Submitted by the San Juan County Auditors Office

Voters in San Juan County will decide two local measures in the November election. (People who don’t vote won’t decide anything.)

On Lopez, the annual one-year levy for the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District will be on the ballot. The district is once again asking for $105,000 to support operations.

Countywide, voters will decide whether to impose a 0.5 percent real estate excise tax, or REET, on the sale of property within the county. The tax will be paid 99 percent by the buyer and 1 percent by the seller and will be used to support affordable housing efforts within the county.

To ensure an informed electorate, every district that puts a measure on the ballot is required to appoint committees to write arguments both for and against the measure. If a district is unable to appoint committees, that responsibility falls to the county auditor. Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District and San Juan County have appointed committees to write arguments in favor of their measures. Both have been unable to find writers in opposition to their measures. To that end, I am seeking people to write the “con” arguments for both local measures.

Anyone with an interest in writing an opposing argument, email mileneh@sanjuanco.com, or 360-370-7558, by Friday, Aug. 17. Up to three people (per measure) may be named as argument writers, though they may seek the assistance of as many people as needed. Statements are limited to 250 words.