I read your news article on AB 885 with interest then growing alarm at the proposed regulations. What is most alarming is what remains unsaid by those proponents of these new regulations.

If, for whatever reason, the inspector deems it necessary for the property owner to perform additional tests, the property owner is required to perform those additional tests at the property owner’s expense. Should the additional tests not be to the liking of the inspector, major work, thus major expenses, would be burdened on the hapless property owner.

Then there is the extreme. Should the property not be able accommodate a new system, the property would be uninhabitable. At best the property loses all value because it cannot be sold. At worst, the property owner must abandon the property completely.

If the state or county believes that a problem exists as a result of septic systems, which were installed legally, then the removal of septic systems is a public benefit. All of which is only the government's current opinion. Thus, the government’s perceived problem should not be levied against the innocent property owner. The government should bear the full cost of placing the property on a sewer system. Maybe we make this part of the stimulus package.

Remember the Golden Gate Bridge and the 25 cent bridge toll. To convince the public to tax themselves to build the bridge the proponents pointed out that the toll would end after 30 years, highway tax dollars would pay for the maintenance and generations to come would have a beautiful bridge. Well, the toll is now around $6.

Examples of the continual expansion of taxation and regulation permeate the history of our government. Why should any property owner expect this new regulation to be any different? It is wise to believe that once the regulation is adopted it will only become more restrictive and expensive with time.

Richard B. Cooper lives in Healdsburg.

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