Math a challenge for Lauderdale

So Jeff Lauderdale’s campaign website states that “logic and science must be applied to all of the challenges” we’re facing. Apparently, Lauderdale’s version of “logic and science” doesn’t include facts and elementary math.

At the candidates forum last July, Lauderdale criticized the Conservation Futures Fund. Conservation Futures has helped with the purchase of conservation lands throughout the county such as Double Bluff, Ala Spit, the Davis Slough Heron Rookery and development rights on farmland. It costs the owner of a $250,000 house less than $13 per year.

Lauderdale expressed concern that “the county would end up owning ‘every square inch’ of Whidbey and Camano islands” (SWR, July 25).

How realistic is his concern? 2006 Island County Assessor’s Office data shows the total value of all taxable land and buildings in Island County at about $9.8 billion.

I don’t have the figure for 2006, but in 2011 Conservation Futures was projected to bring in about $666,000. So, at this rate how many years would it take for Conservation Futures to “end up owning ‘every square inch’ of Whidbey and Camano islands?” $9,800.000,000 / $666,000 = 14,714.7 years.

So at current rates, all of Whidbey and Camano Islands will have been purchased by the Conservation Futures Fund in about 15,000 years.

What is it with these tea party and wanna-be politicians? Kelly Emerson’s big issue is celebrating the War of 1812 and Jeff Lauderdale is worried about 15,000 years in the future.

Personally, I’d rather have commissioners like Angie Homola and Helen Price Johnson who take care of the here and now – while also looking out for the future.

–Steve Erickson

Langley

 

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