Citizens should monitor actions by the new board

Dear Editor,

I, for one, will be watching to make sure that the positions said by this new board [of supervisors] matches what they promised during the campaign, and I urge other county residents to do the same.

Undoubtedly, growth was the main issue in the 2007 election. But as we have seen before - in local, state and national elections - our public officials have run on one platform and voted differently. They seem to know what to say to get elected but change their positions after being elected.

None of the new board said taxes would be raised, but when the new budget is passed this spring, we'll all be paying more taxes for the same services because our property will be assessed higher, [which raises] our taxes. Some supervisors seemed to promise more spending in certain areas, but with less than expected revenue (particularly from the state), reality will come home. It's easier being on the outside than being held responsible.

I'm not crazy about paying tolls and gas taxes, but one thing you can say is: drive less and avoid the toll roads, and it costs you less. [I] wish you could say the same for Chesterfield schools, where most of our tax money goes. Seems unfair for everybody to pay based on the assessed value of our homes when most of us don't have kids in [Chesterfield] schools.

The [Chesterfield] Observer provides a real service by monitoring county and school salaries though you could report the increases [from year-to-year]. Much of the county and school spending is in the area of salaries and benefits. By my review, it seems like some of the school salaries were out of line as compared to Henrico [County].

The Observer and other news media should track the [board's] rhetoric and their votes to make sure they're doing what they said they would.

Name withheld at the request of the writer

because he is a county employee