In response to Island County Commissioner John Dean’s letter to the editor, yes, I bought vacant land and built a house. To save money, I constructed parts of the house myself and was the general contractor. Upon completion, the house was appraised by the county at considerably more than I spent building it. Then along comes John Dean and my taxable valuation went to over $700,000 with a tax bill of $5,400: More than double the tax for the completed house.

Maybe this is why the county budget is a disaster; they don’t have their math right. If you go from the vacant land tax, the current tax is more than four times the original property tax. Along with the $300 and $300 septic and well inspection (that could be accomplished by a three-year-old for the price of a lollypop), I am being taxed out of my home.

Although I have had no children in public school, I have paid property taxes for them for many years. Now I, like many other islanders, am retiring; not to Camano Island but to an affordable location in Arizona. For those who can afford to stay, you might consider replacing the current Island County commissioners with those who are more fiscally responsible.

Dale R. Smith

Camano Island