DATE: Monday, August 25, 1997               TAG: 9708230003

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial 

                                            LENGTH:   71 lines

TAXES A SINGLE PACKAGE

For a while it looked as though Virginia Beach voters might have three separate referendum issues on the ballot this fall. Then two. Now it seems there will be none.

Postponing the referendums for one year does not diminish their importance. In fact, it might make good sense with so much at stake and so little time to educate the public before this November's vote.

One thing is certain: Virginia Beach Public Schools need attention. Eight schools are in dire need of renovations and dozens of other aging buildings also need repairs.

In addition, Beach schools desperately need to be brought into the computer age. To do so will require the rewiring of most structures, construction of computer labs in some schools and millions of dollars for hardware and software.

And then there's the city's library system. It's mediocre. There are too few branches, hours are too short, computers are few and inadequate.

Schools and libraries are not frills, they are fundamental services essential to any city that wants to turn out well-educated young people. Any hope of attracting high-paying jobs and businesses to Virginia Beach will be dashed if schools do not improve. An excellent library system is an economic development plus, since libraries are just as important to businesses and retirees as they are to students.

To pay for construction of public buildings (and renovations), cities usually turn to bond referendums, where the voters are asked if they want to hike their own taxes to pay the bills.

City Council has been asked to place a school referendum (to finance renovations in eight schools and study the needs of 16 others) and a library referendum on the ballot this November. The school system is considering another referendum - this time for a dedicated tax to pay for computers - for the November 1998 ballot. Taken together, the three measures could raise the property tax rate by about 10 cents.

At last weekend's City Council retreat, several members expressed reservations about going to the voters with any referendums in 1997.

Council proposes to make improvements to the library system from money in the general fund. If it can make needed improvements without raising taxes, well and good. But the improvements are needed. The burden of proof is on the city.

City Manager James K. Spore has suggested that council wait until November 1998 before putting any school questions to voters.

There are good reasons to do so. The primary one is that the needs of the school system seem much greater than can be addressed by the proposed referendum for this year. Eight decrepit schools are merely the tip of the iceberg. School officials know that 16 other schools probably need work, and it's only a matter of time before voters are asked to approve bonds to pay for those. Politically, this referendum seems a foolish move: a $63.5 million referendum benefiting only a handful of schools is a hard sell. Better to propose a larger bond referendum that solves problems in many schools and therefore appeals to many constituents than take a Band Aid approach.

The Virginia Beach School Board rushed this referendum question to City Council at the last minute. Real questions about the extent of school maintenance problems need to be answered before putting it to a vote.

City Council is expected to decide next week whether to put any bond questions before the voters this year. It is unlikely council will do so.

If the school referendum does not go forward this year, a comprehensive study of schools' needs should commence immediately and the School Board should present the council with a detailed referendum request in the next few months. Early in 1998, council should vote to put the referendum on the November 1998 ballot, giving the referendum's supporters ample time to educate the public about its merits.

We believe the schools and libraries in Virginia Beach are in need. But rushing a referendum onto the ballot with just nine weeks to sell it to the voters is not advisable.

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