Subject: “Island County utility tax proposal draws fire,” Whidbey News-Times.

Interesting article, although I admit it pushes some hot buttons. Most people I know agree that our government officials are not hearing the opinions of the public anymore, and this issue does not seem any different. It seems as though they have already made up their minds and have just been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Let me state some examples of hot buttons for me.

Commissioner John Dean said the attorneys will help the board create a proposal that is legal and that the commissioners can bring forward to the public with options, thus beginning the formal public process.

“We need to have a firm proposal that we can talk about,” he said.

I agree with former Commissioner Mac McDowell that, of the “options” presented to the public, the option to forget the whole thing will not be one of the options we have, once this outrageous legal fee has been paid.

This concern is confirmed later on: “the elements of programs should be phased in so that the fee would be more modest, given the current economic climate.” This is code for incremental implementation so the common folk won’t get too upset about this whole package deal that is going to be passed behind their backs. Wouldn’t want to alert them and have them raise a fuss now. The commissioners will eventually get all of the components of their new tax and a plethora of government controls to go with it, and we the people have no say whatsoever.

Furthermore, it appears that several different departments have been putting this plan together for some time now, further evidence that the intent of public “discussion” never has been an earnest desire to get public input. Rather it is more likely to include rhetoric designed to convince the public to let them do whatever they want, without (again) raising a stink. After all, we must be too stupid to make any real choices.

Another example of a hot button is the idea that anybody should agree to a $20,000 no-bid attorney fee. This makes me sick to my stomach! How is it that the public works fund, which isn’t part of the current expense fund the commissioners are in the process of cutting has such an excess of funds that they can pay attorney’s fees like this without batting an eyelash? These people are clearly on a different planet than the rest of us common folk.

Finally, I am weary of feeling like I have to read with great skepticism everything that comes from our government, right down to the creative titles they give to these kinds of enactments.

I agree with Kelly Emerson. We need to tighten our belts at the government level, live within our means, no new taxes, and prioritize our spending!

Jodi Wilke

Oak Harbor