September 9, 2009

Summer fun hinges on levy

By Rodger Nichols
The Chronicle

     For Chris Highfield, the issue is simple: “For certain, if this doesn’t pass, the pool won’t open next summer.”
     That’s the Dufur pool, and Highfield, as chair of the Dufur Parks and Recreation Board, wanted to let district voters know the bottom line.
     He said approximately two-thirds of the district’s annual budget comes from a levy that brings in about $45,000 a year.
     In this year’s May primary election, voters in the Dufur district turned down a proposal to continue the levy for three more years.
     Without that money, the district can’t operate the pool, which requires a manager, six lifeguards, propane to heat the water, pool chemicals and other expense
     “I think there was some confusion about the levy last time,” Highfield said. He said voters thought it would increase their tax rate. “It wasn’t an additional tax, just a continuation of the same levy.”
     The previous levy was 46¢ per $1,000 of assessed valuation. That translates to $46 per year for someone who owns a home assessed at $100,000.
     The problem is that voters won’t know what the cost per thousand the levy will be when they vote.
     That’s because the assessor’s office won’t know the assessed value for district property until Sept. 25, 10 days after the vote.
     By law, that means the ballot has to say on it “This measure may cause taxes to increase more than three percent.”
     That can be confusing, because it does not mean a property owner’s whole tax bill could go up by more than three percent. It means that the cost per thousand of just the levy may go up more than three percent. Three percent of 46¢ would be 1.38¢ more per thousand, or another $1.38 per year for someone with a home valued at $100,000.
     The vote is set for next Tuesday, Sept. 15, and is the only item on the ballot mailed to the 693 eligible voters in the district. Ballots must be received by the Wasco County Clerk’s Office by 8 p.m. Sept. 15. Postmarks do not count.
     Since this is neither a primary nor a general election, the levy faces a double majority requirement. That is, more than 50 percent of the voters must cast ballots in the election, and more than half of them must vote in favor.
     “Turnout is going to be the biggest factor,” said Highfield. “In the last election, only 20 percent of the registered voters in the district voted. Many people didn’t even open their ballot because there were only incumbents in local races. They didn’t realize our levy was on there.”
     If the levy renews on Sept. 15, it will continue to appear on resident’s property taxes, due in November. That will give the district the funds it needs to keep the pool open. If the levy fails, there won’t be an opportunity to hold another vote until May 2010. But that would be too late for the 2010 pool season, because the levy wouldn’t be collected until November 2010. In that case, the pool could reopen for the 2011 season.
     In addition to the pool, Dufur Park is heavily used by the public.
     “We’re open nine to 10 months for camping,” Highfield said, “And it’s pretty much booked from Memorial Day to Labor Day.”
     Some of those additional park activities might have to be curtailed also, if the levy doesn’t pass, Highfield said.