The Bowman Museum in Prineville is asking residents to vote Nov. 6 in support of continuing a levy that helps fund maintenance, staff time and new pieces for its historical collection.

The four-year local option levy was first approved in 1998 and has been renewed four times — in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014. The levy has never been increased and collects 6 cents per $1,000 taxable assessed value. An owner of a home assessed at $200,000 would pay $12 per year.

Last year, the levy raised $124,000 for museum operations.

If passed again, the levy would raise about $139,000 next year and increase to about $165,000 in four years.

Jan Anderson, president of the Crook County Historical Society, which operates the museum, said the funds allow the museum to remain an asset to the region. Funds have helped the museum preserve a large community room for weddings and other gatherings and expand its permanent exhibit space, Anderson said.

“It’s a source of pride,” she said, “as well as entertainment and enjoyment.”

The museum averages about 10,000 visitors per year, including residents from the small communities across Crook County, such as Paulina and Post, who can learn about their towns’ history in the museum.

“They are very active in the museum because their history is there,” Anderson said.

The museum is in the old Crook County Bank and named after former mayor and banker A.R. Bowman. The Bowman family donated the building to the county in 1971 for use as a museum.

The levy funding represents at least one-third of the museum’s budget each year. The other funding is collected through donations, membership fees, grants and from a portion of Crook County’s general fund.

Without the levy, the museum would be forced to reduce its staff, hours and overall efforts to share the history of Crook County, Anderson said. The museum is staffed by two full-time employees and three part-time workers.

Each time the levy has been on the ballot, it has passed with a strong majority. It passed with about 67 percent of the vote in 2002 and about 84 percent in 2014. “We hope that it passes (now) with an even bigger percentage because that will make us feel so good,” Anderson said.

— Reporter: 541-617-7820, kspurr@bendbulletin.com