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

DATE: MONDAY, July 16, 1990                   TAG: 9007160194
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARCIA WEIS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ST. LOUIS-ROANOKE VALLEY COMPARISON INVALID

AS A ROANOKE County resident and homeowner for 17 years, I read with interest the letter from John Spitz June 27. Spitz attempts to use St. Louis, Mo., as an example to prove that "mergers aren't the answer."

I was born in St. Louis and lived there many years, residing in several of the "90 separate municipalities" of St. Louis County Spitz cites. His statistics do not reflect all the headaches experienced by St. Louis County residents, including myself and friends and relatives still living there.

My main quarrel with Spitz's premise, however, is that it is not relevant to the controversy over consolidation in the Roanoke Valley. St. Louis County, as he points out, has a population of almost 1 million. Roanoke County's population is about 75,000, the city's approximately 100,000. It is comparing apples and oranges to try to justify the multiplicity of governments in our valley by comparing it to a much larger entity.

He speaks of "economies of scale" being available in such matters as water and sewers, and then states, about St. Louis County, "but in most places that was seen long ago, and appropriate service districts were established." Here, the phrase "long ago" does have a certain relevance for us.

For all the years I've lived here, we have been embroiled in a muddle of proposed answers to waste-disposal and water-supply problems for the whole valley, with no definitive solution in sight because of bickering among the localities. The Roanoke Times & World-News editorial July 1 and Michael Cleary's letter July 2 were right on target. So-called cooperation just doesn't work.

Concerning taxes, Spitz says "some people prefer fewer and/or more modest services." Where are those valley residents who want fewer services? If they exist, are they a majority?

Also, in the choice between business-tax base and residential-tax base, Spitz states there is no inherent reason to prefer one over the other. "Business must pass on all its costs, including taxes, to customers." I would add that it passes them on to all its customers, not primarily residential property-owners, thus spreading the burden more fairly. The most balanced tax base that would evolve from a consolidated government would alleviate many of the county's financial problems - shortfall in the school budget, looming expenses for water supply and waste disposal, etc.

In his final argument, on economic development, Spitz notes that St. Louis County has a "much higher level of income than the city of St. Louis," and says that the impact of government on the material well-being of its citizens is limited. If he is implying that somehow the wealth of St. Louis County citizens is related to the fact of their fragmented government - they haven't needed unified government to achieve wealth - he is right, except that he has put the cart before the horse.

The situation there is simply the same phenomenon that is seen all across our country - the move to the suburbs of those who prefer and can afford large lots and a more expensive lifestyle. Drive through the St. Louis County suburbs of Clayton, Ladue, Frontenac, Olivette, or older Webster Groves or Kirkwood, and this is obvious. Incidentally, these people pay huge property taxes.

If we are to consider the economic development of the Roanoke Valley as a whole, to make it a place where our children can stay and have good jobs, we must also consider eliminating the confusion of overlapping boundaries and red tape that companies wishing to locate here must contend with. Consolidation would go far toward resolving these problems. In addition, we need to remember that separate municipalities of under 100,000 have little of the political clout needed to protect their interests in state and national capitals. St. Louis County, with its 1 million population, needn't worry.

I second Cleary in urging all valley citizens to examine all the facts about consolidation carefully. Of all the places I have lived, the Roanoke Valley is the most beautiful. With unified government I believe we can keep it beautiful and vibrant and prevent its descent into a backwater.

by CNB