Raising taxes vs. reducing services

To the editor,
Many of our elected officials, both national and local, are committed to lowering or not raising taxes, regardless of the consequences. In the long run, this kind of thinking could cost us more money and simultaneously provide us with less service. A few representative examples follow.
1. Reducing the county contribution to schools and/or closing libraries: One can only speculate about the possible impact on today's students. Failure to be admitted to a college or get a good job or get future promotions, are all possibilities that could result from failure to receive a quality education. Education is the single most important factor in determining our income for the rest of our lives. We owe our children the best possible education they are capable of receiving. Maintaining, or if necessary, increasing funds for education now could increase future income far in excess of the extra taxes we pay today.
2. Eliminating ambulance teams: This would be okay provided there were always teams at the ready in case you or I need an ambulance. Cutting fire and rescue service should not be seriously considered.
3. Closing waste collection sites: Most residents take their trash to a county collection site rather than have it picked up by a private company. The majority prefer county provided sites because of the monetary savings. If that option is eliminated, the cost of using private collection companies or transporting trash to a more distant site would undoubtedly exceed the small savings in taxes resulting from closure of the facilities.
4. Failing to repair potholes: Failure to fix a dangerous pothole, which could be repaired for a few hundred dollars, may cause thousands of dollars in damage to county vehicles and the vehicles of county taxpayers. I understand that some animal shelter volunteers, whose services are worth thousands of dollars, may stop volunteering until the shelter driveway is repaired.
5. Protecting our investments: The impact of even a small reduction of funds can be severe and lasting. As an example, allow me to use a facility that is of special interest to me: The animal shelter. A dozen years ago, our animal shelter was one of the worst in Virginia. It was condemned by the state veterinarian and had to be replaced. County residents are proud of our new shelter and make extensive use of the services it provides. Even a small reduction in funding could be devastating to shelter operations. For the sake of a few dollars, a dozen years of progress could be lost and very difficult to restore when better days return. We should not let this happen to the animal shelter or any other important facility in our county.
6. Laying off county employees and/or reducing their pay: This makes no sense. If we need the services county employees provide in boom times, we also need them when times are tough. Virtually all of the county officials and employees I have met are dedicated, hardworking men and women. The cost of the recession should not be placed on their shoulders alone. All of us who live in Orange County and benefit from the services provided by county employees, should share the cost.
How much would it cost?
Assume three additional part-time employees were needed to continue an important service that county residents need and deserve. Assume the annual cost would be about $50,000. In our county, a one-cent increase in real estate taxes will produce almost $500,000 of additional revenue. That means that a tenth of a cent increase in real estate taxes would produce about $50,000 in revenue and pay for the three part time employees needed.
How would that affect the average taxpayer? Here are some examples: If your real estate had an assessed value of $500,000, your taxes would go up $5 for the year. For $400,000 assessed value, taxes would be increased $4 for the year and so on. For each $100,000 of assessed value, taxes would be increased $1 per year. If put to a vote, don't you think a large majority of Orange County residents would opt for this very modest increase in taxes to save a valued service?
Think of it this way: Give up a couple packs of cigarettes, a six-pack or two, a new purse, a cute toy for your dog, or a hamburger with fries, and you have saved enough to protect your investment in an important and valued service. Isn't that a good trade off?
Supervisors--talk to your constituents. Ask them if they would be willing to pay a few extra dollars per $100,000 assessed value to protect services and facilities they need, want, and deserve. Do the required calculations for each proposed cut and then ask them about the schools, libraries, animal shelter, law enforcement, trash compactors, etc. I am confident that they would opt for tax increases rather than lay offs, closed facilities, reduced hours of operation, fewer ambulance teams etc.
Keeping taxes as low as possible is not always a realistic or intelligent objective. Sometimes it makes good sense to raise taxes. Don't be reluctant to do so. In the long run, you will be providing better service to your constituents and they will thank you for doing so.
County residents--the best and probably the only way to keep services at current or improved levels, is to let our county supervisors know that you prefer a modest increase in taxes to a reduction in the services we need and expect. Tell them specifically which services you want protected from the budget ax, and in exchange for that protection, tell them you are willing to pay additional taxes. There are only five individuals you need to convince: The five members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Write, phone, or email them, and/or send a letter or email to The Orange County Review or The Free Lance-Star. Do it now!
• District 1 Shannon Abbs
P.O. Box 457, Sommerset, VA 22972, phone 540-672-9077, shannonabbs@yahoo.com
• District 2 Zack Burkett
14162 Marquis Rd, Unionville, VA 22567 phone 540-661-6622, zburkett@orangecountyva.gov
• District 3 Teel Goodwin
8089 Moormont Rd, Rapidan, VA 22733 phone 540-672-0381, Teel.Goodwin@vabb.com
• District 4 Grover C. Wilson Jr.
27180, Constitution Hwy, Rhoadesville, VA 22542, 540-854-4556, gcwdist4@aol.com
• District 5 Lee Frame
103 Woodland Trail, Locust Grove, VA 22508,
phone 540-972-6385, leeframe@orangecountyva.gov
• Orange County Review
110 Berry Hill Rd, Orange, VA 22960 news@orangenews.com
• Free Lance Star
616 Amelia St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 letters@freelancestar.com
Robert Cooke
Locust Grove