To the editor:

On Dec. 20, the Island County Board of Commissioners intends to pass the “Clean Water Utility Tax” without the voice or the vote of the Island County citizenry.

This after resounding defeats to raise taxes via Proposition 1 (lifting the levy lid to increase taxes), Initiative 1098 (high earner income tax) and Initiative 1107 (repealing tax on food and beverages) and the approval of Initiative 1053 (to reinstate the two-thirds legislative majority for tax and fee hikes).

Having been in attendance at the Camano forum on Nov. 30 to explain why we need this new tax, it was quite clear from Keith Higman’s presentation addressing this new tax that the Island County commissioners have already agreed on every detail of this insidious tax. There is absolutely no possibility they will vote it down. It is theirs.

Commissioners have created this “clean water emergency” in order to sell this new tax. The commissioners flatly refuse to consider any scientific facts, up to and including their own data, that has been compiled at a cost of $1 million to the Island County taxpayers.

Why, you ask? Because it is all about the money and growing the Island County government bureaucracy.

This action will mean the board of commissioners will have the ability to tax the Island County citizenry at will and there is no end in sight. They can tax us as many times and as much as they want.

So Merry Christmas, Island County and, by the way, don’t bother to sing Christmas carols to the board of commissioners. They are obviously and pointedly not listening.

Julie Lauderdale

Coupeville