THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505050220
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Golly, it's hard to keep up with what those City Council folks are doing for us! By watching closely I believe I've been able to determine what happened to the Agricultural Reserve Plan. For those who don't remember, ARP will take about $3.55 million from city taxpayers each year and give it to a select few owners of agriculturally zoned land.
It seems ARP got introduced and was brought up for a public hearing, before a regular council meeting. At the end of that hearing it was stated that a second hearing was to be held in two weeks. This second hearing was never put on the agenda; however, contrary to the rules, I've been told, several pro-ARPers were allowed to speak. ARP then just disappeared, fell through a crack into the CIP section of the proposed city budget. Sheltered there by the smoke and gore of the battle over the school budget, I imagine it will slip right through, warts and all.
Warts? One that comes to mind is a bias against those owners of fewer than 100 acres. They may wake up screaming shortly after passage when they inquire about selling their development rights. Most other taxpayers won't awaken until their mortgage company sends them notice of an increase in their monthly payment.
If Vice Mayor William D. Sessoms Jr. had had his way, this ARP-induced tax increase wake-up call would have been completely hidden in your garbage can, of all places. I'm not sure I have the complete story, but it went something like this: Your real-estate taxes would be reduced 10 or 12 cents per hundred and you'd be charged $15 or $20 a month for trash and garbage service. Having the garbage man instead of City Treasurer John Atkinson collect taxes is a novel approach. I just hope they don't require us to get still bigger cans to hold it all.
You have to say one thing though: If hours worked are any indication, they are certainly earning their keep these days. The downside of that is there'll be more pressure to raise the minimum wage.
Donald Babcock
South Parliament Drive by CNB