Commissioners will vote Tuesday on whether they're ready to recycle a tax increase request for the Nov. 7 general election.
Their first drive for $28.5 million over 10 to 15 years fizzled with voters in March.
There's little argument among board members that going back to a referendum for more funds at some point is the right thing to do.
But there is some debate about whether they should jump back onto the ballot so quickly - especially since some park officials say they may want to take time to rethink the issue, come up with ideas for a different type of referendum request or discuss ways to make the idea more appealing to voters.
March's tax request asked voters for the right to collect an additional 15 cents per $100 equalized assessed valuation beginning in 2001. Since the tax rate will otherwise drop that year as bonds are retired, the district pitched it as a "no tax increase" issue, saying it would freeze the tax rate where it is now.
Technically, the same situation could apply to a referendum in November, if the board chooses.
But meeting as a committee of the whole this week, commissioners and staff members said it may be better to present a specific list of planned projects to voters or limit the referendum request to money for projects in the next four or five years, instead of 10 or 15.
"Kids can grow up in 15 years," Executive Director Gerald Oakes said. "We need a shorter timeline."
Some commissioners Wednesday said it may be better to wait until April 2001 - the next election after November - to go back to voters with a referendum request.
"I'm ready to go if the time is right. I think November is too fast," board President Tom Drake said.
Others argued tentatively for a November referendum run.
"I felt that it (the first attempt) wasn't a defeat; it was simply a message from the community that they realized this is probably an action that has to be taken but they wanted us to be more definitive in our needs," commissioner Sandra Fernstrom said.
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