Lopez faces real challenges—and Lopez Rec is a sustainable, community-driven response designed to meet them. As a committee of local residents, we spent over two years developing this vision, driven by a shared commitment to equity, access, and long-term solutions. In hundreds of conversations, two priorities consistently rose to the top: funding school sports and providing dependable, affordable out-of-school care.
But the need goes beyond just youth programming. We heard from elders eager to connect, residents ready to lead new initiatives, and organizations excited to collaborate through Lopez Rec’s shared infrastructure and insurance. These voices reflect the true diversity of Lopez—and Lopez Rec is built to serve them all.
Approving the levy is essential to fund the programs our community has asked for.
It ensures:
The levy funds programs for the next six years. Banking capacity (the legal term for collecting less levy revenue than what is approved by voters) is an important tool available to commissioners and should always be an understood option for making sure public funds are efficiently used. And due to the state’s 1% cap on annual levy increases, this base funding is also essential to keep up with inflation and ensure services are maintained over time.
Running a public agency like Lopez Rec requires more than good intentions – it demands informed, responsible leadership. Responsible governance of a public institution like a Recreation District depends on outreach, collaboration, accountability, listening, and a solid understanding of the laws that guide public agencies.
Elected commissioners are responsible for:
It has been suggested that it could be possible to “do more with less.” Rather than opting for insurance, we should simply “promise not to sue each other.” While trust and goodwill are admirable, they are not substitutes for legal safeguards. Public institutions must protect the public interest and operating without insurance would not only be irresponsible, it would negligent. It’s also directly overseen by the state risk manager and subject to audit oversight with required legal obligations.
It’s also been suggested that more of this money should go directly to the school. However, we haven’t identified any workable way to increase Lopez Rec funding in a way that would reduce the school’s operating deficit. It’s important to understand that funding recreational programs that the school doesn’t currently support does not relieve the school’s budget shortfall.
Lopez deserves commissioners who:
Hiring a Rec Director, for example, isn’t a casual decision. It requires a structured, public process—typically led by two board members working with a community advisory group, conducting a salary study, and facilitating an open hiring process. That kind of thoughtful governance is incompatible with a “vote no” mindset.
We understand that the proposed budget and levy rate raise valid concerns. As working parents, property owners, and community members ourselves, we feel that weight too—and we didn’t take this decision lightly. We analyzed the needs, compared it across different districts, allotted for inflation and settled on a levy rate that would cover school sports and the after school program and allow for growth.
It’s important to note that the proposed rate of $0.37 per $1,000 of assessed property value is a cap—not a floor. It establishes a maximum levy revenue, and just like other taxing districts, commissioners can choose to bank capacity and collect less revenue. Having this flexibility allows commissioners to grow and develop the budget over time, with full transparency and in response to continuing community input. This ensures spending aligns with community priorities and can be adjusted as needs evolve.
There’s important work ahead for the newly elected commissioners as they build this district into a fully functioning organization.
Commissioners will:
All of this work will be part of the public record and subject to open meeting laws. These are not optional tasks—they are legal responsibilities.
Lopez Rec is sustainable, right-sized, and designed to maximize community benefit. It creates shared systems for outreach, insurance, and registration that local organizations can use—reducing overhead and increasing efficiency across the island.
Lopez Rec is how we protect the Lopez we love. A YES vote for the district and the levy is the most effective way to support our school, our families, and our shared future.
Rally for the Rec © 2024 Lopez Island Parks and Rec District Formation Committee | Website and Branding by Stephanie Cariker
