THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 25, 1995 TAG: 9507250002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
A state cannot prosper unless its cities prosper. A state cannot rise to towering heights of prosperity on the shoulders of its suburbs. To grasp sweet fruit from the highest branches, it must stand on the broad shoulders of cities.
Such has been the legislature's treatment of Virginia's 40 cities, however, that the state capital city has shrunk and a growing number of cities are seriously studying becoming towns.
The latest is Fredericksburg, population 20,000. Surrounded by two prosperous and rapidly developing low-tax counties, the city is prohibited by law from expanding but derives no tax benefit from the development just beyond its borders. Unable to appreciably expand its tax base, its eventual options are to (1) raise taxes, (2) reduce services or (3) become a town and join a county.
South Boston, population 7,000, became a town on July 1. As a town, it is part of surrounding Halifax County. Rather than losing out to the county in competition for businesses and industry, South Boston now shares in the area's prosperity.
Virginia is the only state that keeps cities so separate from their surroundings - like economic islands - and Virginia cities suffer mightily for it.
In neighboring North Carolina, the suburbs surrounding Charlotte contribute to its well-being, so it and they prosper. In stark contrast, the suburbs surrounding Richmond compete with it for residents and development, and Richmond declines.
For decades rural legislators, many of them men of the soil, controlled the legislature and treated cities worse than dirt. Today the big votes are in the suburbs, and suburban voters favor keeping their taxes low, the cities be damned.
Governor Allen trumpets that ``Virginia is open for business,'' but it will not be truly open till its cities are healthy.
Charlottesville and Lexington are studying becoming towns. Up in Winchester, population 23,000, City Manager Ed Daley said the possibility of reverting to a town ``is a presence that grows all the time.'' The city has no room for growth and receives no revenues from the rapid development of the surrounding county, population 49,000.
To avoid raising taxes or cutting services, Daley said, Winchester might have to join with the surrounding county, and the only way to do that under Virginia law is to become a town.
Presently, only cities under 50,000 may become towns, though that number might be raised.
The Urban Partnership, a coalition of business and government leaders in 18 urban localities and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, is attempting to impress on legislators the need for state policies that promote regional cooperation and healthy cities.
Legislators should listen to the message and ask themselves, ``Why are cities trying to stop being cities?'' For the answer, legislators need only look in a mirror. by CNB