Comparing the facts of the ShoWare Center vs. the money being asked for the new public safety building, ShoWare was listed in 2008 at $68 million, $30 million was to come from the state, $38 million from the property owning taxpayer.
In 2009, that figure was then increased and listed at $78 million. At the end when it opened in 2010 it was listed at $84.5 million, adding about $1.5-2 million in losses since then the real tag is about $86.5 million at 154,770 square feet equals $558 a square foot, beginning at $439 a square foot.
The city is asking the taxpayer for almost $700 a square foot just four years later to build a simple two-story office building to house 200-250 employees.
I never did see an article detailing the final funding for the ShoWare, nor did I see the city compensate the kids in Kent for the land they took from them for alternative sports fields. The city has this hanging and they want $34 more million. They are getting enough taxpayer money to have put aside this requirement they should have seen coming years prior.
No more emotional pleas for safety. How about some common business sense with priorities? No on Prop A.
– Craig Dougherty
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