County, city budgets are far from austere

The Bonner County commissioners stated they were “tracking toward the adoption of an austere budget.” Gee, their budget in 2008 was $36,762,685. The 2009 budget was more than $40,000,000 — $4,000,000 beyond the 2008 budget. And the 2010 budget was more than $49,000,000 — $9,000,000 over the 2009 budget.

And now they are proposing a 2011 budget of almost $56,000,000. This is $7 million over last year. Where on earth do you think all the money is coming from? It can’t be the people who live here in Bonner County because most of them are out of work and an increase in property taxes is probably out of the question.

By the way, the proposed Sandpoint city budget is $42,117,500. This includes $16,000,000 in debt service fund revenue against costs. What is debt service fund? This is $22,000,000 over last year’s budget and not far from Bonner’s County’s entire proposed budget. Pigs must be flying. I would like to know from where the extra $6,000,000 is coming. If you think it is proposed taxes, I believe you are in the clouds somewhere.

LINN AITKEN

Sandpoint