Oct 6, 2017 1 min read

North Strabane’s supervisors experienced sticker shock last week at the cost of their grandiose plans for new municipal, public safety, and public works buildings. I simply have to ask what planet they live on? They actually thought three different buildings, with a combined square footage of 118,000 square feet, could be built for $18 million?

Were supervisors planning on financing this project with an additional tax on 1 percenters? (Please note my sarcasm.) Since common, fiscal sense seems to escape this board, here is a thought to help guide them: Have a budget in mind and find out what the best design concept is for 10 percent less than has been budgeted. That will save everyone time, effort, energy, and embarrassment.

If the architect who redesigns the township’s new municipal complex needs any ideas where to cut costs and square footage, I can think of five offices that can be eliminated.

Katharine Stayduhar

Canonsburg