Our opinion

It's a dangerous time for anyone relying on state and local funding.
Governor Tim Kaine announced a $2.9 billion shortfall in state revenue during the biennium and county officials are prepared for decreased local revenues as well.
Sales tax revenue is down because folks are spending less, and there are few new sources for real estate tax. Perhaps most importantly, the county's coffers will see a decrease in personal property tax because the value of Orange County residents' cars is depreciating.
"There's going to be less revenue because vehicles are appraised at less," Orange County Administrator Rolfe said. And adding to the problem, he said, fewer new (higher value) vehicles are being added to the revenue stream, as consumers try to economize by limiting spending.
"We're looking at what kind of impact [reduced funding to localities] is going to have on us," Rolfe continued. The priority for the coming fiscal year, he explained, will be to analyze the county's core services-those dealing with health, welfare and public safety-and try to maintain present levels of service.
We're not economists, but this boils down to supply and demand. Citizens demand services, but will the county have enough money to supply them? So, they cut. They reduce services. They drop staff. They eliminate ineffective programs. Everything's on the table. It's a scary time to be at the mercy of state and local funding.
Tuesday night, the board of supervisors left the Gordon Building meeting room for a dinner meeting with the Orange County Extension Leadership Council and Cooperative Extension Service staff. Hopefully, they heard enough during that time to understand the impact, reach, importance and effectiveness of Extension programs.
Virginia Cooperative Extension enables people to improve their lives through an educational process that uses scientific knowledge focused on issues and needs.
Extension responds to the needs of individuals, families, groups and organizations with educational programs in the three broad areas of agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, and 4-H youth development.
Locally, dozens of Orange County 4-H programs involve more than 1,400 youth and more than 400 volunteers. Programs range from traditional agricultural clubs to new projects that strengthen families, stimulate healthy lifestyle choices, promote character development and cultivate leadership skills.
Among Extension's family and consumer sciences services, agents provide financial education and guidance for local families-certainly a critical service in our modern economy, and tax assistance for lower income and older residents. Other programs provide nutrition education which, in turn, promotes healthier, happier lives.
And, as agriculture remains the county's single largest collective industry, the Extension office provides dozens of support and education programs for our county's agricultural community which stimulates the productivity of our economy.
We understand everything's got to be on the table this time around. And Extension is fortunate to draw funding from local, state and federal sources. But when we consider the gold mine of resources available to all county citizens through Extension programs, we see an investment in our community, not just the funding of services. We hope our supervisors see it that way too.