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Taxpayer group seeks signatures
Members of Concerned Taxpayers of Rappahannock County have begun distributing two documents to help citizens voice their opinions to representatives in state and county governments.
Organizers explained the intent of a petition and a form letter to about 20 people at the citizen group's monthly meeting March 13 at the Amissville Fire Hall.
The petition is for county residents to tell Virginia state legislators they feel the county's local composite index is calculated unfairly. The LCI is a calculation the state uses to determine the wealth of a county and decide how much state funding a locality should receive for public education.
Rappahannock's LCI is 0.8 – the highest LCI possible – which means the state gives the county enough funding to pay for about 20 percent of the cost of public education. Several county leaders and residents have said the LCI is not a true reflection of incomes in Rappahannock. In other school districts, state funding provides as much as 70 percent of a county's education costs.
Tom Junk, the main organizer of Concerned Taxpayers, said he hopes to collect 2,500 signatures for the petition. The signatures will then be sent to Sen. Mark Obenshain and Del. Todd Gilbert, who represent Rappahannock in the Virginia General Assembly.
The second document is a letter addressed to the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors.
It asks the board's representatives to “show fiscal restraint in a time of severe economic conditions.” The letter cites rising costs for several staples, including fuel and food. It also says that working-class citizens and retirees on fixed incomes will need years to adjust their budgets to afford recent tax increases in the county.
“As a taxpaying citizen, we've had to tighten our belts, cut our budgets, we're having to cut out family vacations or family outings because we just can't afford to do so,” the letter reads. “We're asking you, the Rappahannock Board of Supervisors, to do the same. Cut unnecessary spending. Do not have a tax increase.”
The letter has space at the bottom for a citizen to write his or her name, address and include additional comments.
“We all know what's happening with the economy and the effect on families,” Junk said. “This is our way to do something positive to help people think about the budget before they vote on it.”
Concerned Taxpayers of Rappahannock County's next meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on April 16 at the Sperryville Fire Hall. For more information, contact Tom Junk at 987-8617 or dzjtfj@msn.com.
E-mail the reporter at kallen@timespapers.com.
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