AVISTA: Priorities in wrong places

Avista executives pay raises — do they translate into rate increases for the rest of us for natural gas and electricty? 

Times are tough for lots of folks — some have to go to the food bank for the first time in their lives. I guess times are not tough for Avista executives. How would you like a raise from $2.6 million/year to $3 million (salary plus incentive plus pension)? 

Another top executive’s total compensation went from $728,000/year to $791,000. Another, from $696,000 to $759,000. I don’t think these guys have heard that we have nearly 10 percent unemployment and we are in the worst recession since the 1930s.

Thursday I read in The Press a story about “The Roosevelt Inn” having a payment problem and Avista could not give them a few more weeks to catch up on their bill. I guess the pay raises are more important than helping a struggling business in our community.

BILL STURGEON

Coeur d’Alene