‘So Sad’
John Oros, the good judge and Geauga Park Commissioners have been doing an active job of “spinning” the results of the last park district renewal (levy reduction) levy that passed in November. Let me put the results in perspective.
The spin has been the levy passed by the largest percentage of voters in park district history. View the November park commissioners meeting video at protectgeaugaparks.us to see for yourself.
Their spin brings to mind the statement of Mark Twain regarding the three types of lies, there being “lies, damn lies and statistics.” The truth is two pre-Grendell park renewal levies passed by almost exactly the same percentage of voters as this most recent levy and the two earlier levies were strictly renewal, not millage reduction as was the last levy. One might well have expected a greater enthusiasm for a reduction levy in this tax averse county.
In addition, of the three countywide levies on the November ballot — health, Metzenbaum and park district — the park levy fared the worst, even though the other two were not reductions in millage. Such results might well indicate an appreciation of residents for our parks, but perhaps not all that much approval for the way the parks have been directed since the Grendell-era began.
Likely, the park administration should thank “Protect Geauga Parks” for the levy passage, as that organization actively promoted the passage of the levy. Likely, that organization feared that a levy failure would mean an excuse to fire important park employees, like biologists and naturalists, and even sell some park land to make ends meet while continuing to turn our parks into more like amusement parks.
Again, in the words of the Donald, “So sad.”
John G. Augustine
Parkman Township
