Your story, “City faces ‘bleak’ financial future,” begs for a response.
We desperately need a mayor who can manage a city and a budget. We need a business person. Property taxes have recovered from the recession. Sales taxes and license tab fees are at an all-time high. The Kent Station barely has a parking space and is bringing in B&O taxes. Revenue is healthy.
It is the spending that needs to be managed. The City Council spent $950,000 with zero benefit to get out of a bad park sale when the city wasn’t smart or transparent. The city sold the par 3 course at a time when golf fans say they want shorter courses that take less time than 18 holes. The ShoWare Center continues to lose money, yet the city practically gave away the people’s land to build it.
For all of these poor city decisions, it raised the mayor’s salary by $35,808 and appointed more city staff.
This upcoming election is critical. Kent has big city problems of crime, transportation and increasing needs for services. These issues have to be managed within a budget.
My vote is for Jim Berrios. He has managed the Golden Steer restaurant, making it not only profitable in a difficult industry but charitable enough to help the less fortunate of Kent. He has given years of pragmatic and analytical service to our city. Let’s select a businessman who can manage a budget and support the people. Elections have consequences. Kent needs a competent city manager and a fiscally responsible mayor.
Vote for Jim Berrios.
– Sally A. Ross
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