||| FROM LYNNETTE WOOD |||
Last year, 15,889 meals were prepared and delivered or served through the Orcas Senior Center—nearly 46% more than in 2019. This dramatic increase reflects the growing needs of our aging island population.
The meal program is administered by the Whatcom Council on Aging (WCOA), which provides a small federal subsidy. Most of the funding comes from meal participants, private donations, and the Levy Lid Lift.
Proposition 1 is essential to sustaining this program. Proposition 1 does not create a new tax—it simply maintains the current rate of 22 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, the same level approved by voters in 2019.
Your “yes” vote ensures that we can continue meeting the growing need without disruption. Since 2017 when I first became involved with the Orcas Senior Center, I’ve seen firsthand how vital this program is to our community.
Meals served at the Center provide important social interaction, while Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious food to home bound seniors. Each delivery includes a personal check-in—sometimes the only contact a person has all day. These check-ins have, in a few cases, been life-saving.
Without the Levy Lid Lift, the program would face a $100,000 annual funding gap, affecting Lopez and San Juan Islands as well. At a time when federal support is uncertain, Proposition 1 provides critical local stability.
This is about taking care of the people who helped build our community. Vote “yes”on Proposition 1 to ensure no senior is left behind.
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Thank you Lynnette
The levy lid lift on the April 28 special election ballot is essential. This will restore the property tax rate to the 2019 level of $0.85 per $1,000 of assessed value about $22 per month for the median-valued home funding critical services like public health and senior services, public safety and victim support, emergency management, oil spill preparedness, and parks, Fair, Ag and 4-H programs.
When we vote we shape our community’s future.
When federal support is being withdrawn from local communities and re-prioritized for foreign wars, Proposition 1 provides critical local stability.
Imagine losing Meals on Wheels and other essential services at a time like this. Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious food to home bound seniors and includes a personal check-in”sometimes the only contact a person has all day.
Just 9% of the property tax goes to the general fund. 91% of our taxes will NOT be subjected to the levy lift. The other 91% of our tax revenue goes towards fire, hospital and EMS districts, and the biggest share about one half goes to state and local schools.
Let’s vote YES on the levy lid lift and choose to support a County that values both fiscal responsibility and the hardworking people who make our community safe, healthy, and vibrant. Thank you for your consideration.
Sandy Bishop, Lopez Island
In her April 9 letter to the editor Ms. Kassa states that “Orcas Senior Center operates independently and receives no county funding.” This article states “The meal program is administered by the Whatcom Council on Aging (WCOA), which provides a small federal subsidy. Most funding comes from meal participants, private donations and the LEVY LID LIFT”
It also states “without the LEVY LID LIFT, the program would face a $100,000” county wide funding gap.
So which is it?
We’re voting NO! Please see my comments on her April 9 post.
If it loses, we can each donate $22 per month to the programs we want to support. …. Vote no and give generously!