In a recent letter to the editor, I was critical of the Federal Way Community Center’s financial operations.

Chris Carrel from City of Federal Way responded to my comments and, upon contact, referred me to Tho Kraus, the city’s finance director. Tho and I communicated regarding taxes, depreciation, debt amortization, refinancing the Community Center bonds and various expense categories.

After this discussion, I feel reasonably comfortable with the financial management of the Community Center. The center will probably always be subsidized by taxpayers.

The city might consider the establishment of a Community Center citizens development group to develop ideas for decreasing or eliminating taxpayer support. Nonprofit hospitals, museums, public TV and others do this to get people involved and provide support to their activities. They could develop ideas to increase facilities usage.

As far as the performing arts and conference center (PACC) is concerned, I do continue to feel that step one should be an independent market report completed to establish the level of support and acceptance there will be in the surrounding area.

The results should be submitted to the community for response before spending money on schematic drawings. This project is a much greater risk than the Community Center.

Don Vandenheuvel, Federal Way