Comments on: FY10 Proposed Fiscal Plan Unveiled @ BOCS Meeting

By: Conservador

Conservador — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:07:58 +0000

M-h
Your response is “education, fire, rescue, police, libraries”…again and again.
You said “I would always trust Mr. Jenkins and Ms. Caddigan on budget matters”.
I say, “I don’t trust any politician with my money.” That has not changed. You changed your statement and flipped. You trust the government, because you think they know better. I don’t trust them, because I know they don’t know better. Also, they are not spending their own money; they are spending yours, mine and everyone else’s money. What is the incentive for politicians to be efficient, none. If government knew better, Communist countries full of government spending and social programs would be fantastic and everyone knows that is not the case.
The difference between you and me is that you justify more taxes and more spending for government programs under economic depression and I believe in limited government and low taxes at any economic level. I can respect your position, but I have known that socialist government policies on spending, does not guarantee a better result.

By: Moon-howler

Moon-howler — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:53:01 +0000

It isn’t about trust as much as it is about the county providing services that we need. (education, fire, rescue, police, libraries) Those are the things that make an area attractive to businesses who might want to transfer workers into the area.

By: Conservador

Conservador — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:43:24 +0000

The big difference between tax payers is that some trust a politician with the people’s money, and I don’t trust any politician with my money.

By: Moon-howler

Moon-howler — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:58:21 +0000

Chris, I think it would be cheaper for the average tax payer to pay taxes than to get nickel-dimed to death for some of these things.

I would always trust Mr. Jenkins and Ms. Caddigan on budget matters. Does anyone need to review the film footage which both supervisors try to warn the others of the error of their ways?

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:54:41 +0000

I’m more than willing to pay for these services(high school sports). I’m just trying to point out one way that the “savings” will get spent out of my/our pocket(s). We might be paying more to visit the pools and water parks in the county too. Frankly, I’m in favor of realistic tax rate, and not one that’s the lowest in the region.

I certainly don’t want seniors to suffer. I’m of the “sandwich generation”. I want programs in place for our most vulnerable. I want businesses to locate in the county as well.

The county does have some type of senior drug discount program. However, I don’t think it gets the publicity it deserves. I’ve heard John Jenkins promote the program. Information is here, and it offers a discount.
http://www.pwcgov.org/default.aspx?topic=010009000850003416

By: D. Bornstein

D. Bornstein — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:23:19 +0000

Anona, I agree. I preferred to pay for the special programs my kids had also, rather than letting it be a tax burden to someone struggling to pay for meds. Just recently I witnessed the look on an elderly woman’s face at a pharmacy when she was told her meds were $80 (with insurance, without it was $350). I could tell she was wondering what else she could do without in order to pay the $80.
Just a general note on the present living standards in PW County compared to when I was a child: My father came to PW to open a restaurant in Centreville on Rte 28 in the 70’s when all of the homes within 5 miles had out -houses- No indoor plumbing. We used to find neighbors in our restrooms taking sponge baths and brushing their teeth.It was businessmen like him who built this county by struggling to survive and generate tax dollars. Businesses still struggle the same way. The county should always remember to not bite the hand that feeds it.

By: anona

anona — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:59:04 +0000

“I’m left to wonder how much will that savings really be after paying for services that had previously been included in my real estate tax bill.”

You make a very good point. I also have kids in high school sports, and middle school sports. But I guess if my taxes go down and then I use that money to pay for the sports it actually works out a fair trade during bad budget times.I don’t even mind paying a little extra in the sports fee if it means helping out less fortunate families so their kids can be involved. And I would rather me and my husband pay for it by fee since my kids are involved than my in laws who are living on fixed income. I would feel guilty that my in laws would have less money for monthly groceries for example,if the tax rate was set higher, just so my kids could play middle and high school sports. Once the economy gets better, we can get rid of the fee.

Now if you are talking police and fire support, that is different. Essential services must be paid for, but sports? The kindergarten assistant cuts and increasing class sizes worry me more. But a tax rate hike so we can pay for sports when people are cutting everywhere and seniors are going without groceries or all their medications is kind of sad.

By: Opinion

Opinion — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:24:57 +0000

I was talking about tax rates with a wise man yesterday. To paraphrase, he said, “first figure out what services you want to provide, than tax accordingly to pay for them.” He was quoting John McCain (who, fortunately, is back to the “John McCain” I’m rather fond of).

I believe Corey Stewart is looking at County tax policy “backwards”. He is focusing on the tax rate first, then attempting to see how many services fit within the rate (sort of like bringing the wrong bucket to a fire… if it’s not a big enough bucket, the house burns down).

We should focus on the services we want the County to provide its citizens, and then determine the tax rate to support these services. Once a model is constructed using these parameters, it is possible to re-evaluate the size and priorities of services the County provides in the context of the rate (or resulting revenue) that is required to support them. I suggest that the upper bound for the tax rate be current actual tax bills (not the current rate) and that Corey Stewart’s proposed number ($1.13, I believe) perhaps be the lower bound. The answer is somewhere in the middle and driven by data on how much the County can actually produce in revenue in the current economic environment (considering the jobs situation, home values, other revenue sources, etc.). Simply put, it’s a math problem (and , I believe, a nice Linear Programming problem).

John Jenkins has a pragmatic approach. He would like to advertise a higher rate than is suggested by the Chairman so the County has a bit of flexibility in establishing the actual tax rate (Charlie’s assessment, above, is correct. The rate cannot exceed the advertised rate; however, it can be lower). As a matter of policy, Supervisor Jenkins approach would give the County the ability to focus on services vice driving to a number.

By: Moon-howler

Moon-howler — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:16:23 +0000

Charlie, I don’t believe the new assessments are in. I know I sure haven’t gotten my new tax notice. I also do not see it on landrover.

We are in agreement. Don’t box yourself in, supervisors. (especially for political gain, Corey)

By: Conservador

Conservador — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:16:22 +0000

Tax payers pay many taxes and expect the best use of their tax dollars. We do not want wasteful spending, and like wise, as consumers we want the best deal for our money.
I’m married with two children living in PWC. Do my taxes really pay in full the education that my children are receiving in the county? Is the amount of property taxes and personal income sufficient to pay for the quality of services that I’m obtaining in the county? PWC residents have to be sensible and understand that we can’t ask the private sector and the people of the county to foot the bill for everything that we wish. The county supervisors are responsible for the economic situation that the county faces. They are responsible for the solutions that they will implement. I’m expecting an expedited plan of action for how to attract business and residents quickly back into the county. Also they will be responsible for the language, tone and respect that they will transmit to the businesses and the people as the prime embodiment of the county.