Taxpayers are funding Ritzville’s industrial park report

To the editor:

An employee of the City of Ritzville assures me that the city is paying $5,000 of the cost of the $35,000 report known as “Economic Screening Analysis of a Light Industrial/Tourist Park.” Others financing this report are said to be the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board, the Ritzville Public Development Authority, the East Adams County Rural Hospital and the Adams County Wheat Grower’s Association.

What we have here is a collection of special interests conniving to spend the people’s money. In a normal world, if there was the faintest scent of profit from the creation of an industrial park, the humble citizen would be eager with dollars to invest.

But inasmuch as there is probably not the remotest likelihood of a return on investment, where else but the taxpayers can out local public servants find the millions of dollars to play SimCity while neglecting the legitimate responsibilities of government?

Barry Boyer

Ritzville