Supervisor Karaffa held his first Townhall meeting since being elected as the Supervisor of Beverley Manor district and it seems that he now understands that the Tax-rate can be adjusted to meet budget demands. A option and tactic that Karaffa, along with many of the "Gang of Four", could\would not admit during the BOS campaigns where they made the "reassessment issue" the cornerstone of their attacks against the then sitting BOS board of Supervisors...
VERONA, Va. -- NewsVirginian
Beverley Manor District Supervisor David Karaffa met with constituents Tuesday night to get their input on a possible increase in real estate and personal property taxes to meet Augusta County’s 2012-13 budget needs.
A public hearing on the tax rate and Augusta County budget is set for next Wednesday at the Augusta County Government Center.
After 90 minutes of answering questions Tuesday night, Karaffa said he is still weighing a potential 3-cent increase in real estate taxes, and a 32-cent increase in personal property taxes on cars and trucks.
“I need to think about what is in the best interest of the people I represent,’’ he said. Karaffa said he would like to see added cuts in the 2012-13 budget. The suggested alternative to a tax increase concerns Karaffa.
He has doubts about dipping into capital accounts the county has for major building projects, depreciation and infrastructure needs to fund another $2.4 million for county schools and about $1 million for added firefighters, Sheriff’s deputies and other spending identified at recent budget work sessions.
“Pulling money out of the capital accounts is having faith the economy will turn around in the next couple of years,’’ Karaffa said.
Beverley Manor School Board member Lee Godfrey was also in attendance at Tuesday’s town hall. She said the School Board is grateful for the financial help from the Board of Supervisors. Godfrey said the added support means programs such as the Shenandoah Valley Governor’s School would continue.
Godfrey said while increasing taxes is never easy, she knows when she pays her Augusta County taxes that “I can show you where the money goes. The local money stays here. That is the beauty as opposed to the state and Washington.”
Karaffa told the audience he has confidence in the company just hired to do the county reassessment, Wingate and Associates of Roanoke.
Should property values decrease with the reassessment, Karaffa said the tax rate might have to be increased to not lose revenue.
“But we won’t know that until January 2014,’’ he said of the completed reassessment date.
I noticed that the News Leader pointed out that their were less then 4 people that showed up. The swac'ster is spinning that as the people are ready for a tax increase. Yea right!!! As a person who followed the campaigns last year and has seen how this supervisor has flat out lied about his stance on the rediculous reassessment, increasing taxes and cutting spending. The people didn't show up because they didn't want to subject themselves to more lies.
ReplyDeleteStill at it Anony, I see. Were you one of the 4 people? I didn't think so!! Nice to be able to sit back on your a__ & complain rather than show your face and blow your cover. I think it is a good thing that we have polititans willing to face the people occasionally, if people don't show up they have no business whining, (ahem). If you don't want tax increases show up at a meeting or town hall & state your case, but of course it's easier to do it here & safer too. You want to call somebody a liar why not say it to their face. You are pitiful!!!!
DeleteI guess I could come up with a more revealing name such as yours "ollie". However if I or other citizens have to be subjected to threats from someone such as you when its pointed out that a supervisors actions in office are completely opposite of what they said they would do if elected, (hence lieing) then ill remain anonymous in order for me, my wife and children to be "safer"!!!!
DeleteOnly someone with such a small mind could see any kind of threat to themselves in anything I said. I think you are simply in over your head and can only try to change the subject in reply. I personally don't care who you are but if you call people liars you should be willing to do it face to face. I say again, you are pitiful.
DeleteIt's obvious that the re-assessment issue was not so cut and dry as it was made out to be during the campaigns before the election. Many found out that after all of the hype ginned up by the "Gang-O-Four" it came down to the supervisors adjusting the tax rate to fit the budget according to how the economy was at that time. Once many citizens saw the hype for what it was they stopped showing up to the "packaged" events. The Newsleader has a editorial today about it being the fault of the citizens not showing up to the Karaffa event. Maybe it was poor planning or advertisement, or maybe it was just a loss of faith in the government process?....
DeleteThree?
ReplyDeleteIf the Gang of four would have shown up they would have doubled their attendance!!
Wait, they were'nt the other "Three" were they?!
Ollie,
ReplyDeleteIf that is the case I take you were one of those who atteneded and did you or either of the other two question Sup Karaffa how the Chairman of the BOS is coming down on this issue?
Not my supervisor, but if & when mine holds a meeting you can bet I will be there & I will ask questions if I disagree with him. I know Mr. Karafa but I doubt he would be pleased with me if he was my supervisor, he would have gotten some hard questions. Unlike Anonymous I will not call someone a liar behind their back. Who's fault is it that only 3 people showed up? I would say the people in his district, but I suppose your group would say it's Karafa's. How do you propose to cover the costs of mandated items without cutting essential services to county residents? It's easy to stand on the sidelines & critisize someone you don't like. I don't want higher taxes anymore than you, but what do they cut? Let's have a civil discussion for a change instead of the name calling.
DeleteBut Ollie, Karaffa is one 7th of the voting BOS so any county citizens should\could attend a Townhall meeting like this if they have a issue or concearn that Karaffa is voting on. I myself had to work so unable to attend but still have the belief\faith that I can contact Karaffa and he will listen to my observations. In fact I have conversed with him even in forums such as the NewsLeader and by using your real name its out for all to see. Hopes are that he may even respond or comment at this site for it's pretty sure that many of these posts and comments get back to him by way of his "following" who monitor this site. As far as how to pay for all of those "mandated" items it is now time to govern and that is much harder than just coming up with campaign promises, I have said several times that Karaffa is a good guy and has good intentions just needs to be cautious of some of the inluence that helped get him in office and needs to think for himself.....
DeleteOllie is my real name. Wouldn't give a hoot if you knew the rest of it, but wouldn't care to have some of your contributors, (Like Anonymous), know. Hard to tell what a person like that will do. You should really call him out for the nasty comments. Had I thought that only 3 people would show up I would have gone. I felt that his own constituents would have concerns enough for him to address, apparently not. Karaffa at least is trying to listen to the people if they don't speak it's their own fault if things don't go the way they wish. Calling him a liar doesn't advance the conversation one inch.
DeleteOllie,
DeleteIn effect "Ollie" without a last name, is the same thing as "Anonymous" but will prevent confusion with to which "anonymous" is commenting or you are responding to. As far as "Nasty comments" I see anon calling Karaffa out regarding his campaign promises\tactics but it would be nice if sources, links, or examples are provided.
Just as I allow a statement like that from Anon I also allow others and you provide conflicting facts to his statement.....
Karrafa should be commended for putting himself before the public to explain his actions. The meeting was not that well advertised- Karaffa may reach more people by doing an online meeting. He has his own blog (inactive lately) and he could even use the SWACster (if she doesn't filter out gang unfriendly questions). Most folks are busy and don't have the time for yet one more meeting. Most citizens' ire won't be aroused until after the fact- just like with the assessment. Karaffa is getting ready to find out how hard governing actually is. If he hadn't bent over so soon when the special interest group SOS took over the meeting last month he might not have found himself in the position of having to justify tax hikes so soon. There is still time- if he ever finds the will and desire to distance himself from Michael and SwacGirl he may be worth something.
ReplyDeleteWell boys let's look at what was said and what's been done.
ReplyDelete"Some folks are paying 30 - 100 percent more taxes on the exaggerated assessments. The last thing our county needs in this tough economic climate is over inflated taxes....... "If, elected, I will immediately vote to begin a reassessment of the county. A new assessment will result in increased funding state funding". 2011 Newsleader voter guide what is the single most important issue facing the entire county and what would you do about it?
"If elected, I will fight to keep local taxes low and look for ways to cut them further". www.davidkaraffa.com
"In the karaffa home, we understand what it means to live on a tight budget. I will bring that skill to the board. We need innovative solutions to complex problems and to make choices for the benefit of our citizens. This means looking for savings first, not new taxes". 2011 Newsleader voter guide why should people vote for you?
We have reassessments that will stand till 2014. Which means no additonal funds from the state. The county admin presented a balanced budget to the supes instead of looking for savings an additional 1 million dollars of new spending was added to that budget. To pay for this spending we are now looking at new taxes on top of the 30 - 100 percent taxes imposed by that exaggerated 09 assessment on top of tough economic times.
In comparing what was said on the campaign trail to the actions in office. Did supe karaffa lie as anonymous is saying? You decide.
Simple,
ReplyDeleteThat pretty much says it all