We read Fred Obee’s opinion column in the May 24 Leader. We have the same concerns.

Our city officials and council seem to be pushing an expensive new pool facility and “wellness center,” as well as infrastructure upgrades at the golf course. The proposed funding for these projects looks like sleight of hand to us.

No matter what spin is put on it, the cost of these projects will burden those who can least afford them. We already have hundreds of millions of dollars in deferred infrastructure spending: sewers, streets and water system piping replacement among them. We have been told that these proposed projects are not a done-deal. But the city has already spent tens of thousands on consultants for these projects. And the opinion surveys which have been made available to the public do not have an option which allows one to oppose the projects altogether, which is telling. 

So we don’t believe what we are being told. If the city had told us what these projects will cost each of us in the end and then asked us to vote on them, we expect that they would be soundly rejected. We think the council and the relative few who support these projects know this, which is why they are going ahead without really asking. 

Just to pay for repairing/replacing our sewers, streets and water system piping will cost every adult in town well over $20,000. And that doesn’t include interest. Do you want to add another $40 million to $60 million to that burden, not to mention millions every year in ongoing maintenance of that new infrastructure? We don’t!

The point is not that these aren’t swell ideas, but that we are pricing local workers and young families out of PT.

Lynda and Niles Powell

PORT TOWNSEND