LETTERS

CITY BUDGET

Now is not the time for a tax increase

Hold on, Mayor Marchione.

I hope I’m not the only one who caught the tax increases Mayor Marchione presented in his budget proposal to City Council. Enough! In his proposal Marchione asks for a 1 percent property tax increase and a “maximum” 6 percent utility tax increase over each of the next five years. Stop the madness!

Last year Redmond citizens were blackmailed into voting for a tax increase to pay for salaries for emergency services crews. Great. We have this expensive and fancy new city hall. Nice. When does it end?

In our Education Hill neighborhood of basic 1970s era homes, King County property tax assessments just came through with an insulting punch to the gut. What’s the term…”robbery?” Property taxes are never limited to just a “1 percent” increase because they always come down to the arbitrary assessment of the lot and the structure.

Thanks to the wonders of tax assessments and calculations “1 percent” is misleading. And when I see that a utility tax would be capped at a “maximum” of 6 percent,” we should all know by now that the maximum will be charged each of the proposed years.

Given the state of the economy, I want to see the City of Redmond make sacrifices. What is the city doing to tighten their Budget Belt? I want to see more fiscal thrift and less “tax and spend.”

Now is NOT the time to raise anyone’s taxes in Redmond. Period. I expect more thrift from a mayor who is a former CFO and less of a political sell and spend job.

Brian Hansford

Redmond

ELECTION 2008

Goodman gets my vote

I’m a landscape designer, an avid gardener, a Master Gardner emeritus and an environmentalist.

When looking for candidates to vote for, I look for leaders who have an understanding of the complex environmental issues facing our communities.

State Representative Roger Goodman is endorsed by Washington Conservation Voters for his 100 percent lifetime voting record in support of environmental issues.

From energy efficiency to greenhouse gas reductions to alternative fuels to Maury Island protection, Roger Goodman “gets” that we must safeguard the environment for the next generation — including my granddaughter and his own young children.

Representative Goodman’s record tells me he cares deeply about the environment. I also know that he is insightful and logical.

I appreciate those qualities in our elected officials — and Roger Goodman.

Sue Moss

Kirkland

ELECTION 2008

Burner has a gun permit

The Oct. 22 edition of the Redmond Reporter contained a letter from Michael Bain stating that he has no idea where Darcy Burner stands regarding the Second Amendment and gun control.

Actually, he would have a very clear knowledge of her position on the Second Amendment if he had seen the recent Burner-Reichert debates on TV Channels 9 and 23.

She revealed that she has a gun permit first obtained when she was the victim of a stalker years ago and would not wish to deny that protection to others.

Then she went on to clearly state her support of the Second Amendment and her support of the recent Supreme Court decision overturning the ban on guns in Washington D.C.

John Ringler

Redmond