Started by Chom Greacen (Lopez Island Park & Recreation Commission)
Feb 14, 2026

To the Lopez Island Community,

I am writing to you as an individual elected commissioner for the Lopez Island Park & Recreation District (Lopez Rec) to open a direct line of communication regarding an upcoming decision on the Lopez Rec levy amount and timing.

As many of you know, the proposed 37-cent levy in the November 2025 ballot received 49.49% approval. While this shows significant support, it fell short of the 60% supermajority required for a junior taxing district levy to pass. To move forward successfully, we need to understand the concerns of the more than 50% of voters who were not yet ready to support that specific proposal.

In our recent meetings, we have heard passionate testimony from the school sports community speaking to the urgency of putting the new proposed levy on the April ballot. The primary reason is that the Lopez Island School District must finalize its budget by July.

- If a new levy is on the April ballot and passes, the school board will have the financial certainty needed to fully fund athletic programs for the upcoming year.

- If the April ballot fails or we wait until August or November, the school board faces a difficult choice: rely on the uncertainty of a future levy or donations or make immediate cuts to athletic programs to ensure a balanced budget.

To ensure a new levy has a genuine chance of success in April, we need about 10%+ of our voters to feel confident enough to switch their "no" vote to a "yes".

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

While we have heard a great deal from the sports community, I have not heard enough from those who voted against the previous levy. If you were in that camp, I am asking for your perspective:
What changes or specific details would you need to see in a new levy or budget proposal to feel inclined to support it?

Are there specific concerns regarding the process, rate, budget structure, or the scope of services that remain unaddressed?

At our last meeting, we did not have sufficient time to develop a comprehensive plan to bridge this gap. Therefore, I am taking this personal initiative to listen and gather your feedback to inform the decisions we must make soon.

NEXT STEPS

The Commission is scheduled to make a final decision regarding the levy amount and timing at a Special Meeting on February 26th at 5:00 PM (location: TBD). Your input before this date is invaluable.

Due to lack of operational budget, Lopez Rec does not have an official website. I have therefore created a personal, unofficial website, as a hub for info related to Lopez Rec, including future meeting dates, meeting minutes, meeting recordings, emails of all commissioners, etc. See https://sites.google.com/view/lopezrec

Please feel free to comment below or reach out to me directly ([email protected]). I value your opinion and feedback.

Thank you for your time and for your commitment to our community.

Sincerely,

Chom Greacen
Commissioner, Lopez Island Park & Recreation District

(Note: This post reflects my personal views and initiatives as an individual commissioner and does not constitute an official statement or endorsement by the full Lopez Island Park & Recreation District Commission.)

Comment by Chom Greacen (Lopez Island Park & Recreation Commission)
Feb 19, 2026

The Budget Committee of the Lopez Island Park & Recreation District is now seeking community input through a community survey.

Please refer to the posting on the Message Board of Lopezrocks: https://lopezrocks.org/pa ... Read All

Comment by Beth Andrewes
Feb 17, 2026

I would vote Yes on the Rec Levy at a .10 rate. It would raise more than the $180,000 discussed for school sports - $232,000 I believe. This money is essential.

Library and Dump levies passed in 2025 and added .27 to property tax bills. My property value increased only slightly but my taxes went up o ... Read All

Comment by Heike And Terry
Feb 17, 2026

The state senate passed the “millionaires” tax. State School Superintendent Chris Reykdal says the “millionaires' tax" has the potential to "revolutionize" education in Washington state. As the school district would receive more funds as a result, it seems like the parcsandrecs levy to fund the school would not be necessary. Clearly ... Read All

Comment by Carol Deckelbaum
Feb 17, 2026

Chom, regarding point 1 - the timeline for Levy Revenues. Although it is technically true that a levy approved in 2026 could go towards funding for 2027 - practically this is a scenario with no guarantees.

At the meeting, Brady made a few important points. One is that if a levy is not passed in A ... Read All

Comment by Leslie Richter
Feb 16, 2026

Thank you, Commissioner, for inviting public comment on the proposed Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District levy that is being considered for the April ballot.

Given that the levy resolution must be submitted to the county by February 27, and that the final Commission meeting to vote on the budge ... Read All

Comment by Chom Greacen (Lopez Island Park & Recreation Commission)
Feb 15, 2026

I received some clarification questions regarding the upcoming levy. I’d like to offer additional context that I hope is useful for our community:

1. Updated Timeline on Levy Revenues

Previously, we believed that missing the April ballot wo ... Read All