SHELBY – Shelby voters are being asked to renew two taxes on the Nov. 3 ballot — one for the city parks department and one for the city health department.
Brian Crum, Shelby’s financial director, said the city’s parks are among the best in the state.
He also said the city’s ability to operate its own health department, apart from Richland Public Health, is important to the convenience and access of Shelby residents.
Health Department levy provides for city’s own services
“We have, since the beginning of time, had our own health department,” Crum said. “That health department is funded through two property tax levies. They’re on alternating years. They’re both five-year levies.
“We have three employees in that department … this levy funds them. Obviously, if these levies were not to pass, which is why we have two levies at separate times, is to give us time to downsize the department or remove it if needed.”
Should the city healthy department go away, Shelby would become part of Richland Public Health, based in Mansfield. Crum said that reduce many conveniences residents enjoy.
“Our citizens would have to travel to the other side of the county to get that documentation,” Crum said. “I would imagine that because their resources would be more strained, there would be some issues with (speed of service) … but I don’t know that for sure.
“It’s nice to have our own department, in that they can get out the same day, and do necessary inspections whenever they’re needed. Long story short… it would be inconvenient to the taxpayers,” Crum said.
The tax collects an estimated annual revenue of $108,791 and costs the taxpayer approximately $32 on a $100,000 property.
Parks Department levy funding improvements
“Our park levy is very similar,” Crum said. “It is another renewal, so it’s not going to change anybody’s taxes at all … Our city parks are also funded almost entirely from property tax. We have two levies for them, as well, that are offset in years.
“I think they operate seven or eight parks in town. (The parks department) operates the pool. We’ve got half a dozen pavilions that can be rented. Black Fort Commons downtown and the fountains and such — those are all handled by the park department.”
All that and more is dependent on the tax revenue of Shelby residents.
The parks department only has one full-time employee — administrator, Eric Cutlip. Crum estimates half a dozen seasonal employees for mowing and maintenance and probably a dozen lifeguards at the city’s pool.
“Currently, we’re working to expand,” Crum said. “We’re putting in six pickleball courts and will redo the basketball court, hopefully next year, if we raise the money … We just did a playground enhancement. All the flowers throughout town. That’s all done by volunteers, but we purchased the flowers for that.”
The levy will be taxed at the same rate as it was when it was introduced. For a $100,000 property, it would amount to an $18 tax, collecting approximately $63,641 annually.
