Recreation for All Ages Committee meets to support Rolla’s proposed Parks Sales Tax

Community leaders, health and recreation enthusiasts, and representatives from various community agencies and organizations met on Monday, Feb. 7 to lay the foundation for their support of Rolla’s proposed ½ cent Park Sales Tax that will be on the April 5 ballot during the Rolla General Municipal Election.

   The energetic and diversified group of 19 or so individuals from the community is being co-chaired by long-time residents and well-known community leaders Sue Eudaly and Bob McKune. The treasurer of the committee is Don Brown.

   The meeting was facilitated by Scott Caron, the City’s Recreation Director, who provided a brief overview of the proposed Park Sales Tax Ordinance that will appear on the April 5 election ballot in Rolla.

   The proposed election ordinance, which was recently approved by the Rolla City Council, will appear on the April 5 ballot as follows: “Shall the municipality of Rolla, Missouri impose a sales tax of one-half (1/2) of one percent for 10 years beginning Oct. 1, 2011 reduced to three-eights (3/8) of one percent beginning Oct. 1, 2021, for the purpose of funding local parks for the municipality, including construction, operation and maintenance of a new community and senior services center?”

   The proposed Parks Sales Tax, if passed, would replace the existing ½-cent Parks Sales Tax exclusively utilized for The Centre, and which is set to expire in December 2013. The new Park Sales Tax would primarily fund the City’s park maintenance operations and the construction and operational support for a new Senior Center, and a small portion for Centre operations. In addition, flexibility in the City’s General Fund can be used to enhance public safety and economic development efforts.

   Members of the ‘Recreation for All Ages’ committee, volunteered to serve on various subcommittees, including fundraising, marketing and community outreach that will be part of the focus of the committee’s efforts to educate and inform the general public regarding the proposed Park Sales Tax and the benefits it will provide individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

   The committee will meet on a weekly basis to plan, coordinate and implement a grass-roots, community-wide public information campaign that supports the passage of the proposed ½-cent Parks Sales Tax. For more information, or to become involved in the efforts of this committee, please contact Sue Eudaly at smseudaly@embarqmail.com.