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Planning, design, permitting and construction of all the new parks is funded by Park Impact Fees, the Real Estate Excise Tax, grants and donations. Maintenance and operations of the new parks is funded by the property taxes collected by Greater Clark Parks District program.
Greater Clark Parks District Property Tax
In February 2005, voters living in the unincorporated urban area of Clark County passed a property tax levy that created the Greater Clark Parks District. By state law, the funds collected by the district can be used to finance long term park maintenance and operations, as well as provide capital funding for development.
The Greater Clark Parks District's property tax rate is set at a maximum of 27 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The actual rate amount changes every year based on several factors, like levy distribution and assessed property values. In 2009, the Clark County Assessor's Office set the rate at $.2217368693 per $1,000 of assessed property value. More information about levy rates is available on the Assessor's Web page: www.co.clark.wa.us/assessor/reports.html
All the parks, trails and ball fields included in the Greater Clark Parks District program must be maintained for the long term, so the Greater Clark Parks District levy has no expiration date.
Park Impact Fees
These fees are collected whenever a new residential development is constructed. Clark County first established these fees for purchasing new park property in 1991, and then re-established them to pay for park development and acquisition in 1996. Park Impact Fees are collected and spent within ten specific Park Improvement Districts located within the city of Vancouver and the unincorporated urban area of Clark County. The fees collected in a particular district are also spent within that same district. Some of these districts cross city/county lines. The state requires that all Park Impact Fees be spent within six years, or be refunded to developers.
The Real Estate Excise Tax
This tax was first established by the city of Vancouver and Clark County in 1996, and was re-established in 2002. Both versions of the tax were created with support from the Home Builders Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Association of Realtors. These taxes are collected whenever a home is sold in Clark County.
Revenue from the 1996 version of the Real Estate Excise Tax was divided between parks and transportation. Revenue from the current Real Estate Excise Tax is divided between parks and economic development (75/25 split). The portion going to parks is spent on designing and constructing new urban and regional parks, and on improving existing parks. Taxes are collected and spent within three geographic areas: the city of Vancouver, the unincorporated urban area of Clark County, and rural Clark County. Although revenue collected within the city of Vancouver can only be spent there, the revenue collected in the unincorporated urban and rural areas of Clark County can be shared in order to best address the park development needs within these two areas. Revenue collected in the unincorporated urban and rural areas of Clark County cannot be used by the city of Vancouver.
Grants and Donations
Vancouver-Clark Parks and Recreation regularly applies for various grants to help supplement its budget. Since 1997, the department has received over $10 million in grants and donations for park development and improvement projects.
City and county neighborhood associations and citizens can also help fund park development or improvement projects by applying for local neighborhood grants, providing private donations, or conducting fundraising efforts. The Parks Foundation can assist individuals and groups with setting up tax-exempt accounts to accept donations and grant money.
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