The board of commissioners of the Portage Park District voted July 17 to place a 0.5-mill property tax levy before voters on the November ballot.
This would be the Park District's first levy if passed. A 0.5-mill levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 property less than $1.50 a month, the board said.
The board said funds would be used to conserve forests, wetlands and other natural areas for water quality protection and wildlife habitat, as well as to operate and maintain parks and trails.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for Portage County residents -- for a few pennies a day, we can conserve important natural areas and operate safe clean parks close to home for free public to use.
"It's a great return on your investment," said Gary Cross, president of the park board.
The board recently was presented with a resolution by the Citizens for Portage Park District, who requested the park board place the issue on the ballot.
"There is a great need for this small levy, which would cost the owner of a $100,000 house less than $1.50 per month -- less than a half gallon of gas," said the group's chairman, Dick Abbott of Franklin Township.
"The Portage Park District has opportunities to accept donation of suitable park land across the county, but without this levy, they do not have the resources to manage those properties."
Current operating revenues for the park district are about $175,000 a year, which is barely enough to cover maintenance on existing properties.
With some levy funding, the Park District could leverage local dollars to bring millions of dollars of federal and state grants and property donations back to the county, the board said.
"We look forward to continuing to partner with communities across the county to conserve our heritage -- in fact, we have several opportunities right now that we could pursue with landowners who want their land conserved, but we don't have the capacity to act," said Christine Craycroft, park district executive director.
The Portage Park District is a countywide agency separate from county government, similar to Metro Parks Serving Summit County, or the Geauga Park District.
It is governed by a five-member unpaid board of commissioners appointed by the probate judge.
The park district operates Towner's Woods, Dix Park, Headwaters Trail, The Portage Hike and Bike Trail and Seneca Ponds Park.
It also has five other properties that are not yet open to the public due to lack of funding.
For more information, visit www.portageparkdistrict.org or call 330-297-7728.