My wife and I are retirees on a fixed income. We, too, demand security and safety. Our concept of security includes protection from the predation that permits the devastation of our property and that forces us to subsidize the very predation. Those who invest in developing land and resources should pay impact fees at least commensurate with that of other counties. Permit fees should be raised to a rate reflecting the developed value of the investment.

At any rate, services provided to developers by residential hosts should reflect in abatements to those hosts and fees should reflect a realistic assessment by the county.

We demand safety; safety of our limited water supply, safety from salt water intrusion induced by over-commitment to the aquifer and safety from pollution resulting from the hardstand runoffs of prudent development.

We do not oppose imposition of prior and current expense levies of 1 percent and use of the banked capacity … at your discretion. As for budgetary support necessary to sustain children and seniors whose vital needs are imperiled by the current recession, it is a moral obligation. We don’t need no stinkin’ mandate.

Cyril L. Greig

Oak Harbor