The
INSIDE Sheriff’s Log
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Social media class
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Indian Island report
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VOLUME 38, NUMBER 44 • NOVEMBER 10, 2015
Adams, Steckler in the lead | 2015 election news By Cali Bagby
Preliminary election results are in. The total number of voters counted so far is 6,308 out of 12,177 registered voters, or 39 percent of voters. Stephen K. Adams will likely again be Port of Lopez Port Commissioner 2. He has received 70.11 percent of the vote with 788 out of 1,124 ballots tabulated. “As port commissioner I look forward to
serving the needs and desires of our community,” said Adams. Edward Kilduff has received 336 votes in a Q&A with the Weekly. Lopez Island School District #144 School Board Del Guenther, director 3 Dixie Budke, director 4 Port of Lopez Port Commissioner Kenn Aufderhar, position 1 Carol Steckler is looking like the next
Lopez Island School District #144 School Board Director 5. She has a 61.49 percent lead, meaning 642 votes. “I am excited to be a participant in bringing [the remodel] project to fruition within budget and on time with the best value for dollars spent,” said Steckler in a Weekly Q&A. Georgeana Cook has received 38.51 percent of the vote with 402 votes. The Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District
Proposition No. 1 LSWDD Operations and Capital Property Tax, concerning an excess levy for the District, looks like it will pass with 80.75 percent of the vote with 923 out of 1,143 votes. In addition, state measure Initiative 1401 on animal trafficking has 75.5 percent approval in the county, while the Initiative 1366 on state taxes got a 59.01 percent “no” vote. The Weekly will publish updates as more ballots are counted.
San Juan County 2016 budget work continues By Leslie Kelly
A modest 1 percent increase in the total amount of property taxes levied is being proposed for San Juan County property owners for 2016. County Manager Mike Thomas said last week that the proposed 2016 budget is based on a conservative fore-
TRASH-TOTREASURES
cast of a 3 percent growth in sales tax, and a 2 percent growth in property tax. That includes the 1 percent increase in existing property allowed by state law, and the value of new construction added to the tax rolls. “Our goal is to continue to provide current services at existing levels,” Thomas said. “The county does not have sufficient funding to add much in the way of news staff or new programming.” According to John Kulseth, San Juan county assessor, for the owner of a home in
the town of Friday Harbor with an assessed value of $350,000, if the assessed values in that area remained the same, (which is unlikely,) that person’s property taxes would increase $25. Hence, increases are expected to be less. The first public hearing on the budget was Nov. 10. Four more public hearings left on the calendar as San Juan County Council members continue to review the 2016 county budget as proposed by Thomas and Milene Henley, county auditor.
Auction & Sale
Cleverly Refurbished & Repurposed… Furnishings Art & Décor Gifts Accessories …PLUS Services Activities Adventures
CHILI & CORNBREAD SUPPER Sat Nov 14 6-8:30pm Woodmen Hall BENEFITS THE LOPEZ DUMP! www.lopezsolidwaste.org
The $17.43 million budget was introduced to the council on Oct. 19. While it’s being called a “status quo” budget, it represents a 4.3 percent increase from the current year budget. In order to have a balanced operating budget for 2016, the county plans to use $656,000 of its available cash and reserve funds. The council met Nov. 2 during which members briefly spoke about the budget and heard a presentation by Kim Herrenkohl, deputy auditor, who detailed
the county’s 2016 capital budget and six-year Capital Improvement Plan. The council also heard in detail about the 2016 parks and fair budget and fees schedules from Dona Wuthnow, parks and fair director. Among the projects being proposed in the 2016 capital budget is $120,000 for the planning of the Centralized County Campus Plan. There’s $400,000 allotted for fleet replacement which is the local share of the road transportation improvement plan. More than $2.4 mil-
Lopez Holiday Bazaar Sat., November 28 10 am to 3 pm Lopez School Gymnasium
Featuring Many Exciting Quality Arts & Crafts Featuring Many New Vendors Fantastic raffle prizes Delicious Food • Bake Sale • Santa Photos
Contact 468-2045 for more info
A Lopez Tradition
WOODMEN HALL
Proceeds benefit the Lopez Preschool
Community Shakespeare’s 14th Annual Fall Festival:
Community Shakespeare The Compleat Works 11thofAnnual Festival Wllm Fall Shkspr AS YOU LIKE IT
(Abridged) Nov. 7, admission by donation,
IMPORTANT : DATE CHANGE IMPORTANT : DATE CHANGE IMPORTANT : DATE CHANGE
(appropriate for all ages)
Preview: 12 noon & 7:30pm Nov.Nov. 8-9-10 18 atat7 7:30pm. p.m. Students $10, $15 (admission by Adults donation) Tickets online at Performances: communityshakespeare.org, Nov. at 7 p.m. Also at 19-20 Paper Scissors Rock Nov. 21seats at 2 p.m. &7 p.m. Remaining sold at 6pm at the door: Lopez Center for Community & the Arts Students $10, Adults $15 Lopez Center for Community & the Arts Tickets: communityshakespeare.org and at Paper Scissors Rock
Community Work Meeting About Meth Weds., Nov. 11 7-8 p.m., Woodmen Hall
lion is proposed for Orcas road improvements. There’s $360,000 proposed for the Orcas Village park and ride, and within the capital expenditures is the purchased of a patrol car and a truck for the parks department, each at $70,000. The 2016 Capital Improvement Plan includes a list of projects recommended by the capital committee to be funded with capital improvement funds. Parks Director Dona Wuthnow presented a fee schedule to council members that outlines increased fees based on park location and season of renting. On average, campsites are proposed to increase about $2 per night. (For an entire list of proposed fees go to www. sanjuanco.com/council/ video.aspx.) Included in the proposed budget is an increase of 2.5 FTE positions. Thomas said personnel and payroll continue to be the largest cost to the county, although cost-cutting measures have reduced staff by 10 percent since 2008. Positions being considered include an additional mechanic, a storm water engineer (already budgeted, but not filled) increased hours in the land bank field assistant positions, an increase in the facilities maintenance hours, and changes in the duties of the emergency management assistant director which will provide more administrative hours to the 9-1-1 center. Bob Jarman, chairman of the council said he looks forward to hearing more public comments on the budget at the coming hearings. SEE BUDGET, PAGE 4