"Sales taxes are being paid by consumers." - yes, very true. In Oak Harbor's case, most of the consumers get their paychecks from the federal government through taxation.

"Bob, you haven't shown us anything except verbalize your beliefs" - well maybe you're right Ken, but then neither have you , even with your impertinent references of 2009 payrolls for the entire Naval region and defense contracts and whatever else you put up that doesn't fit the argument here.

One thing is certain - a recent article in this paper made the remark that unlike Oak Harbor's economy being totally dependent on the Navy, Coupeville's is based on agriculture and tourism, which yes, I do believe.