As a 12-year homeowner in Timberlane, I want to share my passionate opinion.

I know increased taxes hits everyone hard, and fundamentally they are tiresome. However the Transportation Benefit District on this upcoming ballot simply makes sense. As a member of the Covington Budget Priorities Advisory Committee, I learned firsthand just how much money our city government does not have, and how well they manage with what they do. A group of about 20 of us common citizens were appointed to this committee and most of us walked in with the righteous plan to show the city how to run a tight budget. What most of us learned was that our city employees do an amazing job at making every penny count.

Our roads are in bad need of repair, especially in Timberlane. Yes, money should be set aside for the eventual wearing out of resources, but when you have county, state and federal spending requirements and only so much money coming in, you have to do what you can, especially during a recession. Yes, the Transportation Benefit District failed on the last vote, but there was nearly zero voter education on the issue. Who is going to vote in more taxes just because someone asks?

The writers of the dissent opinion in the voter’s guide suggest that Covington chooses not to pay for essential services first. This is a boldfaced falsehood. As a certified senior professional of human resources, and a professional recruiter, I can tell you with confidence our public officials are not paid as highly as you might think. And frankly, the pay for the new city manager, effectively the chief operating officer of Covington, seems a bit low to be competitive if you ask me. And don’t we want the best managing what our taxes pay for? I do, and because of that I know compensation has to be competitive.

There are other city budget costs that the dissent opinion authors criticize. I can tell you what’s wrong with things, but the true concerned citizen figures out how to fix it before complaining.

The Transportation Benefit District was one of two recommendations the BPAC committee gave to the city. The beauty of the TBD is that people who drive in to Covington to shop will be helping to pay for our roads. This includes people from North Bend, Black Diamond, Enumclaw, Maple Valley, Kent. All who love to shop all these great stores we have so close that they don’t have nearby. Let’s let them help pay for the roads they use to shop our awesome city. This resolution brings our sales tax equal to the cities around us who already have the Transportation Tax District in place.

Please vote yes on Proposition No. 1 Sales and Use Tax for Transportation Improvements.

Chele Dimmett
Covington