Park funding should be discussed

While we're delighted to see that the city of Portland is moving forward with the development of Hudson Family Park, we're more than a little uneasy with the fuzziness about how the work will be paid for.

So far, the message from the Hosier administration has been that the money - more than half a million dollars - will be found.

But there have been no specifics about where it will come from.

One possible source is the city's cumulative capital projects fund, but because that fund covers a variety of city government needs, it will be important not to overspend from that account.

The other source mentioned, though not with any details as of yet, is the city's portion of county Economic Development Income Tax revenues.

Legally, the city would be on firm ground using EDIT funds for the park improvements.

But philosophically, the issue is less clear.

For the most part, EDIT funds have been used locally in ways that are directly tied to economic development: Infrastructure, spec buildings, worker training programs through John Jay Center for Learning, promotion of available industrial sites, and loans to expanding or emerging businesses.

The next phase of development at Hudson Family Park will certainly enhance the quality of life for local residents, and those enhancements may indeed make it easier to attract new industry in the future.

But if EDIT is to be the primary source of funding for the park work, it will be a move into new territory.

And that should come only after a thoughtful and open discussion, involving the city council and the public at large. - J.R.[[In-content Ad]]