Comments on: EDITORIAL: The Worst Tax

By: Roger L. Munz

Roger L. Munz — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 03:59:25 +0000

“The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance.” – Cicero , 55 BC

So, evidently we’ve learned nothing in the past 2,000-plus years.

By: Gene Kelly

Gene Kelly — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 14:10:05 +0000

Roger, Roger! Well put!

By: Roger L. Munz

Roger L. Munz — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 06:44:09 +0000

Cape Charles is a small town, but it is being run by “big government” politicians. A big government spends other people’s money, and they are conditioned to always believe there will be more. So they spend like drunken sailors.

A small town like ours cannot afford to conduct business this way, for it will end up in serious debt — or what Cape Charles is facing now. If the current Town Council members are not replaced soon, the Town will surely continue to suffer one debt crisis after another, with the taxpayers having to bail the Town out again and again. It must stop. Common sense and budgetary restraint must be returned to Cape Charles.

I have always said, “Cape Charles: the way a small town should be,” but I can no longer proclaim this as a truth. It is a sad day for the populace of our town.

By: George Ferguson

George Ferguson — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 16:28:22 +0000

Last week I was in Miami with my son (who also owns a home on Jefferson Avenue). He along with myself can’t understand the water bill in Cape Charles. He has a 5-bedroom home with 3 full baths, a large inground pool, and waters his yard everyday with an automatic system that comes on in the evenings. He has to add water to the pool once a week, and washes his boat at the house after fishing. His water bill runs about $81 — not a month but a QUARTER, and people talk about how expensive it is to live in Miami!

By: Bob Meyers

Bob Meyers — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 14:21:27 +0000

Deborah, you and Kearn have certainly recognized a problem with the local government. Every time a new outrage is exposed by the excellent editorial work, one name keeps bubbling to the top as the idea person behind the latest incompetence. Your displeasure may be well served to start a careful and through examination of that person’s activities. I would not be surprised if you arrived at a conclusion that the town staff may make better decisions with one member less.

By: Randy Gibson

Randy Gibson — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 14:12:37 +0000

All good points. I can not believe $40,000 for a wheelchair ramp. Pure Craziness.
PS: I’d like that job! RG

By: Spencer Murray

Spencer Murray — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:49:44 +0000

Thanks, “revenues” would have avoided the confusion.
Your understanding of the numbers is totally accurate.

Thank you sir — we will add “revenues” to our lexicon! — EDITOR

By: Deborah Bender

Deborah Bender — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:33:45 +0000

Nancy — you are so right! Why in the world would Cheriton want to get into the mess we are in. Keep up the fight and don’t give in to the crazy mess we are in with our town.

Spencer — thank goodness the county actually listens to the citizens, because Cape Charles couldn’t care less how many citizens they ignore and walk all over!

For all of the citizens of Cape Charles reading this: Wake up people!
These people running this town will break it financially before this is over. “These people” will go to any lengths to get what they want. They have got this town into massive debt and now because of their mistakes the unfortunate landowners of Cape Charles have to pay huge sewer bills to cover the current managers’ and town council’s mistakes. Believe me when I say this town needs a major change in government if we are to be able to survive

By: Spencer Murray

Spencer Murray — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:35:01 +0000

Fact check: The county DID increase the tax rate significantly to offset revenue loss from lowered property assessments. There was a slight decrease to the increased rate after the public hearing and before the final BOS vote. Some property owners received tax increases despite lower assessments.

You are correct, but our reference to “taxes” means dollar amounts, not rates. Both County and Town raised tax rates significantly, but the resulting dollar amounts are slightly less than last year for the County but more than last year for the Town, on average. Some property owners fell outside the average. –EDITOR

By: Kearn Schemm

Kearn Schemm — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:59:54 +0000

Excellent editorial. Time to take some political action.