Since the Ocean Shores city council budget discussions began this year, not once have we heard the council members or the mayor ask, how do we cut spending? Control costs? Instead they ask how to increase revenue. The mayor declares, no problem. We don’t have Microsoft but we do have people. I cringe. What I hear is the deputy minister is continuing the policy of finding ways to exploit the poor.

We elected council members to be good stewards of the public’s money.

Instead they are swaddled in their own self interests and make decisions based on pressure from special interest groups.

They seem to have forgotten that 84% of our children at OSE are part of families that live at or below the poverty level and obviously they haven’t looked at the big picture. They don’t realize how frightening the future looks for the citizens of Ocean Shores.

The council is considering over a 16% increase in property taxes; played with water rates and settled on an increase for low volume users; proposed a Transportation Benefit District to increase vehicle tab fees and Sales Tax and proposed an Erosion Taxing District

All of that after the PUD Electric rates went up. Gasoline taxes went up. Sales Tax is going up and flood insurance costs are going up.

They approve union contracts that guarantee wage and cost of living increases while the majority of our seniors here get no increase in their income.

Though Social security will Increase about $4, the Medicare Premium will absorb that. The net Increase is Zero.

At a council meeting, council member Bob Peterson waves his arms at us and exclaims, “it’s only a latte a month you must give up if we raise taxes.” Its not. Its food on the table. A gallon of milk. A half pound of ground beef. A loaf of bread.

All the while the council discusses bringing the library back into the general fund so their friends won’t have to campaign for the next levy and worry that it might not pass because the people might want to eat rather than read.

Last month the OS food bank served 600 people. Their mission is to make sure that no one in our community goes hungry. I suggest that should be the mission of this city council.

Relying on those with the least ability to pay to keep our revenue system going is neither responsible nor sustainable.

Their lack of concern is staggering. Citizens should be outraged. I am.

Susan Conniry

Ocean Shores

EDITOR’S NOTE: Councilman Bob Peterson responds: “What universe is Conniry operating in to connect me to the latte remarks? The meetings are recorded so I invite her to back up her claim. She cannot.”

Susan Conniry replies:

“Apology to council member Bob Peterson.

“In last week’s paper, in my letter to the editor, I mistakenly quoted Bob Peterson as saying ‘it is only a latte a month.’ … I apologize Mr. Peterson, you did not say, ‘it’s only a latte a month.’ That was my take on your comments.”