Residents well aware of what initiative would do

In answer to the March 26th letter asking if we knew what we were signing with the 1% initiative. Yes, we do.

Few dispute the need of vital services. Libraries, schools, police, fire, roads, etc. But the government routinely overspends, often grossly. They're budgeted a certain amount, then near the end of the fiscal year, find they've only spent 70 percent of it so they hurry up and buy new vehicles, new equipment and hire new people. Why? So their department's budget won't be cut the next year. Of course, the next year they need that money and more to replace all those out dated computers, provide maintenance for new vehicles, plus salaries and benefits for new hires.

Then there's the Ray Miller mentality. With the high evaluations, where is all that extra money going? You'd think it would at least pay for new sidewalks, but no. Shouldn't Miller's pet local improvement district at least pay for them? Nope,, doesn't benefit the cooperate world. Miller even wants to pay $16,000 for an outside study of how to install sidewalks.

Then there was Miller's push for a $600,000, two-year-old emergency communications system that would be four years out of date by the time it was operational. Of course, we'd almost immediately need to replace it with a newer system.

Then there's $27 million for a new jail. Ask for a bond or a local option sales tax. Ditto for $70 million for new and repaired schools. Where are the funds from the once vaunted lottery?

Since the Legislature refuses to pass meaningful tax relief and in the same breath refuses to raise the minimum wage, people are finally taking matters into their own hands.

LAWRENCE FURY

Sandpoint