Journal of the San Juans, March 25, 2015

Page 1

Calendar

Open House: Behind the scenes at Wolf Hollow PAGE 10

Scene

Big commute in paradise; Back & forth island style PAGE 9

As I See It

‘Salmon-topia’: Too long a commodity, salmon recovery should be the singular regional imperative PAGE 7

Journal

The 75¢ Wednesday, March 25, 2015 Vol. 108 Issue 12

Uptick in town tax rate at hand

New ‘Super’ to shed Texas ties By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor

By Scott Rasmussen Journal editor

The sales tax rate in Friday Harbor will ring in at 8.3 percent beginning April 1—no foolin’. Revenue generated by increase, two-tenths of one percent, is dedicated exclusively for funding the town’s newly created and voter-approved transportation benefit district. That .02-percent increase is expected to generate roughly $240,000 a year. In addition to Friday Harbor, consumers in the cities of North Bend, Seattle, Tonasket and in Pacific County will pay more in sales tax beginning April 1 as well. Approved by a 115-vote margin in November, the .02-percent transportation improvement district tax upped the sales tax rate in Friday Harbor from 8.1 percent to 8.3 percent. The town sales rate increased from 7.8 percent, among the lowest in the state at that time, to 8.1 percent following voterapproval in 2012 of the socalled public safety sales tax. Consumers in Friday Harbor, North Bend, Pacific County, Seattle and Tonasket will see their sales tax rate increase on purchases starting Wednesday, April 1. Under state law, revenue generated by the transportation improvement district sales tax See HAND, Page 4

Journal photo / Scott Rasmussen

The future of students like those above, preparing for afternoon bus ride home as the class day ends at Friday Harbor Elementary School, will soon be in the hands of a new school district superintendent.

A change in climate isn’t the only thing in store. An even more dramatic change, in size and enrollment, awaits for the heir apparent of San Juan Island School District’s top administrative post. Dr. Dianna Diaz, assistant superintendent of family engagement for the El Paso Independent School District, last week accepted the job of superintendent of San Juan Island public schools. School district Chairman Jack McKenna is confident a contract agreement will be reached in short-order and that the pieces will all be in place for Diaz to be named superintendent at the March 25 meeting of the school board. Of the finalists for the job, McKenna said that Diaz proved the best match to fulfill the board’s top priority for its new superintendent, “by far.” “We really want someone who can communicate,” he said. “Communication skills was our number one prerequisite for the position. She seems like a real people person.” If all goes according to plan, Diaz will sucSee TIES, Page 4 2

Trust gears up for ‘Mt. Grant’ drive

San Juan skies are bathed yellow, orange and blue in a view from the summit of Lawson Ridge. The preserve will have moderate to difficult trails and be wheelchair accessible.

Journal staff report

The San Juan Preservation Trust and the San Juan County Land Bank are teaming up on a land acquisition on San Juan Island that, if successful, will become a nature preserve accessible to just about anyone, by foot or by car. Long-valued for its 360-degree views, the 141-acre ridge-top property known as “Lawson Ridge” had previously been subdivided into 12 lots and listed for sale as a residential development. A portion of the ridge drains

HappyHoliday s

Contributed photo / Bob Stavers

into Trout Lake, the Town of Friday Harbor’s primary drinking water reservoir, and features important native plant and animal habitat, lush wildflower meadows, miles of trails and road access to the summit and its panoramic

views. The Preservation Trust, a private non-profit land trust, and the Land Bank, a publicly owned land conservation agency, made a $1 million down payment March 9 See DRIVE, Page 4

Winner of six 1st place awards in Washington Newspaper Publishers Association 2014 BNC, 17 in all

Home & Garden

Call Cherie or Howard today to reserve your space in this year’s Home and Garden section. 378-5696


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Journal of the San Juans, March 25, 2015 by Sound Publishing - Issuu