Louisville Weighs Park Tax Referendum for 2027 Ballot
A proposed $0.0225 per $100 levy would fund a dedicated Park Fund if voters approve it.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in National Parks
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Should Louisville voters get to decide on a new property tax for parks?
Louisville Metro Council is considering a resolution to put a park property tax referendum on the 2027 ballot, with a first reading scheduled for November 12. The proposed levy would create a dedicated Park Fund with an estimated $18 million in annual revenue.
Why it matters
The fund would provide a steady revenue stream to address a $177 million backlog of deferred park maintenance across the city's more than 120 parks. Lexington voters approved a similar measure in November 2024, offering a regional precedent for the proposal.
The projected $18 million annual yield would be drawn from a levy of $0.0225 per $100 of taxable real property, against a $177 million deferred maintenance backlog cited in a 2023 Parks Alliance of Louisville study. Whether the fund reaches that revenue target depends on council approval and voter support, neither of which has been determined.
The players
Louisville Metro Council
The 26-member legislative body of Louisville Metro government, which must approve the resolution by majority vote before the referendum can reach the ballot.
Ben Reno-Weber
The District 8 Louisville Metro Councilman who sponsored the park tax resolution.
For Parks Education Fund
A coalition of community organizations that launched the park tax initiative in April and has drawn endorsements from roughly 100 groups.
The details
The resolution, sponsored by District 8 Councilman Ben Reno-Weber, would ask voters to approve a Park Fund financed by a levy that would take effect January 1, 2028. The For Parks Education Fund, a coalition launched in April that includes roughly 100 community organizations, has endorsed the effort.
Timeline
April 2026: For Parks Education Fund coalition launched the park tax initiative.
November 12, 2026: Resolution scheduled for council agenda and first reading.
November 2024: Lexington voters approved a similar park tax measure.
2027: Proposed referendum would appear on the ballot.
January 1, 2028: Proposed park levy would take effect.
Travel Outlook
Louisville's proposal follows the precedent set when Lexington voters approved a similar park property tax in November 2024, which signals a regional pattern of cities turning to dedicated levies to fund park upkeep. Whether Louisville replicates that outcome would test how durable that model is among Kentucky's larger urban park systems.
If approved by voters, the levy would cost the average Louisville homeowner about $1 per week beginning January 1, 2028. Residents who use the city's parks would see the revenue directed toward the maintenance backlog rather than competing general-fund priorities.
The takeaway
Park funding through dedicated property taxes is becoming a repeatable local strategy, and voters in Louisville will be asked to weigh a modest weekly cost against a large maintenance backlog. Residents following the proposal can track its progress through the council's November 12 meeting.
What happens next
The resolution is scheduled for its first reading on the council's November 12, 2026 agenda before referral to the Labor and Economic Development Committee.
Further reading
For more on how cities fund their green spaces, see National Parks coverage.
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Should Louisville voters get to decide on a new property tax for parks?
