Gilberts says ‘no’ to parks and rec tax

Gilberts voters overwhelmingly rejected on Tuesday the notion of paying an extra tax to pay for parks and recreation.

In unofficial election results for ballots cast on Tuesday, there were 1,724 “no” votes and 524 “yes” votes cast in the ballot measure. Officials said the tax would have amounted to an extra $150 to $200 per year for the average homeowner.

The money could have financed the build-out of Town Center Park with features like baseball diamonds, youth soccer fields, a pavilion, a splash park and expanded parking.

The money could also have funded rehab projects at existing facilities, and salaries for new employees.