Vote no on Island Transit

Dear Editor:

The S.O.S. Web site explains the Island County Transit's fare-free policy as follows: "typically, for smaller rural transit systems, collecting a fare generates virtually no usable revenue because of the costs associated with fare collection."

Translation: There are not enough bus riders in the community to cover the costs of implementing a fare collection program.

This brings me to my point. What I am observing in this community is that Island County Transit busses have very few people on them outside of peak commuting hours.

Why am I being asked to pay more so that we can keep empty busses running?

I understand that the service is valuable for some, but it is obvious that it is being run very inefficiently. So [Island Transit] can make do and better manage the money they already have.

As others have stated, this is not a good time to be asking for more money from us.

Fire/EMS, who I am reluctantly saying yes to, has their hand out and the library will soon have its hand out. The school district has its hand out on a regular basis.

We can't fill every single hand that gets put in front of us.

Transit, I am slapping your hand away!

Gary Chaney Camano Island