MORGANTOWN — Should Monongalia County voters renew the parks and trails levy during the May 2020 primary election, the percentage of levy funds going to BOPARC will be substantially less.
Under the current, five-year levy passed by voters in 2016, BOPARC receives approximately $455,000 annually — nearly half of the approximately $1 million raised each year by the levy.
That levy ends on June 30, 2021.
BOPARC Executive Director Melissa Wiles said that a vote by the parks and trails levy group on Tuesday approved a new split of the funds, with BOPARC’s portion dropping to $270,000 annually.
Wiles asked the BOPARC board for a vote to support inclusion on the May ballot at this reduced rate, which it did unanimously during its regular meeting, held Wednesday at the Marilla Center.
“There were several factors in terms of projects that need done at the other parks and what folks were requesting,” Wiles said when asked the rationale for the change.
“MRTC had requested an increase, the Botanic Garden came on board, the soccer folks needed an increase, so we negotiated amounts. We’re wanting to be supportive of our fellow organizations in the group and of recreation in the community, in general.”
The existing parks and trails levy is comprised of (including annual allotment) BOPARC ($455,000), the three county parks ($400,000), the Mon River Trails Conservancy ($80,000) Westover baseball parks ($40,000) and Mountaineer United Soccer Club ($25,000).
According to information provided at Wednesday’s meeting, the renewed levy would add the West Virginia Botanic Garden for $40,000 annually.
The amounts for the existing groups would be: BOPARC ($270,000), the three county parks ($636,574), Mon River Trails Conservancy ($100,000), Westover parks ($16,000), Mountaineer United Soccer Club ($40,000).
The renewed levy is estimated to generate $1,102,572 annually and will be a four-year levy, as will any other levy placed on the ballot in May.
BOPARC has identified the Morgantown Ice Arena as the recipient of its levy dollars.
It is currently working with Mills Group to design an overhaul of the building, which began life in 1978 as a canopy over an outdoor sheet of ice.
The renovated structure will add a number of amenities, including a second, studio (smaller) sheet of ice.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Ryan Hess, of Mills Group laid out a timeline for the project.
He said final design work will begin in January, with a notice to proceed construction expected around August.
As the project is to be completed without interrupting a skating season — which runs from late August to the end of March — the work would likely be on the peripheral components initially, with work on the main arena ramping up in March 2021.
Wiles said regardless of the reduction in expected levy funds, levy dollars remain a critical component of the project’s funding. That includes the ability to secure financing through the sale of bonds. As a part of its approval Wednesday, the board asked that ballot language for the levy renewal include the authority to issue bonds against funds raised by the levy.
Along with levy dollars, BOPARC representatives have indicated that it could also leverage bonds sold against a new, dedicated annual revenue source to be provided by the city’s forthcoming 1% sales tax.
The city conservatively estimated the tax will generate $5 million annually once it goes into effect July 2020. From the additional tax revenue, the city has said it will dedicate $1.25 million each year to BOPARC.
Cost of the ice arena overhaul has been estimated at $13 million to $16 million, though Hess said a more concrete number will emerge as designs become more specific.
