LopezRocks - Item

Rising property values and the increasing cost of living are putting real pressure on Lopez residents - long-time islanders and new families alike. One community member recently shared a story that reflects this strain. While those frustrations are shared by many, the proposed formation of Lopez Rec - and the levy to fund it - aims to address a different but related question: how can the island maintain equitable access to programs and opportunities that support local families, youth, and elders in the face of those economic shifts?

A community member recently shared an experience that resonates with many on Lopez who are feeling the pressure of rising property assessments and the growing cost of living here. The fear and frustration that so many of us are feeling doesn’t stem from local levies alone - it comes largely from the exponential rise in property values, something entirely outside of our community’s control.

What we can control is how we take care of each other in the face of those changes.

When we talk about equity, it’s important to remember that we are speaking about more than just financial fairness. We are talking about equity of access. The families who rely on after-school care so they can work, the students who find belonging and leadership through school sports, and the seniors who stay connected through recreation programs all depend on having equitable access to community opportunities. Lopez Rec is designed to protect that access for everyone, regardless of income.

If Lopez voters approve the formation of the Parks and Recreation District but do not approve the accompanying levy, the district would technically exist, but it would have no operating funds. It’s important to understand what’s at stake.

Right now, the Lopez School has a $300,000 deficit, and without additional cuts, anticipates that the deficit will continue. If Lopez Rec is established and funded, it will offset that gap by $180,000 - easing a major financial burden on the school and freeing up funding to be focused on core education. Without Lopez Rec, however, the school would need to raise the entire $300,000 on its own, year after year, or face binding conditions from the state.

To put that in perspective, the Lopez Island Education Foundation (LIEF) has worked tirelessly to fundraise for school programs and has not yet been able to reach $200,000 in a single year (and in past years has never raised more than $25k). LIEF also wholeheartedly endorses the formation of Lopez Rec because they understand first-hand that fundraising alone can’t solve this problem. Relying on emergency fundraising to keep essential programs running simply isn’t sustainable. Creating the district without approving the levy would leave the same fragile position we are in now - without any solution for long-term stability to fund school sports, after-school care or summer programs. When the current grant expires, those programs will end.

The proposed levy doesn’t increase assessed property values; it simply provides a predictable, local way to fund essential programs. And importantly, the levy rate represents a maximum levy revenue. The elected commissioners will build the actual budget carefully over time, with ongoing community input and fiscal transparency.

Equity means ensuring that every Lopez child has access to sports, music, arts, and other enriching opportunities - including summer programs - regardless of their family’s circumstances. Equity means that every working parent can count on safe, reliable, and affordable care after school, so they can provide for their families with peace of mind - regardless of whether they’re fortunate enough to have extended family nearby to help with out-of-school care. Equity means that every elder has meaningful ways to stay active, engaged, and connected to the community they helped build - regardless of mobility, income, social circles or support networks.

We understand the concern that additional adult recreation programs seem like a luxury, especially when some residents are struggling to meet basic needs. That is why in the research behind, and the thinking about a levy rate, adult or all-ages programming represents only a small fraction. In practice, it’s actually more like an added bonus. How that works is that these programs would use the existing infrastructure ( insurance, registration, advertising, outreach etc) already in place for school sports and essential after-school and summer programming. Because participation fees help cover most of the costs of the instructors hourly rate, offering some all-ages classes and programs uses very little district funds. Participation fees can also be paired with scholarships so that low-income residents can participate without financial barriers - a policy and procedure to be developed by the elected commissioners. Once the structure of Lopez Rec is in place, there will be plenty of opportunity to develop programming to reflect community interest and need.

Since COVID, our community has seen changing social dynamics, including an influx of new residents, and we’ve struggled to rebuild a broader sense of intergenerational and cross-spectrum connection. When people self-organize, they naturally form groups with like-minded individuals - their own small circles - which can leave others on the outside. Supporting adult recreation is NOT at the expense of people being able to meet basic needs. But what it DOES do is ensure that all residents, including those without long-standing local connections or the means to travel off-island, have opportunities to participate in enriching activities. These programs help bridge gaps, creating spaces where people of all backgrounds, ages, and circumstances can come together, connect, and strengthen our shared community.

We deeply respect the goal of cultivating fairness, balance, and community care. These are the same values that motivated this proposal. The intention behind Lopez Rec is to help ensure that all Lopezians - including working families and children - can continue to thrive here, with opportunities for health, connection, and recreation that reflect our island’s character and needs.

We encourage everyone to read, ask questions, and vote based on a full understanding of what’s being proposed, what happens if it does not pass, and what’s at stake for our shared future.

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