| 2002-07-04 | Does everybody pay the 6 cents levy? | Yes. All private property taxpayers in Spokane County, including businesses, contribute. |
| 2002-07-04 | How much money gets collected each year? | Based on current assessed values, a little over $1 million. As more shopping centers and homes get built, the amount will increase gradually. |
| 2002-07-04 | How much land has the program purchased? | During the last 9 years, over 4300 acres have been purchased or donated into the program. |
| 2002-07-04 | Is all of it available for equestrians? | No. Some of these lands are in sensitive ecological areas, like the Little Spokane River’s blue heron rookery near Indian Painted Rocks. This was the first acquisition in the County under this program. |
| 2002-07-04 | Where are the areas suitable for equestrians? | Favorite areas include a 400+ acre addition to the west boundary of
Liberty Lake County Park, a 100 acre parcel on Long Lake, a 600+ acre parcel (Slavin) in the near southwest part of town, and the newest acquisition, 100 acres on the non-sensitive part of the Little Spokane River near Shady Slope Road (Haynes Estate). Each property offers an opportunity to ride in hilly, treed terrain with some water exposure at close in locations. |
| 2002-07-04 | Do these properties deliver backcountry experiences? | No. It’s definitely a front-country experience. What they provide are various close-in opportunities to recreate on public land, good for a Spring workout, an afternoon of peace and quiet, or a great equestrian training option for inexperienced stock or riders. They’re great places to take your grand-kids within an hour of downtown. |
| 2002-07-04 | Does the County force people to sell? | Absolutely not. Most of these properties were nominated by landowners themselves. |
| 2002-07-04 | How does the County avoid over-paying? | Besides having a frugal bunch of Commissioners, the rules for purchase are pretty strict. The criteria are formal appraisals by licensed appraisers at highest and best use. |
| 2002-07-04 | Has all of the land purchased been outside of the Spokane City limits? | Actually, the City of Spokane has several properties from the program, five as of this date, and more in the negotiation process. It's a lot harder to find open space inside city limits, simply due to the nature of cities. The latest City of Spokane property is on Latah Creek near Qualchan Uno and Cowles . Another parcel near Camp Sekani on Upriver Drive near the city’s Dam was added two years ago. Other than the parcel near Palisades Park (Rimrock), none of the city parcels are suitable for equestrians, largely due to poor access. |
| 2002-07-04 | Why do the Commissioner’s bring this vote to the people? | Because this money is earmarked specifically for land acquisition. No money for these activities comes from the general fund. They feel this special tax requires a vote. |
| 2002-07-04 | How are these lands managed once they become public property? | Managing these lands has been a great opportunity for cooperation between local government agencies. A 640 acre section of land in the program north of the Little Spokane Natural Area is managed by Riverside State Park through an cooperative agreement. The City of Spokane uses park staff to maintain and patrol their property. The county has established endowment donated by the property sellers linked directly to their property’s long term care. And some of the parcels have rental income from farming or homes. |
| 2002-07-04 | Has the county been able to leverage the taxpayers money to get grants? | You bet. Late last year, the County in a cooperative venture with Ducks Unlimited got a $975,000 grant to restore wetland habitat on parcels previously farmed. This money will be spent here, providing local jobs, and will leave a lasting legacy of quality habitat for wildlife viewing. |
| 2002-07-04 | Does the purchase of private land cause problems with the tax base? | A lot of folks worry about this issue. Actually, quite the opposite occurs. Quality-of-life is the second most important factor in company relocation. The first is available workers. By establishing policies that enhance the quality-of-life, our area gets a competitive advantage compared to the over-developed wastelands in most metropolitan areas. Affordable, convenient, quality outdoor recreation opportunities are high on the list of the stuff younger workers seek.
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