Previous to reading the article “Air show ads start soon” in your July 27 issue, I saw an edition of the city council meeting on the local TV station. At that meeting the proposal for $7,000 in lodging tax money was presented. During the ensuing discussion, it was pointed out that a special meeting would be required to approve the proposal and that the money could not be utilized for 45 days from the approval date; i.e., approval was received around July 23, the air show is Aug. 17 and 18, hardly within the 45 days requirement. At the time, I thought, why bother, that’s hardly enough time to do any meaningful advertising in time for the airshow; unless the money was going to be obligated beforehand with a promise to pay at a later date.

Following the article in the July 27 Whidbey News-Times, it sounds as if that is indeed what has occurred. I wonder if that is an appropriate way to expend city funds; especially when it has been known for well over six months that the airshow was going forward.

T. Ladei

Oak Harbor