Like a school kid who presold chocolate bars to his neighbors to help keep tuition low, members of the Public Facilities District are now going door to door in an attempt to collect pledged matching funds to create the North Kitsap Regional Events Center.

The results are similar.

Some neighbors have the cash on hand — i.e. Kitsap County — but others seem to have left their wallet in their other pants, or their wives have the checkbook — i.e. the city of Poulsbo and the North Kitsap School District.

The latter two have committed $300,000 each to the cause but seem to be trying to shake the money out of change jars or dig it out from between the sofa cushions. If they make good, the PFD might be getting paid in 800,000 quarters, two million dimes, two million nickels and 10 million pennies. But it’d still be getting paid.

Right now, the spirit is willing, but the cash is weak.

The NKSD seems to have been operating on a shoestring budget for years but knows it can reduce its commitment to 200,000 quarters, 250,000 dimes, 500,000 nickels and five million pennies through in-kind donations of, land man-hours etc.

This, too, seems to be a problem, as the shoestring is down to a few threads.

Despite new sales tax revenues, the city of Poulsbo is facing a pile of requests to pay for everything from employees to a new Marine Science Center. Grant money that has been sought to pay for its share of the NKREC is questionable as well.

Did the entities speak up too soon in support? Maybe.

But the old saying, “Put your money where your mouth is,” is now looming on their front porch like an angry parent. And rightly so. The PFD’s “kids” have worked diligently on this particular fund raiser and proceeded in good faith.

Whether or not those tasty chocolate bars will be shared with the community or shelved has yet to be determined.