Nobody enjoys paying taxes.

However, if we have to pay taxes — and we know that that is one of two inevitabilities in life — local taxes paid directly to institutions that have immediate local value are the best kind to pay.

With both measures 9-160 and 9-161 on the May 16 ballot, Sisters has the opportunity to renew local option levies that make a big difference in the quality of life for many of our citizens. You can see the impact of each of your tax dollars on the ground, right here in our hometown.

Measure 9-160 supports Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) in offering programs that benefit everyone from young children to seniors. The local option levy passed originally in 2018, and SPRD has demonstrated that it is a good steward of those dollars. SPRD had to battle its way through COVID for two of the intervening years. Renewing the local option now will give the District a chance to show what it can really do with the infusion of community financial support. Most importantly, it will be able to keep SPRD programs affordable for families.

The Sisters School District local option — which has been in place for 24 years — is vital to maintaining the programs that make Sisters exceptional. Local option dollars make up 10 percent of the school’s operating budget and fund approximately 14 teaching positions.

Sometimes it feels like our tax dollars are just thrown into a black hole, and we never really know what the return is on our investment. With these two local option measures, we can see our tax dollars at work every day, making our community better and stronger. That’s a smart investment, and an easy choice to make.

Vote yes on Measure 9-160 and 9-161.

Jim Cornelius

Editor-in-Chief

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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