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

DATE: SATURDAY, March 23, 1991                   TAG: 9103250221
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

OUTSIDE WORKERS NO HELP LOCALLY

THE MARCH 7 editorial, "Council vs. taxpayers," curiously insinuates that by putting the Roanoke-area citizens to work through contractor requirements, City Council would in effect be befriending them.

I would venture that the city's taxpayers would in effect be rewarded by, and City Council applauded for, such efforts. Workers from out of state or from other countries contribute next to nothing to the local economy and tax structure. The money leaves the area instead of being spent on houses, clothing or at the grocery store or other retailers.

This newspaper periodically prints articles that ask why the Roanoke-area population does not increase or even decreases. The answer may be that what jobs are available here are traditionally low-paying, with no or little benefits. Unemployed and underpaid workers contribute the bare minimum to the tax structure and often take away from it. One who has to receive food stamps, Medicaid and unemployment compensation just to survive can be a burden to all taxpayers, including businesses.

LARRY McGLAMARY

FINCASTLE

by CNB