Virginia News Source - City Mgr. finally admits city is in deep financial doo-doo!

Mike Barrett - Hyperbole

|216.54.27.206 |10-06-2009 10:22:48

Dear Editor:

I guess you simply can't refrain from emotive and exaggerated statements. Fact is, our Nation just went through the potential of a fiscal collapse, and you seem surprised that the crisis had any impact at all on the city budget.

The City and the community will deal with the slight reduction in revenue as we always do. That is, citizens will have the opportunity to discuss with Council their priorities, and the Council will develop a balanced budget and adopt it in May.

I guess phrasing it like that just does not cause an emotional response, so you have to exaggerate to keep your readers. Want a biscuit with a cup of fear and derision on the side?

Fortunately, the vast majority of our citizens still have use of reason, the best faculty with which to deal with the challenges of life. We'll get through this one as well. MJB sends!

Larry

|68.96.14.234 |10-06-2009 10:43:41

Mike Barrett, to test your knowledge...what say ye now?

Reid Greenmun - Beach families need tax relief!

|65.114.155.95 |10-07-2009 13:26:23

City Council needs to step up, do their job, and direct the City Manager to reduce spending and to learn to live within the City's means. When tax revenues are down due to a bad economy, the City Manager must learn to prioritize and reduce spending to meet the funds available. City Council needs to learn how to tell their favored developers "No" and how to stop spending millions on endless "economic development" projects that really don't produce any real tax relief and in the case of light rail - will increase the local tax burden by an estimated $6M to $12M a year.

Mike Barrett - Of Course

|216.54.27.206 |10-08-2009 08:24:32

Greenmun states the obvious; after listening to the community, Council will set priorities, and the Manager will produce a balanced budget. That is what he always does.

In regard to future commercial development, readers herein should know of Greenmun's hypocrisy. He was an avid early supporter of Town Center, and is known to frequent it often.

Now of couse, in order to get back into the good graces of the VBTA, he condemns economic development projects that reduce the taxes that residents pay.

The greatest irony is that we have a taxpayers organization working hard for policies, that if implemented, would increase the real estate taxes residents pay. No wonder they got less than 16% of the vote in the last election.

With policies like that, next time they will get 5%.

Reid Greenmun - Mike Barrett - tax relief for stressed Beach homeo

|152.121.17.5 |10-08-2009 14:55:45

Mike, setting aside your rude persoanl attacks and getting back to the substance of the point I was making. Is it your view that Beach homeowners do not need tax relief?

Mike Barrett - Continued Tax Relief

|216.54.27.206 |10-09-2009 08:33:41

Tax relief at the expense of what?

The average taxpayer received tax relief last year as the average tax assessment went down and the tax rate stayed the same.

Since the rate may need to go up a bit this year since assessments continue to go down, most will still receive tax relief.

What I am perplexed about is the fact that a few zealots who seemed determined to convince us that the world is coming to an end, want to stop the very investment that will continue to bring us tax relief in the future.

This kind of short term ignorance is very dangerous to the very objective I think most taxpayers want; that is, excellent public services, programs, and infrastructure consistent with the lowest tax rate in the region.

Frankly, if we keep investing, we can keep that distinction. MJB sends!

Reid Greenmun - Tax Relief

|68.10.241.159 |10-10-2009 17:46:52

Since 2001 Beach home owners experienced a compounded MASSIVE tax increase - while wage increases remained bearly able to keep up with the cost of inflation - or, for many Beach families, their incomes actually failed to keep pace with the increases in the cost of living.

The tiny amount out taxes declined pales with the amount of tax relief wse need.

Henry Ryto - $530 million

|76.161.1.44 |10-12-2009 09:14:14

On another website this past Wednesday, Reid called for a $530 million reduction in the size of the City Budget.

Let me put that perspective: John Moss ran for Mayor last year on the position that he'd cut the Budget by $100 million. Half would go to tax relief, half to local roads. Greenmun's Budget cut would be more than 10 1/2 times the size of Moss' plan that got less than 16% of the vote.

The scary part about that is many VBTAers actually take Reid's extremist foolishness seriously.

Daniel Paige - Taxpayers Beware

|70.165.65.239 |10-08-2009 08:01:53

City Council needs to do the right thing and not raise taxes. I can't afford to pay anymore in taxes. I am working 2 jobs just to keep my family of 4 going. This is crazy. We live within my income. I can't afford to pay anymore in taxes. Get it! I am not alone.

Patty Galt

|70.174.72.194 |10-10-2009 00:55:00

Lies, deception, and cons are my games. Depravity, Sleaze, and Corruption, are my middle names. Trickery, fraud, and hoaxes are my calls to fame. I could sell snake oil to a snake oil salesmen, so don’t try to second-guess me or put any expectations between us. I guarantee that, if you do, you’ll not only be wrong, you’ll also miss the essence of what I have to offer you.
Who Am I?

Anonymous

|72.218.5.112 |10-10-2009 06:56:57

Will Sessoms and the majority of VB city government. That is the micro version and then we can go macro with out Federal government.

Britt Howard - Hamstrung by Past Mistakes

|64.12.117.20 |10-11-2009 20:02:01

I think things have gotten so bad that many investments geared toward future revenue gains will have to be put on hold. The city can't pay its bills and past recklessness coupled with bad timing put us where we are.

Most couldn't have predicted how bad the real estate bubble and credit crunch would affect all of us. However, it doesn't take a genius with a crystal ball to conclude problems are on the horizon when home prices & tax revenue endlessly sky rocket but incomes do not. Feet need to be held to the fire for that. More prudent choices should have been made with VB tax revenue.

The very idea of suggesting new projects, spending, and tax increases should at this point, be unfathomable. Even smaller scale efforts to increase the tax base like phasing out, declaring a holiday for, or cutting out BPOL start to look scary.

When things are so bad that all departments must make emergency cuts, the very idea of increased spending on new projects or even reducing taxes seem i...

Mike Barrett - a balanced approach

|216.54.27.206 |10-12-2009 13:40:27

Well ironically Britt, I think past Councils did exactly what they should have done; they reduced the tax rate, they planned for a rainy day by setting aside a reserve, and they continued to make strategic investments in those projects that would bring a fiscal dividend in the future.

Now that is what any smart municipal corporation does in stormy weather; they ride out the storm, but they prepare for the future as well. Those who advocate massive cuts ignore the fact that we want quality schools, public safety, human services, and courts and justice.

Now frankly, any Tom, Dick, or Harry can call for cuts of some, pick a number, amount. As you know, that is what Greenmun promised the Council. That is, he bragged on behalf of the VBTA that he could cut the budget by $50,000,000. But when asked to return with his list, he failed to show up.

Fact is, most citizens respect that the Council will trim, cut, and curtail many services, and may use some reserve, and will continu...