Editor,
The Island County commissioners are the ones who set the budget each year. I would highly recommend everyone going to the county website and look up “expenditures fund summary,” where you can see where all our tax dollars are being spent each year. I would like to point out one category in particular, Homeless Housing. In 2015, the budget was $696,399, in 2022 it’s $5,120,568.
The homeless population has grown with the budget. It’s no secret that Island County is a place to come if you’re homeless. I do understand there are people that are homeless due to certain situations like losing a job for one. I’m talking about the homeless that have problems primarily with drugs. Commissioner Janet St. Clair voted for the new “affordable housing” Harbor Inn in Freeland. Everyone I talked to had no idea what was being planned. The decision was already made by Commissioners St. Clair and Bacon before they even heard from the public at the Board of County Commissioners meetings where you could speak for three minutes. And let’s be clear, it is not affordable housing, it’s a homeless shelter. Affordable just sounds better, right?
I want a commissioner that wants to hear from us and will listen to our concerns.
I will be voting for Tim Hazelo for county commissioner District 3 on Nov 8. We need a clear headed, logical thinking and common sense commissioner. Here are a few things Tim has committed to doing if elected:Support law and order: More officers and facilities
Fiscal accountability of your tax dollars: Where is it going? How can it be done better? New taxes to cover bad policies helps no one.
Address homelessness and addiction: Millions spent on what? Has the situation improved or gotten worse? Put some expectations of improvement in the policies.
Protect sustainable rural living: Prevent the big city big county political infiltration and protect your property rights.
Support our Navy and restore faith and trust in our local government.
I don’t know about you, but I want commissioners who listens to us and genuinely want the best of our county.Please vote for Tim Hazelo on Nov. 8.
Jim Henderson
Freeland
