An open letter to the administration and board of Snoqualmie Valley Hospital:

Please, do not indebt the taxpayers of Hospital District 4 with another $7 million for equipping the new hospital—only to be leased or purchased by Overlake Hospital of Bellevue.

The $38 million cost of building the hospital may be taken over, but our lease/buy agreement with the Benaroya Company does not include equipment. If Overlake takes the debt of the building, they should also take the debt of the equipment and furnishings.

We already have a $41 million debt from past operations; that interest is only being paid by our property taxes. The clinics’ operations will not cover the equipment purchases.

When are our public meetings to discuss this vital issue. Give us taxpayers a break and let us discuss and be informed before a vote is taken.

Carol Peterson

Snoqualmie