Letters | Snoqualmie mayor supports Si View ballot measures

Even though Snoqualmie is outside of the Si View Metropolitan Park District’s boundaries, I appreciate the services offered by our sister park agency. I sincerely hope that it does not become the next casualty of this economic recession.

In addition to providing recreational programming in partnership with the city of Snoqualmie, the Snoqualmie Valley MPD operates our only swimming pool in the Snoqualmie Valley and offers a wide array of activities for people of all ages and abilities.

Unfortunately, the economic decline and associated drop in property values will make it essentially impossible for the Si View MPD to operate if voters don’t act on November 8. With the formula in state law that puts the park district at the bottom of the pecking order when levy rates are adjusted, the park district is in very real danger.

The park district will lose 84 percent of its funding without an affirmative vote of the people for Si View Metropolitan Park District Propositions 1 and 2. Clearly, that kind of cut cannot be absorbed by any government agency. Services will cease. The pool will close. Multitudes of Snoqualmie Valley families will suffer. By voting yes on Propositions 1 and 2, taxes will not be increased, but funding can be secured so these negative impacts can be avoided.

Propositions 1 and 2 seek to maintain the current level of funding that support Si View MPD and honor the 71 percent of voters who approved the funding and formation of the park district in 2003.

I urge everyone to support the Si View MPD’s ballot issues in November.

Matthew R. Larson

Mayor, City of Snoqualmie

 

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