Your “Construction costs increase” article of July 7 was a red herring. While reporting a speculative $600,000 increase in construction costs, the real issue is the $1.6 million “bait and switch” that has occurred: the increased scope of stadium project amenities and siphoning off of $1.6 million in OHHS modernization bond money for improvements to athletic complex facilities at the high school.

The stadium budget of the Oak Harbor High School athletic complex project has increased from $4.8 million to $7.8 million. $1.6 million of the $6.5 million athletic complex bond had promised to pay for baseball, soccer and practice fields plus resurfacing tennis courts. Instead, it has been used to upgrade stadium amenities. Now, OHHS modernization bond money is supposed to pay for items that were promised as part of the athletic complex bond?

The OHHS modernization bond was a separate bond for a separate purpose. Proceeds from the OHHS modernization bond should not be used for other purposes. At the very least, OHHS modernization bond money should not be used for other purposes until all OHHS modernization needs have been met. Education specifications for the OHHS remodel haven’t yet been written, design hasn’t yet occurred, but already the money is being siphoned off for other purposes.

William Burnett

Oak Harbor