To the editor:

Island County commissioners have to make some really tough decisions in the next few weeks: what gets cut and what gets saved. No matter the outcome, there will be people hurt and there will be anger. But these tough decisions have to be made.

On the chopping block for the budget cuts are the essential services of the sheriff’s office, $485,000, which equates to seven deputies (a precinct is 10 deputies) and emergency management and central services. Non-essential services which are being considered for cutting are senior centers, $331,000; children’s commission, $20,000; extension services (Washington State University), $20,000; and homeowner septic training, $30,000.

When times are tough, taxpayers on budgets cut out the “non-essentials” — eating out, movies, buying new clothes, taking short trips, looking to buy the car we think we need. The county commissioners should be looking at the county budget the same way: Cut the non-essentials and tighten the belt. Keep essential services and what is absolutely needed to keep the county running.

I am not for furloughing county employees; that only makes things worse. No one will be spending money; some bills will go unpaid. It creates a worse hardship.

I realize the county has only three commissioners, but I feel, to show good faith, each commissioner should give up 8-percent of their pay. This will send a message to the community that the commissioners understand that times are tough and they are willing to tighten their budgets, too. When good times are here again, they can resume their full pay.

Island County has to ask where are we going and where do we want to go in the future. It is obvious that towns like Langley, Coupeville and Clinton are falling backwards. Many businesses have closed and several are in danger of closing.

Island County has beautiful attractions that are found nowhere else in the state. Tourism can save the business community; when a community looks vibrant and successful, it attracts more visitors.

When a community looks like it is on its last legs, with vacant storefronts, parks not kept up and less services, tourism will go down.

Think about it. People do not like to support a sinking ship.

So I ask, where does Island County want to go in the future? The county has to look forward. We need to attract new businesses to build a larger tax base, which will help the county to keep on its feet during good times and hard times.

The Oak Harbor area has the infrastructure to handle light industry, companies that support 20 to 60 employees and produce a solid tax base.

The last thing we want to do is to cut essential services, like the sheriff’s office.

Commissioner Angie Homola is one of the BOICC who would rather save a tree than protect residents from crime. How forward thinking is that? What kind of values does that represent? If people don’t feel safe in a community, they will not come as tourists, as prospective business owners or as prospective property owners and residents.

Jim Dyment

Clinton