By Gwen Davis

Des Moines voters soundly rejected Proposition 1 in the Nov. 8 general election.

Prop. 1 would have increased a utility and occupation tax in order to provide revenue for the restoration of several Des Moines Beach Park facilities and for the repair of city streets.

The proposition was rejected by 63 percent of the vote, while approved by 37 percent at the Times/News print deadline.

The utility and occupation tax increase from 6 percent to 9 percent would have raised an estimated $1.6 million for the parks and roads. If approved, the additional 3 percent would have cost a typical family $15 per month, according to the city.

Des Moines voters apparently rejected Prop. 1 because while road improvement projects may have been worthy of an increase in taxes, voters reasoned, the parks projects were not. Des Moines residents noted that they were struggling financially, with many people out of work and the last thing they wanted was to put their money into park buildings that they did not care about and from which they would have derived little benefit, according to opponents.

“It was a weak proposition, it looked like it was thrown together, and it did not no apply to what people wanted to invest in,” said Mysty Beal, author of the anti-Prop. 1 statement in the voter’s pamphlet.

“People wanted the roads fixed, but no one is willing to invest in a bunch of condemned buildings right now that will never see a return on our investment,” she said.

Beal speculated that had the proposition only included roads initiatives without the parks piece, the results might have been different.

“We are obviously disappointed in the results,” said Carmen Scott, Des Moines city council member who actively supported Prop. 1.

“It was difficult to ask, but we felt that people should have the opportunity to help protect our infrastructure if they felt they could,” Scott said.

Scott said that the council will look for other ways to address the parks and roads needs, with continued desire for feedback from residents.

“We’re going to want as much public input and participation as possible as we continue to seek the best resolutions for the difficult choices forced upon us by these economic times,” Scott added.

The additional funds were needed because the funding source that the city traditionally has used to pay for capital projects – the Real Estate Excise Taxes – declined significantly due to the national recession and the associated reduction in property values, according to city officials.

The tax dollars allocated for the parks would have restored and reopened various park lodges, cabins, cottages, bridges, roadways and parking lots. Park advocates feared that if the facilities continued to deteriorate, a point would soon arrive when they could not be affordably restored.

The proposition would also have funded street pavement projects, which have been many years behind schedule. This city said it needed at least $1.4 million per year to keep pavement conditions of city streets in acceptable condition and to minimize their overall life costs.

The current private utility tax rate of 6 percent is the maximum percentage allowed by statue without a public vote to increase it. Des Moines has traditionally used this revenue to pay for general government costs such as police, court services and senior services.