I found your editorial “The gift of tax dollars” in the Dec. 16 issue of the Whidbey New-Times brief and to the point. I try to do most of my shopping on island as you suggested as long as the prices are competitive. I did, however, get frustrated when a local merchants price for a repair on my home was almost $200 more than that of a Mount Vernon firm.

T. R. Clatterbuck

Oak Harbor