Our county officials need to justify taxes

Duane Mitchell
Published: February 8, 2008

The General Assembly is considering a proposal to offer homeowners a break on their property taxes, via a "homestead exemption." 

     The exemption would allow local governments to grant up to a 20 percent real estate tax break on an owner occupied single family home.

     Business advocates, local government officials and a University of Virginia economist are objecting to the passage of this proposal.

I would like to remind elected state and local government officials that this "homestead exemption" already exists in many other states, and is a much needed tax break for older retired citizens. The present, so called, tax relief in this county is painfully meager.

One would have to be a pauper and completely dependent on social services to qualify.

Older residents of this state and county and I have fought for this country and worked our entire lives for what we have in retirement and we deserve the chance to live decently and comfortably in our retired years without the threat of being taxed out of existence. As a native Virginian, I don't want to leave my state, but I may be forced into leaving or give everything up to taxes.

Further, I would like our local elected county officials to explain to me exactly what I get for my county taxes. For example, take the following into consideration:
. I am retired from federal service and I'm a U.S. Air Force veteran so I don't require any county social services.
. I have no children in county schools.
. I own my own house.
. I have a privately maintained road into my house.
. I have my own water well.         
. I have my own septic system.
. I pay for my own trash removal service.
. The nearest fire department is volunteer.
. Thanks to God and the Second Amendment, I have the ability to defend myself.

Further, it is my opinion, that county officials have allowed companies such as Verizon and Comcast to treat county residents like second-class citizens by not offering services that are available in other areas, thus forcing us into less functional and more expensive alternatives for phone, television and Internet services.