The San Juan County Land Bank has proven its worth under current state law. Its enabling law allows the land bank to protect special places that feature open space, working farmland, scientific or educational attributes, wildlife or important plant habitat, historic structures, shoreline access, potable water sources and/or public access by trails.

It has been suggested that other worthy local needs could be satisfied by a new state law that the legislature could enact in the future if we did not renew the land bank real estate excise tax this fall. We do not recommend this. We know how long it takes to get the legislature to enact or amend any law – years. We also know it is unlikely any new law would come out close to the original proposal.

Let’s continue the good work of the land bank while we work together on other worthy and important local issues. We believe that the conservation real estate excise tax should be renewed as it exists. We’re voting “Yes” on San Juan County Proposition 1.

The land bank has more work to do. Orcas Island has only one mile of public access to the shoreline.  Working farmland with its open space is our heritage, especially on San Juan and Lopez Islands. Historic places and structures will be lost without preservation. Abundant wildlife is at the heart of our rural county, and habitat protection is the key. Land bank wetlands and woodlands do just that. Public access to natural places is critical to our future to ensure San Juan County can attract the businesses and residents who make our rural communities so vibrant culturally and economically.

The land bank has proven it works to benefit all of us regardless of where we live; keep it going by voting “Yes” for San Juan County Proposition 1 to renew the 1 percent conservation real estate excise tax.

Mary & Dave Zeretzke

San Juan Island