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By DAPHNE HUTCHINSON
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Are Rappahannock’s taxpayers ready to revolt over a spiraling local tax rate?
Not according to a survey taken this spring by the RappahannockRapidan Planning District Commission.
Rappahannock’s real estate levy has climbed steadily in five years, going from 32 cents in 1982 to the advertised 64 cents per $100 of assessed value for 1986-87. But a solid majority of those contacted in the PD survey are ready to see it keep right on climbing — if the revenue goes for “improvement or expansion” of schools, fire protection and rescue services.
The telephone survey was organized by the Planning District Commission as part of its work to update Rappahannock’s comprehensive plan. Actual telephoning was done by local people — Cheryl P. Taylor, Sandra Brown, Brenda Payne and Valerie Hibbs — on March 23-27 and April 2-17. Four hundred and four households were selected at random from two telephone directories and 164 respondents completed the three page survey, according to PD executive director Bill Stnder, who presented the results to the county Planning Commission last week..
Those surveyed were asked if they’d be willing to pay increased taxes for improvement or expansion of selected public services. Sixty nine percent said yes for schools and 63 percent said yes for fire protection and rescue services. Forty nine percent would be willing to pay more taxes for improved trash collection and disposal, 48 percent for better streets, roads and highways, 47 percent for better police protection, 46 percent for improved health services and libraries, 46 percent for more recreational opportunities and 34 percent for better public utilities. Only in the public utilities category did the percentage of “nays” to higher taxes outstrip the “ayes”.
In assessing the future growth and development of Rappahannock County, only 52 percent considered the tax base as “very important.” That ranked below the “very important” rating given schools, w'ater quality and water resources (71 percent), employment opportunities (68 percent), agricultural preservation (65 percent) and housing availability and cost (57 percent). Forty six percent of those polled considered roads and highways “very important” and 33 percent counted “other public service” as “very important.”
The survey participants were asked what they viewed as Rappahannock’s greatest problem “now or in the future.” For this question, they had to come up with answers on their own; they were not given a list of choices. ' Only eight of the 122 people who
90.3%