Editor,
A few support a funicular because it would be fun, draw visitors, provide alternative access to the marina without driving down to it and/or generate revenue to offset operating and maintenance expenses. No one suggests how much it would cost to provide one or more perceived benefits. No one suggests users pay. Who would pay and how much?
Some thoughts for those in favor to use or modify with facts, not just off-the- cuff generalities about benefits.
Most mention the $500,000 grant to help construct it. No one mentions the city council’s $800,000 estimate in its official planning documents that was discussed at a recent council meeting. They unanimously agreed not to change the $800,000 because costs exceeding the grant would have to be funded from other unknown sources (taxes?).
I don’t know what it would cost to maintain and operate. If it was as little as $8,500 a year (not likely), would that much additional sales tax be collected from visitors who would not otherwise come to Langley? Langley receives 1 percent sales tax. Most groceries are not taxed. If additional taxed sales due to a funicular were $1 million, for example, Langley would receive $8,500 after the state’s 15 percent administrative fee. Does anyone think additional taxable sales from having the funicular would be that much? If the average spent by each additional visitor was $20, 50,000 transactions would equal $1 million. If 40,000 of those transactions were from visitors arriving by car and there were two purchasers in each car, it would take 20,000 additional cars to visit Langley with those purchasers, mostly in the summer months, say 3,500 or more cars each summer month or an average 120 additional cars a day, probably more on weekends.
Where would they park? Do residents want that many more cars and people in town? If it costs more than $8,500 to operate or an additional $300,000 to build the funicular, are residents ready to subsidize that as a priority over other city needs? For many years!
Where are advocates’ letters describing how they see total impacts as a positive for Langley residents?
CHARLIE PANCERZEWSKI
Mukilteo
