On Sunday, April 13, local Kent bands Rio Neon and Up Til Four will present a benefit concert to raise awareness about Issue 10 for the Portage County Park District.
These bands have joined forces to present an evening of acoustic rock, folk, and jazz at the Kent Stage, on Sunday, April 13, 7:00 to 9:00 pm, to support passage of the proposed levy. The concert is free and open to the public. “Members of both bands live in Portage County, and we all use the parks and believe in securing the future of these valuable natural assets,” said Up Til Four member and co-concert organizer Carl Sweigert.
The District’s operating budget has been severely cut in recent years with 2014 operating revenues projected at $99,500. State and county funding levels have been cut in half over the last two years and donations account for 45% of the District’s operations budget.
“The lack of an adequate funding source severely limits our Park’s ability to maintain these natural jewels. Many federal and state grants for capital improvements require matching funds from the grantees, millions of dollars in grants that could improve Portage County parks and trails are going to other Ohio counties instead,” Sweigert said.
To address this drastic need for funds, a ½ mill, 10-year operating and improvement levy for the Portage Park District will appear on May 6, 2014 ballot. Sally Kandel, Citizens for Portage Parks Steering Committee member and vocalist with Rio Neon says, “The ½ mill levy is projected to cost the owner of a $100,000 home $17.50 per year or less than $1.50 per month. This is a very small ask that could do so much for the county.” Funds generated by the levy would be used to maintain the current trails, roads and buildings, and to begin to open to the public 835 acres of parkland that the District currently owns but lacks the funds to open and manage.
Citizens for the Portage Park District is a ballot issue committee formed to advocate for the passage of the one-half (1/2) mill property tax levy to support the Portage Park District. The committee is run by a dedicated team of talented local volunteers. Donations to the ballot campaign are not tax-deductible. No public dollars are being used to support the levy campaign. For more information about the levy, click here.
For more information about the concert, contact Carl Sweigert at csweigert@neo.rr.com.