I want to clarify some misstatements made by Steve Lockwood.

Mr. Lockwood claimed lack of transparency during the budget process. This is, simply, false. My office has been extremely transparent and provided Mr. Lockwood the same detailed financial reports daily for that day’s meetings without him having to make a formal request.

Mr. Lockwood stated that the commissioners have increased their salaries by $10,000 over the past several years. What was left unsaid was that under Cary Kelly, Todd Sudick and Glen Bailey, the board began a course of wage studies. The last group brought up to average were the elected officials.

Mr. Lockwood publicly opposes increasing the tax revenue by 3 percent. With real inflation around 10 percent (think insurance, food, cars, phones, medical bills, etc.) the county’s tax revenue is falling by 7 percent per year (10 percent minus 3 percent equals 7 percent). In spite of this, the current board has cut the budget, and cut actual expenses. Bravo.

Mr. Lockwood is not able (in my opinion) to grasp Idaho’s budgetary law and the uniqueness of fund accounting. He gets an “A” for attendance, but after roughly 50 hours of budget hearings he understands it less than Mr. McDonald did after just two. This is an important part of the job of commissioner. It concerns me greatly.

Dan McDonald offends some people, including myself, at times. But the commissioners are meant to be decisive CEOs, not Furbies. You always know where Dan stands on an issue. He is “as advertised.”

MICHAEL W. ROSEDALE

Sandpoint