Approved by Alachua county voters in 2008, the Wild Spaces Public Places (WSPP) tax initiative increased the sales tax rate by half a penny. It was expected to bring in about $40 million to be used to preserve environmentally sensitive land and help individual cities improve their recreation facilities, using revenue collected from sales in the county. About 25 percent of the revenue was expected to come from out-of-county shoppers and visitors.
The program was originally expected to bring in $39,783,408 over the course of two years. Right now those projections are down 24 percent, adjusted as of December to a total of $30,307,338.
A year into the program, the Alachua Board of County Commissioners had received $5,182,799 for the purchase of land in Alachua County. Another $5,998,501 had been distributed between Alachua County’s nine cities for the use of improvement of recreation facilities. The distribution is based on population, with Gainesville receiving 85 percent of the funding with $5,108,179 and LaCrosse the least with $6,951 at 0.11 percent of the revenue. A pre-determined amount of $1.5 million was used for the establishment of a senior recreation center to be used by all residents of Alachua County.
“It’s been really helpful,” said Hawthorne City Planner Kelly Moosbrugger about the program. “The city hasn’t seen this much money available in the recreation center in a long time.”
The City of Hawthorne has already started using the $63,042 of funding they’ve received to improve the city’s athletic fields with new volleyball courts and to help fund a park pavilion.
“Most of the WSPP money is still sitting here waiting to be used,” said Moosbrugger. “We’re waiting to get approval for a bathroom facility. That would be better for all the people who use the [Hawthorne-Gainesville] trail. It’s going to use solar power, so it’ll be green and sustainable.”
Moosbrugger said the city hasn’t really noticed the impact of decreased revenue from the program.
“The difference isn’t that big for us because we’re not getting that much in,” she said. “We’re just happy to get what’s coming in.”
Alachua city officials are hoping to see the difference made by the extra recreation funding in the future as well as immediately for residents.
“Investing in the Hal Brady center is an investment in the future,” said Alachua City Commissioner Jean Calderwood about recent improvements at the city’s recreation complex. “Our recreation center benefits many through the course of the year, especially when we host sports events. When you invest resources into a space like that you also have the opportunity to bring in extra funding for the city.”
The “Babe Ruth 12 and Under Girls Softball 2010 World Series” being held at the recreation complex in August is expected to bring thousands of people into Alachua for the week.
The Wild Spaces Public Places tax will expire Dec. 31, 2010, and there is question of whether a similar initiative might be put to the vote in November.
“There’s talk of it,” said Robert Hutchinson, executive director of Alachua Conservation Trust. “There’s an idea floating around that would be for a wide range of open improvements – some wild space, some transportation, some solar energy improvements and some of it economic development. Exactly how the money would be distributed hasn’t been decided yet.”
Ultimately it will up to Alachua County residents whether they feel they have seen success from the current program and would like to continue its efforts. Some officials have already expressed their hope for a new initiative and voter approval.
“A half cent sales tax is really not a lot when you look at each individual consumer,” said Hawthorne City Planner Kelly Moosbrugger. “The overall effect that it makes is huge, though.”