First, eliminate the sales tax

Regarding the guest commentary by Jerry Fraser, “State income tax could replace our regressive, volatile sales tax”: I am in favor of a state income tax, only if the regressive, volatile sales tax is eliminated. Period. You do realize that we, too, have budgets and the effect of continual tax increases, and with miscellaneous taxes on utilities, which are also increasing utility rates, have many budgeting from paycheck to paycheck. Maybe a state income tax will be the answer, or maybe those who can afford new cars should be paying the vehicle excise tax. Please let the voters decide.

Locally, what about the 10-year tax exemption given to those who can afford to build apartments? They system has what is left of the middle income carrying the load.

Berlene Clark

Everett