COST OVERRUNS AT THE KINGDOME CONTINUE TO RISE

     The $32.5M budget for the roof, ceiling, and structural
repairs to the Kingdome will reach $51M before the project is
completed early next year.  The figure, released by King County
officials, does not include payments to the Mariners or the
Seahawks, payments which could exceed $6M. Almost half of the
extra cost of repairs ($8.5M) is safety-related.  King County
Exec Gary Locke said if $51M is what it takes to finish the job,
"that is what we will have to do."  But County Councilman Pete
von Reichbauer "attacked the credibility" of acting Kingdome
Director Dick Sandaas and said he will fly in roof experts from
"back East" to review the work.  Von Reichbauer also threatened
to hold up additional funds until he "gets some answers."  How
the county will finance repair costs and tenants claims remains
undecided, although Locke has suggested extending the hotel-motel
tax, a Kingdome admissions tax, and a car rental tax (George
Foster, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 11/15).