To the editor:

Here comes Prop. 1, and many have a reflex about hating taxes (thanks, Reagan/Bush).

But they seldom complain about how much our low county taxes have done thus far to keep the often-unseen under-fabric of the county together. When something fails, the anti-tax folks are the first up in arms about lagging government oversight and response (Katrina, the bank collapse, the BP spill being glaring national examples).

We need to help our county serve many out-of-sight-but-vital community needs. Cutting everything completely to the bone and even below is penny-wise but pound-foolish.

Teetering infrastructure, lack of any savings buffer, burnt-out/overworked employees, lack of care for our disadvantaged citizens, environmental neglect, unkempt recreational areas, reduced police, etc. all come back to cost everyone in reduced sense of community well-being, and yes, in indirect private and public dollars, too.

A proportionately tiny investment by all property owners now (and I’m one of ’em) helps assure, among many things, the overall continuing value of our property, because a subtly blighting and struggling community is less desirable to the outside buyer or tourist than is one with a humming infrastructure and secure services.

Vote yes for Prop. 1.

Mark Wahl

Langley