Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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closeAre we using the wrong decision model to come up with the wrong solution to the wrong problem with regards to regional facilities?
The decision model we have been using for nearly four years now is the Regional Facilities Needs Oversight Committee that is made up of city and public facilities district officials. No involvement by either the principal stakeholder -- the voting public -- nor community leaders outside of city government and the PFDs.
Up until recently their meetings were closed to the public. At the first public meeting, those in the audience were told they could listen, but could not speak to the Oversight Committee. Naturally the Oversight Committee prefers using the PFD approach, one that their own consultant described as "highly unlikely to succeed."
The "super PFD" approach has been shown to be 40 percent more costly than forming a voter-approved Metropolitan Park District with a maximum ad valorum tax rate of $0.50/thousand of assessed valuation. The MPD approach is more versatile as it can provide funds to operate, maintain, and improve our existing parks and build a performing arts facility.
These are things a "super PFD" cannot do under current state law. So where is the advantage to what the Oversight Committee is pursuing?
VICTOR EPPPERLY, Kennewick
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