What would be the real impact of I-2117 on transit?
By Charles Prestrud @ Washinton Policy Center
Opponents of I-2117 have recently run a TV ad claiming the initiative would “gut public transit.” Their website goes on to say the initiative would “reduce public transit service.” To ascertain the truth of those claims we need to start by looking at transit funding.
In 2022 transit agencies in Washington took in more than $5 billion. The primary transit revenue sources are sales tax, federal grants, interest on reserves and advertising income. Residents of the Sound Transit district also pay a property tax and motor vehicle excise tax. Most transit agencies also collect fares from customers, well, some customers, but state-wide farebox revenue constitutes less than 10% of total revenue.
So, how much of that $5 billion per year would be lost if voters approve I-2117? None. Zero. This is because I-2117 does not change the existing local taxes that provide the vast majority of transit agency revenue, nor would the initiative reduce federal grants or interest income.
What City Planners Are Really Planning and How to Challenge It
By Tom DeWeese @ American Policy Center
In nearly every community of the nation the policy called Sustainable is the catch-all term for local planning programs, from water and energy controls to building codes and traffic planning. The term “sustainable” was first used in the 1987 report called “Our Common Future,’ issued by the United Nations Commission on Environment and Development (UNCED). The term appeared in full force in 1992 in a United Nations initiative called Agenda 21.
Retire the San Juan County Land Bank -- Enough is Enough! [Dosset]
The ‘Citizens Conservation Land Bank’ was voted into existence in 1990, 34 years ago, with the mandate to “preserve in perpetuity” areas in the county that have environmental, agricultural, aesthetic, cultural, scientific, historic, scenic or low-intensity recreational value and to protect existing and future sources of potable water. These land acquisitions are funded by a Real Estate Excise Tax, authorized by the voters of San Juan County.
Over the past 31 years, the Land Bank has acquired (ownership) of 5000 acres of land in San Juan County, per the Land Bank’s brochure. The Land Bank has acquired more property than the size of Shaw Island! (Shaw Is. has 4,928 acres, per Wikipedia.org)
Most, if not all of the Land Bank acreage, is exempt from co. property taxes.
This means county property taxes that would have been paid from the acquired ‘Land Bank property’, are now shifted to the rest of the county taxpayers to pay in perpetuity!
Please, vote NO in November for the SJC Land Bank renewal proposition.
Enough is Enough,
Paul Dossett
You’re Invited! Join the County at Open Houses This Fall to Lend Your Voice to the 2025 Comp Plan
San Juan County is pleased to host a series of grocery store information booths and open house events on three islands where the community can learn more about the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan) Update and provide input. Come join us in planning for the next 20 years and beyond!
Partisanship of the SJC County Council is Wrong [Carlson]
Kari McVeigh has sought and received the endorsement of the San Juan County Democratic Party.
In doing so, she has demonstrated her newness to San Juan County and that she lacks the local knowledge and background about what the citizens of San Juan County thought to be an important condition written into article 5 of the San Juan County Home Rule Charter:
5.32: “Qualified voters of the County shall nominate candidates for the County Council. Such candidates shall be nominated by countywide primary election for non-partisan office in the same manner as candidates for other County offices”.
San Juan County Receives $1.5Million from WA Governor to Support Local Transportation Infrastructure
San Juan County is thrilled to receive new funding from the Washington State Governor’s Office to address ferry service disruptions in the San Juan Islands. Today, Governor Jay Inslee met County and Town officials, essential service providers, business owners, and residents in Friday Harbor to award $1 million to the County to finance temporary marine transportation alternatives, and an additional $500,000 to support Interisland weekend service during the winter which would add a third set of crew to that service.
Where did all of the stolen signs go?? [ Meyerott ]
This photo was sent to me by an observant citizen. Please notice that this land owner seems to collect political signs as the Vote No on Library and the Eric Peter signs were from two years ago.
I took a special interest in this photo, as over 40 of my 60 signs were stolen during my campaign to educate the public as to the actual costs of the proposed Library Lift Levy. During the course of the campaign I received a call at home one evening from a County Sheriff Deputy. He informed me that someone from the library committee called and said that I was stealing their signs. I told him that that was very rich as I was the one who had lost over 30 signs at that point. I visited the Sheriffs office the next day with a list of the signs that I had lost and their locations. The sheriff said that he could do nothing as I had no proof of who was stealing the signs.
The County Government Has Gone Mad
Now that the bloated County government only works four days a week it seems that is not bad enough. Now the County Council is full steam ahead with ' let's make a bad situation worse' program. Yes, you guessed it, DEI with a touch of belonging. I guess they missed the news of all the corportations and organizations that are leaving DEI (aka DIE) for the obvious reasons. Hopefully we don't get stuck in space.
From the Councel:
“Having this initial data is a great first step,” said Council Chair Jane Fuller. “The County is undertaking this work in the spirit of being an organization that embraces these values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging and creating the framework to strengthen those values within our workforce.”
County Representatives Discuss Solutions to Ferry Service Disruptions with Governor Inslee
The meeting included an in-depth discussion of local transportation alternatives, possible short-term solutions, and next steps for the 2025 legislative session.
On Saturday, August 24, representatives from San Juan County met with Governor Jay Inslee in Friday Harbor to share data, review ferry service challenges, and discuss possible next steps. The Governor initiated the productive, 30-minute meeting that included Council Chair Jane Fuller, Health & Community Services Transportation Voucher Program Coordinator Richard Uri, County Manager Jessica Hudson, and Ferry Advisory Committee Vice Chair Ken Burtness. Town Councilmember Richard Gefffen and staff from Inslee’s Office were also in attendance.
Official Notice of San Juan County Canvassing Board Meeting
San Juan County has been notified by the Office of the Secretary of State that a recount of votes in the race for Commissioner of Public Lands needs to be completed. The final election results of the 2024 Primary revealed that the difference in votes between the second and third candidates in the race for Commissioner of Public Lands was less than 0.0258%. This thin margin is prompting a recount across the state.
San Juan County Welcomes New County Manager
Thanks Interim Team for Transitional Support
While the organization searched for a new County Manager, the County was supported by an interim leadership team of dedicated staff.
San Juan County is pleased to welcome a new County Manager and thanks the invaluable support of the interim leadership team. Within one month of starting, County Manager Jessica Hudson is already diving into key County projects including the comprehensive plan update, budget amendments, and capital projects.
“In these first few weeks with the County I’ve been introduced to this amazing community full of passionate, smart, and dedicated staff and community members,” said Hudson. “I’m delighted to be here and look forward to supporting and uplifting priority work and projects.”
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Pay Your Property Taxes Using the New Online Portal and Shopping Cart
The deadline for paying your property taxes is just around the corner, but the San Juan County Treasurer’s Office is making it easier than ever to pay online. Accessed via the Treasurer’s Office webpage, a new online portal allows you to pay for multiple properties at once (while avoiding multiple transaction fees!), schedule on-time payments, receive an instant receipt, and create an account to make future transactions even easier.
August 2024 “Volunteer of the Month”
Leslie Sargent 
Please join us in celebrating Leslie Sargent, honored as the Volunteer of the Month for August 2024 by the Animal Protection Society - Friday Harbor!
For the past year and a half, Leslie Sargent has been a dedicated and beloved volunteer at APS-FH, but her journey of giving back to animals started long before that. Leslie’s love of dogs led her to volunteer at a shelter in Oregon, where she lived for many years. Even during the busiest times of her life, running a retreat at an old mineral spring in Oregon with her family for 35 years, Leslie always found time to care for animals.
The 2024 San Juan County Fair is Just Around the Corner!
The countdown has begun for this year’s San Juan County Fair! With the theme “A Century of Growing: A Hundred Years at Home,” we have a lot to celebrate. This year’s food court is packed with a variety of options to quiet the rumble in your belly and our entertainment line-up has something for everyone from folk to rock to cumbia and everything in between! Head to the San Juan County Fair to celebrate ‘100 years at home’ from Thursday, August 15 through Sunday, August 18.
Nothing Says “Fair” Like Mouthwatering Food!
Recreational Campfire Status in San Juan County
As of July 10, 2024, at 1:00pm, Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued a declaration banning all fires statewide on DNR protected lands. This ban extends to recreational campfires on DNR lands in San Juan County.
The San Juan County Fair is Just Around the Corner; Register Your Exhibits TODAY!
The San Juan County Parks & Fair Department continues to streamline ways to help you participate in the County Fair. With online pre-registration for entries and a new pick-up and drop-off service on Orcas, Lopez and Shaw, it’s never been easier to be part of the Fair!
Scam Alert: Recent 'Spoofing' Scam Impersonates Sheriff's Office
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public to an ongoing 'spoofing' scam in our community. Islanders are getting calls from someone claiming to be the Sheriff’s Office, attempting to scam them out of money. These calls are NOT from the Sheriff's Office and the community is encouraged to be aware of suspicious phone calls.
Former astronaut William Anders, who took iconic Earthrise photo, killed in Washington plane crash
William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic “Earthrise” photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90.
Same-day camping reservations now available at 26 state parks
Same-day reservations program expands across Washington
OLYMPIA — June 6, 2024 — Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) is excited to announce its same-day reservation pilot program has expanded to 26 parks across the state.
Additionally, Parks has implemented a new flexible dates feature in its reservations system. Rather than searching for exact dates, visitors can now choose the flexible booking dates option and see when different sites are available. This great new feature lets campers with flexibility find a site, especially during peak season, at busier parks.
Most Interested
- Meet the Candidates
- San Juan County Receives $1.5Million from WA Governor to Support Local Transportation Infrastructure
- You’re Invited! Join the County at Open Houses This Fall to Lend Your Voice to the 2025 Comp Plan
- What City Planners Are Really Planning and How to Challenge It
- Pay Your Property Taxes Using the New Online Portal and Shopping Cart