How do you expect the Kirkland City Manager to generate a sustainable budget if you approve the expenditure or $225,000 for a park when the money could be used to pay for the capital facilities in the CIP needed for annexation facilities? As Councilmember Sternoff noted, we need to stop doing business as usual if we are to have a sustainable budget. If you approve this expenditure without changing priorities in the CIP needed in bad economic times, you will be doing business as usual. Parks don’t need the money. Many other essential facilities do.

Being eligible for a 50 percent reimbursement makes it an opportunity cost. If people who managed their own budgets did what you propose, they would go broke saving money. You are adding debt when the money could be used to reduce our debt. Spend the money on what you need in the CIP. Parks are nice, but should not wag the dog especially now.

Robert L. Style, Kirkland