LIVERMORE, CA – The Livermore Area Recreation and Park District has submitted an official claim against the East Bay Regional Park District. They allege that the EBRPD improperly used over $100 million in property tax income gathered through a 1992 tax-sharing arrangement.
LARPD claimed in an administrative filing dated April 1st that under their agreement with EBRPD, around $110 million in local property taxes have been allocated to EBRPD. However, according to LARPD’s interpretation of the terms set forth in this pact, less than one-fifth of these funds appear to be reinvested within the Livermore region. This discrepancy was elaborated upon further in a Frequently Asked Questions segment provided by them. a new site focused on the controversy LARPD contends that if these funds had remained within the local area, the district’s yearly tax income might have surged by up to 60 percent.
The LARPD stated in a press statement that the money was intended for establishing new local parks, conservation areas, and pathways within the Murray Township area, encompassing both Livermore city and surrounding unincorporated regions. However, according to the district’s claims, significant parts of these funds have allegedly been used for initiatives beyond their designated territory.
"The tax money collected from local residents ought to be reinvested within the community to enhance parks and trails for everyone’s advantage, instead of funding larger regional projects," stated LARPD General Manager Mathew Fuzie.
The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) expressed surprise upon learning about the claim submitted by the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD), particularly since LARPD had cancelled a meeting set for this past Friday, April 4th. This cancellation prevented both entities from convening to address their worries regarding service standards, as stated by EBRPD in an official response.
We have strived to maintain transparency and cooperation over the years. We have supplied LARPD with comprehensive historical documents stretching as far back as three decades. These records unequivocally show that EBRPD has put more into the Murray Township region than what was earned from the 1992 tax-sharing pact. Our dedication to an open and productive conversation remains strong, and we wish for LARPD to join forces with us for the good of our community.
The EBRPD has 40 days to reply to the claim. According to a The report in The Livermore Valley In February, the Alameda County Local Agency Formation Commission organized a meeting with both entities. They requested these parties to come back after half a year for a progress report.
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