ROANOKE TIMES 

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

DATE: SUNDAY, May 20, 1990                   TAG: 9005210216
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F2   EDITION: AMETRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MORE MERGER BENEFIT FOR COUNTY THAN CITY

I WAS a supporter of consolidation until I read May 8 that, being a resident of the urban area, I will pay higher taxes than residents of the suburban area should consolidation be approved - but that both will receive the same level of police, fire and emergency rescue services.

In addition, the suburban area (which is now Roanoke County) has already been given a one-seat majority on the school board.

Roanoke City is beginning to sound like the father of the bride who keeps increasing the dowry to marry off his ugly daughter. Are we so desperate for consolidation that we must keep appeasing the county negotiators to get it passed?

The city is a pretty good place to live, and we have a good mayor and members of council. I am more than a little tired of reading all the negative comments in the letters column about Roanoke City.

The residents of the other localities in this valley aren't doing city residents any favors should they favor consolidation. It looks at this point as if they would be gaining more than the city residents.

With the negative attitudes that have been expressed, I don't feel that those in the county would ever become a part of a Roanoke Metropolitan Government.

\ BARBARA B. RICHARDSON\ ROANOKE 


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