Letters to the editor for April 12

We can’t afford RFA proposal

The proposed Regional Fire Authority property tax will swap in for property taxes the city now collecting, at an amount no greater than $1 per $1,000. What are the current $ per $1,000? The city will be divorced from the fire department and former city funds will be diverted to other programs. Meaning no tax savings and could open us up for even more city taxes.

The article said an average-sized single-family home would pay anywhere from $380 to $450 a year. Former Tumwater Mayor Pete Kmet said most apartments would “hover around $60 a year, or $5 a month.” I live in a single-family condo, and according to the Tumwater website, I would pay $1,310.13 — a huge tax increase!

This Regional Fire Authority (RFA) is a NEW taxing district, and to add new employees and stations (to get that 1-2 minute extra response time!), they will need to ask for more money — and soon.

Steven Busz said if the RFA doesn’t pass, services the two departments currently provide will start to dwindle. Using this theory, do the same with Police, Public Works and Parks departments. The cities would still collect the same taxes they do now and we would have to vote to pay more taxes for each spin-off department.

Mr. Kmet said raising property taxes could be harmful to low-income residents. He is right about that, I am one, and do not want to be homeless!

Without more information than I got from this article, I will be voting no!

Ken Estes, Olympia

Timberland Regional Library dysfunction

Regarding The Olympian’s April 2 article on the Timberland Regional Library accountability audit.

As a former TRL board member, I resigned in November 2020 because of the dysfunction of the board and management. I didn’t believe the board of trustees was acting as a governing board responsible for the financial stewardship of millions of taxpayer dollars. Too often what I saw were the trustees acting as cheerleaders for management.

A little-known fact is that Thurston County taxes subsidize three counties: Lewis, Grays Harbor and Pacific. With only three libraries compared to other counties with many more libraries, Mason County is more than self-sustaining. The three counties needing tax subsidies control decisions of the TRL board.

Frequently, I took issue with the contracting policy and questioned the legality of decisions. Neither the director nor the board chose to revise the policy.

My resignation letter went to all five county commissions, spelling out the dysfunction of this organization generously funded by taxpayers in 2023 at $35 million. Perhaps it is time for county commissioners to get involved, as they appoint the board of trustee members.

Brenda Hirschi, Shelton

Want to save the ocean? Think twice before you flush

Chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and even caffeine are being detected in Puget Sound waters at increasing rates. Why? Some pass unmetabolized through our bodies and are flushed down the pipes; some are thrown in the toilet by hand. That’s right, lots of people flush their unwanted prescriptions.

Certainly, we want to keep those pills from being accidentally ingested, and flushing seems easy, right? Don’t do it.

Unfortunately, current wastewater treatment plants are not designed to clear these types of contaminants. This means a cocktail of things not naturally occurring in nature are being deposited into the ecosystem — including the tissues of aquatic wildlife. Nature doesn’t need a cup of coffee, let alone pharmaceuticals.

The human-induced presence of caffeine in our waters can be used as a marker of human impact. If it is present, scientists find other “human-leaked” chemicals as well. The Washington state Department of Ecology recently tested waters in our region and found many contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), some at a high level. Pharmaceuticals used to treat diabetes, seizures, depression, and inflammation were highest.

While we may not be able to control what passes through our bodies, we can choose to dispose of unwanted pharmaceuticals properly. There are free drop boxes at pharmacies throughout the Olympia area. Save the whales one flush at a time.

Cynthe Slaybaugh, Olympia