No, the South Whidbey School District does not plan to build an aquatic center.
The Island County Auditor’s Office inadvertently printed the wrong explanatory statement for the schools’ replacement levy for educational programs and operations in the Island County voters’ pamphlet.
County officials are mailing corrections to voters in the district, according to a press release published Tuesday.
On page 82 of the printed guide, what should have been a description of the replacement levy was erroneously replaced with the explanatory statement of a ballot measure that won with a 61% vote in the 2023 election. That ballot measure allowed the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District to issue a bond of up to $27 million to finance an aquatic recreation center.
Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider did not respond to a request for comment.
According to the corrected statement, the school replacement levy would replace an expiring levy that supports educational programs and operation costs that are partially or not funded by the state, like teaching, school supplies, technology, athletics, buildings and transportation.
If this measure is approved, the district would collect 43 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value in 2026, 41 cents per $1,000 in 2027 and 39 cents per $1,000 in 2028. Each year, the levy would accrue $3.9 million, $4 million and $4.1 million.
Homeowners who meet certain income requirements, have a disability or are age 61 or older might qualify for exemptions. For more information about exemptions, call the Island County Assessor at 360-679-7303.
This isn’t the first time the county has made a similar mistake. Last year, Langley City Council candidate Chris Carlson found out that his candidate statement had been replaced with a statement from Coupeville Mayor Molly Hughes, who was running for reelection. Despite the initial confusion, both Carlson and Hughes won the voters’ favor.
According to a News-Times story published last year, Crider said the mistake happened because staff used a new software program to put the guide together, and Hughes’ statement was pasted into the wrong place.
