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

DATE: SUNDAY, March 17, 1991                   TAG: 9103150040
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IT'S TIME GOVERNMENT LISTENED TO THE VOTERS

We are in the midst of a recession, large businesses are going bankrupt every day. The jobless rate is at 6.5 percent, the highest rate in four years: That's 1.8 million people out of work since last June. The federal deficit is staggering.

A look at the March 10 classifieds for the New River Valley showed a total of 28 jobs, that's for a county with a population of 72,892.

The Board of Supervisors wants to raise real estate taxes, personal property taxes and the price of vehicle decals.

Recently residents voted not to sell bonds because they don't want the county to make those improvements now and don't want to go into debt to make them.

When I run out of money, I quit spending, I don't use credit cards or write checks.

Why can't the county do the same?

You don't kick people when they are down. It is possible to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

My suggestions are:

Follow Roanoke's example. Instigate a hiring freeze and a wage freeze and encourage early retirement for municipal workers.

Put a moratorium on tax increases, step up efforts to collect on overdue taxes.

Then take a vote or survey and do what the voters want for a change! How can you go wrong? That's what you were voted into office to do!

Vic Ham

Elliston

by CNB