First up, King County Proposition 1,
the King County Parks, Recreation, Trails
and Open Space Levy.
The King County Proposition 1 would replace
the expiring parks levy.
If approved,
this levy would raise $1.45 billion over six years
to support county and city park districts,
town parks, open space and trails,
recreation, public pools, and educational and civic venues,
and a levy oversight board.
The levy would also provide funding for Woodland Park Zoo,
the Seattle Aquarium, Memorial Stadium,
Seattle Waterfront Park, and the Pacific Science Center.
Funds would also be used for acquisition,
conservation, and stewardship
of additional open space and forests.
The levy authorizes an additional property tax
beginning in 2026
at just over 23 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
The owners of a home valued at $844,000
would pay $16.38 per month the first year.
The rate would be adjusted annually
for the next five years,
using the King County inflation plus population index
or the chapter 84.55 RCW limitation,
whichever is greater.
State law exempts qualifying seniors,
veterans, and disabled persons from paying this tax.
-Hi, I'm Rod Dembowski, King County Council member,
and I'm thrilled to speak with you
today about the importance of renewing our
King County parks levy.
It's Proposition 1 on your August ballot.
This measure renews funding for more than 250 parks,
play fields, swimming pools,
and hands-on learning destinations
all over the county.
Your vote will fund essential maintenance,
update our restrooms and playgrounds,
expand ball fields and sport courts,
provide programs for families,
and improve public safety with additional park rangers.
Proposition 1 builds on over two decades
of successful levies
and will cost the average homeowner
around $2.50 more a month than the expiring levy.
It really is a small investment in our health,
our environment, and quality of life.
These investments are independently audited
for accountability, with annual public reporting
from the Parks Oversight Committee.
In crafting this proposal,
King County prioritized healthy and safe places
to play and to learn.
Our parks, our playgrounds, our ball fields,
trails, and swimming pools are essential places
for kids to play and learn, to swim,
and for our communities to gather, recreate,
and enjoy nature.
As this region continues to grow,
it's essential that we act now to preserve
and protect our last great forests, farmlands,
open spaces, and waterways.
This levy protects these treasured landscapes
and provides a model for climate action.
Your yes vote makes all of this happen,
and that's why so many leaders have endorsed
the proposal: Executive Shannon Braddock,
mayors from the county all over, the Nature Conservancy,
the Trust for Public Land, the Trails Association,
the zoo and the aquarium,
Mountains to Sound Greenway, the League of Women Voters,
the Parks Foundation, Splash Forward,
the Play Equity Coalition, and many more.
Please vote yes on your August ballot
for King County Proposition 1 for more parks,
more trails, more pools, and more play fields.
Thank you.
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