No on Prop 1

Proposition 1 (Veterans and Homeless levy) is perhaps the worst funding request ever put to Kitsap voters. The proposal does not replace existing funding but is in addition to monies already allocated. There is no defined use for the funds. Instead, the initial actions under the levy will be to “review” how the funds might be spent and to then prepare two “operating” plans. The levy will also pay for a study to determine how to extend the tax after the initial six years. In addition, the proposal would circumvent existing law regarding exactly who qualifies as a veteran.

This proposal is little more than a “give us your money and we will figure out how to spend it” scheme. If your children asked you for money, using the same logic as this proposal, you would refuse them. In the past, we have defeated numerous school levies that did not properly identify, in some detail, how the funds would be used. Why would the commissioners think we would react any differently to this proposal? Perhaps they thought using “veterans” as victims was a way to draw more of our money into the general fund. Nice try, but no thanks.

Jack Hamilton

Silverdale

Against Prop 1

I do not support passage of Proposition 1‹Aid to Veterans and Homeless. Why not? I am a veteran of Korea and Viet Nam Wars, but I do not like to have veterans considered victims or used by our commissioners to achieve another purpose. Did you know that there is already a tax to collect monies for veterans? And that the commissioners considered the amount collected last year to be more than was needed, so decided it was OK to confiscate $460,000 from the fund and put it into the general fund to balance the budget?

So, if they already have a tax and it is more than sufficient, why another tax on top of it? Why don’t they just call it what it is – a tax to care for the homeless? At least I think that is what it will be used for but since they do not even have a plan for its use, who knows? Sounds more like a blank check to me.

My point, if it looks like a boondoggle and sounds like a boondoggle, chances are it is not really meant to benefit veterans. Perhaps you would vote to support a tax to benefit the homeless. Perhaps not. But at least you should get to decide where your money will really go. Wouldn’t it be nice if they just told us the truth?

John H. McAuliffe

Silverdale

Favoring Gelder

Golly, time passes quickly,  seems like I just voted.   When your ballot arrives this month in the mail join me in voting for Rob Gelder.

He has been on the job as well as a member of the County Budget Advisory Committee, so he is very knowledgable of county government.

His sincere and frank answers to my questions show his understianding of my concerns.  He is a fellow member of Rotary and helped the YWCA obtain two more housing units for battered women and children.

His intellect and thoughtful reasoning convince me that he is the better choice for commissioner.

Ardis Morrow

Poulsbo