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Posts for Parks and Recreation Finance

From Local Strain to Regional Solutions: The Benefits of Metropolitan Park Districts

August 17, 2026  by  Ross Hoover
Category:  Guest Author ,  Annexation ,  Parks and Recreation Finance ,  Special Districts

While the importance of parks is well-understood, rising costs, strained funding, and aging assets widen the gap between what communities expect and what agencies can sustainably deliver. A Metropolitan Park District can offer stable funding for the needs of a growing community.

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A voter putting their ballot into a mailbox

November 2025 Ballot Measures: Cities and Towns

December 15, 2025  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Public Safety and Welfare ,  Annexation ,  Parks and Recreation Finance ,  Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Programs ,  Transportation Finance ,  Licensing and Regulation ,  Ballot Measures ,  Business Licenses and Taxes ,  Property Taxes ,  City and Town Officials

A large number of city/town public safety local ballot measures appeared in the 2025 November general election, alongside those for transportation and parks and rec programs. Also appearing were a few charter amendments, citizens initiatives, and advisory votes. 

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Two people ride bikes through a park

Recapping the November 2023 Local Ballot Measure Results

December 13, 2023  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  Parks and Recreation Finance ,  Housing ,  Emergency Medical Services ,  Fire Protection ,  Homelessness ,  Law Enforcement ,  Ballot Measures

There were a 113 ballot measures before voters this past November, in an off-year election that drew record-low voter turnouts. How did that impact levy lid lifts requests, newly proposed districts, or citizen's initiatives? 

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Ballot Measure Results from the 2020 General Election

November 12, 2020  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Parks and Recreation Finance ,  Fire Protection ,  Transportation Finance ,  Forms of Government-County ,  Law Enforcement ,  Ballot Measures

This blog post recaps some of the local ballot measure results from the November 2020 general election and discusses why the record-breaking turnout may make ballot measure validation tougher next year.

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