LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Growth creates significant increases in county spending
Dear Editor,

Newspapers have reported on homeowners' dismay and anger over higher assessments, [but] that reaction is misdirected. Rather than focusing on the market values, taxpayers need to focus on the rampant expansion of county spending, fueled by reckless growth policies and government excess. Existing homeowners have been subsidizing development, which has brought them larger government, more crime, more congestion, more pollution and higher taxes.

County officials publicize any reduction in tax rate in an effort to create the illusion of tax relief. Many homeowners call that arrogance. The penny or two you throw our way after posturing through the public meeting process is no consolation.

You need to start publicizing that this year spending is rising $500 for every man, woman and child in this county, and FY08 will bring a similar increase. More troubling is [the] development along the [Route] 288 corridor. Its infrastructure needs [are] grossly underfunded by meager proffers.

A tsunami is approaching the homeowners of the county. Over the next three years, we can expect it to sweep many out of their homes. When that happens, we're going to be losing the very residents that we can least afford to lose … those who require nothing in return for their taxes. And coming in their place will be families that demand services costing far in excess of what they pay in taxes. This sets up a vicious cycle that must be broken.

If anyone deserves to earn nearly double what we pay our governor, it isn't the county administrator but the director of real estate assessments. [He] and his staff feel the brunt of taxpayer anger; his department is the scapegoat for bad strategy and bad execution. [But] I disagree with his position that a "benefit" of rising assessments is the ability of homeowners to plunge themselves deeper into debt through equity loans and reverse mortgages.

Here are seven points to consider:

1. Growth but only if it pays its own way. The board needs to revisit the proposal it rejected late last year to increase proffers, and the increase should be significantly more than what was last considered. You'll be shifting a small part of future tax increases from existing homeowners to those choosing to develop, build, and buy new homes in the county.

2. With the cost of new school construction leaping into the stratosphere, we need to ask, is it sound fiscal policy to keep building these expensive assets only to allow them to sit idle for a third of the year?

3. Look to establish performance metrics, for yourselves and the new administrator, which are less bureaucracy-centric and more taxpayer-centric.

4. Power corrupts. Abuse of power has led to a loss of confidence in elected officials. Though you've rejected the idea of expanding the board so as not to dilute your power, maybe to win back voters' confidence you'll consider term limits.

5. A quick glance at the budget deck for Social Services and Human Services suggests its time for a "zero base" budget across all departments.

6. Mr. deMey's letter to the Chesterfield Observer in [the Feb. 28] edition is 110 percent on point.

7. If you're looking to "benchmark" the next county administrator, look no further than Goochland County where Mr. Wolfrey is doing an outstanding job. Assessed values there are up 21 percent, yet the tax rate is being lowered to fully offset those increased assessments.

For the members of this board, I hope 2007 will be a year of enlightenment. I welcome the comments Chairman [Kelly] Miller made to that point at the Jan. 10 meeting when he said, "We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to that which is obvious … business as usual in the growth area …we've got to do a better job."

As [County Administrator Lane] Ramsey rides off into the sunset with a very comfortable pension, he'll likely be passing less fortunate retirees heading off to their banks for equity loans and reverse mortgages.
Alan Francario
Dale District