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
Budgets and Taxes
' Support for the school budget was not universal at Monday bight’s public hearing, but it was overwhelming.
Those who argued in favor of increases in teachers’ pay and for the higher property taxes to pay for the increases far out-numbered those who were opposed, but all spoke with sincerity and with concern for the well being of the county and its citizens of all ages.
School Superintendent David Gangel was at his most eloquent at Monday’s hearing, and he deserved the round of applause he received. His most dramatic litany was the list of needs in the school system that the school budget does not adress at all.
The students handled their presentations with poise and grace. Their testimony to the dedication of the teachers they have encountered in Rappahannock public schools was very moving. However, many of the problems they cited with lack of funds for extras are •, also left out of the proposed budget. | While the turnout was impressive by recent standards, most taxpayers were not in the audience. Patrons of the schools should realize members of the Board of Supervisors are hearing plenty in private from those whose primary contact with the school system is through their tax bills.
The supervisors have before them a county budget including the school budget that requires a four-cent increase in the real estate tax fate to balance. Furthermore, that budget contains nothing for either increasing the hours at the county landfill or paying for manpower and other costs at a centralized trash collection site.
Clearly providing such a central site and approving the current school budget will require more than a four-cent increase. Still a 74 or 75-cent rate will not be high in comparison with many counties. Several counties to Rappahannock’s north and east will apparently never see a rate under a dollar again.
Rappahannock residents should realize the county’s low rate of growth is primarily responsible for that low tax rate. If the county is to continue to enjoy a low taxes, continued control of development as well as fiscal responsibility is needed. The primary reason the cost of government is escalating in rapidly developing counties is that houses do not pay enough in taxes to make up for what they cost in services.
The supervisors should approve the school budget as presented at next Monday’s meeting, and they should approve a tax rate that will also include the costs of operating a centralized trash collection site.
97.0%