Reading the Dec. 5 News-Times confirms my thinking that changes are drastically needed in the way our state is handling the transportation budget. This conceived need for more tax dollars invites a more very careful look which it is not given by this article.

The core mission of the transportation department, if re-established, in fact will remove many drains of tax dollars to non transportation processes. I would challenge your reporter to dig into the core mission aspect of transportation and do a bit of investigative reporting.

There are 420 odd departments of the state governing bodies involved in the business of transportation activities in our state. Witness the tie up at Mukilteo with the ice storm which resulted from over layers of responsibility. Almost any reader could easily resolve that problem. Of course it would require a change in who does what.

The list of new projects for state tax money really well illustrates the need for local government to get serious about planning. Committing nearly $400,000 dollars to a municipal pier without knowing exactly how it would be spent just boggles my mind. What is the taxing process to do with this kind of loose thinking?

When governments at all levels controls the way the local taxpayer gives his money and dictates to him how some of it will be spent anarchy is invited!

Harves lives in Greenbank.