Reader questions perceived secrecy
Week after week, we see the quarter page or half page or even full page ads paid for by the Moses Lake irrigation district, patting themselves on the back or articles written by the Herald, giving them the platform to make excuses or accusations. My first question is: just want kind of an advertising budget do they have with tax payer dollars to continually buy such large ads? My next questions is: why are they so adamant, always pointing the finger elsewhere and not just willing to be more open and up front with their elections? What would these changes hurt? It would definitely dispel any appearance of impropriety! Then they would not continually have to hold "forums" and have "security available" to answer some of these questions that the general tax payer has every right to ask. And, they definitely would not have to feel "threatened" or that their integrity was being questioned. Any tax payer-supported entity should be open and above board to questioning.
Did you notice that there was never any more reported on the MLIRD illegally over-taxing land parcels that were not within their boundaries? And that they did not notify even one of those property owners when the error was discovered? If you questioned them, their board made the decision they would reimburse that particular property owner only three years' worth of over-payments but you had to be the one to question it! And then go through all their hoops in order to get your money back. As a matter of fact, Ms. Smith would not even return calls when the messages were left, questioning the tax discrepancy.
All we, myself and many other tax payers that I know, ask is that this finger-pointing and accusations stop and all involved be open and up front. If it takes a few changes in your procedures, it's a small thing to do to accomplish this. I would think that as "professionals" you would be more than willing to do this.
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