To the editor:

Today’s front-page article concerning “County approves freeze in pay raises” is very misleading. First off, no commissioner’s pay is affected by any freeze until January 2011. And then, it will only be the salary of the commissioner from the Camano Island district, either Kelly Emerson or John Dean, that will be reduced.

Commissioner Homola and Commissioner Price Johnson have said that they will reimburse the county for their salary increase. What they really mean is that they will reimburse us taxpayers for any increase in net pay. Wonder if they will first be allowed to increase their federal income tax withholding in order to reduce the net difference and then receive that as a tax refund when they file with the IRS?

This would reduce the amount that they repay. Their benefits will not be reduced and consequently their retirement benefit will increase because of the gross salary increase as will their Social Security benefit when they retire. Likewise, the expense to the county taxpayers will increase for the employer (Island County) contribution into the retirement and Social Security funds.

As any taxpayer, I was interested in getting information about the budget reductions the commissioners have proposed and what they are considering. I sent an e-mail to each commissioner. Dean and Homola never answered. Price Johnson partially answered a couple questions and said she didn’t understand others.

I asked which programs had been cut from the budget. The question was not answered, and none were listed. So, I assume no programs are proposed for elimination.

So, is it safe to assume that the county only administers needed and necessary programs?

I asked if reduced workdays or work hours affected employee benefits for service credit for leave and retirement. The answer is “no.” Leave and retirement benefits will be calculated as though the employees had worked the usual schedule. All benefit calculations will be calculated as though the employee had worked full-time. So, only net pay was reduced to match actual hours worked.

There are many areas in the budget that are available for reduction, including certain projects and programs. There are also savings still to be had from employee compensation and associated costs. Union contracts need to be renegotiated in this economic emergency.

There are also savings to be had by more efficient operation. Take, for example, the painting of the yellow lines on Woodard Avenue that were then slurry-paved over and were painted again. If it happened there, it happens elsewhere.

If the commissioners believe that they have “hit the end” of modifications that they can make to the budget, perhaps it is time for each of them to resign and allow a fresh set of eyes to take over the task.

Rod R. Mourant

Freeland