By Editorial

Los Altos Hills, led by Mayor Toni Casey, is undertaking an ambitious fund-raiser to rebuild Town Hall. Casey said that council members have already pledged $250,000 toward the estimated $3 million cost. She expects the remainder of the funds to come from the charitable contributions of the town’s affluent residents.

We salute the council members for putting up their own money. A quarter-million dollars makes for a nice jump-start toward the funding goal. We appreciate Casey’s enthusiasm and belief that town residents love Los Altos Hills as much as she does and want to see it represented by an updated, earthquake-safe facility.

Casey said she considers rebuilding town hall the No. 1 priority in Los Altos Hills. She wants to see a groundbreaking by next June and the town has already hired an architect for preliminary designs.

Town officials do appear serious in their efforts. However, we would like to offer some suggestions.

Only a few years ago, the town set aside $750,000 for a new town hall. This money has since been pulled. While this funding could still be used, Casey is convinced the residents will successfully fund the remaining $2.75 million cost of the project.

Maybe Casey and the council know better, but asking residents to donate that much money, considering other available funding sources, is asking a lot. Retaining the previously set aside $750,000 and adding the pledged $250,000 would provide a solid $1 million fund. That’s an even better figure to begin with.

We also wonder what kind of a structure the town will get at today’s construction rates, even with $3 million. Chances are, the actual costs will end up being more than the estimate.

Casey said asking residents to donate for a town hall is an old concept. In fact, the original town hall was built in 1956 with resident funds. But times have changed.

The reality is, Los Altos Hills is not the tight community it once was and residents in general are not particularly interested in town government. So what’s in it for them?

The town and its two active resident groups, the Los Altos Hills Civic Association and Hills 2000, could hold social events to help raise money. Town officials have yet to formally map out fund-raising strategies.

The town also has a large reserve - more than $7 million in unrestricted funds. What is preventing officials from dipping into this pot? Apparently nothing, according to Casey.

Town officials could probably rebuild town hall with or without resident donations. Still, we hope the town succeeds in its fund-raising campaign.

It would be refreshing sign of civic pride to see residents come together on this project.