The Si View Metropolitan Park District is making one last desperate attempt to keep its doors open.
Facing the potential of seeing its revenue collected from property taxes cut by more than 84 percent, the park district has two propositions on November’s ballot asking voters to, essentially, save it.
The Snoqualmie Valley Star reports on the situation here.
As it looks now, the district could see the amount it gets from property taxes cut from $1.18 million this year to $190,000 next year. That would make it difficult to continue operations and supporters of the district say that would be a huge blow to the upper Snoqualmie Valley. Si View’s remaining budget comes from user fees, which this year should generate about $800,000.
The inability to collect taxes is threatened by a Washington state cap that limits combined nonstate property levies to $5.90 per $1,000 of assessed value. With home values dropping, taxing districts have had to take a larger share per $1,000, meaning nonstate property levy rates have gotten near the cap in many districts across the state.
The Si View Metropolitan Park District collected 53 cents per $1,000 in 2011 but would collect just 9 cents per $1,000 in 2012, according to the Star.
Washington state ranks taxing districts by seven levels of priority in terms of collecting property levies. As a park district that was created in 2003, Si View ranks last, which means it would be first for cuts, if the cap is reached. Washington state also collects a property levy that is not included in the $5.90 cap.
The first proposition would protect 25 cents of the district’s levy. That would put the combined property level total more than $5.90. The second proposition asks voters to approve a levy for maintenance and operations for 21 cents per $1,000.
If voted for, the propositions on the ballot would protect most of the district’s budget for 2012.
The park district is a major contributor to the quality of life in the area that includes North Bend, Snoqualmie, Fall City and Preston. It runs community centers, maintains parks, offers classes, programs and recreational opportunities for residents of all ages. In all, it provides about 300 programs that serve about 110,000 people a year. Seeing its budget drop by such a steep amount would likely force cuts to many programs or cause the district to raise its user fees by a significant amount, or the district could be shut down.
