What’s troubling about the Vashon Park District’s budget for its fields project north of town is the relationship between two key numbers — the overall cost, which has gone up considerably since the project was announced four years ago, and the amount raised in community contributions, which has fallen far short of the promised goal.
The result is that the project — an effort to provide much-needed athletic field space to both youth and adult sports teams — has taken, and continues to take, a huge bite out of the park district’s shrinking budget. A bite far larger than anyone ever anticipated.
That message was made loud and clear at Saturday’s public meeting to discuss the future of the fields project. Several people raised concerns about the impact the project has had on the park district, which in a matter of months has become a mere shadow of its former self.
The once-robust agency has gone from one that offered both programs and facilities to an agency that mostly simply manages its physical assets. It has let go of its kayak center; has changed its relationship with instructors who offer classes and programs; plans to reduce hours at the pool this summer; and has laid off nearly its entire office staff.
This isn’t solely because of the fields project. Exacerbating the situation has been a decline in property tax revenue due to falling home values on Vashon. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist, or even a CPA, for that matter, to understand that a declining overall budget and escalating project costs are a bad combination.
That’s why some at Saturday’s meeting were troubled to learn that in the midst of this situation, Mike Mattingly, a retired trucking executive, has been retained to try to see the fields project to fruition. Surely, the park district needs professional help. But Mattingly is the same person who oversaw the project two years ago, when the park district — at least according to the state auditors — failed to bid it out correctly or comply with the complex laws governing public works.
And in a disheartening moment at Saturday’s meeting, Mattingly made it clear he didn’t support the auditor’s findings, saying “amen” when someone at the meeting found fault with the report.
Mattingly may have the skills and experience to see this project to fruition. He’s certainly put in a lot of volunteer hours over the last few months and seems engaged and committed. And he and others may be correct that the auditors didn’t — or couldn’t, because of missing documents — see the whole picture.
But to many at Saturday’s meeting, Mattingly’s retention felt like deja vu all over again. It felt as though nothing had changed at the park district — despite a blistering audit, months of citizen participation and a worsening financial picture.
To regain credibility, park commissioners need to show that it’s not business as usual at Ober Park. They need to act with complete transparency. And as Carol McLean Ireland said Saturday, they’ve got to take responsibility for the mess the park district is in.
Until that happens, we fear the situation will only get worse.
