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QuickTake:
The park and recreation district’s temporary local option levy passed in the May 19 primary election by 508 votes after running behind in initial ballot returns. Willamalane’s boss says staff will keep looking for more nontax revenue so the levy can expire in five years.
Willamalane Park & Recreation District leaders expected close results for the district’s proposed property tax levy in the May 19 election.
“Just because of the way the economy was going and certain factors that were happening in the U.S. with the war in Iran and gas prices increasing, but also things happening at the state and county and even local level,” said Willamalane Executive Director Michael Wargo.
Early election returns showed the levy narrowly failing, 52.3% to 47.5%. But there were still ballots to be counted.
“While we were initially disappointed, we never really lost hope that we might be able to close the gap and even flip this over to a yes vote,” Wargo told Lookout Eugene-Springfield.
Lane County Elections posted final results and certified the election June 10. In the end, the levy passed by 508 votes, with 51.4% voting yes and 48.6% voting no. Just over 18,000 Springfield residents voted on the measure.
“I know we’ve used the term roller-coaster of emotion a lot, and it certainly was,” Wargo said.
He said it was a relief when the results flipped in favor of levy passage two days after the election. Willamalane had prepared two budgets for fiscal year 2027, which begins July 1: one to use if the levy passed, and one if it didn’t.
If the levy didn’t pass, Willamalane would have reduced its budget for next year by about $1.7 million, which Wargo said would have affected programs and services. “But really the thing that gave us the most anxiety was that we would have had to reduce our workforce by almost 12 (full-time equivalents).”
After rescheduling its budget hearing until election results were final, the district’s budget committee met June 16 to review the 2027 budget and voted unanimously to approve it and advance it to the board of directors for final adoption next week.
The $35 million spending plan, which has an operating budget of about $23 million, supports 190 full-time-equivalent employees.
Wargo said the budget maintains the district’s current workforce, programs and services. Daily use fees for in-district residents will not increase. Two budget highlights he noted:
- funding for deferred maintenance at parks and facilities
- staff pay increases
“We have 45 parks. There’s a lot of asphalt. There’s miles and miles of trail that always need some sort of work, and we’ve had to reduce these budgets throughout the years, and they’re just getting to a critical point,” Wargo said.
The budget calls for 2% cost of living adjustments and 2% merit pay increases for staff.
“We would not be able to do increases across the board if it wasn’t for (the levy),” Wargo said.
The levy is part of a multipronged approach by Willamalane to address rising expenses that are outpacing the district’s revenue growth. Last year, the district cut $1 million out of its budget by eliminating vacant administrative positions, discontinuing its wood-shop program and reducing expenses for materials and services.
Wargo said the district also reorganized staff to increase efficiency and is increasing its focus on sponsorships, grants and donations. Willamalane is also identifying new revenue sources, including adding swim lessons at Splash and concession sales at tournaments and swim meets.
“What the goal is, is after five years, we’re not going to be reliant on that extra tax income that the temporary levy is providing,” he said.
He said the close vote underscores the need for transparency and accountability.
“While we’re happy that we’re able to be fully funded at the same level for the next five years, we do recognize that we’re not going to take our foot off the gas, and we want to continue to find opportunities to generate nontax revenue,” Wargo said.
