Vashon voters have given overwhelming approval to a new four-year operating levy for the Vashon Park District.
As of midweek, the measure was receiving a thumbs-up from more than 70 percent of voters who cast ballots in the April 25 election. That’s well above the 60 percent required for approval.
The Park District receives almost all of its money from property taxes.
The current levy expires at the end of this year; if a new one had not been approved this year, district revenues would have plummeted, forcing the district to shutter, according to its board of commissioners.
VPD’s levy rate will be 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2024, up from about 30.5 cents this year. That means the owner of a home with an assessed value of $922,000 — Vashon’s median — will pay the district about $415 in taxes, up from about $281 in 2023.
The actual increase will be larger or smaller, depending on by how much assessed values rise or fall.
In putting the levy before voters, both the executive director of the Park District, Elaine Ott-Rochefort, and members of its board of commissioners, said that the increased revenue from the levy will provide was necessary, given the district’s increased costs in serving the public in the current economic climate.
The district has not been extravagant, but rather, realistic in its budget projections to both retain qualified staff and preserve its current assets and complete new projects, they said — including the replacement of Tramp Harbor Dock as well as provide much-needed maintenance and improvements elsewhere within the 18 parks and facilities operated by VPD.
Ott-Rocheford also characterized the levy as VPD’s “one opportunity to recover from significant losses in the past.”
These losses, she said, included the costly Vashon Elementary School (VES) Fields project completed by the district about a decade ago — which incurred significant debt that is now paid off — as well as other more recent setbacks that have limited the district’s ability to collect sufficient tax revenue throughout the years of the pandemic.
In an email on Thursday, Ott-Rochefort said she and the board were thrilled with the level of support shown by island voters in the election. Equally impressive to the levy’s passage at 72 percent approval, she said, was that turnout for the April election had been high, at 47 percent.
“It is very cool to see Vashon’s passion and sense of responsibility for voting,” Ott-Rocheford said.
Board member Hans Van Dusen also thanked islanders for their strong support of the Park District, which he called “a reflection of the amazing efforts of dedicated Parks staff who continue to maintain all our great facilities and expand our popular island programs, while managing to keep our costs down and help us maintain a minimal levy rate for taxpayers.”
Restoration of Inspiration Point
In other Parks news, the South End Community Club is now partnering with the district to begin restoring the sweeping views of historic Inspiration Point, located on the east shoreline of Vashon, at 26400 Vashon Highway SW.
The spot overlooks Burton, Dockton, Mt. Rainier and Tacoma.
On March 18, more than 20 volunteers from the South End Community Club, led by Marie Bradley, and staff from the Park District met at the spot for more than five hours — over 76 hours of volunteer work — to tackle the long-neglected viewpoint on Vashon Highway.
The Vashon Tool Library attended with a truckload of tools for pruning, raking, and cleaning the property. Kathy Rogers provided lots of food and coffee to fuel the energy of the volunteers. Crews were divided into several tasks: trash removal, pruning selected trees and shrubs, removal of invasive plants, and preparing some areas for planting of appropriate flora.
In 2025, the district will solicit bids from arborists to selectively prune and winnow the trees at Inspiration Point, restoring the vistas that islanders and visitors have long enjoyed from this property.
For more information on current Park District programs, visit vashonparks.org.
