Mary Pollard: What were county commissioners thinking?

We’ve been bamboozled!

Despite cheering racetrack enthusiasts, Spokane Raceway Park, instead of super fun, is a state version of a superfund site. It’s an unknown pit of debt and toxic cleanup.

The rest of us are tightening our belts and crossing out nonessential spending, but the visions of NASCAR-blinded County Commissioners Todd Mielke and Mark Richards have us over their pork barrel.

NASCAR would have to be slumming to race here amid the concrete, weedy bleachers. Even with glitzy port-a-potties thrown in, it’s still a visionary reach. Instead of economic development, I hear a big fiscal sucking sound. They gambled cleanup wouldn’t exceed $1 million the seller had agreed to contribute from the sale for toxic clean-up, but they spent this million over the $2.9 million appraised value to purchase the property. How are nonbudget items being paid for?

The county will sell nonvoter approved bonds. Raceway Park’s debt payment for $6.5 million will cost approximately $520,000 a year for 20 years. Avista Stadium needs $4 million for completion and $2 million is needed to purchase an office building near the county complex to relieve cost of renting space.

Taxpayers are strapped. Why are we taking on more recreational debt when we can’t pay for the improvements on what we already own? If the county had used the $6.5 million they paid for the racetrack on our county roads, an essential service we all use, people would be dancing in the streets without fear of turning their ankles. Unlike juggled and hidden budgetary county items, we’ll feel the sting of upcoming voter-approved bonds in our checkbooks. Far from frivolous we have to choose among crime check, jails, road maintenance, etc. Our own reserves influence our vote.

Taxpayers are responding to bond issues and pleas for tax money as any other addiction, “Just say, ‘no’!”

Bond debt bleeds the general fund and endangers budget items for essential services in bad revenue years and things aren’t rosy. The county began 2008 with $10 million less in the general fund and hopes to have $18 million left at the end of the year, but revenues are down. Minus the $14 million rainy day fund, the general fund has little wiggle room.

The coffers are shrinking and I’m worried. We have real poverty in Spokane County. Lack of health care, housing and food are rainy days without umbrellas. I love fun, but we can’t put on our civic blinders and go to the races. Spokane Raceway is like dessert, and people are asking, “Where’s the beef?”

Short of a magic-beans fund, other budget items such as police, ability to match grant opportunities, etc., could be endangered. I’m grateful Commissioner Bonnie Mager refused to ignore the rest of the picture and would not lend her support. It comes down to priorities.

I want to see written public policy to guide elected officials without time to do homework. Purchases should be justified in the capital facilities plan. We can’t afford backyard naysaying. Speak up. For now, Commissioners Richards and Mielke hold the title as the guardian angels of racetracks and gambling casinos.