Election time is here again! The “Local Option Levy,” which helps fund the Bowman Museum, is once again up for renewal in the November election. Here is a brief explanation of the Levy, which is on the ballot every four years.

The Bowman Museum and Historical Society are funded three ways. One source of income is a small percent of the County’s general fund. Another source comes from memberships, gift shop sales, grants, and donations.

The third source of income is the Levy which will give us 10 cents per thousand dollars of taxable assessed property valuation. For instance, the Levy will cost an owner $20/year for a home with a $200,000 taxable assessed value. With each election the Levy has passed by an increasingly larger percentage, which means a lot of you enjoy the museum and its many offerings.

The museum hopes to continue providing the community room free of charge after hours. The room is heavily used for parties, class reunions, programs, special meetings, etc. The lecture series in May and October are always interesting and well-attended. The museum-sponsored tours are frequently full and wonderfully guided by historian Steve Lent. There are many school class field trips to the museum, especially in the spring. Caboose Park is completed, and the site of the old Hans building will soon be home to a brand-new exhibits center!

We want remind everyone that you will be asked to vote on our Local Option Levy in November, and we hope it will be a “Yes” vote. We would also appreciate any financial support to help publish ads in the Central Oregonian, Round-Up and Central Oregon Rancher. Donations can be made here: DONATE NOW!

We also provide “Vote Yes” signs for placement around the County. (Please contact us to order your lawn sign.)