The government center would house offices for the City of Bremerton along with 250 county employees. It would be developed and managed by the Kitsap County Consolidated Housing Authority. Many of the county employees would move from nearby Port Orchard.

Last week, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners heard proposals regarding the financial implications of building the facility in Bremerton or Port Orchard. Local business owners in Port Orchard do not want to lose potential customers and pointed to traffic and parking problems in Bremerton as reasons for an alternative site.

Jan Angel, one of the commissioners, voted against moving forward on a decision, saying voters should decide the final outcome. Bremerton, the largest city west of Seattle, has been attempting to rejuvenate its downtown core for years. The city, and surrounding area, has a huge military population, which greatly impacts its financial base.