FW: Budget and Property Tax Increase

Forwarded at Mr. Denkert's request. All citizen input is welcome.

YCCF

positions are welcome
------ Forwarded Message
From: Jim Denkert <yorktownva@me.com>
Date: Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:33:11 -0400
To: Hrichak George <hrichak@yorkcounty.gov>, Noll Sheila
<noll@yorkcounty.gov>, "Wiggins, Don" <wiggins@yorkcounty.gov>,
"Walt@zarembalaw.com" <Walt@zarembalaw.com>, "shepperd@yorkcounty.gov"
<shepperd@yorkcounty.gov>
Cc: The Tuscany Forum <thetuscanyforum@cox.net>
Subject: Budget and Property Tax Increase

Dear BoS,

This is always a tough discussion and I don't envy you your position. I'm
sure there are some people hoping the full property tax increase goes
through. That said, I must stand with and for the lower tax group of
citizens. I am asking the Tuscany Forum to forward this email to all
members.

During the housing boom of the early-mid 2K's, our York County BoS told us
that higher property taxes were justified because we were all reaping the
benefits of higher home values. Then when the balloon popped, taxes were
lowered a rather minuscule amount as compared to the previous several years
of increases. And now it appears the BoS may well vote to wipe out
virtually all of the recent reductions in one fell swoop. Frankly it
appears that maintaining the power and size of the York County government as
an entity has become more important than the citizens it - and the BoS - is
supposed to represent. This budget increase sends a clear message to all
York County property owners that the BoS believes it is now impossible to
reduce the size of our county government.

In light of the upcoming vote I would like to pose a few questions to each
of you and respectfully ask for an answer from each of you. I am by no
means a spokesman for this group but I do believe I'm safe in saying these
same questions are on many of our minds. For those of you who will vote no
on the increase a profound Thank You!

If you intend to vote for the increase:

Do you believe that our county government is now the right overall size in
terms of budget and personnel? If so, please explain why you feel this way.

Why were the only cuts that were proposed in any discussion of maintaining
the current property taxes, involved only cuts to core services.

Why do you believe it is more important for York County to take this money
from it's citizens to maintain the size and scope of the county government
than it is for the citizens to keep what we have earned?

Do you believe there is any area of the proposed budget that could or should
be reduced? If so, what are you doing to pursue a potential reduction?

If this increase is passed, do you believe we will ever be able to reduce
the size and cost of our county government?

I do not mean any of these questions as "gotchas". Rather I see them as an
absolutely integral part of any discussion about a tax increase, especially
one of this magnitude. If you honestly believe this tax increase is the
right thing for York County, then so be it. In that case I hope you will
defend it. At least we'll all know where we stand.

I look forward to hearing from each of you. Thank you!

Jim Denkert

Reminder/Update: 13% York County real estate tax rate increase vote Tuesday night

The York County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday evening, April 3rd, 6:00pm, York Hall in Historic Yorktown. The Board is expected to consider and pass a nearly 13% increase in our real estate tax rate for budget year 2013.  Our earlier email stated there was a proposed 8+% increase, which was based on the BoS's stated goal after making cuts they decided not to make. Now the proposed tax rate increase is 12.77%!

We encourage all to attend the meeting and make your supervisors aware of what you expect from them.


The York County Citizens Forum

2013 York County Property Tax Increase

The York County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday evening, April 3rd, 6:00pm, York Hall in Historic Yorktown.  The board is expected to consider and pass an 8+% increase in our property taxes for budget year 2013.  We encourage all to attend the meeting and make your supervisors aware of what you expect from them.

Below is one citizens view of the process.

The York County Citizens Forum

*****************************************************************************

Dear York County Board of Supervisors,

It is difficult for me to find the words to express my total disappointment in you as a Board of Supervisors, as we approach the Tuesday budget vote.  You are willing to raise taxes and have citizens pay  more….again!
 
You all display an (R) after your name.  You attend Lincoln Day dinners with gusto.  You applaud loudly when somebody talks about fiscal responsibility.  Yet the net result is that you ignore or violate every Republican principle.  You talk the talk yet you refuse to walk the walk.  
  
Moderate to liberal Newport News and Hampton have shown more guts and demonstrated more “conservative republican principles” than you have.   
  
Newport News is not raising their tax rate.  They have made the decisions, raised some user fees and actually will pass on a LOWER  property tax bill to the citizens due to lower property assessments.  That’s right.  Property taxes in Newport News are going down.  Maybe you should call them before your Tuesday vote and ask them what they eat for breakfast.
  
Hampton has been innovative and creative.  They are employing Republican Principle #1.  They are looking for ways to use the free enterprise system to accomplish some city functions cheaper.  They acknowledge it may cost some city jobs if in fact a contractor can do something like sweep the streets for less money.  Hampton is willing  to support another republican principle…smaller government. The York County BOS Chairman (a Republican) has publically stated that he doesn’t want to pursue a public-private partnership at the Sports Complex!   Do you just not understand what to do or are you unwilling to do it?
  
What’s wrong?  Why are you willing to sit on your hands, raise taxes PLUS user fees, and not take advantage of ways to economize through consolidation, but rather let the bloated county government continue?   I recently looked over some of the literature several of you used in the last election.  Maybe you should go back and read it.  Or at least cross out any references to fiscal responsibility and Republican principles in case you ever use them again.
  
At the recent YCRC mass meeting yet another candidate for Lt Governor spoke decisively about taking back our country and getting things on a fiscally conservative sustainable track.  He knows the “fix” starts  at the city/county level.  Unfortunately he didn’t know he was wasting his time in York County.  
  
You need to seize the opportunity to get our county government on the right track.  The easy way out is to pass along a tax increase.   I sum up my disappointment by asking “why did any of you run for office as Republicans and what do you really stand for”?
                          
 
Jim  Haas, MBA
Certified  Financial Planner
 
712  Mobjack Place
City  Center
Newport  News, VA 23606

Please distribute my letter and make sure you use my name for credibility.  Nothing worse than anonymous criticism.
Jim Haas

Forwarded by the York County Citizen’s Forum

One Citizens View on Budget Cuts

The following is one citizen's view on the York County School Division Budget process; others are welcome.

This week the School Board is meeting [in work sessions] and they hold the fate of Tabb’s Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) Cadet program in their hands.  
The Secretary of the Navy approved and offered York County School Division (YCSD) the chance to add the Naval National Defense Cadet Corp (Navy –NDCC).
 
The YCSD was presented a budget based on the last few years and the School Board would not see costs above what they have supported in prior years.  The NJROTC Commander would be willing to take at least a ten percent pay cut.  If the claim is increased costs, that is not true.  They can stay within budget.

So, when the YCSD Board offers a second elective for Freshmen, the NJROTC cadets would be able to apply for NJROTC again, and be reinstated.

Please let the School Board know what you think.

Sincerely,

Bill Townsley, Col, USAF (Ret)
Yorktown, VA 23693

 
The York County Citizens Forum neither indorses nor refutes citizen positions, only encourages civil citizen involvement and debate.
Forwarded with Col Townsley’s permission.

One Citizens View of the BoS Tax Increase Strategy

Dear York County BoS,

My name is David Ware, I live off Lakeside Drive. I  have been following your budget deliberations in the Virginia Gazette and see you want to raise the tax rates rather than reduce expenditures like we will have to do in order to pay the additional money you will extort from us.

For me, it is so disappointing to see government at all levels play the budget game:
 
1.   An unelected, high paid bureaucrat proposes a tax increase.
 
2.  The governing body balks at such a drastic increase and demands the unelected high paid bureaucrat cut expenses.
 
3.  Cuts, as always, are made at the expense of teachers, fire, police, trash pick up, sewer maintenance, the areas that actually do have some positive impact, never cuts are made to administration, legal, codes, the people that make sure yard sale signs are not on highway rights-of-way, the people who respond to anonymous snitching by acrimonious neighbors about too many cars in the driveways and other violations that cause us so much pain.
 
4.  The special interests related to said "cuts" promote their cause with pronouncements that the sky will fall in, houses will burn to the ground, children will be uneducated and so on.
 
5. After hours of "hard work," "tough decisions" are made and a compromise is reached.
 
6. A public hearing is held where the special interests come to compliment the BOS on their "hard work" and congratulate them on being so "reasonable."  Some may show up and fuss about the spending, others are unable to attend.
 
7. Depending on the public hearing, the unelected bureaucrat may be directed to cut a little more off the budget.
 
Your process is now at points six and seven.  After some forty years of watching this game being played, I have  some observations:
 
1.  The people charged with cutting budgets are the ones that need to be cut.
 
2.  The elected rulers, such as yourselves, never have any suggestions as to how we, the taxpayers, are supposed to come up with the extra money you are about to take from us, by force.
 
3.  It is more rare than a four leaf clover to find an elected representative willing to provide any kind of leadership in restraining the growth of government.
 
Many years ago when I was in school, the definition of socialism was when everyone has their snout in the public trough. I hope that at least some of you would do something to halt the Juggernaut.
 
David Ware

Forwarded with permission from David Ware.
York County Citizens Forum

Meet Candidate Mary Leedom

Meet Candidate Mary Leedom


Drop by and talk with her about why she is running!
 
Join her for a meet and greet
March the 20th from 6 PM to 9PM.
Please stop by for horderves, pizza, and soda!


  

5742 George Washington Memorial Highway
Grafton Shopping Center
Grafton, Virginia

Vote for Mary Leedom
Chairperson of the York County Republican Committee

Applications for the mass meeting will be available; we will be collecting completed applications.


For information about the mass meeting
Or to down load the application visit:
www.maryleedom.com <http://www.maryleedom.com/>

Forwarded at candidate’s request
York County Citizens Forum

HISTORIC TRIANGLE COLLABORATIVE

                             Memorandum To:  YORK COUNTY CITIZENS

Subject: HISTORIC TRIANGLE  COLLABORATIVE

From:   York County Citizens Forum (YCCF)

 
United Nations Agenda 21 (UN A21) is alive and well in our area. Local  Regional Planning Meetings are being held as we speak. If passed, these  plans will solidify A21’s hold on the Historic Triangle and the liberties we enjoy as Americans will soon disappear.  (See below for more info about  Agenda 21 and the planning meetings)

In response to this assault, Concerned Citizens of  the Historic Triangle will hold its first meeting Thursday, March 15  7-8:45 p.m. Tabb Library Meeting  Room,100 Long Green  Blvd.  The purpose of this meeting  is to become informed about these regional plans and learn what we can do  to defend our Constitutional liberties.

Mary Leedom, candidate for York County Republican Committee Chairperson, and Sue Sadler of James City County have been on the front lines of this battle locally and will be our presenters.

Do spread the word and come. We need many to voice their concerns or this “regional plan” will quickly become a set of costly, intrusive, oppressive regulations to which we, our children and grandchildren will have to submit.

INFORMATION ABOUT AGENDA  21

Excerpt from  "Agenda 21- The UN  Blueprint for the 21st Century," (http://windfarms.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/agenda-21---the-un-blueprint-for-the-21st-century/1st-century/):  

Like most “green movement initiatives,” Agenda 21  is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”   It is not an environmental management policy, but an attempt to  impose a global centrally-planned quasi-government administered by the United Nations.  Under Agenda  21, all central government and local authority signatories are required to conform strictly to a common prescribed standard and hence this is just communism resurrected in a new guise.

READ THE PLAN HERE:  http://www.historictrianglecollaborative.com/files/HTCVisionProjectFINAL.pdf

Also attached, please find the Call to the Biennial York County Republican Party Mass Meeting to be held March 29, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at Grafton Middle School.

                              York County Citizens Forum