The county commissioners have us on the wrong road. Their Proposition 1 plan is more of the same. This had been especially frustrating for Island County taxpayers.

In late 2009, the public repeatedly told the commissioners their thoughts for reducing expenses for the 2010 budget. The commissioners ignored it and did exactly what they had been doing; funding those socially justified, “feel good” programs; not basic safety and service needs.

The commissioners increased the current expense and road levies 1 percent plus banked capacity. They also agreed to increase the levy for conservation futures, and land preservation programs.

The commissioners’ ignoring of public input and failing to make the correct decisions last December resulted in them spending over $4,500,000 of the county’s reserve funds. It’s almost totally depleted.

Once again the commissioners are telling us they are out of money and must increase taxes.

They conducted forums to inform the public about why the county needs a tax increase, laced with a bunch of scare tactics telling us how bad it’ll be if we don’t approve Prop 1. Those forums ended with Commissioner Dean saying, “The purpose is to provide voters with enough information to make a choice. We are committed to doing whatever voters decide.”

The commissioners have lost all credibility with their past actions. They are in over their heads. We should not trust them with any additional funds by approving Prop 1. Call Dean’s bluff and see if this time they really will do what the public input tells them we want done!

Bill Strowbridge

Oak Harbor