There will be a few things left over before some of the Kirkland City Council members leave office. They will have to adopt a budget. I don’t envy the council because it will be a tough choice. I would hope they keep the services to the citizens high and our taxes low. In order to do that, cuts must be made of non-essential services. One assistant in the manager’s office equals three people that could serve the citizens.

I hope the council’s search for a new city manager will finalize after the new council members take office. Why? Deputy Mayor Joan McBride is on the selection committee. She wants a city manager that is active in regional affairs instead of wanting a city manager that serves Kirkland. Ms. McBride has promoted the export of city dollars to finance regional affairs. Instead of keeping the money in Kirkland, she exports it. It would be appropriate for the council to admonish Ms. McBride for actions that do not benefit the city and remove her from the city manager selection committee.

Regional concerns benefit the region. It is questionable if they benefit Kirkland. We are paying for flood control in other districts, yet we’re paying for our own surface water management. It adds to our cost if we subsidize a cost that should be paid for by those affected by flooding. We’re paying for a new sewer in Woodinville that is millions in overrun. Our sewer rates went up to pay for it even though our sewage goes to Renton. We paid for a Metro train we’ll never see. Our sales tax is now 9.5 percent and 10 percent is paying for prepared foods. How much more will we pay because Ms. McBride wants us to support her special interests?

It’s time she put Kirkland first instead of using us as a sacrificial lamb to pay for something that benefits someone else besides the citizens of Kirkland. Ms. McBride should not be on the manager’s selection committee.

Robert Style is a longtime Kirkland resident.