CASE STUDY: SPECIAL GREENWAY DISTRICTS Regional Taxing Authority: St. Louis Metro Area Key Features: o Extensive citizen engagement and visioning process o Voter-approved 0.1 percent sales tax, which generates approximately $20 million per year o Creation of two separate districts o Regional (and bi-state) funding and authority Overview: In 1996, a public-private partnership supported an extensive citizen engagement campaign that drove a bi-state public visioning process in Illinois and Missouri for the St. Louis region. One priority that emerged was the Clean Water, Safe Parks, and Community Trails Initiative. Funding for this initiative was put on the November 2000 ballot through Proposition C, which called for a 0.1 percent sales tax increase (exempting food and prescription drugs) to support the creation of an interconnected regional park system and trail network. The measure was approved by 65 percent of voters in the region, creating two districts: the Great Rivers Greenway District in Missouri, and the Metro-East Park and Recreation District in Illinois. The sales tax generates an annual revenue stream of approximately $20 million per year, $10 million of which is retained by the Districts to pursue greenway development and land conservation, and $10 million of which is equally distributed among the 93 municipalities within the Great Rivers jurisdiction. Implementation: Creating the Districts that span two states and multiple counties required a unique degree of regional cooperation. The legal language of Proposition C was identical in both states to allow for ease of implementation across state boundaries. Ultimately, Proposition C passed in five of the seven jurisdictions. The two Districts are not duplicative, but serve to expand and supplement regional greenway opportunities. Both are able to unilaterally pursue additional funding through bonds, contracts, matching grants, and financial contributions. The enabling legislation also allows for surrounding counties to participate in the Districts at a later date. Advantages: The Greenway Districts exemplify the potential for multi-jurisdictional regional cooperation. The successful referendum illustrates the value of a public visioning process and the willingness for voters to approve a tax for high-profile green infrastructure projects, such as the Great Rivers Greenway. The annual dedicated funding stream has provided ongoing financial resources to implement the greenway plan. The River Ring has emerged: a 600-mile network of greenways and open space encompassing 1,216 square miles across the metropolitan area. Challenges of Application: Based on current collections, a 0.1 percent sales tax in Philadelphia would produce $14 million for the City, or nearly $50 million across the five counties of southeastern Pennsylvania. However, consensus-building is a time and resource-intensive process. Resolving legal issues related to structuring a multijurisdictional ballot measure also would be a challenge and likely would require state-enabling legislation. For More Reading: o Great Rivers Greenway District: www.greatrivers.info o Metro-East Park and Recreation District: www.meprd.org o
Trust for Public Land: http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cdl.cfm?content_item_id=4528&folder_id=1365
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