It might be helpful for those wondering about the PHD levy lift to know what they are paying for the PHD right now. You need to look at your current Property Tax Statement. (Not the Assessor’s Statement you just got.) Now the Distribution Summary on your tax statement will not tell you what the PHD segment is; what it will tell you, is an amount listed as “Other.”

You, of course, know I’m going to tell you that it’s complicated because “Other” is lots of “Others.” The County Treasurer’s Office can tell you exactly what part of your “Other” is PHD money, but I’ll save them time and tell you it’s about 45% of what is stashed in your “Other.” (This is the big “Other” on the left, not the much smaller amount “Other” listed in the right-side column.)

Full disclosure: My “Other” is $2,003.31. Yes, that’s the big “Other,” not the little “Other.” Also, your “Other” may have some different “Others” in it than my “Other,” like EMS is also about 45% of the total of my “Other.” Still, 45% of your “Other” for your current PHD cost should be fairly accurate.

Pete Groves

Friday Harbor