The letter from the Kirkland Parks and Community Services Director that appeared in the Sept. 25 issue of the Kirkland Reporter states, in part: “The estimated revenue for the ARC [Aquatics, Recreation and Community Center] will cover 104 percent of annual operating costs, including funding a healthy replacement reserve account.”

The business plan details behind the financial summary in the report Ms. Schroder cited are not generally available and there are many open questions about the assumptions and conclusions. Let’s take it at face value and see how it supports an “against” vote on Prop 1.

City Council members, city officials and representatives of the “Pro” campaign for Prop. 1 have been telling Kirkland that aquatic centers throughout the county, state and nation require continuous taxpayer support to cover the cost of inevitable expensive maintenance. We have been told that Prop. 1 is imperative because it gives the City Council access to a conveniently adjustable flow of taxpayer money needed to cover maintenance expenses and yearly operational subsidies. We hear this at neighborhood meetings and read this in a guest editorial in the Kirkland Reporter, in Letters to the Editor, and in online forums.

The letter from the parks director tells us that the proposed ARC would provide its own reserve fund for maintenance work and it is also estimated to be profitable, returning 4 cents of profit for every $1 in expenses. The parks director assures us that zero ongoing taxpayer dollars are actually needed for maintenance and operation. She informs us that the City Council has nothing to worry about.

Thanks to Ms. Schroder’s letter and assurances of ARC profitability by other city officials, Kirkland now knows that the MPD is unnecessary and that vote “against” Prop. 1 is clearly the prudent way to support an aquatic center.

A park district and its taxes last forever and voters have no voice. Bond taxes disappear when the bond is paid off.

Get an aquatic center using a regular fixed-cost bond and retain your control of parks taxes. Vote “against” Prop. 1.

Ken MacKenzie, Kirkland