Q: Did you vote to institute a “meals tax” in Campbell County?

A: No! As proof that this is going to be a difficult election, some are already making false and misleading claims against me and the other supervisors. For example, some have claimed that we want to institute a meals tax in the county. Nothing could be further from the truth. In June of every year, the board adopts a legislative agenda which is a list of recommendations we forward to our Delegate and Senators. One of the items in this past year’s list was a request for counties to be treated the same as cities and towns when it comes to initiating a meals or occupancy tax. This was done at the request of the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo), which is an organization most counties belong to and we strongly support. Counties in Virginia cooperate with one another on a large number of issues. Under Virginia’s Dillon Rule, the General Assembly would have to grant counties permission to seek a meals tax on an individual basis as about seven counties already have. In Campbell County, a meals tax is about as popular as the spreading of biosolids. Prior to me coming on the Board, a meals tax appeared as a referendum item during an election. The idea was soundly defeated! And, while the economic climate has changed, I can say that there is currently no serious thought being given to such a tax even though some are accusing us of it. Even if counties were given permission, they would still have to go through the public hearing process. I don’t think any member of the board would want to be on the receiving end of a meals tax public hearing.

Q: What about an “occupancy tax”?

A: Again no. While an occupancy tax is a true “consumption tax” which is supported by many conservatives (I personally support the Fair Tax Plan for the Federal Government (check out http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer), Campbell County currently has very few hotel/motel rooms. Any revenue from an occupancy tax would be small. However, once again this was on our list of items submitted to our Delegates and Senators. Why? Because at this time only a few counties in the Commonwealth have been granted permission to levy an occupancy tax. The Virginia Association of Counties is seeking the legislature to provide equality in all counties in regard to an occupancy tax.

5% Sales tax (4% state + 1% local) added to the 4% meals tax you want to impose = 9%.

Coffee at Starbucks is a “served” item subject to the meals tax. The happy meal I’d buy my kids is also a served item subject to the meals tax.

Hey Jack Read: this is the kind of “leader” I should just roll over and listen to and accept? He doesn’t even know the consequences nor the method by which the very taxes he is supporting work.

You are right, 15 years ago the citizens soundly rejected a meals tax in a referendum (not “a couple of years ago”) I would hope you realize that times have changed. With your “logic” however, since in 2010 and 2011, the citizens soundly rejected local Republican candidates, I assume you won’t support any Republican candidates in future elections. I mean, they were already REJECTED.

You are so full of hate and bile, that you can not begin to have a logical discussion. It will be interesting to see how long my comments stay posted. Rick Boyer just deletes comments from Facebook that don’t agree with his narrow world view.

Don’t be disheartened by this. I think many of the people in Campbell County have the same conservative values that you do. Including the board of supervisors members. The difference is they are trying to find solutions to the problems and provide leadership. Yes, they are our political leaders. We elected them to be our leaders.

All of the politics aside (most of what we’ve been bantering about is politics right?) what do you recommend to the board of supervisors cut in spending to close what I read is a seven plus million dollar budget gap? I understand you believe they shouldn’t consider raising taxes. I don’t want to pay taxes either. Where should they reduce expenses to cover the mandates and declining revenues from the state?

“If you believe in the operation of republic you would support the elected leaders making those kinds of decisions.”

IF the elected leaders decided to raise our property taxes 3 fold I should support that nonsense?

And they are not our “leaders” they are our “representatives” and they serve at our pleasure not their own. It is WE THE PEOPLE not We The Supervisors.

You are right. The state reps are sticking the county government with unfunded mandates. It doesn’t change the fact that the residents of the county are stretched thin and don’t have any more to give. I hope the residents see what the supervisors are up to.