If you’re one of the approximately 1,500 homeowners who live in the two main areas that could potentially be annexed by the Port of Tracyton then you won’t want to miss out on a very important meeting.

Port of Tracyton officials are hosting a Q & A session at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Tracyton United Methodist Church. They want to hear from those who will be voting in the Feb. 19 election on whether to become part of the port district. Not only will this vote affect those who will be incorporated into the district’s boundaries, but also those who use — or attempt to use — the deteriorated Tracyton boat launch or even those who enjoy watching the sunset from the shoreline.

A “yes” vote will help port officials vastly improve the Port of Tracyton area including the addition of picnic tables, benches and a boardwalk. A change that could help all area boaters is a widened, elevated all-tide boat ramp as well as increased parking. But for the port to move forward with these goals, they need a bigger tax base and many in the proposed annexation areas already frequent the port area.

The thought of increased taxes is enough to scare anyone away, but the average homeowner in the proposed area, with a home worth $300,000, will pay less than $10 a year in taxes should they vote to become annexed. The Port of Tracyton has the lowest tax rate of all the port districts in the state — 3 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

It is a greater gamble for homeowners in the proposed areas to vote “no” as there is a great risk of becoming annexed into the Port of Bremerton which has a much higher tax rate of 77 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The Port of Tracyton recently mailed out informational flyers to those who will vote next month. If you’re still one who is unsure about how you’ll vote, it’s worth the hour or so to find out all about the proposed annexation.