Local Supervisors Told to Cut Spending, Leave Tax ... - Crozet Gazette

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• • • page 2 s APRIL 2009 Crozet gazette from the Editor Don’t Put a Check in the Mail Thomas Jefferson famously said that there should be revolution every 20 years or so. It’s been a generation since the Revenue Sharing Agreement between the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County was signed in 1982 and it’s due for an overthrow. The agreement, ratified by a referendum, amounted to a cease fire in the turbulent annexation politics of that day as expanding cities plucked the juiciest fruit, the lucrative commercial tax sources, that sat just across county lines, usually do-si-doing around the residential areas that demanded expensive services. A year after Albemarle and Charlottesville signed their truce, according to which the county began its annual tribute payments, the General Assembly called a halt to the brawling with a moratorium on annexation that remains in effect to this day. Albemarle is the only county in Virginia that makes an annual payment to a city. Had it resisted a deal for another year, the city’s threat to pocket Fashion Square Mall would have simply vanished. Albemarle has been faithful to the deal even though its citizens feel abused by it, watching their county services shrink and tax bills rise in leaps and bounds as the city swaps out the bricks on its downtown mall or opens a new transit stop that makes an architectural statement on behalf of typically empty buses. Ten cents of every tax dollar paid by Albemarle residents is being spent at the discretion of Charlottesville City Council. That was a reason for a tea party back in 1776. The agreement allows for a divorce if the city and county consolidate, if state law abandons the concept of independent cities, or if “the city and county agree to cancel or change the agreement.” Naturally, the city doesn’t see a reason to talk about not getting $18 million next year. On their end, it ain’t broke, so what’s to fix? But they’ll be ready to talk when they don’t get their check. The Supervisors should show that they are prepared to withhold payment and ultimately drag the business FREE Newborn Care Class FOR NEW PARENTS-TO-BE April 15 at 6:30pm Waynesboro Pediatrics 108 Community Drive, Waynesboro We’ll cover common newborn issues: CLASS SIZE LIMITED – EARLY REGISTRATION REQUIRED. PLEASE CALL (540) 949-0118 TO REGISTER TODAY. into the courts if the city won’t agree to a cordial negotiation of new terms. Ultimately, the agreement has to go. That will mean the establishment of a new boundary that sufficiently enlarges the city’s tax base. The county’s “urban ring” around the city is de facto a part of the city, so what we have is one urban area being administered by two governments. The growth of the urban ring has shifted county politics, which should be about rural and town administration, to suburban priorities that will continue to produce conflicts within the county’s natural character. The economic crisis is, as the say in parliamentary procedure, calling the question. We might as well answer it. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4/3 Hobo Jac 7 - 10 4/5 Jan Smith & Friends 2:30 - 5 4/7 Lou Lou & VA Creepers 7 - 9 4/18 4/24 • • 4/26 Bluzonia 2:30 - 5 5/1 Sidetracked 7 - 9 5/3 Carleigh Nesbit 2:30 - 5 • Buy a $5 beverage and keep the logo glass! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • $1 OFF WEDNESDAYS! Save the Date NOW OPEN TUESDAYS! NEW EXTENDED HOURS! Tuesday– Saturday Noon – 10:00 Sunday Noon – 9:00
Crozet gazette APRIL 2009 s page 3 the CROZETgazette Don’t miss any of the hometown news everybody else is up on. Pick up a free copy of the Crozet Gazette at one of many area locations or have the Crozet Gazette delivered to your home or dorm room. Mail subscriptions are available for $24 for 12 issues. Send a check to Crozet Gazette, P.O. Box 863, Crozet, VA 22932. Published on the first Thursday of the month by The Crozet Gazette LLC, P.O. Box 863, Crozet, VA 22932. Michael J. Marshall Publisher and Editor m.design Designer Allie Pesch Ad Manager and Webmaster CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Clover Carroll, Marlene Condon, Mike Elliot, Phil James, Kathy Johnson, Charles Kidder, Tom Loach, Robert Reiser, Rob Rule, Heidi Thorsen, Nick Ward, Sandy Williams. 434-466-8939 www.crozetgazette.com © The Crozet Gazette LLC CROZET GAZETTE ROUTE CARRIERS: Claudius Crozet Park neighborhoods: Chris Breving: 823-2394 Western Ridge/Stonegate: Ashley Gale: 823-1578 Cory Farm/Clover Lawn/Foxchase: Austin Germani: 882-2161 Old Trail/Haden & Killdeer Lanes: Andrew Periasamy: 989-5732 Laurel Hills/St. George Avenue/Wayland Drive: Sam Anderson: 823-7440 Highlands: Malik Morris: 823-2726 to the Editor No, We Don’t Need Crozet Station The [March] article about Crozet Station ends with architect Bill Atwood saying, “I think the businesses in Crozet Shopping Center need Crozet Station to happen, especially when Harris Teeter gets going.” The presumption is that the people who shop in downtown Crozet are people who would prefer to shop in newly built, cookie cutter-type stores, such as Harris Teeter. The unspoken truth, however, is that there exist different kinds of people and each kind prefers different types of stores. The only reason that Harris Teeter is coming into existence is to provide food for folks in the new developments—mini-Charlottesvilles— surrounding Crozet. Most, if not all, of these residents probably shop now in Charlottesville because— let’s face it—they are city folks, not country. Downtown Crozet is not a setting they are comfortable with. But there are plenty of us who prefer the rural feel of Crozet and we aren’t interested in regularly shopping at stores such as Harris Teeter. For those of us who love the down-home comfy atmosphere at the present IGA [properly, Crozet Great Valu], walking into a Harris Teeter is akin to walking into a hospital—spic-and-span sterility as far as the eye can see. The premise that Crozet needs a facelift—essentially a rural beautification project—to bring customers downtown is inane and downright insulting. It’s reminiscent of urban renewal programs, such as Vinegar Hill in Charlottesville, which destroyed the lives of perfectly happy folks because some people, usually from outside of the community, had the final say regarding whose sense of aesthetics should prevail. Redevelopment pushes up the costs of living here because of the subsequent increase in real estate assessments, taxes, and rents. Local small stores won’t be able to afford these increases, and that is the reason why businesses in Crozet Shopping Center DON’T need Crozet Station to happen. Marlene A. Condon Sugar Hollow Private Rooms One hears how great the new Martha Jefferson Hospital is going to be these days. The question is; will this new hospital have all private rooms? If so, what will happen to those people who need semi-private rooms in order to go this new hospital? Because Medicare and some insurance companies won’t pay for private rooms, unless the patient pays the difference or Medicare or the insurance company deems in a medical necessary. This difference would work a hardship on most people. Will this put a rush on the U.Va. Medical Center for semi-private rooms? June McCauley Crozet, Va Subscribe to the Gazette! Send a check to: Crozet Gazette P.O. Box 863 Crozet, VA 22932 Delivery rate: $24/year for 12 issues APRIL SHOWERS BRING . . . GOODIES GALORE TO THE BATESVILLE STORE • Large Selection of Classic Comfort Food • A Counter Full of Homemade Cookies, Brownies, Fudge, Cupcakes & Bread • Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials • Ice Cream & Pizza Made from Scratch • Smoked Ribs, Sausage, Chicken & Pork Chops • Freshly Cut Flowers from The Scallet Garden • Wines from 14 Local Vineyards Planning a Party? Have It At Our Store! Just Past the Intersection of Plank Road and Miller School Road • 434-823-4752
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Local Supervisors Told to Cut Spending, Leave Tax ... - Crozet Gazette

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