More comments on priorities

Jeff Walker / Culpeper Star Exponent
Published: February 26, 2008

Two columns ago (on Feb. 13) I asked our local Culpeper officials what their priorities were for Culpeper. Here are the responses from the Board of Supervisors:

Steve Nixon, West Fairfax - "The citizens have requested that we adopt a plan to consolidate town and county governments." He said this involves developing a plan that better serves citizens and reduces costs "while preserving the integrity of our community."

Nixon also outlined a regional water and sewer authority as a priority "to promote balanced economic growth."

School funding is a priority that requires cooperation to reduce expenses, control costs and still promote quality education.

"Costs are rising rapidly and out-stripping our ability to pay," Nixon said.

Steve Walker, East Fairfax -   "My top priority is for our governing bodies to work together in a cohesive, efficient, and effective manner to make the best use of all our resources -human and fiscal. Together we can achieve great accomplishments; divided we fail."

One of the top budget priorities for the county is education and funding education in Culpeper demands keeping in mind an equitable tax rate, said Walker. Determining such a rate means considering people on fixed or low incomes, "as well as those who support raising taxes primarily for K-12 public education."
Walker's other priorities:

- Developing smarter and sustainable growth policies while protecting agriculture and the quality of life;
nDeveloping economic strategies, "especially for downtown, to increase commercial and retail businesses and focus on technology-based industry."

- As mandated by the town citizens' petition, creating an equitable consolidation plan.

Sue Hansohn, Catalpa - "During this time of economic downturn, I believe the top priority is to balance the county budget and continue to provide excellent services with less revenue." She said county staff has cut costs and has had to be careful to find spending reductions in all departments.

Considering that the school system is a large part of the county budget, Hansohn said the School Board and the supervisors are attempting to develop a plan that will help open two new schools with minimal impact

In light of the possible recession, Hanson said, "Many county citizens struggle to pay their utilities, face high gas prices and the possibility of layoffs from their jobs." Higher real estate taxes would cause a hardship to many constituents.

Tom Underwood, Salem  - Citizens have lost confidence in all levels of government, said Underwood. If that confidence is restored, "governing will be easier, and constituents will be more forgiving of the few mistakes that we are bound to make."

Underwood is mindful that government needs to represent all the citizens of Culpeper "not just the outspoken ones."
Elected representatives need to consider both those who want something from government and those who want more affordable government, he said.

Underwood explained that state government has designed conflicts into local government systems. They "are not productive checks and balances, but are detrimental conflicts," he said.  "We need to find a way to work together to overcome the inherent structural conflicts in the system." Improved working relationships between the other supervisors, School Board members and Town Council will benefit everyone.

EPILOGUE: I hope that reading the main concerns of our local officials has given readers a fresh perspective. Our votes put these fellow citizens into their seats. We charge them with representing us and making decisions on our behalf -informed, considered decisions - which benefit all of us.

No matter whether you are "old Culpeper" or "new Culpeper," you have the right to let your elected officials know what you think and what your priorities are.

(Due to limited space, I will share at a later date additional comments by school board chairman George Dasher and town councilman Michael Olinger and other elected officials who might still wish to comment.)

Jeff Walker is an independent columnist who lives in Culpeper. He appears every other Wednesday in the Star-Exponent. E-mail