The Shadow
Dear Sir,
For many years, I have been a strong advocate for total and absolute consolidation of area governments. However, as a former member and chairman of the Alleghany County School Board, Board of Supervisors and chairman of the Kim-Stan Advisory Committee, the proposed plan leaves too much to be desired: I will keep my comments and opinions as short as possible, as we have heard or read much before.
1. There is a lack of special tax districts. We all need to pay our own debts.
2. Assets gained will not equalize the per capita burden for the majority.
3. Any projected savings are purely speculative and have no guarantees. Example: loss of USDA Rural Development Funds and VDOT and road maintenance for present county (10 years is a very short time).
4. The proposed name leaves much to be desired. We will lose what identity we now have. (A city with approximately 20,000-plus citizens without it’s own post office and zip code) What will the mailing address be for the proposed city?
5. On “education,” the proposal is too vague. As a retired educator I can say that with some authority.
6. Lack of economic growth: Why do outside investors shun our area? It is not because of the current governmental structure, as some would like to believe. There are other local factors unappealing to outside investors.
7. Why did the “out of the area” advisors, lawyers and consultants not advise the Citizens Consolidation Committee on some negative issues, such as the USDA Rural Development Funds availability?
8. As a farmer, I just have to end by saying, we need to stop being the “milk cow” for “out of the area” lawyers, advisers, consultants, and others minding our business. We have intelligent people here that can take the current proposal, the many previous studies, and refine and present it to the voters at an early date.
9. We had better stay out of the landfill business! Having served as chairman of the Kim-Stan Advisory Committee for many years, I know the true current and future costs of operating a landfill and the liabilities involved.
Think carefully before you vote on the proposed consolidation issue on Nov. 8. I, along with my family will vote “No” on the proposed consolidation.
William S. Hodges
200 Wil-Dan Lane
Alleghany County
Hot Springs
