I love South Lake Tahoe; it’s the greatest community ever. I was lucky enough to have been born and raised here. Growing up on the south shore made me the person I am today. That is why I have dedicated my adult life to giving back to the community by serving as a City Council member and Mayor, volunteering to help build Ski Run Community Park, picking up litter on our beaches, and volunteering with our local non-profits.
I give back to the community because this is the town that raised me. A major part of my childhood was shaped by the community’s investment in our town thanks to Measure S, originally passed by voters in 2000. Without Measure S, I would never have learned how to ice skate, played soccer at the Community Playfields, caught fish with my brother at Paradise Park, or safely ridden my bike to friends’ houses.
The original Measure S expires soon, and without Measure G, which is on the June 2 ballot, the next generation of Tahoe kids may not have had the same experience growing up here as I did.
The best part of Measure G is that it is not a new tax. It simply extends the existing Measure S special parcel tax ($18 per year for single-family residences since 2000) for property owners within the Lake Tahoe Unified School District boundary in South Shore. Beginning in 2031, the Measure G tax will increase by no more than 63 cents per year to keep up with inflation and rising maintenance costs.
As a special tax, the City and County can only spend the money on what voters approve, to maintain our paths, parks, and playfields. There is also public oversight by the South Lake Tahoe Recreation JPA and the independent Bicycle Advisory Committee.
Let’s do what our community has always done and invest in our future. If you live between Echo Summit and Stateline, please join me in voting yes on Measure G on June 2. Learn more at www.MeasureGTahoe.com.
-Devin Middlebrook, South Lake Tahoe