To the editor:

On Aug. 18, Island Transit is putting a ballot measure to the voters requesting a small increase in the sales tax of Island County. This request is for an increase in the sales and use tax of 3/10 of 1 percent, equating to an additional three cents on every $10 taxable purchase.

This is a paltry sum to allow the continuation of efficient, award-winning, customer-driven transit service.

Island Transit is funded by a voter-approved SALES TAX and not property taxes, as many people seem to be unaware. Since the inception of Island Transit’s service, it has always been funded through sales tax, and never, never, never funded by property taxes. This fact seems to be lost in the debate about this sales-tax increase ballot measure.

The debate on the sales-tax ballot measure should be just that — a debate.

I, and many others, have noted the disintegration of comments into emotional, venomous attacks. Last year, Island Transit carried almost 1.4 million people. Please use a measure of decorum on such a critical issue affecting the lives of so many.

Meghan Heppner

Coupeville