Year in Review: Point Roberts Taxpayers Association

During the past year, the board of the Point Roberts Taxpayers Association (PRTA) met monthly (with a couple of exceptions), transitioning from virtual-only to hybrid live meetings in the community center and via Zoom in September.

These meetings of the PRTA board of directors, on the second Thursday of each month, are meant to serve more broadly as an open forum for discussion of community matters, open to everyone.

PRTA continues to actively support the Point Roberts Community Advisory Committee (PRCAC) as the primary mechanism for pursuing improved services to our unincorporated community.

In that context, PRTA formally reiterated its support for replacing the floating dock and maintaining the small boat launch in Lighthouse Marine Park by asking PRCAC to once again press the county on this matter.

In July, we held our annual general meeting, outdoors at Kiniski’s Reef Tavern, to conduct routine organizational business and to hear from our keynote speaker, Washington state senator Sharon Shewmake.

She delivered a presentation entitled “An Economist Walked into the Legislature,” followed by a Q&A session covering a wide range of subjects.

In September, PRTA sponsored a town hall meeting with U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, continuing a long summertime tradition of such meetings with our current member of congress.

In October, together with Kelly and Son Roofing, we conducted a litter collection along Gulf Road under the county’s Adopt-a-Road Program.

Building on the success of our 2022 Holiday Night Bike Parade, we hosted two community bike rides in 2023. The Bunny Ride saw 30 participants brave the weather on a very cold, windy Easter Saturday. The Christmas Holiday “Light up Your Bike” Night Ride returned on December 2, in collaboration with Point Roberts Park and Recreation District, which hosted an après party at the community center.

Looking to 2024, on January 11, PRTA will host a town hall meeting with the Whatcom County Assessor, Rebecca Xczar, to learn more about the property tax assessment system and allow taxpayers to raise concerns and ask questions.