QuickTake:

The proposed temporary five-year tax increase for Springfield’s park and recreation district is intended to stabilize Willamalane’s operational budget as the district faces a growing demand for services and rising costs. 

Voters in Springfield may see a ballot measure this year asking them to increase the property tax levy rate for Willamalane Park and Recreation District. 

Willamalane’s board of directors Wednesday, Jan. 14, authorized staff to prepare a resolution proposing a five-year temporary tax levy increase. The board will vote on the resolution at its February meeting. It will also decide at that time whether to place the measure on the May or November election ballot. 

First time for levy rate increase in 82 years

The 25-cent rate increase is intended to stabilize finances for the special tax district, which is experiencing an increased service demand as well as rising costs of operations and wages. It will be the first time in Willamalane’s 82-year history that it has increased its levy rate, Director Michael Wargo said at the board’s Dec. 10, 2025, meeting. 

“We have dramatically increased the spaces and places that we maintain and operate, including the 2012 bond measure, where we really greatly expanded and acquired new property, but without sufficient operating budget to support all of that growth,” Wargo said. 

The proposed levy increase is part of a multipronged approach to shore up Willamalane’s finances and avoid cuts to staffing, programs or services, he said.

“We’re not going to be able to continue to do what we do right now unless we do something,” Wargo told board members at the December meeting. “We cut a million dollars out of our budget last year, and there will be more cuts unless we find a way to increase our revenue sources. And the last thing I want to do is cut back on programs and services and especially how that would impact our staffing levels.”

District staff are also working to diversify revenue through new grants, partnerships and donors, which will be helped by a new grants and development analyst position Willamalane is creating. 

In addition, Willamalane is looking into annexing about 1,400 properties that are inside Springfield’s urban growth boundary but are not within Willamalane’s district. Residents of those properties currently pay out-of-district fees to participate in Willamalane services but do not pay property taxes to the district to support its operating budget, Wargo said. 

Annual amount for taxpayers would go up about $49

Willamalane’s current tax levy rate is $2.0074 per $1,000 of assessed home value. According to the district, the median assessed home value within Willamalane’s boundaries is $196,803. A homeowner at the median assessed home value currently pays about $395 a year in property taxes to Willamalane. 

The proposed 25-cent increase will raise the rate to $2.2574, increasing the annual amount for taxpayers approximately $49 to about $444.

The district estimates the new rate will generate about $1.5 million a year in additional revenue. If passed by voters during the May 19 election, the new rate will go into effect in November this year and will expire June 30, 2031. If voters approve it in November, it would not go into effect until November 2027.

Wargo said the district’s 20-year, $20 million general obligation bond, which taxpayers approved in 2012 for capital improvement projects, will be paid off at the end of 2032. The rate for the bond is $0.1788 per $1,000 of assessed home value. 

Willamalane used bond funds to build a trailhead and trail system at the 600-acre Thurston Hills Natural Area, to develop three new parks and upgrade others and to build the Mill Race multiuse path. 

Survey of voters shows narrow support

The board on Wednesday, Jan. 14, heard from a partner at FM3 Research, a public opinion research and strategy firm that conducted a survey of potential voters in December. The Willamalane Park Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy organization that supports Willamalane, approved $25,000 for the cost of the survey, which polled more than 500 people via phone call and text message.

Of those surveyed, 85% said they have a favorable impression of Willamalane, Miranda Everitt from FM3 said during the meeting.

She told board members that of the respondents, 283 were likely voters in the May election. Of those, 52% said they would vote yes on the measure. When voters were asked if they knew the measure would cost the average homeowner about $49.20 per year, or $4.10 per month, would they vote yes or no, the “yes” response rose to 59%. 

The firm also asked respondents about the level of importance they assigned to different priorities and found fire prevention, cleaning up trash and illegal dumping and protecting water quality were top priorities.

In addition, 61% of respondents said they’d be much more likely to support a measure if they knew there would be full public disclosure of all spending.

“We see a path for viability for this measure, but it’s going to require a strong informational campaign and no organized opposition,” Everitt told the board. 

Board president Brook Reinhard said during the meeting he was in favor of moving forward with the proposed levy increase. 

“I can’t help but notice, and I’m sure obviously everyone else has, that voters’ priorities and what they’re most worried about are directly aligned with almost everything our ranger program already does, which seems to be great messaging of, you know, ‘Continue to support Willamalane and our staffing,’” Reinhard said.