THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605040102
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
I never cease to be amazed at the subtle obfuscation of truth by our city's elected and employed officials. A recent article in the Beacon explains how the City Assessor uses the market approach to reach annual assessment increases. The Beacon lists neighborhoods whose real property value increased 5 percent or more. It did not mention that there were also areas where there were increases in lot values only that were less than 5 percent but they were tax increases nevertheless.
Virginia Beach has used annual real property assessments as an excuse to raise taxes since 1975 when the state authorized localities to increase real property from 60 percent to 100 percent of assessed value. It is pertinent to point out that state law does not require any locality to conduct a general reassessment of real property on an annual basis.
Cities with a population exceeding 30,000 are required to reassess real property at least every four years. It could be pointed out that the argument about how Virginia Beach enjoys a lower tax rate than neighboring cities is incongruous because the annual assessments in place gives the city an ever expanding tax base and tax increase.
Our General Assembly representatives should revisit this law and make the four year reassessment mandatory. Our present city manager now tells us that we must have a 3.2 percent real property tax rate increase because of the failure of our school board to read their balance sheet. He then goes on to say how many more positions are needed to grease the wheels or our ever expanding city government. He states city staff will get pay increases ranging from over 3 percent to 5 percent and for some up to 26 percent.
This city is inhabited by thousands of elderly whose primary income is from social security, military or civil service annuities. They should pick up the phone, call the city manager and remind him that their cost of living increases did not exceed 2.6 percent and they had to argue to a spendthrift congress to get that.
Mr. Spore stated he is going to have the best paid staff in the state. What about efficiency and good manners? Recently, an elderly lady called me about having to connect to water and sewers and told me the cost was prohibitive for her and some of her neighbors. When they complained to a city employee, they were told because of the high lot assessments where they live that they ``should consider selling and move.'' I would like to suggest that instead of a pay raise that some of our civil servants should be enrolled in a course with Miss Manners.
In summation, I would like to state that I am sure that a reasonable and prudent city council could find many duplicated services in local government that would reduce expenditures. A tax increase is not needed. Just less largess at the public well of money which is fast becoming dry.
C.W. Carr
April 9 Experts on mules
I heard a comment made on a local radio show, which was in response to comments made by Commonwealth's Attorney Bob Humphreys. In a Virginian-Pilot article a few weeks ago, Mr. Humphreys compared the Virginia Beach School Board to a mule which required a 2-by-4 to the head. The comment made by a radio listener who called in was as follows: ``Mr. Humphreys, just because you are a jackass does not necessarily make you an expert on mules.''
Lisa Stephens
April 18 Medical complex needed
How about a hospital/nursing home/medical complex in/as part of the Lake Ridge area?
Philip Caloia
April 3 by CNB