
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990                   TAG: 9003122948
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BIGGER GOVERNMENT WILL COST MORE TO RUN

CONSOLIDATION of Roanoke City and county government is the biggest sham yet. There will be no benefits to the people in all circumstances.

Taxes will rise automatically. The bigger the government, the more it costs to operate. The cost will be high to merge police departments, schools, firefighting, garbage service, etc.

The city and county spent $25 million of taxpayers' money for an airport terminal. For what? One airline and a few air taxis. What a waste.

My wife and I moved here from Florida in 1984, a mistake on our part. Our taxes have risen every year since, and there seems to be no end.

Who wants this consolidation the most? The people aren't asking for it. These so-called politicians with sharp pencils want it badly. In fact, the whole state is gone tax-happy. I refuse to buy a car in Virginia, because you pay sales tax on the full sale price, with a trade-in.

These politicians have already said whatever cost to operate the new government, the cost will be met. This means the people will bear the cost. I do not believe the people of Vinton and Salem will vote for this sham. Remember the old saying, "Buyer beware."\ CLYDE W. CLARK ROANOKE

by CNB