Special report, Pt. 2: Why can’t Bend shift park $ to roads?

On Monday , we looked at how Bend residents’ property taxes are split up, and in particular how much goes toward the Bend Park and Recreation District.

About 10 percent goes toward things such as parks’ upkeep, and Planning Director Michele Healy said it’s something the park district hears good things about.

“A majority of the people we hear from appreciate it,” said Healy. “And it’s because the community invests in it.”

But some people wonder why the money for the parks can’t be directed oward other things they consider higher priorities.

When the park district was formed by a public vote in the mid-1970s, it came with its own tax base.

“You really can’t reshuffle the deck for the services because of everyone’s own tax rate and structure,” said Bend City Manager Eric King.

It means the city can’t cut park funding to address other city issues — and for many residents, one of the biggest issues in Bend is the sad shape of many streets.

“On a scale of zero to 100, our roads are currently at a 68,” King said.

King said the Bend City Council wants to bump the pavement condition index up to the mid-70s in the next five years, an effort that will cost the city about $6 million a year.

He added that $3.3 million was programmed with existing resources, leaving a gap of $2.7 million in unfunded needs “outside of available resources.”

In a 5-2 vote, city councilors decided to propose a 5-cent per gallon gas tax as a means of producing the revenues to fix Bend’s roads.

However, one of a few points of contention involve the council’s decision to spend $70,000 on a special election in March, rather than wait until May, when there would be no added cost to put it on the primary ballot.

King said the councilors estimate receiving $200,000 every month the gas tax is in place, meaning that by the May election, the city would cover the election cost and more with an earlier vote.

“I think the council looked at the urgency of the roads and the condition they’re in, plus the upcoming tourist season,” King said.

But not all councilors agree. Victor Chudowsky argues that the road money could be found in overhead expenses and the existing, rising stream of room tax revenues, paid largely by tourists.

It’s an ongoing debate, one that will soon be up to the voters to decide. The city gas tax is on a March 8 ballot. But the last day to register to vote is next Tuesday, the day before ballots go out in the mail.