The county press release (published in the Journal, Aug. 17) announcing the parcel fee ordinance says that the voters are being given a choice between two future solid waste systems, “Plan A” and “Plan B”, but only the parcel fee — which is part of Plan A — will be on the ballot.

Really, the choice in this election is whether to continue the failed current system, changing only the way we pay for it.

Plan A is designed, managed, and governed by the same county government responsible for the failures of the current solid waste system.

It doesn’t fix the system, or offer more service, or find a less expensive responsible solution.

It’s just more money overall, and pays for it partly with a fee on developed parcels, instead of people paying directly for disposal of the solid waste they actually generate.

There are a number of good reasons to vote against the parcel fee ordinance.

One is that this election can be seen as a referendum on county operation of solid waste services.

Allen Rosenberg

San Juan Island