Residents air concerns about bookmobile, taxes, video failures and election procedures during public comment

During the public-comment period on the tentative 2025 budget and later general comment, residents raised multiple concerns ranging from county spending priorities to transparency in meeting recordings and election procedures.

Diana Hardy questioned repeated failures of the county's audiovisual system and asked the commission to consider returning to paper agendas with audio-only recording, saying public comments from prior meetings had been erased. She also criticized public-private partnerships and urged smaller government spending. Jeff Sanders and other supporters stressed the bookmobile's importance for rural residents and families, calling it essential for children's access to books; Sanders said his family relied on the service. Bruce Royer and other commenters urged attention to county salaries and the impact of tax increases on fixed-income residents. Fred Hayes praised election staff but urged single-day, hand-counted ballots and expressed skepticism about current electronic vote verification.

Commissioners thanked election staff for their work on the recent canvas and closed public comment by motion. The commissioners said they would continue to work on budget cuts and consider targeted outreach to those affected by taxes and the bookmobile levy.