While the efforts of islanders during the past four years to rescue Winslow from the wrecking ball and from being transformed into “Anywhere USA” might reasonably have thrown any news reporter off the scent, there is a bigger story.
The current news around the island is not about anyone trying to “scuttle” $6 million of grant money to enhance the commercial infrastructure of Winslow Way from Ericksen to Madison as reported by Mr. Roach (Feb. 13). Rather, it’s about the belief that our city is broke, out of cash, teetering on the edge of insolvency and close to default.
The real issue is the money. The city’s year-end cash balance for 2002 was a comfortable $9.3 million. As expenditures escalated under Mayor Kordonowy’s watch, the 2008 year-end cash balance dwindled to $1.7 million, while the $3-4 million spent on Winslow Way consultants and fanfare dealt a body blow to the city’s financial health.
Our city is out of cash. To tide the city over, on Feb. 11 the council voted 4-to-3 to authorize a $600,000 “interfund loan” to the general fund from the city water utility, with no “by your leave” from the 2,200 water-utility ratepayers. While the city may intend to pay it back by December 2009, there is no assurance that city revenue will allow a pay-back in our down-spiraling economy.
Then there’s Winslow Tomorrow, aka “Winslow XXX.” Bottomline, the funding for the infrastructure upgrades that benefit only Winslow Way commercial property owners (not to be confused with Winslow business owners, many of whom rent their space) depends on utility ratepayers.
Currently, $2.3 million is scheduled to come from 1,800 sewer ratepayers, $1.7 million from 2,200 water ratepayers, and the balance from island-wide stormwater ratepayers, for a total of $5 million. This is not business as usual when it’s residential households that are the ones generating the funding for commercial property enhancement.
This takes us full circle. While 1,000-plus islanders demonstrated written opposition to city funding of a Winslow Way commercial infrastructure upgrade for the benefit of a mere dozen or so property owners along one block of Winslow Way, that opposition has grown significantly as our economic reality hits.
Our City is spending more than it takes in and is on the verge of insolvency.
Turning a blind eye to the potential fallout from their decisions, a relentless 4-to-3 City Council majority pledges their fealty to the mayor and a small group of Winslow Way commercial landowners.
Will the utility ratepayers stay silent while four council members continue to pursue the mayor’s Winslow Way Dreamscape? Perhaps no, since, by law, their utility fees may not be used for general government functions, or appropriated to benefit a limited number of property owners. We’ll see.
Sally Adams
Bainbridge Island
