Localities Brace For Even More Budget Cuts From "Pass the Buck" Bob

Par for the Course (0.00 / 0)

This is the usual pattern for the "no new taxes" gang. Pass expenses down the line of government so you can claim you never raised taxes. Then, you claim phoney "budget surpluses."
At some point, people must realize there is no free lunch. You get what you pay for, and the way government pays for needed services is with taxes.

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by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 17:09:37 PM UTC

Exactly (0.00 / 0)

I saw this game played out in NJ with the result that local real estate taxes went through the roof. NJ governors played the game really well by shuffling money around and giving homeowners "real estate tax rebates" which made for good campaign material when it was time for state office elections.

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by: glennbear @ Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 17:42:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Virginia Local Leaders Must Stand United (0.00 / 0)

Sadly, even the incumbent Fairfax County chairman has been cutting funding of our highest priorities.  Fairfax County Public Schools has less funding today than four years ago even as our student population increased by 10,000+ students.  She falsely blames the economy.  She has no excuse as we begin to lose our competitive edge to Prince William County who suffered more during the Great Recession.

My plan honors our highest values and invests in our highest priorities while lowering taxes for low and middle income families.  Our strategy directly benefits 135 of the 136 localities throughout Virginia.  Local government leaders will form an effective statewide coalition advocating with our General Assembly delegations.

We will hit the ground running after the inauguration on December 13 having already spoken at the annual conference of the Virginia Association of Counties on November 13 to maximize our alliance for change.

For example, our plan increases funding for Tazewell by $2,533,348.27, Arlington: $66,768,587.86, Henrico: $67,371,339.70, Loudoun: $141,383,690.72, and Fairfax County: $501,024,712.70.

For several decades, if they would advocate at all, Fairfax County politicians have been pursuing a win-lose strategy against southern Virginia.  We need a Fairfax County Chairman who can deliver better solutions by serving as a team leader with statewide influence.  Working through a bipartisan effort, we can unite local leaders in ensuring our senators and delegates fight for our communities' highest values and highest priorities.  

As Speaker Tip O'Neill often said, "All politics is local."  We will remind the Governor of this fundamental fact in 2012.

Thank you for letting me share.  It is so important that you vote on November 8.

A. Will Radle, Jr. (I)
Independent Candidate for Chairman,
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
YouTube.com/WillRadle1

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by: Will Radle @ Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 18:10:10 PM UTC

So... (0.00 / 0)

So, you must be advocating a large increase in some sort of taxes to provide that much of a funding increase. That is, unless you have found a way to repeal the laws of basic mathematics, i.e., expenditures depend on money coming in.

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by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 19:19:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A=A, $6.316 billion = $6.316 billion (0.00 / 0)

Elaine, you asked an excellent question.  Thank you.  The plan increases funding for Roanoke County by $12,639,192.47 and Roanoke City: $11,408,521.78

In accordance with the Virginia Constitution, the General Assembly establishes the core curriculum every locality in the Commonwealth must provide each student.  Each new General Assembly convening in even number years, for example in 2012, reviews and makes changes as necessary to the core curriculum.

The state mandated basic education as established in 2010 costs $6.316 billion annually with portions of the costs carried by the state and the 136 local governments.  The plan shifts $1.750 billion of the costs from local governments throughout Virginia to our state government.  Our strategy increases support for education in 135 localities, keeps support with no change in one locality, and reduces support in ZERO localities.

Virginians already pay the taxes necessary to meet the costs of the mandate; we are only shifting a larger portion of the costs of the state mandate to the state.  There are no resulting tax increases from our bird's eye view.

A. Will Radle, Jr. (I)
Independent Candidate for Chairman,
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
YouTube.com/WillRadle1

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by: Will Radle @ Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 20:10:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

State Funds? (4.00 / 1)

The state of Virginia has a mythical budget surplus thanks to creative bookkeeping and refusing to pay the state share of VRS obligations, plus transferring to the localities requirements that mandate they ship funds to Richmond. Since I cannot find any portion of the present tax structure that will result in $1.750 billion of state revenue to pay for the cost shift to the state, I am confused about your plan. I will agree that the state does not fund its own educational mandates fully. The state in almost every General Assembly also finds ways to reduce taxes paid into the treasury by exempting some type of income, etc., from taxation. The worst example is the elimination of the estate tax, which occurred during the administration of Tim Kaine, passed by the Republican-controlled House and the Democratically-controlled Senate. Meanwhile, localities are given ever larger mandates from the state.

I still ask you. Where are the increased revenues to be found to transfer $1.750 billion in educational obligation to the state. Great idea, but it must be paid for. Thus, increased tax revenue. I cannot believe in "smoke and mirrors" accounting. It's past time to tell citizens that they must pay for the services they want and need. There is no free lunch, nor $1.750 billion hiding in a vault in Richmond.

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by: Elaine in Roanoke @ Wed Oct 19, 2011 at 02:15:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You realize (0.00 / 0)

You're arguing with a nutbar fringe candidate who will be lucking to get a tenth or two of a percent of the vote next month, right?

In other words, you're using logic against someone who's self-delusional.  What outcome are you expecting?

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by: NotJohnSMosby @ Wed Oct 19, 2011 at 02:55:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I am Listening (0.00 / 0)

Please share your plan to help families throughout Virginia.  I am listening, cupcake.

A. Will Radle, Jr. (I)
Independent Candidate for Chairman,
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
YouTube.com/WillRadle1

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by: Will Radle @ Wed Oct 19, 2011 at 13:59:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank You, Elaine (0.00 / 0)

Thank you.  Actually, you are not arguing with me.  You're asking great questions.  The current scheme drives up real estate taxes by over 31.5 percent in Fairfax County where community needs assessments consistently show over 270,000 Virginians cannot meet their basic needs at least one month per year.

The cost to achieve funding parity for every taxpayer throughout Virginia will cost $1.750 billion for the state budget.  Remember, the increase in state costs is met by a reduction in local costs.  Virginia's adjusted gross income is $227,480,309,081.00.  $1.750 billion is 0.7694 percent of our statewide AGI.

The plan I put forward in March has been vetted by state and local budget directors.  My original strategy was to increase the state income tax from 5.75 to 6.50 percent to enable the state to carry its new greater portion of the costs in meeting the state mandate.  Since then, members of the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants have shown me other strategies including establishing an alternative minimum tax for large corporations.  I remain flexible in how we address the state funding issue.  

Thank you.  I hope my response answered your question.  Please let me know if you need anything or have any other questions.

A. Will Radle, Jr. (I)
Independent Candidate for Chairman,
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
YouTube.com/WillRadle1

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by: Will Radle @ Wed Oct 19, 2011 at 13:57:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Maybe if (0.00 / 0)

Chesterfield didn't vote overwhelmingly for any and every Republican that runs for office, they wouldn't have their school funding cut so much?  

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by: NotJohnSMosby @ Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 18:32:48 PM UTC

Republicans and Democrats Can Unite (0.00 / 0)

The plan I am seeeking to implement will increase funding for Chesterfield by $54,109,119.43.  Last Saturday a Republican told me he is voting for me and then a few minutes later a Democrat wearing a button for Obama told me he is voting for me.  I am excited and thankful for the support.

We can do this and encourage people across political and ideological lines to participate and work together.

Thank you!

A. Will Radle, Jr. (I)
Independent Candidate for Chairman,
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
YouTube.com/WillRadle1

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by: Will Radle @ Tue Oct 18, 2011 at 18:50:28 PM UTC

[ Parent ]