Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 17, 1995 TAG: 9501170121
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I AGREE with most of Gov. Allen's proposals. We do need to do something about welfare, and fast. We cannot afford welfare the way it's administered today. I think we need to clean it up in a hurry or we'll see a taxpayers' revolt.
As for services, such as Meals on Wheels, how many people are affected? One hundred? Two hundred? Can't churches pick up this responsibility? Regarding museums, if private funding can't be found, why not use some of the lottery money the localities are supposed to be getting?
In Roanoke County, we could get rid of the Police Department, which we don't need. (We all know it was created as a political move against the sheriff.)
We don't need the business tax if it keeps businesses from coming to Virginia.
Why not try a charter school? We already have alternative schools, at taxpayers' expense, for everything else.
I feel we're so overloaded with special programs for the special-needs people that we do very little to help average and above-average people, who will do more for our country than the others.
PATRICIA P. HAMMOND
ROANOKE
TUITION INCREASES?\ Higher costs are looming
GOV. ALLEN'S budget proposals are typical of the irresponsible and reckless shoot-from-the-hip style that has characterized his administration. Any value of the projected decrease is far outstripped by the devastating long-range effect these cuts will have on their victims - in particular, Virginia's youth who seek a higher education. Budgetary cuts in colleges will only be offset by tuition increases. This is, of course, just one example.
As supposedly rational people, we all understand that there's a price, or cost/value ratio, to everything in our life. While there's certainly government waste, this variation of burning the village to save it will produce no positive returns for anyone.
If this budget is enacted, at some point down the road Virginians will have a tremendous bill to pay. At that time, just as in Roman days, the messenger will be blamed. Allen will have long since disappeared and, of course, he will blame somebody else if pushed.
If he really wants to lower the tax burden out of his compassionate heart for Virginians, he would strive to abolish the sales tax on food and clothing. This would provide an immediate measured return every time we need to buy necessities. Instead of some projected amount, this would save a family spending $100 a week on groceries and a nominal $25 a week on clothing $292 a year, and it would benefit everybody.
FRANK KALLIO
ROANOKE
ARTS, ETC.\ Stop crying over lost pork
BRAVO, Gov. Allen! It's refreshing to see an elected official step up to tough issues like spending and tax cuts. We've needed his leadership in this state for a long while.
We elected him to change Virginia, and we wanted someone to stop the tax-and-spend policies of the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.
Many are getting tired of state government footing the bill for pet projects - your water project over there, this economic-development project over here. Our tax dollars should provide the minimum necessary services for Virginia - the court system, police, etc.
We're quick to criticize our state tax dollars going to Northern Virginia, but look at all the recent articles in this newspaper whining about the possible loss of funding for local pet projects. We all want to cut spending - in the other guy's back yard. I definitely think Southwest Virginia should get its fair share of state funds, but the spending pot should be smaller.
The Roanoke Times & World-News should quit its whimpering articles that bemoan the loss of state dollars for the local arts, etc. Stand behind the governor as we move into the future!
JAMES MIXON
ROANOKE
COSTS VS. SAVINGS\ Proposals defy logic
I DON'T support a tax cut if essential services such as support for education, funding for local police and aid to older, needy Virginians are to be cut. In some cases, the cuts will cost more than the savings. An example is the 4 percent cut ($16,664) to the Roanoke League of Older Americans: 13 people would lose in-home care. If just one of them would have to go to a nursing home, it would cost $30,000 a year.
To cut funding for education is also outrageous. The governor was able to get an excellent education. He surely would want the same opportunity for Virginia's students.
Since crime is a very important issue, why is it logical to reduce support for local police?
LAURA VEITH
BEDFORD
THREE REASONS\ Prisons help reduce crime
THE FOLLOWING are answers to your question:
They will be able to make more and better prisons, which would decrease violence.
It will help workers out because of decreased taxes.
It will also keep out a lot of waste in the state budget, like jobs for those who sit around for the government and do nothing.
MICHAEL P. NEWMAN
GALAX
JOBS WANTED\ Region's patience is taxed
GOV. Allen's tragically shortsighted budget proposals, which will knock Virginia's ranking in higher-education spending lower than the ``deep South'' states, are obviously a political game aimed at frustrating Democrats and pushing himself toward the presidency.
Lower taxes sound great on paper, but the reality is that most of us would benefit very little from the proposed tax cuts. The few dollars each person would gain is hardly worth dismantling what little is left of Southwest Virginia's tax base. And more prisons have not lowered the crime rate anywhere.
The key to most things in American life is education at all levels, and it's sad to see institutions like Virginia Tech and Radford University lose good faculty, graduate programs and wonderful innovations such as the New College for Global Studies. All we can do is pray that enough of our legislators haven't lost sight of what people really want, and that they'll vote accordingly.
We need jobs, hope for our kids' future, and the sense of security that comes from being cared about and represented by our state government. It's been a long time since Southwest Virginia has felt that way.
KAYCE BOSCH
BLACKSBURG
LOWER TAXES\ Allen got message - did legislators?
WITH THE exception of phasing out the local-option business, professional and occupational license tax, I support the governor's budget proposals.
It's apparent from the results of the November 1994 election that the present majority in both houses of Congress (and possibly now President Clinton) received a loud and clear message from the tax-paying public: less and more efficient government, and lower taxes.
I believe Gov. Allen has received the same message, and is attempting to do something about it at the state level. If our current representatives in the state legislature cannot read this message, they will most likely be enlightened at their next attempt at re-election.
JOHN BOSTIAN
HOLLINS
SACRIFICES\ Prisons can't fill gaps of need
I WONDER if Virginia taxpayers really want to sacrifice most of the institutions and facilities that make our lives so pleasurable and fulfilling. I don't.
Do we want our colleges and universities to fall behind schools in other states in quality? Do we want our health departments to cut back on already diminished services to those who need them? Do we want to sacrifice public radio and educational television? I don't.
I also don't want Center in the Square, Explore, Total Action Against Poverty, the public schools and almost every other organization that enhances our lives to take a hit to give us each a small tax reduction and more prisons. How are we going to encourage businesses to locate in Virginia when all these institutions are being undermined?
I question the mentality of politicians whose only answer to our social problems is prisons. Those who care about what might happen have an opportunity to contact legislators to let them know how we feel.
NANCY R. EDDY
ROANOKE
WONDERFUL\ Allen is right to cut away fat
IN REFERENCE to Gov. Allen's budget proposals:
I feel Allen is doing a wonderful job. He's trying to save Virginia taxpayers from the burden of overtaxation. Allen is trying to trim the fat.
I feel he's not gone far enough. He should cut the government's work force by 50 percent. Put these deadbeats to work in civilian employment.
JOHN A. AYRES
LEXINGTON
LOONY\ Virginian voters asked for it
THE SURPRISING aspect of Gov. Allen's budget proposals isn't the budget itself, but the vehement reaction against it.
Of course, it's loony to cut government services to build more prisons.
Of course, it makes no sense to wipe out Virginia Tech's Cooperative Extension Service.
Of course, it's counterproductive to whack at funding for institutions such as public libraries that serve all citizens of Virginia.
But what do we expect? We voted Allen in. Say what you will about his policies - they're precisely what we elected him to do. Are Virginians so naive that we think it's possible to cut taxes and government employees without cutting services dear to our hearts? Did we think someone else's services would be slashed, leaving ours intact?
Virginia will be worse off when he leaves office than when he entered, but there is no one to blame but ourselves.
CHIP BARNETT
FAIRFIELD
CONFIDENCE\ Unnecessary spending tackled
I'M IN favor of Gov. Allen's budget proposals. Virginia's total debt has grown from less than $2 billion in 1980 to more than $8 billion now. There has been far too much unnecessary spending.
I have great confidence in Allen.
LOIS S. POFF
FLOYD
FISCAL RESTRAINT\ Localities should follow his lead
TAX REDUCTIONS in Gov. Allen's recent budget proposals are great news for the informed taxpayer! In particular, I wish to address the proposal to eliminate the business license tax that businesses pay to localities.
Local politicians have stated that loss of this tax will severely impact local budgets. This is complete baloney when one considers how much fat there is in our bloated local budgets. Salem's recent budget history provides an excellent example in support of this position.
Salem's municipal-services employment and revenues trends from the 1982-83 fiscal year through the 1992-93 fiscal year are particularly revealing. The number of full-time municipal service employees increased 31 percent, from 336 in 1982-83 to 441 in 1992-93. Total cash revenues increased 103 percent from $32.8 million to $66.5 million.
These employment and revenue increases are alarming when one notes that Salem's population during this 10-year period increased less than 1 percent: 105 more full-time employees were hired to service 66 more citizens! The total cash-revenues increase of 103 percent was more than twice the inflation-rate increase of 45 percent for the same time period.
Every informed taxpayer should publicly thank and support Allen for his efforts to bring about improved fiscal restraint at the local-government level. Local politicians need to follow his lead.
AARON SMITH
Treasurer
Salem Taxpayers Association
SALEM
AMBITIONS\ Needed programs are torpedoed
IN MY opinion, it's sheer insanity for anyone in state or federal government to advocate tax cuts at a time when this will reduce funding for needed sources of human dignity and survival. We also need funds to repair bridges and roads, and to support tourist attractions such as Explore Park. When state employees are fired, they'll be eligible for unemployment insurance that will be a blow to the state budget.
It seems to me Gov. Allen is acting out of a need for public exposure and personal ambitions rather than the welfare of Virginia's long-suffering residents. I hope we can stop his pitiful plans and save our state pride!
ELOISE L. McDONALD
VINTON
THUMBS DOWN\ Allen would move Virginia backward
THIS PROPOSAL rates ``two thumbs down.''
First, it places Virginia among the most backward of states with its drastic slashing of education funds and out-of-proportion spending on prisons.
Second, it proves our governor cannot be trusted. One of his campaign promises was level funding for higher education.
For the sake of all Virginians, let's hope our legislators realize that states leading the way in economic development are those that invested the most in education, particularly higher education.
Gov. Allen, like his predecessor Gov. Wilder, will soon reap the seeds that he's sowing - extreme voter dissatisfaction.
B. JUNE SCHMIDT
BLACKSBURG
FINITE RESOURCES\ Saving the best; dumping the rest
WORTHWHILE services with competent administration will survive. Less-valued and/or poorly managed government activities may not. That is as it should be. Resources are finite; ``needs" infinite.
HUGH KEY
ROANOKE
FIGHT IT\ Plan is radically irresponsible
VIRGINIANS voted for responsible government, not the radical feather-your-own-nest-for-political-gain that Gov. Allen is showing.
If we put all of his budget proposals on the balance scales with all the jobs and programs these will cost Virginians, I believe we'll see the loss to our great state far outweighs any gains. Not only is Allen making these radical decisions, he's shown how independent he is of the counsel and help he could get from more experienced representatives. His spokesman puts them down and says they're playing politics. Who else is doing this more than Allen?
Jobs that were never political have caused people to be fired simply because they were put in by the opposing party. Let me assure you that I'm a voting Republican, so it's not like I'm taking up for my side.
I hope and pray our legislators - both Republicans and Democrats - will have the courage and unity to fight Allen on this radical change, for our state doesn't need this kind of help.
VIRGINIA B. HENRY
ROANOKE
by CNB