Mayor Kate Schwarzler announces the closure of Independence parks and the Heritage Museum due to insufficient funding.
Independence, Oregon, has closed eight parks and the Heritage Museum due to a lack of funding. Mayor Kate Schwarzler stated that the closures are necessary because the city lacks a 'secret pot of money' and must make cuts to manage operational costs. The city will not accept liability for anyone entering the parks, though residents will not be arrested for trespassing unless property is intentionally damaged. To address the budget shortfall, a referendum is set for the November ballot to generate $938,000 in funding. If the referendum passes, the city hopes to reopen the parks. In the meantime, the city will save over $41,000 a month, which will be redirected to support the library's operational costs. A formal hearing to close the library is scheduled for November, but Mayor Schwarzler hopes to halt the process if the fee ordinance passes.