Pasayten's Methow Valley Bulletin Board

And don't forget with a 60% majority vote, any Metropolitan Park District, which is what the Methow Aquatics District is, can raise the levy limit above the .075 per $1000 of an assessed property value.

"Revenue
• The property tax levy would be set by the Board of
Commissioners.
▫ Un-voted would be limited to a statutory maximum of
$0.75 per $1,000 AVNon-voted (75 cents)
50 cents/$1,000 of AV
An additional 25 cents/$1,000 of AV
▫ Voted
capital levies
one year (“M&O”) levies
• Special benefit assessments (like an LID)
• Any levy in excess of $0.75 per $1,000 AV would have to be voter approved by a 60% majority"

Since we know that the Methow Aquatic District is not a "limited" MPD, the board Commissioners can pass a resolution to reinstate any law that applies to a MPD such as eminent domain "taking."

In other words they can tell the voters anything they want to, but all laws the apply to a Metropolitan Park District. Friends of the pool board members have already put out misinformation on this. They don't have to go to the voters if they want to build a climbing wall center or add a water slide.

Once formed, MPD (MAD) Board of Commissioners have an enormous amount of power with zero voter oversight.

I think what Pearl wrote in her letter to the Methow Valley News stating that we can still have a pool without the formation of Metropolitan Park District, is spot on.

Not saying it is but sure sounds like the assessor is gaining a financial windfall to assist FOTP

Since we are all having our properties reassessed, I wanted to check how this affects the Friends Of The Pool (FOTP) Aquatics District funding potential with updated tax revenues and debt service. I sent an email to the assessor.

“Assessor assessor@co.okanogan.wa.us
Thur, Jul 20 at 7:30 AM

Ray, the assessed value in an ever changing number we are not complete with the new values for the 2024 tax year. The Appraisers are looking at all the new construction right now but I will give you the assessed value as of yesterday.
The assessment for 2024 taxes for the Methow Scholl District as of 7/19/2023 is 2,683,316,500. This value will increase as new construction is added.
Larry Gilman
Okanogan County Assessor”

The FOTP feasibility study used previous years assessed values for their analysis. We are being reassessed now significantly upward which increases the potential tax revenues and debt service for the proposed Aquatics District.

FOTP Feasibility Study figure:
$1,190,000 tax revenue for $0.75/$1000 levy rate
Total Debt Limit: $39.7 million
Total Non-Voted Limit: $3.97 million

New figures based on current assessed values:
$2,012,000 tax revenue for $0.75/$1000 levy rate
Total Debt Limit: $67.1 million
Total Non-Voted Limit: $6.71 million

WOW!!! What an increase and windfall for FOTP’s funding desires with their proposed Aquatics District that has no requirement for public input.

Another interesting factoid using the new assessed values:
The previous potential tax revenue for the other two park districts they were considering increase from $950,000 to $1,610,000... MORE than the chosen original MPD type Aquatics District’s $1,190,000 value! In summary:

Park and Recreation District:
$1,610,000 tax revenue based on $0.60/$1000 levy rate
Total Debt Limit: $33.5 million
Total Non-Voted Limit: $10.06 million

Park and Recreation Service Area:
$1,610,000 tax revenue based on $0.60/$1000 levy rate
Total Debt Limit: $67.1 million
Total Non-Voted Limit: $10.06 million

I wonder if this would have influenced FOTP’s decision on what park/recreation district model to choose??? The other two options would now have more than enough revenue and debt service. They would have to be voter approved and I believe FOTP would not want this hurdle of voter approval. That is sad.