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The Effects of Annexation on Swimming in Anderson Mill |
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Page 10 of 10
Important Considerations
- It is important to understand that the basis for the tax rates used in these comparison charts is different, and therefore the COA tax rate and the LD tax rate cannot be compared in an "apples to apples" context.
The COA's tax rate is an all-inclusive tax rate which covers not only park/pool operational expenses, but also capital improvements and other services.
The LD tax rate estimated in these comparison charts is AMFuture.org's projected rate based on 2007 historical data for park/pool operational expenses only, as delineated in Anderson Mill MUD's 2007 Audit Report and the amount presented by the MUD in its "Anderson Mill Municipal Utility District Parks and Aquatics Department Level of Services" (www.ammud.org).
Were it not for the savings consideration based on each family's normal
frequency of use, the likely net result of the differences noted above
is that the estimated savings shown in these charts might incorrectly
appear to favor the LD when compared to the COA.
- In the event Anderson Mill voters do not approve continuation of a LD in 2009, the City of Austin has agreed to maintain the parks and pools at the same level of service.**
**City of Austin Annexation Service Plan, March 20, 2008, page 8
b. Maintenance of Parks. Playgrounds, and Swimming Pools. Ownership and title to all parks and recreational facilities then owned by the Anderson Mill Limited District shall vest in the City. The City will maintain such parks as recreational facilities at their current levels of service described in the-March 2008 Anderson Mill MUD Parks and Aquatics Department Level of Services document. Services may be provided by the City Parks and Recreation Department or by private service providers under contract with the City.
- On September 25, 2007, “[t]he City of Austin Parks and Recreation
Department recently became the only
major city in Texas and one of 73
cities nationwide that earned national accreditation from the
Commission for Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies. . . . To
become accredited, agencies must demonstrate their ability to meet 36
fundamental standards and 85 percent of other standards. Austin Parks
and Recreation met all fundamental standards and 97 percent of all
other standards.
This award marks the third national recognition
for the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department in the last five
years. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department received the NRPA
Gold Medal Award in 2004 recognizing the Austin Parks and Recreation
system as the number one major metropolitan park system in the nation.
In 2006 the National Recreation and Park Association awarded the City
of Austin Parks and Recreation Aquatic Division the Excellence in
Aquatics Award recognizing Austin as having the best Aquatic Division
in the nation.”
In that the City will provide the same level of service and given
its award-winning operation, it may not be reasonable to assume that the
quality of the parks/pools would decline if the City takes over.
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