Voters last week learned details of a levy that helps run operations of the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District, which includes the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool.

“We think we have a wonderful asset in the community,” Craig Carlson, Park District director, said during Thursday’s Candidates Night sponsored by the Whidbey Island League of Women Voters.

The Park District is running a six-year, 18 cent per $1,000 assessed property value levy on the Sept. 20 ballot to replace the one that expires at the end of the year. Carlson said if a property owner has a $200,000 home, then they would pay $36 a year for the levy.

He said the community has always approved the levy and the money is needed to help the district maintain the high level of service presently available.

In addition to the pool operations, the North Whidbey Park and Recreation District operates the off leash dog area at Clover Valley Park, baseball and softball programs at Clover Valley Park, and swimming and water safety lessons.

Carlson was asked whether the levy money will go toward the operations of the proposed indoor tennis facility. He said the Park and Recreation commissioners currently haven’t included funding for tennis operations in the district’s long-term plan. That was the only question asked to Carlson.

Over the past five years, the levy rate has decreased for property owners within the district. From 2000 to 2003, the rate stood at 20 cents per $1,000 assessed property value. In 2004, that number declined to 18 cents and then dropped to 17 cents in 2005.

Voters will decide to continue paying the levy during the Sept. 20 mail-in primary election.

Carlson encouraged people to come out and vote because 40 percent of the people who voted in the last election need to participate in the upcoming one for it to be valid. It’s a mail-only election, and ballots should be in the mail this week. The measure needs 60 percent support to pass.