Aldermen Left 'Flabbergasted' Over Parks Fund Snafu

A discussion at last week's Wentzville Board of Aldermen work session about the city's Project Parks and its cost overruns developed into one about accounting—specifically, earmarking the 2010 parks sales tax for the construction and operation of the city's three new parks: Heartland, Peruque Valley and Splash Station.

Several aldermen expressed disappointment that proceeds from the 1/2-cent sales tax had not gone into a separate account just for that purpose.

After listening to Interim Finance Director Petree Powell talk about some of the expenditures for the city's existing parks, Alderman Rick Stokes said the board wanted the ½ cent sales tax to pay off and operate the new parks.

"We wanted that accounting separate," he said. "I’m disappointed to hear this ... this was a very close vote."

Alderman Forrest Gossett said he assumed the tax increase was going into a dedicated fund.

"I voted in good faith because I wanted the parks," he said. "I do believe parks improve the quality of life. Logic says we should be able to have a segregated fund. I’m extraordinarily disappointed that two-and-a-half years after the vote, we’re not doing that. I’m flabbergasted."

Powell told Patch that before the sales tax was passed in 2010, the parks fund came from a percentage of city property taxes dedicated to parks and from monies collected by parks fees and admissions. Because this was not enough to cover expenditures, other funds were transferred from the city's general fund to the parks fund.

When the sales tax passed, those funds were put in the existing park fund and used to maintain existing parks and construction on the three new ones.

To go back and account for what was spent over the last two-and-a-half years and put it into two separate accounts would take "serious maneuvering," Powell said.

But it could be done if the board decided it was necessary, she said.

A flier from the 2010 election states "the proposed sales tax would be dedicated solely to improvements to and maintenance of the City's Parks and Recreation system."

A list of benefits of the sales tax states the tax would provide "approximately $400,000 annually for operations and maintenance of Parks facilities" and "a dedicated revenue source of Parks indefinitely."

The flier also states "money from the 1/2-cent sales tax can ONLY be used for improvements, expansion and maintenance of the City's Parks system."

Powell said the single parks fund currently had "a healthy balance," and would finish 2013 with about $1.2 million.