To the editor:

On Dec. 7 the Island County Commissioners will hold their first official budgetary meeting. They must adopt a budget by the end of the month.

When the county is awash with money, such deliberations can be routine and unchallenging. However, with the county’s funding for 2010 projected to be $1.2 million short, it’s another matter entirely. Even worse, this shortfall follows a $4 million budget deficit in 2009, which resulted in drastic cuts in personnel and hours.

Balancing the county’s budget for 2010 requires that the commissioners consider various options, all of which are undesirable in their own way. Among such options are the following:

• A voter-approved levy for whatever money is needed;

• A voter-approved 0.3 percent increase in the county sales tax;

• A 1-percent raise in property taxes;

• A drastic cut in non-mandated, but essential services, such as those for seniors;

• A hike in fees for county services and permits;

• Renegotiation or suspension of contracts with private service providers;

• A request for union concessions;

• Withdrawal of cash from the unreserved fund balance on an emergent basis.

Even if the commissioners decide to balance the budget using a combination of the above measures, the services Island County residents have grown accustomed to expect will not be the same. With fewer employees and less staff hours, waiting lines will be longer, returned phone calls will be more delayed, applications for permits will be processed more slowly and so on.

Shared sacrifice at the county level has already taken place. The three Island County commissioners and two other elected county officials have taken pay cuts. County employees have lost their jobs or taken work furloughs to reduce costs. Unfortunately, the work load for everyone employed by the county has not diminished in any substantive way.

Given this harsh economic situation, we the public must appreciate the gravity of the situation and come forward either with lowered expectations or a willingness to pay more for the services we receive. The commissioners need our input and support for the difficult budgetary decisions that must be made. Island County employees and our elected officials also need to know that we appreciate their hard work and sacrifices.

Now is the time for citizen participation. As caring, concerned citizens, let’s not disappoint them.

Marshall Goldberg

Oak Harbor