Spending cuts would end tax increases

Regarding the letter from Jerry Clemons (Dec. 14, 2004):

Au contraire. I have watched commissioners come and go and I hereby state that for the last 17 years I have seen boards spend and spend foolishly and rarely do anything for the taxpayers. This board has been far and away the least concerned about reducing costs. Pay raises for elected officials, real estate purchases for urgently needed building space that has now been surplused because the county really didn't need it and subsidizing an airline that failed to last six months (with no explanation to potential passengers who lost money). Next, a million dollar airport expansion with untold additional property taxes coming later. I say humbug.

I disagree that legislative reform is mandatory, stop spending foolishly. Emergency medical service looks like a big sewer pipe if not thought through carefully.

JIM BLAKE

Sandpoint