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A LOT of the trouble stems from Richmond, which won’t give localities sufficient flexibility in raising taxes, and which continues to mandate expensive programs and then not provide funds to implement these programs. Kindergartens, vocational schools, expanded welfare programs all cost money, and if the state won’t give financial help, it should at least grant the counties and towns more latitude in raising needed funds.
Rappahannock hasn’t exhausted all of the options, yet. An automobile tag tax is probably inevitable, and so is a utility tax. And the Supervisors must also be encouraged to continue their frugal ways.
Some people grumble about the board’s tight-fisted grip on the county purse strings, but frankly, we like their attitude. Anything that slows down the tendency toward ever larger bureaucracy at local, regional, state and federal levels will help ease the tax pressure in the most meaningful way possible.□
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