Parks district to seek more funding; pro and con advocates needed

Seeking its first increase in six years, the Point Roberts parks district has adopted a resolution to put a new six-year levy on the November 7 ballot. This levy will replace the existing six-year levy which ends this year. The board voted in favor of doing so at a special meeting held on July 24.

In order to pass, the measure will need a super-majority of 60 percent voting to approve; turnout must be a minimum of 40 percent of the last general election. As 805 voters turned out for the Presidential election, a minimum of 322 voters must cast ballots.

The parks district will be seeking a new levy of 21.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. For a $200,000 property in Point Roberts, this will result in an annual tax of $43 for each of the years from 2018 to 2023, an increase of about $26 from the current rate.

The district intends to use the increased revenue to hire a part-time manager, to cover the costs of a new septic system for the community center, to implement improvements at the community center and Baker Field and to expand its program offerings to meet new community needs.

The district will be holding a special meeting on July 31 to appoint pro and con committees who will submit statements (and rebuttals) for use in the voters’ pamphlet. The committee members must be appointed on July 31, since their names must be submitted to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office no later than August 1.

Individuals interested in serving on the pro and con committees are encouraged to come to the special meeting on July 31 at 6 p.m.