Greenways tax would extend Bellingham levy that’s already been approved 4 times

Bellingham voters are being asked to extend a tax for parks and trails called the Greenways V levy, which allows the city to buy land for parks, open space and trails.

This will be the fifth version of the property tax, which was first enacted in 1990.

It asks for 41 cents for every $1,000 of assessed valuation and would raise $8.7 million annually for 10 years. That’s down from the current Greenways IV levy, which allowed “up to 50 cents” per $1,000.

For the owner of a $500,000 home, the new Greenways tax would cost $205 a year.

One-third of Bellingham’s 87-mile trail network was developed with Greenways money, according to the city’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Total park land is 3,273 acres, which includes substantial open space, Another 2,182 acres is included in Galbraith Mountain recreational easements for mountain biking and other uses.

All voting is by mail in Washington state. Ballots must be postmarked — not simply placed in the mail — by 8 p.m. Nov. 7 to be counted.

Ballots can also be placed in official ballot drop boxes that will be locked when polling closes.

Argument in favor

Over the past 33 years, the Greenways program has acquired or developed beloved public places such as the Taylor Street Dock, Cordata Community Park, Squalicum Creek Park, Whatcom Creek Trail, Fairhaven Village Green and Galbraith Mountain, local residents Neil Schaner, Susan Pollard and Jack Weiss wrote in a ballot statement supporting the tax.

“Voting yes ensures the continued support and expansion of our Greenways, but this levy is more than a continuation of the program. Greenways 5 emphasizes equity to balance our parks and trails system to serve everyone, urban trees to create a healthy and robust urban forest, and climate resiliency to ensure our Greenways are adapted to future climate changes to continue to provide service and comfort to our community,” they said in their statement.

Organizations that support the measure include the Whatcom Democrats, the Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition, the League of Women Voters, Recreation Northwest and Conservation Northwest.

Some $6,620 was raised in support of the measure, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Argument against

Opponents of the Greenways tax renewal want funding shifted to indoor recreational facilities such as swimming pools, ice rinks, senior centers and community centers.

“These facilities should be thought of as parks. The retreat of government and privatization of swimming pools and recreation has hurt minority groups the hardest. Swimming and other forms of indoor recreation have become exclusive activities due to the lack of public facilities, forcing the community to seek indoor activities outside of Whatcom County,” Brad Jones, Chris Fuhrman, and Linda Murphy said in their ballot statement against the measure.

“Every family should be able to have access to swim lessons, swim teams, lap swims and water exercise classes for health and wellness. That is not currently the case. We need to look at recreational facilities and programs, with the goal of providing well rounded services equitably across our community,” they said.