Wait !!, look what we found !!....

First Fairfax county discovered 3,000+ provisional ballots that were not counted and then Richmond found 100+ votes for the Democrat when they found that a voting machine was not counted...

 

You just can't make this stuff up !!!

The Dem-Machine at work once again....

.

Choosing to inflict pain when NOT needed....

Why would you close open areas like this that do not need Government workers present? Just like closing Skyline Drive when the open area should be allowed to be used by the people?...

Tile

BOS goes with $.03 per $100

Looks like the Board of Supervisors BOS decided to go with a tax INCREASE of $.03 cents per $100 when all was said and done. It is interesting how one of the local newspapers reported it as the BOS "Slashed" the tax INCREASE to $.03 from the advertised $.05 that was earlier reported but not yet voted on...

It was also reported that Supervisor Willis commented that there is a obvious need for additional revenue from the school board but the tax INCREASE needed to be fair to all of the citizens...

This has become a interesting process to follow in the news as well as conversations with citizen taxpayers. We all agree that we want the children to have everything that they need but what is the correct balance. During this debate there was a incredible amount requested for computer replacement and upgrade but how much of was really needed?
"A New Laptop in every Backpack" needed or just wanted? Several Letter to the Editors asked the question why and how so much money was being spent on computers and at what results? Technology is a great tool but are basics being ignored (math, reading, writing) for the more flashy computer programs?...

Another important aspect of this tax INCREASE was how much of a pay increase will go to the teachers, paid staff, and benefits... It has been a ongoing debate over the years how Augusta pay scales compare to other counties in Virginia but let's face it. It's a whole lot cheaper to live in this area as compared to Arlington, Richmond, NOVA, etc... Sure we want our teachers to be paid fairly but look at what some of them are making as compared to the citizens (Taxpayers) are making. $.03 cents might be a "Slash" but is still a substantial increase at a time when the economy is still barely improving....

It was also very interesting to watch several of the Supervisors squirm & dance on this when considering their past campaign promises......





.

Karaffa asks for common sense comments....

Supervisor Karaffa submitted and had his Letter to the Editor printed over at the NewsLeader where he asked some interesting questions. There has been talk in the local media of the BOS raising the County tax rate $0.05 per $100.00 to cover the projected shortage of $250K for County operation and numerous requests from the education sector... 

"A 5-cent tax increase would raise revenue in the tax coffers over $3.2 million dollars. Traditionally, half of the revenue goes to the schools and half to the county. The county is short $250,000 for the upcoming budget, why do we need $1.6 million to cover that deficit?"

Augusta County has pretty much always had a fiscal conservative budget process and spending practices and with that have held themselves to their budgets and don't have deficits, something we could only dream of on someday on a national level.

"Augusta County public schools have asked for an additional 2.86 percent raise on top of the 2 percent raise that is already calculated into their current budget. They would also purchase $500,000 in new computers as well as make up the 100 percent insurance premium coverage for bus drivers and cafeteria workers, totaling $2.5 million in additional funding."

"Education" has always been a hot topic and has also been a common tool of the "Left" to demand more money when it comes to increased spending. If you question these increases you are painted as a greedy person refusing to invest in our children and their\our future. Fact is we already spend a incredible amount of money per student on a national level and the test results are disappointing. Just look at the recent stories coming out of NYC, Chicago, and other cities where over 75% of "Graduates" are unable to read or write to  function and get hired or move on to further education...

A while back I saw a Letter to the Editor where the person questioned why $500,000 in computers. That person provided numerous common sense questions and data to show that sensible solutions could provide needed computer services at a much lower cost. To simply throw $500k at "Computers" would be foolish and should be questioned...


Good move and effort by Karaffa in seeking more info and comments by way of upcoming "Townhall" meetings. I hope he follows through with common sense solutions without specific "past influences" and does what is right for the taxpayers......  

Where was Snooki?...

 

Looks like the "Whitehouse Party Crasher" was highlighted at the local SWAC breakfast and described here by Bob Stuart in the Newsvirginian... Interesting how this "Crasher" was first described as a candidtae for the upcoming VA Governor race who was also the focus of a "Reality Show" about his campaign, but now is described as a "documentary"...

 

Maybe it's just new packaging and a marketing tactic, but with this guys history and celebrity status along with a appearance at this breakfast forum, it still looks like a Hollywood reality show and a waste of time for Virginia voters...

 

 

Salahi said his opponents represent the extremes of the political spectrum while he is a centrist.

 

"I'm about everybody in Virginia,'' he said.

 

Salahi wants Virginia voters to gaze beyond the major political parties.

 

"Look at the candidates,'' he said. "This is about your future. Look at who the candidate is, what is good for Virginia and the future."

Augusta Coalition to raise taxes?....

The NewsVirginian is now reporting that Augusta County now has a "Coalition" out there petitioning for the BOS to raise the peoples taxes ...

"The work of Support Our Schools has garnered the attention of county supervisors. Pastures District Supervisor Tracy Pyles noted the coalition's petition drive in an email to The News Virginian on Friday."

"Pyles, referring to numerous groups asking for more resources for fire and rescue and for schools, noted "people staking their positions early in favor of more spending and more taxes."

"Tax Increase" or "Tax Revenue"?...

Supervisors Pyles and Pattie attended the public meeting over at the Churchville fire Dept regarding the potential need of paid staff for coverage there. Local medi covered it and I found several quotes interesting. Pyles was answering a persons question regarding additional funding for the safety services but in the following quote was there a typo or misquote when Pyles said "real estate taxes will increase" or did he mean "tax revenue" will increase?.... 

"Pyles said low taxes do not necessarily mean poor service. And Pyles assured Goings that when the county's reassessment is finished in the next couple of years, real estate taxes will increase."

    

"After Saturday's meeting, Pyles said he thinks those in attendance understood that the Churchville department performs well. Pattie said he was disappointed that more people who signed the petition presented at the Jan. 23 meeting did not turn out."

 

How many of those 400 signatures on the petition were actually "Real" citizens?....

Reality TV in the Shenandoah (Political) Valley...

In a bizarre twist, or maybe not since it is from the “SWAC-Nation” people, it seems the guy who crashed a Obama event at the Whitehouse is now running as an independent candidate in the upcoming Virginia gubernatorial race. Turns out Tareq Salahi will be coming to the Virginia Shenandoah Valley and attending a “Swac-Breakfast” forum which it appears will be used in his “Reality-TV” program describing his actions as a candidate in a gubernatorial race and his efforts to “Crash the Vote”….

It’s interesting that Tariq will be highlighted at a “SWAC-breakfast” which is coordinated by several who claim to have been once strong supporters of the VA Republican party in a event that that will only bring criticism to Virginia politics. Just what Virginia needs, a reality-TV program focusing on the “Swing State” of Virginia and the upcoming election cycle. Can’t wait until Jon Stewart gets ahold of this and I end up watching Virginia politics on the Comedy channel…

24/7 paid staff at what cost?....

Looks now that the Churchville Fire department is need of a full time paid fire staff after a recent fire and poor response time from the volunteer staff that was on duty. The BOS was presented with a 400+ petition calling for the staff and it will be interesting to see how the Supervisors respond. Will the community come together to provide the coverage or will they rely on the government to step in and provide 24\7 paid coverage and at what cost? The County ended up providing the paid staff at the Fishersville site after the local community was worked up into a frenzy by few who had a increase to their insurance and demanded such coverage but yet to see the real cost down the road. Will the BOS now provide the same coverage to Churchville and how will it be paid for and by who?


The Newsleader provided this in todays paper:

"Even without them, the money the county would have to spend to staff firefighters there would be a waste since volunteers already provide enough night and weekend coverage, she said. The department has been organizing shifts for volunteer officers and drivers to be available at all times during the week, which, McComas said, was an example of the changes under way over concerns about fire responses. “We are working toward changing some things internally that would help alleviate situations like (the Johnson fire) in the future,” she said"

Full story here

2013 Crystal Ball....

What will 2013 bring to Augusta County and all of Virginia?.......

 

There is already "Rumblings" that one of those who did not make the last "BOS-cut" will be making that run again...

 

And what about a "Special Appointment" for that somebody who has been praising a present BOS member whenever they get a chance but in the past had always been on the other side of the fence?.....

 

No doubt 2013 will be an interesting one as well as a continuation of the "political games"....