To the Editor:

Why is the St. Lawrence County Legislature borrowing 10 million dollars just to be able to pay their own employees? Didn't they just enact the single biggest sales tax increase in county history a year ago?

Isn't this the same group that raised property taxes by more than 13 percent a couple years ago? Not too many years ago, the county legislature had $20 million in the bank. Where did the money go?

There was almost no debate that they needed to borrow the money. That was a foregone conclusion. They had to do it the previous 2 years too! So what do they debate?

They have to argue about whether to borrow it for a year or 6 months. Then they spent an hour grandstanding for the TV cameras and trying to blame each other. The undeniable fact is this: This legislature has passed budget after budget that has put this county in this financial situation. This legislature, and no one else, is responsible for this county's financial situation.

Now, they want to run away and blame others rather than accept the consequences of their own actions. Isn't it time for some new ideas? Isn't it time to get away from the same old tired arguments?

For the first time in many years, citizens of southern St. Lawrence County have the opportunity to make a change on November 4th.

Do you really want 4 more years of this? If you're tired of it, please make sure you vote!

Travis E. Dann

Gouverneur