My taxes are going up

Barring a miracle, next week’s Spotsylvania Board of Supervisor’s meetings will end with a tax increase for all property owners (including yours truly); my plea for the equalized rate fell on deaf ears.

At least four Supervisors - all “Independents” (more on that later) - have stated they will not support the equalized rate (Free Lance Star).  They were apparently swayed by the ugly spectacle that was the “public meeting” on April Fools’ Day, which was dominated by county employees of one kind or another.  Never mind the fact that many (and perhaps most) of the county’s homeowners have commutes that made it impossible for them to attend (but for a busted minivan clockspring, I would have been in a VRE train car instead of the Courtland High School Auditorium).

The Supes heard an endless stream of voices whining about class sizes and school salaries - with no mention of the fact that this year’s enrollment will increase by one student for every nine teachers until about 8:37 (my turn to speak).  I heard a teacher insist her fellows cared more for children than their own parents.  I heard one union hack insist she could get a job managing at Pizza Hut for $60,000 a year (which would come as a shock my close friend who actually is a manager at Pizza Hut).

It went on, and on, and on, and it worked.  Four of the “independents” - whose very status gave them no political refuge and no harbor of principle, fell under the wave.

It is telling that the only Supervisors who have publicly resisted this nonsense so far are Jerry Logan (Republican from Courtland) and Gary Jackson (would-be-Republican-who-can’t-carry-the-label-due-to-the-Hatch-Act from Salem).  These gentleman are men of principle, and for them, being a Republican is simply the embodiment of that principle.  It is why they are the ones holding fast for the taxpayers, and why running as Republicans (nominated or endorsed) sends a signal that county voters should remember and cherish.

“Independents” claim to stand for no one but the voters.  In reality, however, they stand for no one at all - except the mob that masquerades as “the people.”  Luckily for the county, three of the four tax-hikers (including my Supervisor and friend, Gary Skinner) are up for election next year.  It is a perfect time for Spotsylvanians to put to use the lessons we are all learning this spring.

Cross-posted to Rappahannock Red