PORT TOWNSEND — Both Jefferson County and city of Port Townsend officials hope that an agreement concerning Memorial Field and the Port Townsend Community Center will lead to more cooperation between the two entities in regard to other recreational facilities.
“We are looking to have a more efficient administration of all facilities by putting them under one umbrella,” County Administrator Philip Morley said Wednesday.
“The city and the county will work together to provide a comprehensive program.”
Morley and Port Townsend City Manager David Timmons will meet today to craft a working draft of an agreement for the maintenance of Memorial Field and the Port Townsend Community Center.
The agreement would be funded by a proposed sales tax — if voters approve the measure on the November ballot.
Morley said that a maintenance agreement to support these two facilities could be a selling point for voters.
“If people know what they are getting and see that the city and county are working together to provide services, they may be more inclined to vote for the tax increase,” he said.
The measure would increase the Jefferson County sales tax rate from the present 8.4 percent to 8.7 percent, or three cents for every $10 purchase.
Forty percent of the tax increase revenue, projected to be $1,062,000, would, by law, go to the city of Port Townsend.
The rest would help balance the county’s budget, which is projected to have a $900,000 revenue shortfall in 2011.
If approved, the tax increase would take effect April 1.
The agreement’s short-term goal is to supply emergency funding for Memorial Field and the Port Townsend Community Center.
The finished draft of the agreement will be presented to county commissioners on Monday.
The City Council is expected to consider it either on Monday or on Sept. 20.
In the tentative agreement, Port Townsend commits to spend half of the revenue that would be generated by the proposed tax increase to support the two properties for four years.
Timmons said that, during those four years, city officials hope to develop new options to provide a more permanent revenue source for the parks, since the tax money could be needed elsewhere.
“We will need $80 million for road projects over the next few years,” he said.
If the measure is defeated, the county would have to find other ways to make up its budget shortfall.
State law requires that one-third of the funds generated from this category of sales tax increase be allocated to public safety, and 40 percent of the funds go to local municipalities.
The county is asking the city to use the discretionary portion of these funds to support the recreational facilities.
Memorial Field has been maintained by volunteers. A new, privately-funded, sprinkler system was installed last month. Future projects are installing new fences and a new roof on the stands.
In the community center, although the senior citizen portion of the community center is open, a downstairs area once used as a place for young people to go before and after school is now closed.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
