Voters have an important one: a six-year tax levy to maintain country parks, trails and open space.

The measure – Proposition No. 1 – deserves a strong “yes” vote.

The six-year levy on the ballot provides 70 percent of the money the county needs to maintain its 200 parks, 175 miles of trails and thousands of acres of open space. It includes the magnificent Marymoor Park in Bellevue’s backyard, Cougar Mountain Park near Issaquah and hundreds more regional and smaller parks throughout King County. There’s also money in the levy to buy more open space and develop more trails. About 20 percent of the money goes to help support the Woodland Park Zoo.

The county raises the rest of the money through such revenue sources such as Cirque du Soleil at Marymoor and ballfield rentals.

Too often we take our parks for granted: they’re always there and available. But that won’t be the case if Proposition No. 1 fails.

In 2002, King County had to cut parks and recreation from its budget because of a financial crisis.There hasn’t been any general fund money for parks for the past 10 years.

In 2004, voters approved a one-year parks levy and did so again in 2007. That levy is up for renewal again.

Today, a homeowner pays 13.4 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Translated, it means the owner of a home assessed at $500,000 pays about $67 a year to maintain the county’s parks. The new levy – 18.77 cents per $1,000 – would cost the owner of that $500,000 home about $94. That’s $27 a year more, or just a bit over $2 a month.

For a couple of bucks more a month, we’ll all be able to continue enjoying the county’s wide array of parks and recreational benefits.

Vote “yes” on King County Proposition No. 1.