Rosehill- Community Center or Commercial Center?

 

The citizens of Mukilteo approved the replacement of the old Rosehill school in 2009, to be replaced with a new Community Center. The City took out $12.5M of bonds, which will be paid off in 20 years, and by 2029 will be a cumulative $18M with interest and principal.

Did Mukilteo residents get everything they voted for in 2009? The lack of a gym, dedicated senior center, and community focus indicate the citizens did not. Not only is the Community Center we pay for disproportionately focused on private events, Mukilteo citizens may be surprised to learn that we currently subsidize the facility to the tune of $200,000 per year.

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This November, whether the Rosehill Community Center should be a community or commercial center will be on the ballot. The 2020 Preliminary Budget has 3 initiatives for the Recreation Dept.:
👉 The "low taxes" our elected reps have delivered have resulted in a reliance on "user fees" (aka taxes) to "fund the services our community deserves" (2020 Mayor's Budget Message 2020; pg ii). That's in addition to implementing all banked property tax in the 2019 budget. And looking at raising taxes and fees in 2020.
👉 The Recreation Department is asking for increased staff time to increase time dedicated to commercial customer service, to the tune of $17.5K, with a projected increase in revenue of $6K (2020 Budget, pg. 79)
👉 A goal for the Recreation Dept. in 2020 is the exploration of a "partnership with a local agency for recreation services," meaning we are looking at a public-private partnership to manage the commercial side of our Community Center (pg. 78). With a private company in NY managing the airport next door, the last thing Mukilteo residents need is another separate governing body that will dictate how the resources we fund are used-- especially when the focus is commercial, and not on the community.

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"Low taxes" and "No new taxes" is great. The only thing better is an effective, sustainable, and equitable tax system.

I'm running for Mukilteo City Council because we need to put eyes on our taxes and as many ears as possible on the Council. I would not support the addition of city funds to drive commercial activity when there are multiple groups (Brand Builders, Chamber of Commerce, and the Planning Committee) that are already tasked with that initiative as well as the fuller picture of coordinating growth and the costs to facilitate it. We do not need to throw more money at a losing economic model, in the pursuit of a commercial center that does not realize the Community Center that residents approved in 2009.

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Whether we prioritize commercial business over community service at Rosehill in 2020 is on the ballot.
Whether we look at our budget critically and with an eye on the long-term is on the ballot.
Whether residents pay the cost of doing business while our elected representatives pretend those costs don't exist, is on the ballot.

My name is Kristina Melnichenko and I'm here to fight for our community and the sustainability of our budget in Position No. 7.

I ask for your vote.