Island County has approximately 75,000 citizens. Island Transit has an annual budget of $26,964,897. Almost $27 million dollars per year is spent to serve a community of only 75,000. Neighboring Skagit County Transit serves almost 120,000 residents and their operating budget is just over $17 million. Island Transit costs every man, woman, and child in Island County approximately $360 per year whether you ride it or not, while our neighbors in Skagit County pay less than $150 per person per year.

Fares or no fares, why is our budget so bloated? Why, when it can clearly be done more efficiently do we, out of the blue, face an immediate “crisis” and need to increase the transit sales tax by 50 percent?

I ride Island Transit nearly every day, often on an empty bus. In the morning the bus is full of rowdy, vulgar, loud, rude, high school students who should be riding the school bus (which I also pay for), and in the evenings with a few other quiet commuters. I often dream of bringing a pillow and blanket and stretching out over the vast rows of unused seats.

I deserve to pay for Island Transit. I ride the bus. Most of you fellow citizens of Island County do not ride the bus, and should not be paying for it! It is sad to say, but Island Transit should cut services, cut employment, cut overhead, and ride this out like everyone else.

I am tired of government demanding more when their entitlement programs come up short. While Island Transit may “need” more, we have less to give! If it cannot be run at a profit, maybe we do not need such an extensive service. Vote no on the sales tax increase! We are taxed enough already!

Jason Joiner

Coupeville