Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 18, 1995 TAG: 9503020059
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
GOV. ALLEN is the only politician in recent Virginia history who appears to be making a genuine effort at tackling some of the state's problems. Time will tell how genuine is the effort, and how willing people are to cut taxes and reduce long-accumulated excesses.
Once we become spoiled on a government ``goodie,'' individuals tend to think the goodie is a necessity or even a ``right.'' We may be willing to give up your ``goodie,'' but ours? - well, not so fast. If reforms are to have a chance, we all must be willing to give up something.
As to some of the specifics, a tax decrease, in my opinion, should be accompanied with savings incentives such as tax-free savings accounts. A tax decrease should be good for the state's overall economy. We may be a low-tax state in comparison to some others, but I'll bet those who pay taxes don't see Virginia as a low-tax state.
As a small-business person, I can honestly say that the gross-receipts business-license tax is ``gross.'' It's a real disincentive. I realize local governments need taxes, but they should be lowered or based on net receipts as opposed to gross receipts. High operating expenses can make the tax very unfair. Lowering the tax should promote growth, which can offset the lower tax, producing equal or greater tax receipts.
The loss of state employee jobs can be accomplished through hiring freezes and normal attrition. Ideally, these jobs can be re-created in the private sector with increased business activity resulting from the reforms.
Governments' first job is to protect the good guys from the bad. Therefore, new prisons are a must, and bonds seem to be the only way.
We mustn't listen too closely to the forecasters of gloom and doom. We must be progressive and try new ideas. As Roosevelt said in the Depression years, ``We'll try this and if this doesn't work, we'll try something else.''
THOMAS E. SCARCE
ROANOKE
SHORTSIGHTED - Mortgaging our future
I CONSIDER Gov. Allen's proposed budget a shortsighted, knee-jerk reaction to polls. If adopted, it won't clear our streets of crime or bring business flocking in, but will mortgage our future for years to come.
Gathering up identified criminals and incarcerating them indefinitely isn't the answer. It will, instead, ensure that most law-abiding citizens will be mortgaged to the hilt to feed and house felons. There has got to be a smarter way to control them. In fact, this budget is ensuring a steady supply of new criminals by cutting funds for local police departments, education programs and social services that have been shown to prevent crime.
Allen talks of attracting new business to the state. Look around! Did major businesses locate in the North Carolina Research Triangle because good prisons were there or because nearby universities aided in research and supplied well-trained workers? Yet this budget would cut funds for higher education, which is becoming increasingly necessary in the coming information age. In fact, Allen would further undermine education by splitting education dollars between public schools and unsupervised charter schools. United we learn; divided we fail.
If the governor tuned in to surveys, he'd realize that local volunteer groups that supplement social services aren't getting the support they had in the past. Asking volunteers to assume responsibility for those cut off welfare rolls is unrealistic and inefficient. Children will suffer the most.
Localities are being urged to assume responsibility for programs and services by the state. But at the same time, these localities will lose revenue when the business-receipts tax is repealed.
MARGERY M. MINOR
ROANOKE
Three cheers - Local officials should follow suit
GOV. ALLEN is to be commended for his efforts toward helping the hard-working, tax-paying citizens of Virginia. He's trying to give taxpayers a bit of relief, which is long overdue. It's great to see an elected official look out for the concerns of voters once in a while!
Virginians are demanding less government and less taxes, and Allen is trying to meet those demands as best he can. Why can't our local elected officials come up with a plan to reduce our tax burden? Maybe they're too busy trying to come up with a new tax?
Tax and spend, tax and spend. Taxpayers are sick of this ideology, and thank God Allen's putting an end to it! Three cheers for George!
MARK SCHMIDT
ROANOKE
Ill-conceived - quality of life is at risk
WHEN WE moved to Roanoke from Baltimore, Md., 11 1/2 years ago, our cost of living dropped appreciably. Lower state taxes and local real-estate taxes were a major reason for this drop. Although our real-estate taxes have increased, our total tax bill is still less than that of our Maryland friends.
We've also enjoyed this area's quality of life enhanced by its natural beauty, fine local cultural institutions, and a system of higher public education that has steadily improved to become comparable to some of the best in the country. In addition, we have been impressed by organizations like Total Action Against Poverty that have worked hard to address the area's poverty problems.
We believe Gov. Allen's plan to reduce taxes is ill-conceived. Personal gain for individuals will be minimal, and the reduction of support for cultural, educational and social programs will only erode the quality of life that Virginians take justifiable pride in. Lower taxes and less government may be politically popular, and in some instances desirable. However, as Virginia increases in population, and as social and economic problems become more complex, simplistic solutions are dangerous.
We're especially concerned about Allen's preference for funding prison construction over preventative measures that would address the causes of criminality. To cut funding for education, rehabilitation, mental-health services and other social programs is to guarantee a population for the projected new prisons. While churches and other organizations can and do meet some of these needs, they cannot meet them all. These are societal needs that can best be addressed through public funding. Moreover, all citizens should share this responsibility.
It appears that Southwest Virginia stands to suffer most from Allen's proposed budget cuts. We hope that our state legislators will let Allen know the dire consequences of his cuts, and that not all Virginians view his tax cuts favorably.
BOB and ELIZABETH FETTER
ROANOKE
\ Political Reasons
Allen Adopts the GOP's SOP
I CERTAINLY disagree with Allen's tax program. He stubbornly refuses to acknowledge (for obvious political reasons) that Virginia is rated one of the best, if not the best-managed state in the union.
It's the same old Republican stuff: Cut spending programs that aid the poor and disadvantaged, and reduce taxes on the more affluent and those who don't need help.
GUY E. McALLISTER ROANOKE
by CNB