u, I have always been adamantly opposed to a downtown site for a new city hall.

In 2005, a 10th Avenue site was purchased and vetted for a building that could have been built and occupied by our city government more than two years ago.

For some arcane reason, the plan was ashcanned. Instead, an ill-conceived advisory vote, spearheaded by Mayor Kathryn Quade, was solicited from an ill-informed citizenry as to where citizenry as to where they would like to have a new city hall. What we have, as a result, is an unfinished hole in the ground with no definite due date for the completion of the building.

Week after week I attend city council meetings at which the public is provided with updates on construction in progress. Week after week the public is assured that, although the project may be two to three weeks behind schedule, it is, essentially, on course,

At the Dec. 3, 2008, Poulsbo City Council meeting, the council bound itself to a, not to exceed, $15.9 million budget for the new city hall.

In light of this, it troubles me that I am beginning to hear disturbing rumors that because of budgetary design changes, the cost of the building could escalate to an added several million dollars. Further, is it true that this could happen without the knowledge of or discussion by a full council?

Because such a horrendous, inflated cost would have to be born by the Poulsbo city taxpayers, it is my opinion it is the city’s duty to either inform the citizens of the huge added tax burden with which they could be faced or, publicly, put the rumors to rest.

Muriel Williams

Poulsbo