In my most recent City of Poulsbo utility bill, I saw a notice that, starting Oct. 1 this year, the City will be charging/assessing a $3 fee for phoned-in utility payments — called a “convenience fee.”

For whose convenience?

Where did this silly money grab idea come from? Isn’t there a secretarial staff paid for by taxpayers to handle telephone calls such as these? Isn’t that what office staff is for?

There are two Poulsbo residents and taxpayers in this household who find this sort of nickel-dime drivel egregiously bad. This sort of stuff hurts those who don’t have computers, those who don’t have cars and those who don’t have checking accounts — in other words, “the poor.”

This is an ill thought-out idea the mayor and the City Council should be ashamed of.

Bruce Riggins
Poulsbo