Often times there is a disconnect between what we wish for and what we need. This is obviously the case with the Home Fund, Proposition 1 on the ballot. Just yesterday it was announced that federal welfare has increased 44 percent to $1,030,000,000, yes trillion. The city is going to increase our taxes 1 percent, water, sewer and storm water bills are increasing. The south side has the opportunity to tax themselves and addition .28 mills per thousand, there is a school levy coming in February. Further, I believe the cost of health insurance will go up in Washington 50 percent. Certainly with the very tenuous recovery we are experiencing, this is not the time to pile on. While we might wish to assist those who are at 50 percent of median income, we need to make sure that we do not upset our fragile economic recovery. Vote no on Proposition 1.

Bill Henshaw

Bellingham