The former county assessor is urging islanders to vote against the library levy, claiming the library tax would be “twice as much property tax as the Town of Friday Harbor is allowed to collect”.

I agree with Paul Dossett that “truth in taxation is imperative.” But it is quite a stretch when he asks us to compare the library’s tax levy to the small property tax in the Town of Friday Harbor.

The town keeps well ahead of the game because all of the residents in town pay some of the highest utility rates in the state, and in addition, the town takes in twice as much in sales tax as in property tax.

That’s what allows the town to keep such a large, healthy reserve. The library proposal is prudent and far from extravagant. Voting yes will help maintain the fine library we have.

Lee Sturdivant

Friday Harbor