Thursday, October 18, 2012

New Albany to Vote on Parks Split

From a lengthy article in the Jeffersonville News and Tribune:

Since 1994, New Albany and Floyd County have been partners in parks and recreation service. But that could all change after tonight.

A special New Albany City Council meeting has been slated for 7:15 this evening so that two measures can be considered. The first is a resolution calling for the re-establishment of the New Albany Parks Department, and the legislation will require only one vote by the council.

The second measure is an ordinance calling for the abolishment of the current New Albany-Floyd County Parks Department agreement, and it will require three readings by the council.

The initial ballots are scheduled to be taken tonight, as the third reading of the joint parks repeal ordinance will be held during a different meeting, likely on Nov. 5.

After months of debate over funding, Mayor Jeff Gahan confirmed his intentions last week to form a separate city parks system. Though the county and city were to fund the department equally based on population, New Albany paid about $4 million more for operations since 2004.

Though the county appropriated additional funding this year to provide $500,000 for the parks’ $1 million budget, the entity is currently only scheduled to furnish $250,000 for the operation in 2013.

County officials have stated they would again appropriate more money for the department next year after the budget has been certified.

See the full article here: