Letters to the Editor

News Virginian
Published: May 23, 2007

Flooding, taxes hurting our city

I agree with most of the Main Street Discount ad on the back page of the TV Time in last Saturday's News Virginian. Flood mitigation or elimination (better), would do more for downtown than anything else. The 2003 floodwaters went as far as Wayne Avenue. Over the last 30 years, most businesses left downtown because of flooding. They have been telling city administrations that for years. But nothing has changed. Has anyone been listening- Mitigate the flooding, provide tax incentives for current and potential downtown businesses, and attract a hotel/conference center and/or townhouse development to the downtown area. Then other businesses will come. Now we have come full circle. Mitigate or eliminate downtown flooding, etc. The river will be an asset 365 days a year rather than just several weekends.

A 23-plus-percent increase in real-estate taxes is just too much, especially because the real-estate tax is regressive and hurts retired, disabled and lower- to middle-income citizens the most. The assessments themselves are just catching up with market value. Most people are paying or have paid for their homes and do not need to have their tax burden increased much more than the rate of inflation and increases in their incomes. Whether a homeowner is working or retired, whether they earn $20,000 $40,000 or $80,000, or are on a fixed income, most do not receive pay increases of 20 percent or more. A tax rate between 63 cents and 66 cents would be a little more realistic and fair than a 78-cent or 70-cent rate, considering some assessments were up 40 percent this year.

Three of our councilmembers are sill intimating that they know how to spend our tax money better than we do. The Wayne Theatre project is not a bad thing, but it should be funded with private money. Use tax dollars for needed capital improvements and better compensation for hourly city employees, police and teachers. The City Council and city administrators represent and work for (not special interest groups) all the citizens of Waynesboro, not the other way around. It seems that our local city government fails to remember that important fact.

Nick Zawhorodny

Waynesboro

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Silence can be golden

Regarding the church in Ohio that was infringing on its neighbors by being very noisy.

As I understand it, Christ would be able to hear a whisper! Isn't it part of Christianity to be kind-

I am a Christian, but not perfect. I guess the Lord isn't finished with me yet.

If something I was doing was bothering my neighbors, I surely would try to stop (don't all speak at once, kids).

Being Christians doesn't mean playing "gotcha" with the people around us. We certainly aren't better than anyone else.
Let's be part of the answer - not the problem.

Joanne Kristopik

Waynesboro