Letters

Citizens are left holding the bag

What a rotten deal! This new city is getting ready to impose a 6 percent utility tax on us Valley citizens.

During the TV debate I had with Dennis Scott, the manager of the incorporation campaign, I maintained that if the Valley incorporated we would be slapped with a utility tax to pay for the extra layer of government. “No,” Scott answered. He stated emphatically that under no circumstances would there be a utility tax.

Same old incorporation gang garbage.

In another lie, we were told crime would decrease drastically because of increased law enforcement. Phooey! There were 600 car break-ins in 2003. As of August 2004 there were already 900 break-ins. The end of 2004 will probably see 1,200 break-ins or double the number of 2003. Unbelievable.

Absolutely nothing the moneymen, the Chamber of Commerce or the 4th District legislators touted for this new city was true, and we citizens are left holding the bag. And believe me, more will be coming.

The City Council can end the coming financial nightmare by doing the honorable thing and allowing a new vote on incorporation. If they don’t, I’ll have a new disincorporation petition out by the end of January and get the 21,000 signatures to dump this city.

The $18 million surplus we enjoyed under county government is replaced with a growing deficit. Shame on those deceitful incorporation leaders.

Sally Jackson

Spokane Valley