Residents of Inverness have the only issue up to vote on in all of West Marin in next week’s election. Measure G would allow the Inverness Public Utility District to keep the entirety of the property taxes it collects, which this year amounts to over $430,000. If the measure fails, the district will have to send about $45,000 of those taxes to the county due to a state law—Prop 13, passed by voters in 1978—that limits the amount of tax revenue government entities can keep, a limit determined each year by the governor. Since 2003, Inverness residents have approved requests from IPUD to raise the cap. Other potential election issues—including seats on seven boards throughout West Marin—will not appear on the ballot because none are contested; candidates will automatically win. In two races, not enough people filed to run by the Aug. 9 deadline so the Board of Supervisors stepped in. In Stinson Beach, only two people initially applied to run for three seats on the Fire Protection Board. But four people subsequently applied to be selected by supervisors to fill the remaining seat. The board appointed Jeffrey Walsh on Oct. 20. Supervisor Steve Kinsey noted fire protection services are vital in unincorporated West Marin, and praised the residents’ civic involvement, particularly as he has seen the number of permanent Stinson residents drop from 600 to 250 since he was elected in 1996. “It’s really quite gratifying to see how many members of the community that remain are interested and willing to serve on the fire board,” he said. However, no one has yet stepped forward to fill two empty seats on the board of the Tomales Village Community Services District, which is in charge of the town’s wastewater. The town, which also has a declining number of permanent residents, took over the management of its community sewer system and park over a decade ago. Recently the sole administrative position, which was held by Karl Drexel since 1999, has been divvied up into three part-time jobs. Supervisors cannot appoint someone until they volunteer. If the board seats go unfilled the town could face “very serious” consequences from regulators, as well as the Local Agency Formation Commission, over time, Supervisor Kinsey said. He added that he plans to speak with the community and encourage them to apply. “This is somewhat disconcerting,” Supervisor Kinsey said. “I intend to go and talk to the community specifically…about the privilege they have to take on this responsibility.”