In 2022, Redmond-area voters agreed to shell out $49 million to build a recreation center, complete with an indoor pool, gymnasium, fitness space and more.

But in the same election — and in other elections before and after — district voters voted down a levy that would fund operations of the facility they had agreed to build.

If you read between the lines, a majority of voters wanted the brand new rec center. But a similar majority wanted the local taxing district to make tough decisions on how to operate it efficiently.

Almost exactly two years after that vote, and with construction on the recreation center well underway in southwest Redmond, the taxing district admitted they were the victims of a nearly $500,000 scam. The district sent the money to a scammer who impersonated a legitimate contractor of the construction project. Only about $100,000 has been recovered, which means roughly $400,000 of taxpayer dollars are missing.

Director Katie Hammer, a hard-worker who has always, got a tsk in her personnell file during a recent RAPRD board meeting. Taxpayers have gotten it worse — about $400,000 less of a recreation center.