First of all let’s admit two facts about the arena debt: we need a sales tax increase to avoid default but a .02 percent tax is dead on arrival without Wenatchee committing to put up any of its debt capacity. I wouldn’t recommend East Wenatchee or Douglas County support putting it on the ballot, and I certainly wouldn’t vote for it. It’s not fair to the citizens of the outlying districts.

But I would support a fair sales tax increase with three legs in an agreement between Wenatchee, PFD districts and the state.

1.     Wenatchee pays a heavier share than anyone else;

2.     Every district that owns the facility through the PFD shares part of the remainder by voting on a sales tax increase that the political leadership would place on the ballot and support;

3.     The state chips in for the remainder of the debt to preserve bond ratings for the state and its municipalities.

How to do that? Most important of all is believe we have the leadership to do it. Here some suggestions on how to reach agreement:

Wenatchee: Pick up 40-50 percent of the existing debt in some way or another: a sales tax increase, part of the non-voter approved bond capacity, increased voter approved bond capacity if possible, whatever. Just commit to finding a way. Just start talking publicly about what is possible.

District elected officials: Make it clear under no circumstances will you even place a .02 percent sales tax increase on your ballot. However commit to finding an acceptable agreement with a lower sales tax rate that you would put on the ballot and support because it would cost your citizens less in the long run than a default and because Wenatchee is taking a much larger load than your district. Start talking about what you would need to agree to those conditions.   Remember, you have another vested party in the state.

Treasury/State Officials: Understand that since a .02 percent sales tax is dead on arrival and Wenatchee and the districts need help in resolving this crisis, commit the state to find revenue to pay for the some of the debt because it will protect the bond ratings of the state and every other municipality in the state. Legislative leaders, you must look for a deal you would recommend to your other legislators and the district voters to pass in order to get the entire deal put together. It’s not enough to recommend putting a .02 sales tax increase on the ballot that will fail. What we need from you is a willingness to support a sales tax increase as the best deal for everybody in your districts and the state.

Remember, a sales tax increase would mean Wenatchee citizens would be paying that tax also in addition to their major commitment.

Who could broker such a deal? Perhaps a master arbitrator, a municipal bond broker, or some other person hired by the PFD to bring the parties together and save everybody money by avoiding default.