On Sept 1, the Times published an editorial entitled "No excuse for sending property tax bills out so late."

In this editorial, the question is posed, "What if government were a private business? Would the shareholders tolerate clerical workers who were consistently a half year behind in sending out bills?" The answer to that question is a resounding NO! -- especially since the offices responsible for mailing out the bills are overstaffed probably with people who are not competent to get the work done.

What would be done in private industry? First, in a well managed business, which government is not, the department heads who should be responsible would be fired on the spot and replaced by competent department heads who would be required to hire competent staff to do the job at hand. End of problem.

Taxpayers of Lake County, it's about time you realize that we are the shareholders who are getting screwed by the incompetents in Crown Point. There is no excuse for sending out guesstimates of your tax bill for the last three years. It's about time to fire the people in Crown Point who have demonstrated that they are unqualified to do the job and to hire qualified, competent people to run our government.

Nov. 4, the hiring day, is only weeks away. If you don't get rid of the incompetents, you could be getting screwed for another four years.

Frank J. Scrbacic, St. John