Louisville Metro Council is set to vote on an ordinance that would place a new property tax on the ballot, allowing residents to decide whether to fund capital projects for the city’s parks. Councilman Ben Reno‑Weber, who introduced the measure, says Louisville faces a “deferred maintenance problem” in its parks, citing a 2023 Parks Alliance of Louisville report that identified $177 million in backlogged repairs.
Under the proposal, voters would be asked to approve an additional tax of 2.25 cents for every $100 of assessed property value. For a home assessed at $200,000, the tax would amount to roughly $45 per year. The revenue would be deposited into a dedicated park fund for capital improvements, a step supporters argue is needed because Louisville’s park spending ranks at the bottom of peer cities.
“Parks are free third spaces available to everybody,” Reno‑Weber told WLKY. “We should have a choice about whether or not we want to come together as a community in an incredibly progressive way to invest in that.” He added that the measure would give residents a direct say on how to address the maintenance backlog.
Opposition is coming from the Metro Council Republican Caucus and several council members. Caucus spokespersons warned that “there are plenty of other worthy causes worthy of equal consideration,” and Republican Councilman Anthony Piagentini said he will vote against sending the measure to the ballot. Piagentini pointed to the $40.8 million budget already approved for Louisville Parks and Recreation for 2026‑27, arguing the city should improve procurement and use existing funds more efficiently before raising taxes.
Local residents voiced mixed opinions. Vincent Riven expressed a desire to explore ways to work within the current budget, while Andrew Wilson questioned the timing, noting that “people’s living expenses are already high.”
The ordinance’s first reading is scheduled for Thursday, after which it will move to the Labor and Economic Development Committee for further consideration. If the council advances the measure, Louisville voters could see the tax question on the 2027 regular election ballot, with any approved tax taking effect on Jan. 1, 2028. The proposal follows a similar park tax approved by Lexington voters in 2024 at the same rate.
What’s next: Council members will debate the ordinance at the Thursday reading, and the Labor and Economic Development Committee will hold a hearing before a full council vote. Residents should watch for updates on the committee’s schedule and the potential ballot placement for the 2027 election.
Sources: wlky.com
