Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 1 of 3 · from the scan, no model involved
Rising property tax rates are fueling demands from some that the present system of land use taxation — whereby agricultural land is taxed at a rate lower than its fair market value to encourage the farmer to keep it in production or open space rather than sell it for the highest (read that residential development) price — be modified or even abandoned altogether.
We’re not going to argue the pros and cons of such a move here. Those have been argued is this space before, and we’re sure they will be the subject of future editorial comments as well.
Land use is not the only issue. In the next few years, decisions are going to be made by local officials which will impact not only the future of agriculture in Rappahannock County, but the future of the county and its residents as a whole.
Farming has been an important — perhaps the most important — business in Rappahannock County for many years. We are glad that the county’s farmers are organizing . to give their viewpoint a united voice. We urge residents who share their aims to contact the group’s leaders and join the effort. Their membership is open to non-agricultural producers as well as active farmers.
Their concerns are too important, and their opinions too valuable, to be overlooked when the time comes for these decisions to be made.
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