School E-mail March 19, 1996

Return to School e-mail archive directory

Subj: SchoolBudget/Tax Hearing
Date: 96-03-19 09:08:29 EST
From: James.C.Klagge@bev.net (James C. Klagge)
To: SchoolLists@vt.edu

Dear voters,

On Sunday, March 10th, the Supervisors decided to advertise a maximum tax rate increase of 6 cents per $100 assessed value (i.e., $60/yr more for a $100,000 house). This passed 5-2 (with Long and Jablonski opposing it). But even among the 5 who voted for it, it was clear that 2 (Stewart and Rush) were NOT seriously considering adopting it. They seemed more anxious to advertise (what they considered to be) a large increase for the sake of shaking up the taxpayers into complaining. Only Mary Biggs supported advertising a rate that would have covered the school budget. She said she had heard a lot of support for that from her constituents in F. (I'd like to thank my constituents in F for offering that support, and ask you to thank her for sticking her neck out, even though it didn't make a difference this time.) Besides Biggs, only Moore and Gorman admitted hearing support for a sizable tax increase.

Those who opposed the tax increase wanted to make clear that they were supporters of education who thought we have a fine school system (Rush called it an excellent system) that we could be proud of (Long); but that the schools didn't need (much) more money because they were so good. This attitude puts us in the bind that if we have good schools they don't need more money, while if we have poor schools we wouldn't deserve more money, so that in any case not much more money will be forthcoming! I think this betrays a complete failure to understand the notion of leadership and investment in and for the future--but this is what we are dealing with from a majority of the supervisors.

A 6 cent tax increase would allow a school budget increase of about 6% (rather than the nearly 13% sought). In my opinion--and I am NOT speaking for the school board--this will leave us with little flexibility. As usual the state will be increasing its contribution to our county schools by a larger percentage than the supervisors, but unfortunately a sizable portion of the state contribution is designated for certain things, especially technology. So the amount of money we can decide what to do with is small. I expect it will mostly go to salary increases, new trailers, and a few new teachers to deal with the biggest growth problems.

In light of all of this, it is important to get out to the public hearing Thursday evening at 7pm at Auburn High School in Riner. If you need directions please contact me and I'll explain them. If you want to speak it will help to get your name on the list by calling the county administrator at 382-6954. You will be limited to 3 minutes speaking time. The first half of the hearing will be about the county budget, of which the school budget is part. The second half is about the county tax rate. I'm not sure why they keep these separate, but they do, so you need to designate which issue you wish to address. I suggest people speak to the tax rate. If past experience is a guide, there will be a couple dozen citizens to speak against any tax increase, and there will be a few PTA people to speak in favor. If this is how it happens again, WE WILL GET NO TAX INCREASE! The ONLY way to change things in this county is for ordinary citizens like you to show up and voice your viewpoint. The supervisors seem to only react to what is in their face at hearing time. Three recent examples are: they voted to close down Juicees, after a "passionate" crowd of over 100 made a stink about that; voted to rescind the Riner condemnation after a crowd of over 40 complained about that; and voted to reopen negotiations for 30 acres after a crowd of over 100 supported that. We need a crowd of over 100 to get a majority of supervisors to budge on taxes. That's just how it is.

-Jim Klagge.

p.s., Thanks for the supportive comments about the personal attack on me in the letter to the Current last Sunday.

email: admin@gisone.com