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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 12, 1992                   TAG: 9202120349
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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UNDERFUNDING IS SHORTSIGHTED

THE LEAGUE of Women Voters of the Roanoke Valley commends the newspaper for its recent series of editorials concerning tax revenue for Virginia.

With the burden of taxes falling disproportionately on middle- and low-income people, the majority of the population is resistant to any tax increase. Politicians who wish to remain in office have avoided public statements about tax increases to remedy the state's revenue shortfall, preferring to favor drastic cuts in the budget.

While it is good practice to streamline bureaucracy and reform or eliminate ineffective programs, it is shortsighted to underfund institutions critical to the future of the commonwealth, including education, the arts and social programs. To provide adequate funding, it is not necessary to add to the burden of those who are paying a greater proportion of their incomes on taxes than others.

The specific suggestions in your editorials, especially raising the state income-tax rate for higher-income Virginians, will spread the tax burden more equitably. As pointed out, Virginia is not a high-tax state, and the combination of taxes cited will not place us in that category. If we are to maintain the progress we have made in education and the arts, we must be willing to accept a variety of tax increases and to let our legislators know.

ELIZABETH FETTER

Chairman of the Board League of Women Voters of the Roanoke Area

ROANOKE

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