Before you make 'No' voters the villain

Rhetoric coming from proponents of the resort tax increase cleverly implies that “No” voters don’t care about protecting Haskill Basin or securing our future water supply. This is nonsense.

I am very much in favor of those things. However, we are about to spend about $12.5 million on a new City Hall and parking structure when we could get something quite adequate for $5 million. Somehow, though, funding for City Hall cannot be used for Haskill Basin, which seems like very shrewd politics.

What sort of example are we setting for our children if we spend lavishly while also claiming that we don’t have enough money for life-giving water? Let’s not be the guy that asks his parents for food money while at the same time is buying a Porsche.

It’s always easy to spend someone else’s money freely, and then keep asking for more, yet if we keep giving more, aren’t we also to blame?

Residents need to be the responsible ones and say to city officials, “Figure out a way to make it work with what you have. If you can afford a Porsche then figure out a way to have clean water too.”

Indeed, we must demand that those entrusted with spending our money do so wisely.

All reasonable residents care about the beautiful Haskill Basin and securing clean drinking water for future generations. We should also — all — care about fiscal responsibility.

— Clyde Dicks, Whitefish