Letters to the Editor

Shoreline budget

Let’s cut expenses before raising taxes

I recently attended the Shoreline City Council retreat, one of three members of the public that attended. I was impressed with the thoroughness of the staff presentation.

They showed the city would shortly be in a deficit condition and presented opinions to the council. Each council member was given an opportunity to present their solutions. Much to my sorrow, Mayor Ransom and councilmen Gustafson, Hansen and McGlashan did not suggest any way to reduce cost of city government, they only looked for ways to increase fees or taxes. Deputy Mayor Fimia and councilwomen Ryu and Way suggested many ways to reduce costs. They suggested reducing city government travel, lodging, dues, memberships and training by 10 percent. I was horrified that the city has over $450,000 OK’d for this category and those four council members are unwilling to consider a mere 10 percent reduction in this area. Even in training, I think they should try thinking outside the box and see if they can’t squeeze it down and still get the needed training done.

I agree with Deputy Mayor Fimia and councilwomen Ryu and Way that before we consider raising only taxes and fees, the council needs to conduct a rigorous cost benefit analysis of the budget, especially of the nonessentials.

If that takes longer than three meetings, then so be it. We really need to do this right and we need to start insisting that all levels of government practice this cost review.

I would like to suggest the following items for the public’s consideration:

1. We ask the council to limit any increases to 1 percent in any category. Why max out and end up running a surplus that can be used in other areas? Let’s phase in the increases at 1 percent per year and the next year, if necessary, increase it again.

2. That we all oppose the double taxation that is currently taking place. For example, our cable bill tax would go up $34 per year, and we will also have to pay a fee on this cable bill.

There are several other cases where this doubling is proposed or taking place. This seems to me to be grossly unfair. What do the rest of you folks feel about this?

H Pat Murray

Shoreline

Shoreline schools

Has the decision already been made?

Are we being Delphied?

“The goal of the Delphi technique is to lead a targeted group of people to a predetermined outcome, while giving the illusion of taking public input and under the pretext of being accountable to the public. For the Delphi to work, it is critical that the targeted group be kept away from knowledgeable people who could lead them away from the Delphier’s predetermined outcome.” (http://www.iror.org/delphi.asp)

I am a parent in the Shoreline Schools and before this school closure process began, I had never heard of the Delphi technique. But, I am being bombarded by the thought of this technique being used to determine school closures and the direction of this school district.

Let’s look at the evidence.

• There was closure buzz about Sunset and North City last spring, before DACPO met. Many came directly from internal Shoreline transportation staff and administration.

• No one from North City, Sunset, Room 9 or HEE had representation on the DACPO committee that made the closure recommendations.

• We have heard repeated reports of school board members and Sue Walker herself communicating negatively about members of the closing school’s communities.

• We continually heard “We don’t have that information, or that information is not available at this time.” How can a fair and proper decision be made without all the facts?

• The criteria used to rank schools was questionable. Of all the criteria available, the ones used put North City and Sunset in the bottom three schools, when other criteria would have raised those schools higher on the list.

• A committee is currently meeting to redraw boundaries creating our “nine new communities” when the decision to close schools has not technically been made yet.

And, the final consideration is that during this entire hearing process, every presentation that has been made is immediately negated. It’s as if they already have a plan. It feels as if we are going through the motions with this 90 day process, but in the end, the decision has already been made.

Are we being Delphied? At the end of the 90 day process, you can be the judge.

Tracey Warren

Shoreline