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Worth it? – Parkwood analysis published

Annexation and new cities Decatur

Worth it? – Parkwood analysis published

An image from the Parkwood service delivery report. Source: City of Decatur
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An image from the Parkwood service delivery report. Source: City of Decatur

An image from the Parkwood service delivery report. Source: City of Decatur

An analysis produced by the city of Decatur shows that annexing 75 parcels in the Parkwood Neighborhood will be an overall revenue boost to the city.

The neighborhood recently filed a petition requesting annexation. City commissioners formally acknowledged the petition in February.

The report was produced as part of the annexation process. According to the data provided by the city, in year one taxes from the homes will bring in 307 percent more in revenue than it will cost in city services.  In year two taxes from the homes will bring 605 percent more in property taxes than it will cost to provide city services to the neighborhood.

The costs for providing educational services to students living in the neighborhood are a different story. The report shows that in year one, taxes will bring in 11.6 percent more than it will cost to educate students from the neighborhood.  In year two, that will increase to 64 percent.

According to the report, in year one the Parkwood neighborhood will generate $79,630 in city taxes and cost the city $19,540 to provide services. In year one, it will produce $121,850 in school taxes and cost the schools $109,200 to educate 14 students. It should be noted that the report says the tax cost will be $7,400 per student. When Decaturish.com checked the math, the cost ended up being $7,800 per student. City Manager Peggy Merriss said she would recheck those numbers.

Andy Vocaire, spokesman for the Parkwood Neighborhood, said residents see the report as a vindication of their efforts.

“Prior to submitting our petition, we talked with all of the Decatur commissioners, the Superintendent and several of the school board members. Through that process, we openly discussed many of the topics that are covered in the service delivery report,” he said. “These were items such as potential tax revenues, police and fire coverage, school cost per child, parkland maintenance and municipal waste pickup. Based on these discussions, we believed that the Parkwood neighborhood would be a positive addition to the City of Decatur in terms of financial impact, canopy coverage, parkland, and a highly organized group of citizens.”

The neighborhood includes a 3.2 acre park and has no official homeowners association. The neighborhood plat was first laid out in the 1920s, according to the annexation petition. The homes were developed between 1948 and 1960. There is a Parkwood Garden Club, which was founded in 1952 and includes many of the homeowners as members, but the club declined to take a position on the annexation efforts.

To read the full report, click this link: Parkwood Service Delivery Report

According to the current timetable, City Commissioners could take up the Parkwood annexation ordinance at their April 21 meeting. If it’s adopted then, it would be effective July 7, 2014.

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