The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
Three council members, including two who are running for state offices, oppose a proposed tax rate increase to pay for projects, such as an animal shelter and a recreation center.
While none of the 11 council members objected to the idea when it was brought up during their retreat earlier this week, Rosemary Wilson, Ron Villanueva and Glenn Davis said Wednesday they are against raising taxes to pay for seven big projects.
Several council members said they have been flooded with e-mails from residents blasting any tax increase.
"It would be absolutely irresponsible for us to ask the citizens of Virginia Beach to take on an additional burden," Wilson said in a news release Wednesday. "This cannot be allowed to pass and should not have even been brought up."
Wilson plans to run for Sen. Kenneth Stolle's 8th District seat if Stolle elected sheriff in November.
"Why would you want to raise taxes during a recession?" said Villanueva, who is running against Democratic Del. Bobby Mathieson in the 21st District.
Paying for the projects, which would cost about $95 million, would probably require a new revenue source, Mayor Will Sessoms said again Wednesday.
Virginia Beach officials said one option is to borrow the money for the projects and then raise the real estate tax rate by about 2 cents to pay the debt. The increase would raise more than $10 million a year, even with an expected decrease of 4 to 5 percent in assessments next year.
Davis said the projects are worthwhile and might be less expensive since contractors are now looking for work.
But he said they should be funded in the city's current budget by making cuts in other areas.
"This is a wrong economic climate for a tax increase," Davis said.
Vice Mayor Louis Jones, who first brought up the idea of packaging long-requested projects with a funding source, said he is not surprised that some of his peers oppose a tax increase.
"I think part of the political process is listening to what people have to say," Jones said.
Other council members said they haven't decided whether a tax rate increase is the best way to fund the projects.
"I don't know enough about it," Councilman Jim Wood said. "I support looking at every single method of funding for them."
Councilman John Uhrin said he backs the council's plan to meet with residents next month to talk about the projects and a funding plan for them.
"It's certainly not a great time for a tax increase," Uhrin said. "It's also not a great time to continue to table some worthwhile projects."
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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Here is the website.Please e-mail EVERY council member and let them know how you feel about this /They are testing the waters here people.Let them know we will NOT stand for this.They need to spend wisely & with thrift like everybody else
A liar or a thief
To use a phrase I have posted before from my Professor of Public Administration who served as Budget Director in an earlier administration, "an initiate without an offset is a liar and a thief." What that means is that if you propose a new program, then you must either pay for it with cuts, or identify new revenue. Each of the initiatives we have discussed herein had a council member who sponsored that requirement. Now the only responsible way to deal with that is to cut existing programs or to add new revenue. Those discussions will occur over the life of this budget cycle, and some compromise will be arrived at. The hyperbole, the cynicism, the outrage, the condemnation of Council for even considering these projects will be drowned out by the methodical progress of the prepartation of the budget. And the anti tax zealots will have their say, but I predict they will be refuted by those who want quality services and are willing to pay for them.
says it all....
Vacation Pal of Jim Spore - explains at lot, doesn't it?
Submitted by Reid_Greenmun on Thu, 08/06/2009 at 4:28 pm.
Mike Barrett is a former assistant to a Virignia Beach City Manager. Now he works for a local politically influential Developer. He is appointed to SPSA by City Council as the representative of Virginia Beach. SPSA is our regional trash agency and is a financial train wreck. He is a rabid Democratic Party operative. He is a member of countless regional business lobbies. He vacations with City Manager Jim Spore because they are good friends. Mr. Barrett appears to me to be acting as a surrogate for the City Manager and is doing City Council and Jim Spore's dirty work by publically attacking citizens that object to the wasteful practices of local, regional, state, and federal government.
"rabid Democratic Party operative"?
That's funny! Republicans really snuck one in on us with Sessions who paid over four times appraised value for a right of way for a speculative purchase for a light rail system that is not even approved. Taxpayer money is free for the taking for business pals of our republican mayor.
Ongoing process
Dream on, Kawika; you, like Keith, may wish for disaster, but fortunately, that is not nor will it occur. Why, because the Beach, unlike many other cities, has a strategic plan and vision, and has had the guts and political courage to make it happen. The incident that started this thread, ie the announcement that three members of council may not support a tax increase, is ironic in that the minutes of the planning session reveal they all support new initiatives that if they are to be made real require new funding. Now this is not rocket science; if you propose new projects, they must be funded by cutting existing programs or by increasing revenue. That is what the Mayor and Vice Mayor pointed out, and in the months that follow before the budget process begins in earnest, the members of council will hear from citizens who advocate for the projects, and those who don't want a tax increase, and from all those in between. That is the way it works.
Slim chance
As yes, the typical response from those who just don't realize just how informed the public really is. Spoken like a shephard to his flock. Trust ye not your own gut instincts. Listen not to those whose opinions differ for they are liars and deceitful. Trust ye all in government, and those in the chambers of commerce. It is they who ye know what is best. Roll ye over and let the decendants of Caesar plunder ye bank accounts for the good of business and their prosperity. Sign ye over all hard earned money to those decendants of Caesar for their political prosperity. Yes.. Spoken like a true master of spin. And you are the master Mike. No kidding.
It is Comforting to Be Number One
Number one in family unfriendly cities. Figures. Between unrealized benefits of public/private partnerships, the rail line to no where, multiple vacant commercial properties throughout the city, ocean front mini-parks structured to focus on nearby hotels, far from the beach paid parking and all other manner of obstruction to fair and equitable use of beaches by families, let alone the burden of reduced city services, hidden tax increases and promises for more imposition on households, number one is a proper fit for the Beach. The only destination of worth in this sea-side cul-de-sac are each of our homes. Betcha M.B. feels better at his home instead of sippin sauce at the Hilton, or the supposed center of CoVB. It is rapidly coming to the point where displeasure with annual visitors may pop the cork and rudeness filters into our discussions with tourists. If ways of council to promote and adequately fund necessary and long overdue ammenities for the citizens of CoVB, then no other projects should be initiated. Vote them all out!
Fat chance
Ah yes, the typical reaction from those who realize that their world view is crumbling around them when they realize just how ill informed they have been. It is really tough to confront the reality of having been mislead and misinformed by those with a political agenda. That is a typical reaction by many who having followed John Moss and Robert Dean into the wilderness, only to have been refuted and rejected by the broad electorate, and then to attempt to wander back on the same path, only to finally realize that the master is an idiot who will not change, it is really tough to take. But take heart, you really can step back and observe reality, and you can change. Let the anxiety and the bile go. Their tactics of fear and intimidation can only last so long. You too can throw off the chains that have enslaved you. Fat chance.
"Provide some Thanks as Well"
stated kindly....hubris....from the master of all things hubris...a lobbyist of the worst variety. There's no limits to the depth of deception.
I think I am going to be
I think I am going to be sick. I may need more Maalox and something for the runnymeades.