How can a town with a population of less than 11,000 afford to pay its city manager a salary and benefits approaching a quarter-million dollars annually, far exceeding that of Washington’s governor ($204,538)? How can the city council consider yet another salary hike when that salary has already jumped by 42% in five years?

John Mauro came to Port Townsend with no previous city-manager experience, while the previous manager, Dave Timmons, with four decades of total manager experience, left the office earning $155,168 annually. Notwithstanding inflation, these numbers don’t make fiscal sense.

The situation is all the more questionable in view of the unresolved kerfuffle around Mauro’s actual qualifications — per in-depth Leader reporting on his misleading padded resume, former Mayor Shirley’s call for an investigation, and the failure of council members involved in Mauro’s hiring to respond to inquiries on these matters. Many of the city’s streets are barely driveable, and funds are short for a variety of services, while the city faces a potential shortfall of $1.8 million in 2025 revenues. Families in PT and the wider unincorporated area are struggling to make ends meet and pay their hefty city fees and taxes. What has the manager done to address the needs that real people face and improve the workings of the city? How can the council justify drawing down city reserves to raise Mauro’s salary?

Noreen Parks

Port Townsend