ELECTIONS 2024: Park and rec levy renewal likely to pass
Sam Fletcher reports on election results in North Whidbey for the Whidbey News-Times.
Thanks to voters, John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool in Oak Harbor will likely remain open another six years.
As of Friday morning, 6,892 votes, 61.97% of the ballots cast, voted to continue the North Whidbey Pool, Parks and Recreation District levy, which funds the pool and other community services and amenities. For the pool to remain open, the district is required to earn a supermajority of 60%.
They Said It
“I am feeling very optimistic in what we are seeing from the polls so far,” Park and Rec Commissioner Brit Kraner said. “Anytime there is a supermajority requirement, you’re going to have a bit of an uphill battle to meet that 60% threshold. If we continue trending the way we have been as the remaining ballots trickle in, then the levy will have passed successfully.”
Kraner said that the board felt uncertain how well received the measure would be, as the commissioners originally intended on proposing a Metropolitan Parks District instead and shifted to a levy renewal late in the process.
Having to shut the pool down in 2017 created more of a “community buy-in” to the district, she said.
“We have experienced overwhelming community support with this levy, and we had an outstanding community-led levy committee that worked tirelessly to promote our district,” she said. “For that, the Board of Commissioners could not have more gratitude.”
The levy will renew what North Whidbey Islanders have paid the last six years, supporting up to 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, but Commissioner Bill Larsen said that with the expanding programs and services, patrons will see more value.
At a March meeting, Oak Harbor Councilmember Jim Woessner addressed the idea of having the city take over the parks and rec district. He pointed out that $800,000 spent on improvements in recent years would have been absorbed by the 22,000 Oak Harbor residents as opposed to the 41,000 people of the greater North Whidbey district.
“I sincerely thank the voters of North Whidbey for the support and favorable votes toward our district and the levy,” Kraner said. “We look forward to continue having a positive impact on Whidbey Island in terms of health and recreation.”
