Businesses need to pay their fair share

Businesses are dumping for free, and we are paying for it as homeowners. Can you afford to pay for a business expense on a business you don't own, don't operate, nor profit from? I can't.

I called the Solid Waste, and their staff is very nice, and informative. If you have a standalone business and you live in the county as a homeowner you have a sticker for your household waste, but nothing stops you from hauling your business trash and there is no $194 fee imposed each year. That means you and I are paying for business trash. That simply is not fair.

If you have a home business, such as my nonprofit commentary that is run out of my office without fee, and accumulates no waste, just my time on a computer, then my house is already paying the $194/year. But a standalone business, and we have plenty, are not assessed the fee, they are allowed to simply load up their personal vehicle and haul for free.

It's time for a change. The homeowners are being assessed fees above what is practical, and we are paying for businesses expenses.

I have written to Bob Howard, director of Solid Waste and the three commissioners.

SUZANNE GLASOE

Sandpoint