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Conservative Virginian Newsletter – 041413

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1 – Wednesday (041713) Public Hearing for FY2013-2014 Augusta County Budget

2 – Profiles of 7 Republicans Running for Selection to Be the Republican Lt. Governor Candidate

I have been taking a break from writing this newsletter because I have committed my time to a number of matters – but the subject of the County Budget is very important.  So here I am for this weekend.


1 – Wednesday (041713) Public Hearing for FY2013-2014 Augusta County Budget


This coming Wednesday (041713) there will be a Public Hearing in the BOS Chambers at the Verona Government Center for the Augusta County Budget.  The start time is 1900 hrs (7:00 PM).  If you plan to go then please be there very early.


On March 26 and 27 I spent the 2 days (for a total of about 16 hours) watching and listening to the BOS review the Augusta County Budget.  Frankly I was impressed with what County Administrator Pat Coffield presented.  It was in mind-boggling detail and it was balanced without a tax increase.  It provided County employees a 2 % raise while appearing to meet most of the essential purposes of a county government.  Moreover, the members of the BOS did not try to add much to what Mr. Coffield had put before them.


But this the good part of this year’s budget.  The other part has to do with the School Budget which has to be added to what County Administrator Coffield provided.


Several days before March 26 I was late to a School Budget hearing the School Board held.  I was there for the last 20 minutes during which the School Board voted on the School Budget.  School Board had decided to present a budget that contained $2.5 million in over-budget spending for teachers’ raises and health insurance for bus drivers and cafeteria workers.  


I listened to the members of the School Board telling those in the audience how sorry they were that they were having to put those things in the over-budget portion, that they did not know what else to do, that they regretted having to do it, and that they did not like having to do it.  I listened to a two-way conversation between the Chairman of the School Board and another Board member as they discussed with one another, almost as if there was no one else in the room, whether or not they should vote on the budget since it was so terrible.  I then listened as the Chairman said to the audience (this is a close paraphrase): “But you know they (meaning the BOS) have the money to give us if they really wanted to.”   


It was at this point I came to the conclusion that the School Board was putting on an orchestrated, perhaps rehearsed show for the audience.  I don’t think my 35 years in the Federal Government participating in management planning and budget were deceiving my ears.  I think I was hearing a game being played with the audience.   I don’t think the School board was as concerned for the teachers, bus drivers, and cafeteria workers as they wanted the audience to believe.  I think it was part of a game the School Board is playing with the BOS and the tax payers so as to bury their challengeable “wants” in the balanced portion and use the employees as political leverage.  (I think I am right because a few days ago it was discovered the School Board had included health insurance coverage in the School Budget for its own members.)


The Augusta County School Board wants $500,000 each year for the next 7 years to replace 3500 school computers - a total of $3.5 million at $1000 for each computer.  Why do existing computers need replacement?  Why so much?  Why not replace the oldest computers with newer ones already paid for by the Commonwealth?  Why not use those being replaced in Virginia’s community colleges, colleges, and universities?  Why not be smart with cost-effective planning?


Think about this.  A new Dell for $329.99 has more than enough capacity.  If the old monitor does not work then it can be replaced for another $139.99 – a total of $539.98.  (But not every monitor needs replacement.)  Why not get a lower cost because 500 computers are bought at a time?   And who says a Dell is needed?  BTW – those replaced computers from the colleges cost even less and work quite well.)  Is new software needed?  No, simply transfer the software on the old computer to the new one.  


And on top of this the school system wants an additional $210,000 each year, for a total yearly cost of $631,000, for internet connection.  The reason given is that more bandwidth is needed for SOLs and other testing.  Has anyone considered wise use of file stacking, queuing, and transfer prioritization?   Has anyone considered why pay for after-school hours for this bandwidth?  Has anyone “negotiated” with the ISPs?  So the School Board wants $8 million over 7 years for computer-related expense because they can not do without it.  (Some parents have told me that Macs are being provided to some school students.  You can not get any more expensive than I Mac.  Some parents have related to me numerous examples of wste in the school system.)


The four Republicans on the BOS are willing to raise real estate taxes to provide the School board the $2.5 million.  They do not want to take a responsible look at the School Budget and ask what can be removed so that raises and insurance can be provided without raising taxes.  It is as though the four believe they were elected to represent the School Board and not the tax payers.  (Note: I studied the last 9 years of Augusta County Budgets.  In 2009 the real estate tax rate was decreased from 58 cents/$100 to 48 cent/$00.  But for that first year the revenues from real estate tax have continued to increase at about the same as before the rate decrease.  The message from this is that revenues can be increased without increasing taxes.  It is a Progressive myth that increasing taxes is the only way to increase revenue.)


The School Board’s budget has an amazing lack of detail and based on what it presented to the BOS it does not appear to want to provide that detail.  This is not about “the children”.  If it were then we would not be currently spending approximately $10,800 per child each year and asking for even more because of the School Board’s spending habits.  It is about insatiable spending habits of a group of adults. They cloak themselves with the guilt they can impose on the taxpayer.


So,

- If you live in Augusta County and believe you pay enough taxes,  

- If you believe the School Board should put its own first and stop playing games with the BOS and the taxpayers,  

- If you believe we should being more cost-effective with the $10,800 spent annually on each school student, and

- If you don’t want the same insanity to be taking place in local government that is taking place in State and Federal governments


then take a couple hours of your time for the future of yourself, your children, and your grandchildren at come early and stand for the public budget hearing.



2 – Profiles of 7 Individuals Running for Selection to Be the Republican Lt. Governor Candidate

The profiles of the 7 individuals running for selection to be the Republican Lt. Governor candidate may be found at www.CVConnect.Solanqui.com.  Click on the VAPOR Trails tab at the top of the home page.