Island County residents should keep in mind the importance of their dollars to their local community before going out to spend a bundle on Christmas presents.

The money you spend generates thousands of dollars in sales tax receipts for the jurisdictions in which they are spent. So if Oak Harbor residents go to Skagit County to do their shopping, for example, their tax dollars are helping public transportation, law enforcement and other needs in the Mount Vernon/Burlington area, but doing nothing for the local governments back home. Similarly, those dollars are providing retail jobs in Skagit County but doing nothing to help the employment situation in Oak Harbor.

Nobody expects you to do all your shopping in Island County, but try to spend as much as you can here. Our chain stores carry all the most popular national products and for those seeking unique, meaningful gifts you need to look no further than the artists and artisans of Whidbey Island.

The best Christmas gift you can give your local governments and businesses is to shop at home. Make it a point to do so as much as possible.