How can retirees keep up?

Seriously?! The McCleary Act necessitated additional tax revenues be allocated to K-12 schools for staff/faculty raises but because senior administration apparently can’t do remedial math, the districts came up millions short after the first year and sought additional tax revenues from property owners via levy requests to fix their mistakes.

Then Spokane County adds a 1% property tax increase to address their anticipated needs. These along with the Washington Utilities Commission’s approval of Avista’s electric/gas increase request that amounted to an almost $50 per month increase (my home temp is set at 65).

As a retiree, finding ways to spend my 1.6% Social Security “raise” of about $25 a month was limited so I decided instead to walk my dog around Plante’s Ferry Park. What did I find? Locked gates, limiting access to a publicly funded resource. I spoke with the Parks Department and was told it was due to people driving on the lawns at the park. Seems like an excuse to avoid maintenance and snow removal in the parking lots.

Instead of punishing those of us who respect the parks and even pick up trash from time to time, why not arrest the knuckleheads who damage the parks, have them repair the damage and also do community service in full view of the taxpayers. Consequences for bad behavior, right? Or if it’s preferred, give retirees a 15% annual raise so we can keep up with teachers and the real cost of living. Just saying.

Carson Hoffman

Spokane Valley