Manson,WA(MVT) - Jeanette Collins of the Manson Parks and Recreation District, would like to inform all voters about the upcoming vote for the Manson Parks levy.  The following is the letter in it's entirety:

October 23, 2007

A Letter to Manson Park and Recreation District Voters:

By now you have probably received your mail-in ballot for the November 6, 2007 General Election.  The ballots are due back to the Chelan County Elections Department postmarked no later than November 6th.  There are 2 important items on the ballot that will impact the current and future operation and development of the Manson Park and Recreation District.

The Manson Parks’ daily maintenance and operations budget is funded through a regular levy vote.  This levy vote is asking for funds to maintain and improve this system of parks for 2009-2011 in the form of approximately $.45/per $1000 of assessed valuation for 2009, increased by an additional 1% for 2010, and increased by an additional 1% for 2011.  Last year, you were presented with a similar levy vote for one year of operations – and 71.24 % of you voted YES to approve this levy.

The regular levy includes some funds for capital outlay, which has been deferred for several years.  The levy also helps the Manson Parks system keep a capital reserve of $50,000.  These funds cover unplanned expenses and emergencies, and will also be available for start-up costs for construction projects that may have partial funding from other sources (requiring matching funds, for example).

The second important issue presented for your consideration is an Advisory Measure for the proposed expansion and development of Manson Bay Park and Marina.  After a study of the Manson Bay Park and Marina area (the study was funded by Chelan County PUD), residents generally indicated enthusiastic and broad support for this future vision.  The Advisory Measure gives you the opportunity to indicate whether you would consider approving a 20-year bond issue in the future.

Some of the changes that would be funded by this bond, if approved in the future by you, the voters:

• Enhancement of the Old Swim Hole area, adding grass, trees and shrubs, and with the addition of a sidewalk, extending to our present day swimming area.

• Construction of a stable spot for landing of the Lady of the Lake, located away from the swimming area.

• Expansion of the Marina and purchase of land for parking to help residents and visitors to the park and marina as well as the downtown business area.

Millage for this bond issue, in today’s values, would be about $.24 per $1000; this rate will go down over the 20-year life of the bond as property valuation increases.  The 20-year bond issue would be for $1 Million (will not exceed $.24 per $1,000).

We, the Levy Committee, are asking you to vote YES for the regular levy for the continued maintenance and operation of our substantial Manson Parks System.  We would also encourage you to make your views known on the Advisory Measure, to give voter direction on the proposed expansion project for the Manson Bay Park and Marina.

Respectfully submitted by:

Levy Committee for the Manson Park and Recreation District

This Letter to Voters was paid for and endorsed by the Levy Committee for the Manson Park and Recreation District, Shannon Byquist-Freels, Chair.  Committee members are:  Bob Carleton, Jr., Jeanette Collins, Aniceto Guzman, Brett LaMar, Sandy Miller, Agustin Paloalto, Linda Stone, and Jarred Teague.