Submitted by San Juan Island Parks and Recreation District
San Juan Island Park and Recreation District, better known as Island Rec, is funded through a property tax approved by voters every six years.
The current levy, which expires this year, has funded school sports, Island Rec’s parks and programs and the maintenance and operations of John O. Linde Community Park since 2016. By state law, park and recreation district levies are limited to six years with a financial cap of 60 cents per $1,000 assessed property value.
On Feb. 4, Island Rec’s Commissioners unanimously signed a resolution requesting a 38.5 cent levy be put on the April ballot to continue Island Rec programs and trails, school sports and the operation and maintenance of all Island Rec parks, including John O. Linde Community Park.
Of that levy request, 16.5 cents will be dedicated to continuing Island Rec’s programs and services, including the Trails Committee. In 2019, Island Rec organized over 3,200 hours of recreation programs for nearly 18,000 participants of all ages. Island Rec provides popular community programs like Music on Lawn, Camp Eagle Rock, swim lessons, teen adventures camps, and adult fitness classes, just to name a few.
Ten cents will be dedicated to the school sports program. The school district has applied its local levy to sustain basic education and has no further levy tax capability. The school district has no other viable budgetary options to continue a school sports program without Island Rec’s partnership. Voters have approved Island Rec funding school sports since 2010.
Twelve cents will be dedicated to the operation and maintenance of all Island Rec parks. Island Rec operates and maintains the Family Park and Skatepark at the fairgrounds, Eddie and Friends Dog Park on Mullis Street, Lafarge Open Space (gravel pit) on Pear Point Road and John O. Linde Community park at the end of Carter Avenue.
This levy renewal request will be on the April ballot mailed to all registered voters on San Juan Island. To validate the election Island Rec needs 2,550 people to vote and then a 60 percent supermajority it to pass. Neither Island Rec nor the school sports program has funding to operate beyond 2021.
More information about Island Rec and this levy request can be found on www.islandrec.org or by contacting Island Rec Director, Maddie Ovenell at 360-378-4953 or any Island Rec Board Commissioner.
