In July, the Mercer Island City Council adopted an ordinance to place a parks levy lid lift on the Nov. 8 general election ballot a full year early.

King County Elections released its early results at 8:15 p.m. on Nov. 8 and the Proposition 1 levy renewal is passing with 62.97% of the votes. A simple majority is required for passage, and if the favorable percentage holds, the 16-year levy will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023.

City Manager Jessi Bon gave a thumbs up with her thoughts after eyeing the initial results: “These early results represent a strong endorsement from our community for vibrant, well-maintained, and accessible parks and public spaces. A successful levy will allow us to make important investments and continue needed maintenance across the Island’s most popular amenities — as an Islander and your city manager, it’s exciting to see such robust support so far.”

If voters reject the proposition, the current levy will remain standing and the city could possibly repackage the renewal for placement on a 2023 ballot, according to a Reporter story from June.

According to pro and con statements submitted by several residents and included in the voters’ pamphlet, “This parks levy will provide for care of our city parks and open spaces,” and “Why vote another levy that begins January 2023 at 66% more per year than the current levy?”

The Yes to MI Parks volunteer citizens committee included John Hamer, Ashley Hay, Marie Bender and Michael Curry. Hamer discussed the hard-working Island residents’ campaign: “Signs, fliers, stickers, website, emails and texts all helped — plus two big ads in the Reporter. Everyone loves our parks, and this new levy will keep them in the best possible shape for many years to come.”

The replacement parks levy — which funds, in part, parks and open spaces operations and maintenance, Luther Burbank Park, forest restoration at Pioneer Park and Engstrom Open Space and playground replacements — made its way toward the ballot after Bon said the city’s diligence in finalizing the PROS (Parks, Recreation and Open Space) Plan helped inform her recommendation to council in June.

According to a city report, voters’ approval will increase the levy from $980,122 in 2022 to $1,629,322 in 2023 and sets the maximum city property tax levy rate at $0.862/$1,000 for 2023. A previous Reporter story noted that an owner of a median-valued $2,375,000 home will pay an estimated $18.94 per month in 2023 if the levy is approved. That’s an estimated $7.55 more per month coming out of residents’ pockets this year.

General election results will be certified on Nov. 29.