Sims to seek $210 million in levies for county parks.

Byline: Sharon Pian Chan

Mar. 30--King County Executive Ron Sims shut down parks because of a budget shortfall five years ago, leading voters to raise property taxes to fund them. Now, even though the crisis is over, Sims wants $210 million in levies to maintain and expand the county's parks and open spaces. The proposed tax package, announced Thursday, includes two six-year property-tax levies: a $105 million renewal of the 2003 parks operations levy and a new $105 million levy to buy open space, extend trails and support the Woodland Park Zoo. Each would add 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to a county property owner's annual tax bill. If approved, …