Gig Harbor Community Member

Letter to the Editor | Sales, B&O taxes are more equitable options

Apr 09, 2024

Gig Harbor voters are being asked to approve a permanent levy lid lift on property taxes. We are told that there has been no levy increase in over forty years, that in the last decade our population has increased 65%, placing a strain on city services. We’re told that in the last decade the property

Letter to the Editor | Anti-lid lift arguments inaccurate and misleading

Apr 09, 2024

On the evening of April 2, 2024, I attended a meeting sponsored by Engage Gig Harbor to learn more about the Gig Harbor Proposition 1, the “Levy Lid Lift”. Passage of this measure would allow the City Council to Increase Gig Harbor Property taxes from the current rate of $0.70/$1,000 to a maximum of $1.10/$1,000.

Letter to the Editor | PenMet is part of what makes Gig Harbor great

Apr 08, 2024

As a mom, constituent, and PenMet Parks district taxpayer, I feel compelled to stand up against the recent comments directed at our local parks department leadership. For the past three years I have jumped in with both feet with the goal of learning about the Peninsula Metropolitan Parks Department: how the organization is operated, its

Letter to the Editor | City made its own spending problem

Apr 05, 2024

The City has a spending problem of its own making. That problem is at the root of the City’s complaint that it is experiencing a deficit in its General Fund. It reports that it is experiencing a 2 million dollar shortfall in its General Fund and proposes to solve this problem by burdening Gig Harbor

Letter to the Editor | Kiwanis starts new service club for adults with disabilities

Apr 05, 2024

Members of Kiwanis Club of Gig Harbor and volunteers from several community organizations are introducing a new club for adults with disabilities in the Gig Harbor area. It’s called AKtion Club, and it is a community service club for adults with developmental disabilities The purpose of AKtion Club is to enable service-minded people to volunteer

Letter to the Editor | City general fund needs additional revenue

Apr 05, 2024

Like many of you, I’ve been talking with lots of folks in our community about the revenue shortfalls facing the city. I thought it was time to get the facts out more broadly than my many one-on-one conversations. I hope once you better appreciate the situation you’ll understand the importance of the vote April 23.

Letter to the Editor | Is the DeMolay Sandspit really ‘developed’ property?

Apr 02, 2024

The PenMet Board, at its last meeting, and Steve Nixon in an email to a resident living in the district both stated that the newly adopted Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Nature Preserve Master Plan is a plan simply to improve on what is already “developed” land.  That seems to be contradictory to the property’s name (which

Letter to the Editor | Concerns about PenMet leadership

Apr 01, 2024

As with many other folks in the greater Gig Harbor area, I am increasingly concerned about the direction of the current PenMet Parks leadership, with respect to the size & scope of recent levy proposals (reference the proposed 30% increase last November 2023 that fortunately failed), and now the most current proposal being studied for

Letter to the Editor | Options for the April 23 property tax proposition

Mar 29, 2024

Dear Gig Harbor neighbors, I’ve been answering a lot of questions about the proposed Property tax increase you will see on your April 23 ballot. Proposition 1 will be on the April 23 ballot for your Gig Harbor Citizens’ vote. The proposition asks property owners to vote to increase your Gig Harbor property taxes 57%

Letter to the Editor | More options for ADA compliance in parks

Mar 28, 2024

I read with interest the letter from Craig McLaughlin regarding the Fox Island Sandspit Park. I agree, less intrusion into this natural area, less expense and construction traffic in the area is desirable. I think there may be many more options for ADA compliance in our parks. There are several assistive Off-road wheelchair devices that