On Tuesday’s local election ballot, there will be four referenda for residents of Urbana, one of which was put on the ballot by the Urbana Park District requesting a property tax increase of 15¢ for every $100 of assessed property value.

What this means is that a home with a property value of $100,000 would be taxed another $50.

That $50 would generally go toward helping Urbana continue to offer a broad range of services that benefit residents including youth and family programming, general and special interest programs, community events and green areas.

This tax increase, if it passes by a majority of the votes — and it should — will begin assessment starting in May 2010.

It would allow Urbana to plan for the replacement of Crystal Lake Pool; plan a new outdoor aquatic facility, which the community would be invited to help plan; maintain neighborhood parks and repair recreation facilities and amenities which includes improving energy efficiency and replacing playground equipment.

The current tax revenue is no longer sufficient for the Park District to meet Urbana’s needs due to increasing costs across the board, and it has not been so for a while. In February 2008, the UPD requested an even larger tax increase that was shot down.

Now, the current economic situation is much different than it was in February 2008, but a 15-cent tax increase will be just enough for the UPD to maintain some services, as opposed to cutting them, which is what the UPD will have to do if this tax increase doesn’t pass.

While there’s usually a consensus against tax increases, this particular increase is not asking for too much but just enough. A 15-cent tax increase for every $100 of assessed property value would initially provide $850,000 in additional tax revenue. To improve Urbana parks, to plan for pools and to repair recreation facilities and replace playground equipment is not only about beautification.

Keeping kids in the pools or at recreation centers during the summer may keep them out of trouble. Urbana’s crime rate has dropped significantly and this tax increase may help in making the community even safer.

The UPD has already reduced programs in fiscal year 2008-09 and will inevitably have to cut more programs, more community nights and operating hours of recreation centers if this referendum fails — cuts that will affect all areas of the community.

It’s in the best interests of the Urbana residents for this referendum to pass. On Tuesday, vote ‘yes’ for the Urbana Parks District referendum.