Approve SPRD local option

Sisters voters should support the Sisters Park & Recreation District local option levy, Measure 9-120.

The District has seen a lot of turnover, and it would be easy to demand more stability out of the organization before committing to an increase in its tax base. But a good part of the reason for the instability is that the tax base is so paltry. It's difficult to attract and retain quality employees in an environment where they're continually asked to do more with inadequate resources. That's a recipe for burnout.

Paying more in taxes is never an attractive proposition - even when the amount (15 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation) comes to no more than the cost of a coffee drink per month for most folks. In the case of SPRD or the schools, the money has immediate and real impact on the ground in our own community. Keeping programs accessible to all, maintaining our investment in facilities and expanding program offerings to meet growing and more diverse needs is a worthy way to invest in our local community.

SPRD's original tax base of 22 cents per $1,000 started the district off underfunded back in 1998, and it's done a remarkable job of fundraising and creating events to sustain its programs. It's past time to put SPRD on solid financial footing, to enable it to realize its potential to serve the Sisters community.

Jim Cornelius

Editor in Chief