The following was submitted by Orcas Island Park and Rec Director Marcia West.

Many have asked “where are the Park and Rec Commissioners in filing for the 2015 November election?”

The answer is they are carefully guarding the limited district fees and trying hard to stretch our reduced budget to cover as much programing and park improvements as possible. The board reviewed the options for the upcoming filing period and elected to hold off on filing until other candidates had filed for their positions. If no one files, the commissioners are automatically retained for another two-year term and the district saves the administrative costs of the election. That savings is enough for a new set of soccer goals and replacement tennis nets, re-roofing the baseball dugouts in the park or scholarships.

The district’s original budget took a 35 percent reduction from its proposed operating level. This reduction was due to the drop in real estate values and the resulting property tax. OIPRD has tried to keep costs to a minimum while working to both create and provide recreational programing and bring the facilities at Buck Park up to a safe level for all. In addition to finding savings in administrative costs we have tried to limit the cost of mailing by using as much electronic communication as possible and creating our published materials in-house.

Rest assured that the commissioners are keeping a watchful eye on the elections and the park operations. Their delay in filing was not that they do not care for the office but that they feel a strong fiduciary responsibility for guarding your tax dollars.