Berkeley's solar program worth a look

The city of Berkeley is implementing a financing program to fund the installation of solar systems, no money down. Similar to a financing district, Berkeley allows its residents to enter into an agreement to borrow money to purchase these solar systems and then repay the money over time as part of their property tax bill. There is absolutely no cost to those who do not want to participate.

This program overcomes the two biggest obstacles to purchasing renewable-energy facilities: the upfront cost and the uncertainty associated with the prospect of selling one's property at some future date.

Not only is this a benefit to the individual homeowners, but it benefits all of us in California by stimulating the economy and creating tax revenue. We will also gain a measure of energy independence, which we all recognize as being so important.

The state would do well to adopt a similar program.

– Rick Kooi, Auburn

Colleges' spending contributes to woes

Re "Private student lenders: No bailout" (Editorial, Nov. 26): One of the great tragedies affecting higher education today is the overpricing of an education that carries less and less value. Your editorial wisely criticizes a bailout of student lenders as fiscally irresponsible but neglects to mention the danger of the rising costs of student loans and the spending problem faced by many universities.

The proposed bailout of lenders providing high-cost private student loans could amount to more than $60 billion, with the funds coming out of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's $700 billion economic rescue plan.

A bailout of private student loan companies would only exacerbate the real problem of rampant spending by colleges. Over the past 10 years, after-aid educational costs – including tuition, fees, and room and board – increased 24 percent at private four-year colleges and 35 percent at public institutions.

Over that same period, federal aid to higher education increased 77 percent, from $48.7 billion to $86.3 billion.

The private student loan industry's reliance on government aid ultimately encourages poor spending habits and stifles financial innovation. Increasing the flow of student loans without addressing the spending problem will only ensure that another bailout will be just around the corner.

– Matthew Glans, Chicago

Higher animal-adoption fees harmful

Re "Don't balance budget on helpless pets" (Letters, Nov. 24): Nicole Forsyth's letter to the editor is on the mark in objecting to efforts to balance the state budget through a tax on veterinary care.

Efforts to balance the Sacramento County budget on the backs of helpless pets are quite evident here as well. In July, fee increases proposed by the animal care and regulation director for nine categories of animal-related services were approved by county officials.

Unfortunately, one increase created fees for shelter adoptions that are much higher than the corresponding fees at the city of Sacramento's Animal Services or the Sacramento SPCA.

People are struggling to afford basic veterinary care. Many have been forced to relinquish their pets because of foreclosures. Now, veterinary care is proposed to be taxed at the state level. And locally, pets are hit with a "double whammy" as chances of relinquished and stray pets being adopted from the county shelter are reduced by ill-conceived, poorly timed adoption fee increases.

By all means, I, too, hope readers will write the governor to request reconsidering taxes on veterinary care. I'd also urge them to write to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors requesting that these onerous animal adoption fees be rolled back to pre-July levels.

– Ted Sorich, Folsom

Missing the mark on Proposition 8

Re "Prop. 8 foes' tactics are appalling" and "Actions don't reflect people in Prop. 8" (Letters, Nov. 26): Both letter writers Luke Otterstad and Randall Hahn completely missed the mark and ended in self-absorbed alienation.