PORT ORCHARD — The proposal to create a park district for Kingston’s Village Green is officially bound for the August primary ballot.
The Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution Monday night calling for the park district proposition to be included in the Aug. 17 election. The proposition was supported by a petition signed by 15 percent of voters in the proposed district, so the commission vote was merely a formality to ensure its inclusion on the ballot, said Senior Deputy Prosecutor Alan Miles, who is handling the logistics of the proposition for the county.
An issue regarding the wording of the measure needs to be ironed out before it reaches the ballot.
The resolution approved by county commissioners Monday mentioned Village Green park only in its title. It does not mention what the levy money will be intended for.
Village Green Foundation Executive Director Bobbie Moore said the 1,250 petition signers were told the money would be dedicated to the Village Green community center.
“I feel strongly that the measure in the ballot needs to reflect what was on the petitions,” Moore said.
The county prosecutor’s office will finalize the proposition language this week, and Miles said there’s some room for negotiation.
“We have a few more days now before that resolution needs to be finalized,” Miles said.
The deadline is also nearing for candidates to file for a five-member board that would oversee the park district if the proposal passes. The board will also be elected on Aug. 17 and candidates must file before June 11. If the park district measure fails, the board election will be voided.
The Village Green Foundation has been recruiting potential board candidates and Moore said she’s confident enough people will file to fill the seats.
The district would support maintenance and programs at a community center building planned for the county-owned Village Green park off West Kingston Road.
It could levy a property tax of $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed home value. During the petition campaign, organized by the Village Green Foundation, supporters said they would only need $0.10 to $0.15 per $1,000 of assessed value to cover the community center’s operating expenses.
“The issue all along has been if they build a community center, how are they going to pay for it? Because it’s clear the county doesn’t have the money,” County Commissioner Steve Bauer said. “I think they’ve looked at all their options.”
The community center will include activity and meeting space, a Kitsap Regional Library branch and a Boys and Girls Club. The Village Green Foundation is still raising construction money for the building.
If approved, the Village Green district would be the first metropolitan park district in unincorporated Kitsap County.
