Let’s put the mayor’s raise and the cost of our city’s budget in the context of Snoqualmie’s future, not its history. Snoqualmie and the Valley are growing rapidly and will grow more in coming years. That path was started more than 20 years ago and was further sealed with the impending end of North Bend’s water moratorium.

The citizens’ job in a democracy is not to complain but to take an active role in overseeing how money is spent and use data, not gut feel, to support their arguments.

An informed citizenry is the foundation of a strong democracy and we can be more informed than at any time in history. Attend meetings or watch them on TV. Read documents online. If you read your e-mail, you can find the documentation on city and county sites just as easily. Visit the actual sites where development is occurring. Most of all, “follow the money.”

The size of the mayor’s raise is insignificant compared to managing a $61 million budget of which about one-third will go to economic improvements. The time may be coming soon that it should be a full-time, high-paid job.

Regardless of the mayor’s salary, it is our job to watch how money is spent, how well it is spent and how cleanly the whole process works. I withhold judgment until I see the work, but you can be sure I will be watching, as should we all.

Our city’s leaders and citizens have an opportunity to make a great place better. Let’s work together to make sure that it happens by keeping a close eye on our leaders. That is our constitutional privilege and responsibility each election. Complaining may be fun for some, but it is of little use for creating a positive future.

Steven Silverman

Snoqualmie