At precisely the time our taxing entities should be easing the burden on their citizens or at least holding the line on spending, we see the opposite occurring.

So far, the cities of Rathdrum and Coeur d'Alene are embracing property tax increases of 1.5 percent. Post Falls, commendably, is determined to sally forth without further damage to its property taxpayers, even though it could make equal or stronger arguments for the need for more money.

Coeur d'Alene's tax-hike case is feeble. Two of the big expenses cited as justification for the increase are a broken copy machine and $20,000 for new library books. And even though it would come from separate funding, the council is tossing fuel on the fire by proposing a 1-percent pay raise for all 353 city employees. It's less than the city's contract with three unions calls for, but a thumb in the eye to the many city residents who are working for far less this year than they have in the past - if they're working at all.

We urge the City Council to reconsider.

On the 1.5 percent budget increase, are these one-time expenses absolutely critical in the coming fiscal year? Requests for police car upgrades sound more plausible, but is there no way they can make do with what they're driving now or divert funds from another pocket?

We can't over-emphasize how desperate so many Kootenai County citizens are today, how important every single dollar is to them. If you don't think so, look at the bond request from a solid public safety agency that got flattened Tuesday. We believe the City Council should have the respectful resolve to tell its department heads that for the good of the people they serve, there will be no tax increase.

If the council disagrees with us, as well they may, the city is sitting on a rainy day fund of more than $4 million. Look around at the jobless rate, the wage cuts everywhere - outside government, anyway - and the possibility that our county will be rocked by some 1,500 additional foreclosures in the coming year after 600 or so thus far in the Great Recession. If the books and copy machine and new cars really are that critically important right now, we ask: If this isn't a rainy day, what is?

We also must take issue with a comment made by Councilman Ron Edinger. Edinger was quoted as saying, "I do not like layoffs." Pardon us, but who does? We don't know a single private or public employer who likes layoffs, and we're reasonably certain no employee losing his or her job is happy about it. By making such an inane statement, Mr. Edinger is unfairly suggesting that the taxing entities with the fortitude to hold the line or actually cut spending do like layoffs.

Coeur d'Alene's budget hearing is Sept. 3. There's still time to reconsider.