— from County documents (sanjuanco.com) —

Washington State law authorizes San Juan County to collect a 0.09% sales and use tax for public facilities serving economic development purposes in rural counties, and to finance personnel in economic development offices. The San Juan County Public Facilities Financing Assistance Program (PFFAP) Evaluation Team presented its recommendations to the County Council on July 14, 2015. A public hearing on the recommendations is scheduled for August 4.

The evaluation team recommended that four of the ten applicants receive the .09 tax proceeds for the following projects:

  • Town of Friday Harbor project for Spring Street Urban Pocket Park received $35,000.00 of its $40,000.00 request
  • Port of Orcas project for Visiting Pilot Laundry and Hygiene Facility received $86,627.00 of its request for $91,627.00

Two projects of San Juan County Parks & Fair received funding:

  • The Main Exhibition Building Exterior Upgrade received $19,099 of its requested $37,500.00;
  • The Fairgrounds Exterior Solar Lighting Project was awarded its full request of $50,000.00.

The six applications that did not receive funding came from:

  • San Juan Island Parks & Recreation District (Island Rec) for SJI Community Park Playground
  • Fisherman Bay (Lopez Island) Sewer District for Normandy Lane Sewer Main Installation Project
  • Orcas Island Library District, for Orcas Island Library Expansion Project
  • San Juan County Public Works for Lopez Village Farmers Market Stormwater Project
  • Orcas Recycling Services for Road & Traffic Flow Improvements at the Orcas Island Transfer Station
  • Port of Orcas for Orcas Airport Fixed Wing Medical Evacuation Gate Automation

The total amounts requested in the applications was $491,280.00. The four awards totaled $190,726.00. Members of the recommendation team were: Milene Henley, County Auditor; Bob Jarman, County Council Chair; Mark Madsen, SJ Economic Development Council; Brian Ehrmantraut, Port Districts; and Duncan Wilson, Town of Friday Harbor.

To see the full report presented to the Council, go to https://www.sanjuanco.com/Docs/CAgendadocs/07-14-2015/PFFAPStaffReport_071415.pdf

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