Fighting for an innovative Jackson County funding stream

This week, I also introduced an amendment that proposed an innovative and, I am sure my colleagues thought, unique solution to help budget strapped Jackson County. The amendment had the potential of contributing nearly $10 million ($9,596,611.61) to improvements and maintenance at Blue Springs and Longview Lakes. Sadly the Rules Committee ruled the amendment out of order.

Most of you are probably not aware that the two lakes, while operated by Jackson County Parks and Recreation, are actually leased from the Corps of Engineers for a period of 50 years. In short, the amendment ordered that half of the County’s future payments to the Corp of Engineers be redirected to capital improvements, flood control, maintenance and upkeep on the properties.

Even with the redirection, the plan would have provided the Army Corps with over $6.5 million ($6,504.447.80) in surplus over cost during the remaining course of the lease. From this reinvestment, Longview Lake would receive $5.3 million ($5, 294, 483.88) of redirected payments and Blue Springs Lake would receive $4.3 million ($4,302,127.74) as part of the plan.

I think this idea is a win-win. The Corps of Engineers is fully reimbursed for its initial outlay of funds with interest, and the County gets to re-invest some of the funds it is contractually obligated to pay into these two great Jackson County assets. While the Rules Committee may have ruled this attempt out of order, I am going to keep trying. The idea just makes a great deal of sense.

Under the plan we proposed:

Longview Lake:

Total Balance Remaining on the Lease: $10,588,967.77

With Amendment Total to be Paid to Corps: $12,962,357.10

Reinvestment in County with Amendment: $5,294,483.88 (50% of balance)

Surplus to Army Corps Over Costs: $3,852,664.10

Blue Springs Lake:

Total Balance Remaining on the Lease: $8,604,255.46

With Amendment Total to be Paid to Corps: $9,575,703.70

Reinvestment in County with Amendment: $4,302,127.73 (50% of balance)

Surplus to Army Corps Over Costs: $2,651,783.70

Though the Rules Committee ruled the amendment out of order, I look forward to working with my fellow Members and my local County Executive as we continue to think outside the box to make this idea work.