The Orcas Island Park and Rec District commissioners, at a special meeting held on Dec. 17, voted in favor of presenting a reduced levy on the Feb. 8, 2011 ballot.

The levy will be 9 cents per $1,000 of appraised property value.

“After many hours of discussion that ranged from abandoning the notion of a publicly funded district altogether to simply resubmitting the original budget of 10 cents per $1,000, it was decided to go out one more time with a 10 percent lighter budget of 9 cents – the lowest amount we felt could accomplish the minimal services that we are reading the majority of the public appears to want us to provide,” said commissioner Jim Bredouw. “Because a clear majority of Orcas voters approved the original 10 cents proposal last month (it garnered 58.75 percent of the vote but needed a supermajority of 60 percent to pass), we were determined to sharpen our pencils but with a budget that would still leave our fundamental purpose intact.”

If passed, the levy would fund an organizational and insurance conduit for dozens of primarily self-sustaining programs like soccer, little league baseball, sailing, the mentor program and dozens of others, as well as maintenance of lower Buck Park.

“Buck Park is a gift to the Orcas public that is bordering on being dangerous to use in its current condition,” Bredouw said.

It would also provide some funding for programs that the board considers “essential,” such as swimming lessons for both kids and adults, as well as after-school and Friday/Saturday night programs that give kids and teens a healthy and productive alternative to unsupervised free time.

“Hopefully, at least 60 percent of the public will find this relatively small price – about $4/month on average – a good investment that some, including many law enforcement officials, feel they would be spending anyway in police, court, medical and/or rehab costs should these programs fail to exist,” Bredouw said. “We think this is just a smarter and more productive way to direct the public’s hard earned dollars and it is certainly better for our kids.”

For more information, visit www.orcasparkandrec.com.