Richmond’s new 1% food and beverage tax will fund improvements to the city’s parks, but some officials are at odds about whether to use bonds to start that work before the tax revenue actually arrives.
The first disbursement of revenue is expected in May. State law says it must be spent on parks, trails and the Whitewater Gorge, or repaying bonds used to fund that work.
During its March 2 meeting, Richmond Common Council reviewed Parks Superintendent Denise Retz’s project list and considered a resolution and two ordinances presented by the city administration that would permit immediate borrowing using bond anticipation notes to get started.
Retz emphasized that showing short-term progress would be a matter of maintaining community trust.
The city estimates receiving $1.5 million annually from the tax, but wants to delay issuing a 20-year bond until it establishes what the revenue stream will actually be, and whether it will cover planned projects and bond interest payments.
The $4.785 million borrowing through bond anticipation notes would provide initial funding for projects totaling about $4 million until those notes expire in July 2027. Food and beverage tax collections would need to cover interest payments until the long-term bond, which is anticipated at about $10.3 million and capped at $11 million, is issued to pay off the bond anticipation notes and provide funding for additional priority projects.
Jason Semler, principal at BakerTilly, the city’s financial advisers, said this plan provides flexibility. Bond debts can be paid through any general revenues of the city, and the ordinance includes the ability to levy a property tax to pay bond debt. But Justin Burkhardt, council’s president, agreed the year provides time to get comfortable with the tax’s revenue so the city can ensure that other general revenues are “not a route that we have to take.”
Immediate projects include a pump system at Highland Lake Golf Course ($148,100), the course’s irrigation system ($500,000), and rehabilitation of the E.G. Hill fountain in Glen Miller Park ($160,000).
Priority projects include replacing Glen Miller Park’s playground & splash pad ($2.673 million), 50 new trash cans & 100 picnic tables ($220,000), and roof repairs on 14 parks buildings ($350,000).
Additional projects include dredging the Glen Miller Park pond ($200,000), a Highland Lake building addition ($250,000), golf simulators ($100,000), signage ($1.48 million), a deck at Cordell Pool ($75,000), five umbrellas for the pool ($30,526.50), sink & bathhouse upgrades at the pool ($25,000), and Charles House repairs ($25,000).
Retz said the first step is to “get things back where they need to be” so the parks team isn’t chasing its tail because maintenance was deferred.
“I don’t want to say the parks are in disarray, because we’re really at a good spot,” Retz said. “We just need to make sure that we’re continuing to take care of it, taking care of our deferred maintenance and moving forward.”
Council member Jerry Purcell, however, disagreed, saying the parks are in disarray and that the tax should be used to catch up on maintenance and then be sunsetted early.
“We have to plan in a way that we can manage our parks and not defer maintenances without this extra tax, in my opinion,” Purcell said.
Purcell questioned Retz about staffing cuts under council’s mandate to balance the city budget within two years. Retz said five positions were removed from payroll but two of those workers were retained as contract employees. Purcell criticized the move, saying department heads should not try to work around the mandate and must help achieve a balanced budget.
Public hearing
During the public hearing conducted on the funding plan, Acacia St. John, program director of Forward Wayne County, said the presented parks funding plan was a sound financial strategy and the projects should be city priorities.
“Throughout the countywide strategic planning process, citizens identified the Whitewater Gorge project and the broader Richmond parks system as essential community assets central to quality of life, economic vitality and talent attraction,” St. John said. “These investments are not aspirational. They’re aligned with adopted city priorities and directly reflect public input. Moving forward now ensures that Richmond continues building on momentum rather than losing time, resources and opportunity.”
Resident Nick Wilson advised council to move cautiously, evaluate overall city debt, and research restaurant stability and the impact of restaurant closings on food and beverage tax revenue.
“I think you should get some money in the bank before you make any kind of movement on this,” Wilson said.
Resident Joe Schroeder said that with a lack of knowledge about the food and beverage tax revenue stream, moving forward would be “gambling with money we don’t have.”
“So, I’m thinking maybe we should live within our means and go that route and don’t rush into anything, because I really don’t want you reaching into my pocket if the food and beverage taxes don’t cover the cost of the bond,” Schroeder said.
Council tabled a resolution and an ordinance related to the bond anticipation notes until March 16, when an additional ordinance appropriating the funds will also be considered. The delay is due to a new requirement that appropriation ordinances be advertised on the Department of Local Government Finance’s Gateway website at least 14 days before a public hearing.
A version of this article appeared in the March 11 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.