Wild Spaces & Public PlacesCitizens Oversight Committee
Report to the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners March 27, 2012
Jon Reiskind City of Gainesville resident Chair
Bill Richards County resident Vice-Chair
Thomas Hawkins, Sr County resident
John Martin Appt. by League of Cities
Mickey Thomason City of Gainesville resident
Joni Ellis County resident (alternate)
Key Staff
County: Rick Drummond Ramesh BuchJohn Brower
City of Gainesville: Steve Phillips
Wild Spaces & Public PlacesCitizens Oversight Committee
Examined a number of “quality of life” capital projects eligible for infrastructure surtax
Determined that conservation measures had the highest level of support, followed by schools, roads, and recreation.
Funded by the Trust for Public Land and the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce
2008 Public Opinion Poll
Funding % Much More Likely % Total More Likely
Preserving land to protect drinking water sources 57% 84%
Protecting water quality of our river, lakes and creeks 57% 82%
Increasing the use of clean energy such as solar in public buildings 53% 77%
Protecting wildlife habitat 49% 74%
Extending the useful life of school buildings through repairs and upgrades 47% 82%
Protecting environmentally sensitive lands 47% 73%
Protecting natural areas 47% 73%
Easing traffic congestion 43% 74%
Maintaining and improving existing roads 42% 78%
Replacing older buses with cleaner, fuel efficient buses and expanding bus routes for the Regional Transit system
42% 71%
Increasing energy efficiency of mechanical and lighting systems in public buildings 41% 69%
Fighting global warming by protecting forest lands 40% 65%
Adding classrooms to existing school buildings 38% 73%
2008 Public Opinion Poll
Ranked By % Much More Likely to Vote Yes in Favor of Sales Tax Measure if that Particular item receives Funding
Funding % Much More Likely % Total More Likely
Increasing driver and pedestrian safety 37% 68%
Creating and improving parks 31% 62%
Widening major roads 31% 58%
Reducing time spent at intersections 29% 56%
Building new elementary schools in western Alachua county 28% 57%
Creating and improving recreational trails and boardwalks for walking, hiking and biking 27% 59%
Creating and improving recreation centers 27% 59%
Creating new senior centers 26% 58%
Building new roads 26% 55%
Building a new high school in southwest 24% 52%
Creating and improving arts and cultural facilities 23% 51%
Extending existing roads 21% 53%
Building new ballfields and play fields 19% 48%
2008 Public Opinion Poll
• 50:50 between land conservation and recreation/parks
• Recreation funds are allocated to municipalities proportional to population
• Each municipality and the County have provided a list of capital projects
The Split
Proceeds for two years (2008 Estimates)
Alachua County
City of Gainesville
Small Cities
TOTAL
Active Recreation
$1,996,888 $11,773,904 $3,120,912 $16,891,704
Senior Recreation
$1,500,000 $1,500,000 $ - $3,000,000
Conservation $17,055,404 $2,836,300 $ - $19,891,704
TOTAL $20,552,292 $16,110,204 $3,120,912 $39,783,408
• has passed in all but 8 of Florida’s 67 counties• will increase Alachua County’s total sales tax to 6-3/4%• is at 7% for all of the counties surrounding Alachua
County (except 6-1/2% for Marion Co.)
• does not tax food, pharmaceuticals, motor fuel, real estate sales, and most services
• is not collected for transactions over $5,000• will generate revenues of close to $40 million, as
much of 25% of which will come from out-of-county visitors and shoppers
The infrastructure sales tax . . .
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WILD SPACES & PUBLIC PLACES ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS, PARKS, RECREATION ONE-
HALF PERCENT SALES TAX SHALL ALACHUA COUNTY BE AUTHORIZED TO EXTEND THE ALACHUA COUNTY FOREVER PROGRAM TO ACQUIRE AND IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT LANDS, TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER SOURCES, WATER QUALITY, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND TO CREATE, IMPROVE, AND MAINTAIN PARK AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN ALL CITIES AND THE COUNTY, WITH CITIZEN OVERSIGHT AND INDEPENDENT AUDIT, BY THE LEVY OF A ONE-HALF PERCENT (1/2%) SALES TAX FOR TWO (2) YEARS, STARTING JANUARY 1, 2009 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2010? [ ] FOR the one-half percent sales tax.
[ ] AGAINST the one-half percent sales tax.
Alachua County Resolution 08-017.
53%
Original 1/2 Cent Revenue Projections (2008) $ 39,783,408
Current 1/2 Cent Reported Revenue $ 31,161,812
Percent Difference -22%
Total Revenues (Life-To-Date)* $32,257,628
Total Expenditures (L-T-D) $22,040,293
Remainder $10,217,334
* Includes interest, rebates and reimbursements
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Revenues & ExpendituresAs of December 31, 2012
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Revenues & ExpendituresAs of December 31, 2012
Alachua County
City of Alachua
City of Archer
City of Gainesville
City of Hawthorne
City ofHigh Springs
City of LaCrosse
City of Micanopy
City of Newberry
City of Waldo
Revenues
Sales Tax $16,119,407 $887,028 $138,816 $12,578,486 $158,220 $535,238 $22,020 $71,946 $564,444 $86,206 Interest Income $716,321 $1,887 $377,607
Revenue Total $16,835,728 $888,915 $138,816 $12,956,093 $158,220 $535,238 $22,020 $71,946 $564,444 $86,206
Expenditures
Wild Spaces $11,551,009 $0 $0 $839,650 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Public Places $1,901,645 $826,346 $138,816 $6,386,530 $27,801 $249,821 $0 $0 $58,055 $60,621 Expenditure Total $13,452,654 $826,346 $138,816 $7,226,180 $27,801 $249,821 $0 $0 $58,055 $60,621
Remainder $3,383,074 $62,569 $0 $5,729,913 $130,419 $285,417 $22,020 $71,946 $506,390 $25,585
Alachua County
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Total Estimated Budget
(Adjusted)*Current Agency Project Budget
Life-To-Date Actuals
Land Conservation (82.9854% of proceeds)Agreed Interlocal Budget $ 13,057,452 Debt Interest Payment $ 326,238 $ 324,038 $324,038Environmentally Sensitive Land Purchases $ 13,059,652 $11,226,971
Sub-Total $ 13,383,690 $ 13,383,690 $11,551,009 Parks (17.0146%)
Agreed Interlocal Budget $ 2,677,186 Debt Interest Payment $ 66,889 $ 66,438 $66,438Improvements at Kanapaha Park (Comm Center) $ 1,167,745 $334,715 G-ville-Archer Regional Bike Trail (Archer Braid) $0 Senior Recreation Center $ 1,500,000 $1,500,000
Sub-Total $ 2,744,075 $ 2,734,183 $1,901,645
* Adjusted downward proportional to actual reduced revenues received
City of Alachua
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Total Estimated Budget
(Adjusted)Current Agency Project Budget
L-T-D Actuals
Acq of land for City Recreation Center $ 1,500,000 $500,000
Acq of land for Cleather Hathcock Comm Center $ 175,000 $0 Acq of land Exp of St. Matthew's & Maude Lewis Park $ 50,000 $0 Imp to Recreation Center $ 3,757,000 $22,973 Imp to Cleather Hathcock Comm Center $ 195,000 $0 Imp to San Felasco City of Alachua Preserv Corr $ 740,500 $250,145 Light timers for Welch, Maude, Downtown, & Criswell Parks $ 10,000 $0 Phase II of Water Park at Rec Center $ 150,000 $0 Imp to gym ceiling $ 80,000 $0 Conversion of Swick House to Civic Center $ 547,000 $0 Sidewalk imp on Rec Center property $ 60,000 $53,228
Total $ 887,488 $ 7,264,500 $826,346
City of Archer
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Total Estimated Budget
(Adjusted)Current Agency Project Budget
L-T-D Actuals
Completion of Archer Community Center $ - $138,816
Skate Park Area $ - $0 Reno of Rec Center ("old fire station") $ - $0 Picnic area & playground $ - $0 Jogging trail $ - $0 Swimming pool & bath house $ - $0
Total $ 138,888 $ - $138,816
City of Gainesville
Total Estimated Budget
(Adjusted)Current Agency Project Budget
L-T-D Actuals
Land Conservation (17.6056% of proceeds)Environmentally Sensitive Land Purchases $ 2,215,666 $ 2,565,247 $839,650
Sub-Total $ 2,215,666 $ 2,565,247 $839,650 Parks (82.3944%)
Recreation Master Plan $ 100,000 $0WSPP Contingency $ 213,119 $0WSPP Operating Set-Aside $ 951,000 $118,428Imp to Alfred A. Ring Park - Boardwalk Replace $ 481,351 $459,351Imp to Citizens Park/NE Pool - C $ 698,169 $668,170Imp to Cofrin Nature Park - C $ 52,676 $52,676Imp to Cone Park - General Park Imp $ 1,611,900 $928,898Imp to Depot Park $ 1,000,000 $43,207Imp to Greentree Park $ 95,000 $43,649Imp to Hogtown Creek Headwater Park $ 150,000 $25,969Imp to Lincoln Park - General Park Imp - C $ 127,459 $127,459Imp to Loblolly Trails $ - $0
C - Indicates completed projects
City of Gainesville continued
Total Estimated Budget
(Adjusted)Current Agency Project Budget
L-T-D Actuals
Imp to Nature Parks - General Park Imp $ 188,000 $175,846Imp to Neighborhood Parks $ 507,001 $261,573Imp to Northeast Park - C $ 263,000 $98,271Imp to Northside Park $ - $0Northwest Soccer Complex $ - $0Imp to Possum Creek Park - C $ 460,010 $460,010Imp to Rosa Williams Center - C $ 180,549 $180,549Senior Recreation Center $ 1,500,000 $1,500,000Acq of /Imp to Smokey Bear Park - General Imp $ 600,000 $31,058Imp to TB McPherson Rec Center $ 249,502 $206,017Imp to Thomas Center Bldg A - C $ 223,677 $163,409Imp to Westside Park/Pool - Pool and Tennis - C $ 841,990 $841,990
Sub-Total $ 10,369,343 $ 10,494,403 $6,386,530
C - Indicates completed projects
City of Hawthorne
Total Estimated Budget
(Adjusted)Current Agency Project Budget
L-T-D Actuals
Imp to City Athletic Fields $ 13,000 $26,120 Imp to Lindsey-Philips (Johnson Lake) Park $ 2,000 $1,665 Imp to the Trailhead of Hawthorn-Gville Trail $ 25,000 $16
Total $ 158,302 $ 40,000 $27,801
City of High SpringsTotal Estimated
Budget (Adjusted)
Current Agency Project Budget
L-T-D Actuals
Reno of Hist HS Elem Sch/Comm Youth $ 407,847 $0 Reno HS Civic Center/Senior Center $ 75,000 $83,548 Park Imp - Civic Center Park - C $ 5,000 $6,913 Construct public restrooms - Taylor Park $ 12,000 $159,360
Total $ 535,516 $ 499,847 $249,821
C - Indicates completed projects
C - Indicates completed projects
Town of LaCrosse
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Total Estimated Budget
(Adjusted)Current Agency Project Budget
L-T-D Actuals
Tennis court imp $ 0 $ 0 Basketball court imp $ 0 $ 0 Install of fans at picnic pavilions $ 0 $ 0 Playground imp $ 0 $ 0 Lighting imp $ 0 $ 0
Total $ 22,031 $ 0 $ 0
C - Indicates completed projects
Town of Micanopy
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Total Estimated Budget
(Adjusted)Current Agency Project Budget
L-T-D Actuals
Ball field bleacher replacement $ 0 $ 0 Ball field scoreboard $ 0 $ 0 Cardiovascular trail $ 0 $ 0 Community Center $ 0 $ 0 Concession facility upgrade $ 0 $ 0 Miniture golf course $ 0 $ 0 Rec facility fencing $ 0 $ 0 Rec facility lighting $ 0 $ 0 Regulation-size lighted b-ball court $ 0 $ 0 Volleyball court $ 0 $ 0
Total $ 71,984 $ 0 $ 0
Town of Newberry
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Total Estimated Budget
(Adjusted)Current Agency Project Budget
L-T-D Actuals
Purch Barry House as Comm Center $0 Purch vacant lot next to MLK Park $ 150,000 $14,344 Construct small Comm Center by MLK Park $1,062 Develop Triangle Park $ 350,000 $42,650 Covered b-ball courts at NB Sports Complex $0
Total $ 540,938 $ 500,000 $58,055
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Total Estimated Budget
(Adjusted)Current Agency Project Budget
L-T-D Actuals
Imp to Sid Martin Park $18,404 Imp to Waldo Comm Center $35,445 Imp to Waldo Veteran's Park (City Park) $6,772
Total $ 93,891 $ - $60,621
Town of Waldo
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Issues, Challenges, & Requests for Direction
• City of Hawthorne– Repayment schedule– Stormwater Facility
• City of Newberry– Relocation of facility
• Sunset Date