Guest Column: Former Councilman Fralick and Proposition 1

 — from Richard Fralick —

I write urging you to support approval of San Juan County Levy Proposition No. 1 on your current ballot. If approved this proposition would generate approximately the same amount of revenue as the “levy lid lift” approved by the voters in 2009 set to expire in 2015. It would specifically fund important programs such as Senior Services, WSU Extension Programs (such as 4-H and Master Gardeners), County Parks, County Fair, certain Public Health Services, Corrections/Work Release Programs, Victim Services, and other Emergency Management, Maintenance and Oil Spill Prevention/Clean-up Services. These optional services are not mandated by the state yet reflect many of our community held values.

While serving as your county council member in 2009 it became clear that many of the services valued by our community could not continue at the then revenue levels available. Rather than unilaterally canceling these programs the County Council decided to put the matter to the voters to see if they would additionally tax themselves to maintain these programs. The promise was made that the additional funds would be spent only on the specific programs outlined in the proposition. Furthermore a 6-year sunset provision was made part of the proposition to allow the voters an opportunity to evaluate whether or not the promises of the proposition were honored and whether or not the County acted in a financially responsible manner in the intervening 6 years. The citizens overwhelmingly approved this proposition.

From my perspective the promises of 2009 have been righteously honored. The funds generated by the levy lid lift have been spent exactly as promised. Furthermore the County has acted in a financially responsible manner setting aside a percentage of new revenues into numerous rainy day and reserve funds rather than spend every penny as the economy has improved. Because of the actions of its citizens, the decisions of the County Council and the state-of-the-economy the financial health of the County has greatly improved in the last six years.

Despite recent improvements in the local economy, these non-mandated programs would be in jeopardy if the approximately one million dollars generated by levy lift were to expire in 2015. Once again it is your choice to make. If you want to see these community-values-based-programs continue, vote to approve Proposition No. 1. As before in 6 years you will be given an opportunity to review the diligence of the County to spend these dollars as promised. I believe the County gets an A grade for doing as it promised thus far and as such the previously approved levy lid lift of 2009 should be renewed for another 6 years. Please vote YES on San Juan County Proposition No. 1.

Richard Fralick was San Juan County Council Member, 2009-2012