DATE: Saturday, April 26, 1997              TAG: 9704260004

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Opinion 

SOURCE: Kerry Dougherty 

                                            LENGTH:   99 lines

VIRGINIA BEACH POLS TO STATE POLS: "BUTT OUT" THIS TURF BATTLE IS NOT GOING TO END SOON. MCDONNELL TO LOBBY AS OFTEN AS NECESSARY TO TRY TO HOLD THE LINE ON TAXES - IN RICHMOND AND IN VIRGINIA BEACH.

It always seemed that Virginia Beach school officials and city officials could agree on absolutely nothing.

That changed last week when a delegation of state legislators jumped into the debate over a local tax increase.

Suddenly, educators and city officials set aside their antipathy just long enough to agree that state officials ought to butt out of local affairs.

It began almost two weeks ago when Del. Bob McDonnell invited Vice Mayor Will Sessoms, Council member Linwood Branch and city budget director Dean Block to lunch with him and State Sen. Ed Schrock and Del. Leo Wardrup at T.K. Tripps.

The purpose of the meeting was simple: McDonnell and company wanted to convince the boys from the city not to raise taxes this year.

By all accounts, the encounter began pleasantly enough. Then Wardrup threatened to terminate the city's power to collect revenues if taxes went up this year. Wardrup said he could do this by invoking the dreaded Dillon rule that says all power flows to the cities from Richmond.

That threat launched a trio of apoplectic city officials clear out of their chairs, blasting away at the state representatives for sticking their noses into city business. They howled that if it weren't for a raft of unfunded state education mandates, and the Allen administration's absolute refusal to raise taxes, it might be easier to keep the lid on local taxes.

``It just isn't an appropriate way to do business,'' Branch said after the meeting of the state representatives' interference.

Although Mayor Meyera Oberndorf wasn't there, news travels fast in Virginia Beach and soon she, too, was incensed.

``Never, in 21 years on council, have I been told by a member of the General Assembly not to raise taxes,'' she said indignantly. ``Why in the world do they want to micro-manage the city now?''

It didn't end with lunch, either.

After the meeting Bob McDonnell phoned several members of the school board to persuade them to vote against a resolution asking City Council to fund the school budget - by a tax hike if necessary.

It's no secret that some of these neophyte School Board members already have their sights set on higher office. This lobbying, from a prominent Republican, could be interpreted as a threat to their political futures.

``I never threatened anyone,'' McDonnell insisted. ``But it's no secret that the Republican Party is in favor of low taxes. Anyone who votes for a tax increase and then seeks party support later is going to have some trouble.''

School Superintendent Timothy R. Jenney seemed irritated by McDonnell's lobbying efforts as he watched support for the crucial vote urging the City Council to raise taxes evaporate at the last minute.

``This is a local issue,'' he said, echoing Oberndorf's sentiments. ``We don't need outside interference in local concerns.''

Del. Glenn Croshaw, who was aware of the controversy, vowed that if Wardrup attempted to invoke the Dillon rule against the city, he would save the day by introducing legislation to remove revenues from the purview of the Dillon rule.

``I try to stay out of local business,'' Croshaw said, while admitting he had been doing some lobbying of his own for Cooke Elementary school, which is just a few blocks from his home. ``These issues of taxes need to be resolved at the local level.''

Croshaw questioned his colleagues' tactics.``One thing I know, threatening Meyera Oberndorf is like pouring gasoline on an already burning fire. It's not smart.''

For his part, Leo Wardrup insists he wasn't threatening anyone with the Dillon rule, just pointing out that there is a mechanism to rein in a city he claims is addicted to tax increases.

``I mentioned the Dillon rule really just to draw attention to the matter,'' he said later. ``But we in Richmond do have ample authority within the code to take action vis a vis the school board.''

The controversy raises this question: Is is appropriate for state elected officials to lobby local politicians on local issues?

``I believe I have a responsibility to the people who elected me to help them keep taxes as low as possible,'' said McDonnell, who spoke against a tax hike at a School Board hearing last Sunday. ``I think it's absolutely appropriate for state legislators to let their opinions be known, to lobby if you will.

``Virginia Beach City Council has gotten into a very bad habit of raising taxes every year. Instead of looking where they can cut spending, they constantly turn to the taxpayers, of which I am one.''

McDonnell stops short of threatening the city with yanking its taxing authority, however.

``I think that's not our role in Richmond,'' he said. ``If the taxpayers are fed up with all these tax hikes then they have the option to vote them out of office.''

This turf battle is not going to end soon. McDonnell promises to lobby as often as necessary to try to hold the line on taxes - in Richmond and in Virginia Beach.

Wardrup says he will, too.

``I've got a responsibility to the guy next door to me to do everything I can to keep his taxes low.''

Looks as if the School Board and City Council have finally found that elusive common ground. MEMO: Ms. Dougherty is an editorial writer for The Virginian-Pilot.

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