I cannot get past a word I saw on a website formed to oppose a set of ballot measures set for Amarillo’s municipal election next month.

The word is “trickery.”

The website titled saveamarillo.org has accused Amarillo City Hall of duping voters into deciding on seven-part package of propositions aimed at making some improvements throughout the city.

The website, apparently created by local lawyer Len Walker, seems to imply some star chamber activities. Thus, the word “trickery” sticks in my craw. He recently added this “letter” to the site. Here it is:

http://saveamarillo.org/a-letter-from-len-walker/

When you click on the link, you’ll be able to see the rest of the website. It’s interesting and because I’m a fair-minded fellow, I encourage you to take a peek at all of it.

At issue is a package of proposals totaling $340 million. They’re broken out separately. Voters can approve all of them; they can OK some of them; or they can reject them all. The election occurs on Nov. 8.

If memory serves, the city sought public comment on these proposals. The City Council met in public to discuss them. The original package totaled nearly $1 billion. The council then winnowed them down to a more manageable collection of projects.

All of this was done, again if memory serves, in full public view.

As for Walker’s letter, he seems to suggest that the city — along with Potter County — are going to saddle taxpayers with a mountain of debt to pay for these projects. Perhaps we ought to consider that the city has virtually no debt at the moment and whatever debt taxpayers would assume by approving the projects would be manageable and serviceable.

I’ve noted already that I intend to support all seven of the projects listed on the ballot.

Even if I were to oppose them, it wouldn’t be because of any “trickery” perpetrated on residents.

I believe the city has been up front and transparent on what it needs and is merely doing the responsible thing by asking the taxpayers — those who would foot the bill — for permission to deliver these improvements.