The PenMet vote is NOT about whether we value our parks. Instead, it is a referendum on how this public agency makes decisions and spends our tax dollars. A NO vote does not take away PenMet’s $8+ million budget — it only stops a 30% increase. The PenMet park I live next to is part
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I am writing regarding Craig McLaughlin’s October 10, 2023 Letter to the Editor, which contained several factual inaccuracies and misleading statements. PenMet Parks staff has developed the district’s draft 2024 operating and capital budget proposal which responsibly balances community needs, goals and objectives with available resources while reinforcing the district’s long-term financial stability. The first
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I grew up in a rural Pierce County home surrounded by forests. When we asked, we were told the land directly across from our house was wetlands, unbuildable. Five years later, a large, grey, concrete warehouse stood on that land directly in front of our house. Developers figured out how to build. There has been tremendous
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PenMet has referred to data provided by the National Recreation and Park Association or “NRPA.” NRPA has 7 key metrics it uses to compare one park with another. The NRPA metric data is compiled from a thousand park districts across the country. I’ve used the data for park districts with between 20,000 and 50,000 residents
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The PenMet Tax levy lid lift request is excessive, in particular because of the built in “up to 6% annual increase for 5 years”. Can you imagine that it will ever be less than the full 6% per year? The need is not established. As an example, I love Mccormick Forest but I cannot imagine
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I am writing in response to Ed Friedrich’s article on the PenMet Parks levy lid lift measure. Mr. Friedrich’s reporting on this measure provides a good explanation regarding the funding structure for PenMet, as well as explaining the financial implications associated with the measure. Unfortunately, some of the information and statements provided in the GHN
Read MorePenMet is pleading poverty in 2024. Its draft 2024 budget shows that without the additional $2.7 million in property tax levies the levy lid lift would provide just in 2024 (almost a 30% increase), PenMet would have to cut its cash outlays by $2.5 million. Let’s take a closer look at how PenMet plans to
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Regarding “The Reserve, an RM Homes development approved by the City of Gig Harbor despite environmental threats”: Who pays for future environmental damage caused by a developer? “In the event of imminent threat to public health, welfare, or water quality, the Stormwater Maintenance Agreement gives the city unrestricted authority to access the stormwater facilities for
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‘How to put into words the passion and commitment I feel? As a woman of a “certain” age (Ahem…senior citizen) I relish my years. After much searching, my husband and I chose to retire in the Gig Harbor area in 2003. It promised all of the charm and beauty of a very desirable community in
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In response to Ed Friedrich’s well-researched article on PenMet’s Levy Lid Lift proposition: The 2.5% assumed assessed value increase With regard to the 2.5% assumed increase in assessed values, Mr. Friedrich quotes the County Assessor as saying the 2.5% is a reasonable estimate. I don’t argue that point. My point is that PenMet, being a
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