When you look in the Voters’ Guide at the dozen programs and services to be funded by this proposition, you may think as I had that most of them already have existing stable funding sources. However, they simply don’t.

We should not take for granted the existence of many if not most of the items on the list, such as Meals on Wheels, 4H, the County Fair, Emergency Management, Victim Services, parks maintenance, and others. None of these is a lavish program, and many provide important support for vulnerable members of the community. Speaking of fiscal responsibility, I can attest to this as a volunteer for IOSA, the Islands Oil Spill Association. We hope to revitalize this crucial organization, whose mission is to provide a quick response to oil spills in our county, by leveraging tax support with additional funding from industry partners. Currently, the closest help for oil spills is hours away.

This tax levy will truly provide money well spent. Please join me in voting for Proposition 2.

Phil Heikkinen

Orcas Island