As the Tri-Cities Regional Public Facilities District board searches for projects ("Consultant to evaluate public facilities," Herald, Feb. 10), Tri-Citians should note that "The state Senate has passed a bill that would allow Wenatchee to impose a sales tax increase without a public vote to help rescue the Town Toyota Center from default," Wenatchee World, Feb 10.
The Town Toyota Center is owned by the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facility District (PFD) and is currently in default on nearly $42 million. Senate bill SSB5984 could establish a precedent for "rescuing" poor-performing PFD projects statewide.
The Tri-Cities Regional PFD board is considering placing a sales tax increase on a future ballot to pay for one or more projects recommended by the $24,500 consultant. A 0.1 percent sales tax increase is proposed, even though the projects and costs are yet to be determined. The tax increase would apply to everyone who buys taxable items in the three cities.
I object to the assumptions that the Tri-Cities shall have a project no matter which one, and that taxpayers shall fund it no matter how, e.g. SSB5984. Special taxing districts, in general, exhibit many characteristics of self-congratulatory civic clubs.
TIMOTHY DOVE, West Richland
