Our county form of government, with an elected board of commissioners, gives us the opportunity to choose who we want to spend our tax dollars. This year we will be able to re-elect Helen Price Johnson as commissioner from District 1. The past four years have been hard on the budget of Island County, due to falling property values, which equates to lower taxes being collected to pay for the services that we require.

When Helen Price Johnson became an Island County commissioner in January, 2009, the previous board had been spending and borrowing from reserve funds, creating an unbalanced budget. They had not addressed the pressing issue of falling revenues and rising costs. Helen has balanced the budget and has replaced the reserve account funds. This was not done without many hours of deliberation and thought on her part. Each cut in personnel and department operating budgets was very painful but necessary for Island County to become more financially responsible to the citizens.

I feel that we need a responsible elected official looking out for our best interests. Helen Price Johnson is such a person and has my vote for re-election to the Island County Board of Commissioners. She has the experience to lead us during the next four years, which could be as hard economically as the past four have been. Please consider her record and experience when you mark your ballot this month.

Barbara Schultz
Freeland