Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, December 26, 1994 TAG: 9412270057
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVE BALLARD
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Based on what information I've been able to obtain, consolidation doesn't present a very good picture at all. This city-within-a-city concept appears to be nothing more than a town within a county. They want to call it a ``shire,'' but that's just a glorified name for a town. Incidentally, the dictionary defines ``shire'' as a British county and a ``borough'' as a town or village. Therefore, the General Assembly will have to revise the state code to give a new definition for a shire.
What are some pros and cons?
This city within a city referred to as a shire would have only one seat or vote on the new city council - the same as when it was the old town of Bedford.
It appears the new city would be able to tax residents of the shire in addition to the taxes imposed by the new shire. It has been said that the total taxes paid to each government would be no more than those presently being paid, but for how long? Can anyone really believe that once the new city's government has the power to tax shire residents, it will not increase taxes whenever it feels it's necessary?
If this consolidation comes to pass, then the shire will be able to annex any surrounding territory it wants by passing an ordinance. If this is the case, then what will pay for new services that will be required, such as garbage collection, snow removal and leaf collection, to name a few? The new shire will probably have to raise taxes to hire additional personnel and purchase additional equipment.
It's hard to believe that Bedford County would be willing to give up, say, Wal-Mart Plaza, the Town and Country or even North Hills subdivisions by just an ordinance. If this shire were to annex any of the present county, then how much would the shire have to compensate the county?
It appears that some services we're used to will be taken over by the new city. Those would include, but not limited to, services of the city treasurer and city commissioner of revenue, animal control, building inspections and code enforcement, erosion and sediment control, the library, registrar and electoral board. I, for one, don't relish the idea of giving up these services. Building-inspection procedures alone are far better in the present city than the county.
If the new city takes over the library, will it also take over its outstanding loan? And will it also take over the loan on the new elementary school?
The city and county already share a number of services, such as social services, the court system, schools, extension services, and the Sheriff's Department, including dispatching and 911 emergency services, etc. So, if no one is to lose a job or have a pay cut, how do we save the estimated $4.5 million?
This has all come about because of fear of annexation of a part of Bedford County by Lynchburg city. What has all this cost both governments' taxpayers so far? The people who started this consolidation movement have invested no financial interests. So, win or lose, they've lost nothing.
There are too many unknowns. Call it fear if you like, but I don't trust our representatives when they say our taxes won't be raised. If consolidation goes through, just wait until the next year and see if our taxes remain the same.
To residents of the present Bedford city: Do you want to give up your independence, become a town again and have the county controlling most functions like it did when we were a town? Since 1968, we've been an independent city. So, why go back to town status, for that's all a shire will be? It may be called a shire within a city, but it will still be a town, regardless of what it is called, under the jurisdiction of a larger government. And why would we want to be the largest city in Virginia and the fifth largest in the country?
Dave Ballard of Bedford is a retired engineering-project manager for Bedford city.
by CNB