luther Burbank Park to the City. The transfer of the park property was finalized in 2002.

In 2003, the Mercer Island community approved a six-year parks levy to fund the operations and maintenance of Luther Burbank Park. The $415,000 annual levy passed with 55% voter approval.

In 2006, the Luther Burbank Park Master Plan was adopted and established the long-term vision for the park, including providing the framework for future capital investments.

In 2007, a Citizen’s Stakeholder Committee was formed to prepare a recommendation on a parks levy ballot measure to replace/renew the 2003 Parks Levy. The Stakeholder Committee recommended that the parks levy should be expanded to support system-wide parks maintenance and operations in addition to funding Luther Burbank Park.

2009 Parks Levy (Current Levy)

In 2008, the Mercer Island community approved a 15-year parks levy. The scope of the levy included funding to continue operating Luther Burbank Park and to support operations at all city parks, open spaces, and recreation facilities. The $900,000 annual levy passed with 54% voter approval and began in 2009.

The City Council allocated parks levy funding to specific budget categories as shown in the table on the next page. The funding was split between operations and maintenance (O&M) and capital.

While voters approved the $900,000 parks levy, they did not approve an accompanying park bond measure, which required 60% approval and would have funded various capital improvement projects.

The approved parks levy included $128,000 in operations and maintenance funding for the capital projects associated with the bond measure. When the City Council enacted the 2009 parks levy, they opted to remove the operations and maintenance funding for the bond-related capital projects and replaced it with $110,000 for Luther Burbank Small Capital Projects. The final amount levied in 2009 was $882,000, establishing the basis for the 15-year levy.

It is also worth noting that sometime during the life of the 2009 levy (likely around 2010) the reference to “School Park and Recreation Activities” was changed to a more general “Parks Maintenance O&M.” This was a reference/text change only and did not impact the budget or the parks levy. The parks operations & maintenance funds collected via the levy are part of the General Fund and support a wide range of maintenance activities including athletic field maintenance.

2022 Parks Levy Allocations

In 2022, the annual parks levy amount is $980,122. The 1% statutorily allowed increase was taken in all but two years over the life of the current parks levy. The 1% increase was applied to the operations and maintenance components of the parks levy, while the capital funding categories remained flat.

In 2022, the General Fund receives $728,122 of the levied amount to support operations and maintenance at parks and athletic fields. This includes fully funding operations and maintenance at Luther Burbank Park at current service levels.

The remaining $252,000 is allocated to the Capital Improvement Fund in support of Luther Burbank Park Small Capital Projects ($110,000), Pioneer Park Forest Management ($77,000), and Citywide Open Space Vegetation Management ($65,000). This annual allocation for capital projects has been unchanged since 2009.

2022 Parks Operations & Maintenance Budget

In 2022, the parks operations and maintenance budget is $2.34 million, see expenditure and revenue tables below. In total, 31% of the funding for parks operations and maintenance is derived from the current parks levy.

Overview of Current Parks Levy Funding Categories

Luther Burbank Park O&M and Small Capital Projects - $483,007 in 2022

The current parks levy funds nearly 100% of the maintenance and operation of Luther Burbank Park at current service levels and provides funding for small capital projects identified in the Luther Burbank Master Plan. Luther Burbank Park includes 73 acres of parks and open space, 0.75 miles of shoreline and waterfront infrastructure, and 4.24 miles of trails. Levy funds support a wide variety of park maintenance activities, including planter beds, lawn upkeep, tree care and pruning, litter pick-up, garbage/recycling receptacles, and more. In addition, current levy funds maintain the recreation facilities in the park, including the two playgrounds, tennis/pickleball courts, the trail system, the docks, and the swim beach, in addition to the maintenance of the Luther Burbank Administration Building, the Boiler Building and two restroom facilities.

Parks Maintenance O&M - $355,155 in 2022

The current parks levy supports operation and maintenance of over 200 acres of park land (not including open space areas, Pioneer Park, or Luther Burbank Park). This work includes landscaping and lawn care, maintenance of restrooms, sport courts, and picnic shelters and preservation of shorelines. This funding also supports maintenance of 28 miles of walking paths and trails, in addition to 14 playgrounds. And finally, this levy funding, combined with user fees, supports the maintenance and operation of athletic fields across the Island including Island Crest Park, the South Mercer Playfields, and Homestead fields.

Pioneer Park Forest Management - $77,000 in 2022

Pioneer Park and Engstrom Open Space provide 122 acres of forested park land, comprising 43% of the open space in the city. Management of these properties is guided by the 2003 Pioneer Park Forest Management Plan. This plan focuses on canopy regeneration, invasive tree removal, and ivy and invasive weed management as the key steps towards achieving a healthier and more resilient forest. The current levy supports key elements of this plan by funding the removal of holly and other weedy tree infestations in the forest understory and the planting of 15,000 native trees and shrubs in 75 of the 122 acres of Pioneer Park and Engstrom Open Space. Open Space/Vegetation Management - $65,000 in 2022 The City maintains 164 acres of open space throughout Mercer Island in addition to Pioneer Park and Engstrom Open Space. The Open Space Vegetation Plan, adopted in 2004 and updated in 2014, guides stewardship and restoration in these open spaces with a focus on maintaining functional benefits and developing resilient plant communities. Current levy funding supports management of these open spaces using ecological restoration best practices, including the removal of ivy from the base of existing canopy trees across 95 acres of forest and planting nearly 16,000 native trees and shrubs.