The city is heading in the right direction by purchasing land on Carolina Road to build their own necessary buildings and office space for the public works and public utilities departments.

Renting or long-term leasing of space for public offices is not cost effective. The customer service center on Holland Road (presently rented) should also be relocated into city-owned property. The parks and recreation department should be moved out of rental property and into to city-owned space.

All city department, not just public works and public utilities, should be located within city-owned property. The long-term results should be a considerable savings to the taxpayers of Suffolk.

The city council could then adjust the property tax downward.

William H. Harward

Suffolk