045-04
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
A RESOLUTION URGING STATE LEGISLATORS
TO APPROPRIATELY ADJUST THE
COMMONWEALTH'S TAX STRUCTURE
WHEREAS, the disparity between state-mandated services and the state funding to localities
which are required to provide these services has continued to increase in recent years; and,
WHEREAS, the effect of this growing disparity has been further compounded by the
simultaneous imposition of additional restrictions on local government's ability to raise revenue; and,
WHEREAS, the current financial crisis which the Commonwealth faces is in large part a
foreseeable result of years of fiscally irresponsible efforts to avoid addressing the very real issue of an
outdated and inadequate state tax structure; and,
WHEREAS, the practice of avoiding the unpleasant and unpopular task of correcting this
outdated tax structure by passing additional state-level responsibilities and commitments onto the backs
of local government has reached the point where many local governments are forced to choose between
annual real estate tax increases or cutting basic services which its residents expect and deserve.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Frederick County Board of Supervisors
does hereby implore our state-level representatives to responsibly address the fiscal challenges it faces
by making long overdue adjustments to the Commonwealth's tax structure which will enable it to fully
fund those programs and services which it has either mandated or committed to providing.
Uponmotionmadeby W. Harrington Smith, Jr. andsecondedby Gina A. Forrester
the above resolution was approved by the following votes:
Adopted this 25 day of February, 2004
Rjchard C. Shickle Aye W. Harrington Smith, Jr. Aye
Bill M. Ewing Aye Barbara E. Van Osten Aye
Gary W. Dove Aye Lynda 1. Tyler Aye
Gina A. Forrester ~ye
A COpy TESTE:
BOS Resolution No.: 045-04
COUNTY of FREDERICK
Board of Supervisors
540/665-5666
540/667-0370 fax
Richard C. Shickle - Chairman
Barbara E. Van Osten - Vice Chairman
Back Creek District
W. Harrington Smith, Jr.
Shawnee District
Lynda J. Tyler
Stonewall District
Bill M. Ewing
Opequon District
Gary W. Dove
Gainesboro District
Gina A. Forrester
Red Bud District
February 25,2004
The Honorable Beverly J. Sherwood (R)
Virginia House of Delegates
General Assembly Building, Room 512
P. O. Box 406
Rjchmond, VA 23218
Dear Ms. Sherwood:
At their regularly scheduled meeting last evening (which was immediately preceded by a difficult joint
budget meeting with our County School Board), the Frederick County Board of Supervisors unanimously
passed the attached resolution urging all members ofthe General Assembly to fix the State's tax structure.
As you know, Frederick County was forced to significantly increase our real estate taxes in FY '04. Given
the anticipated lack of increased funding from the state, we will more than likely be forced to do so again
in FY '05. The only alternative available would be to reduce services to our citizens; neither option is a
pleasant one.
The attached resolution is being sent to all County Administrators within the state urging them to support
the message. In addition, all your fellow members ofthe house will receive a copy. We certainly hope
you, as our representative, will give favorable consideration to the tax packages proposed by either Senate
or the Governor. To do otherwise merely forces local officials to impose increased real estate taxes on our
citizens as we have no other mechanism available to us for raising revenue.
Respectfully,
~ ~Q..-~~..J-._,
Rjchard C. Shickle, Chairman
Frederick County Board of Supervisors
RCS/cih
cc: The Honorable H. Russell Potts, Jr. (R)
Attachment
V A Tax structure RES2.wpd
107 North Kent Street . Winchester, Virginia 22601
COUNTY of FREDERICK
Board of Supervisors
540/665-5666
540/667-0370 fax
Richard C. Shickle - Chairman
Barbara E. Van Osten - Vice Chairman
Back Creek District
W. Harrington Smith, Jr.
Shawnee District
Lynda J. Tyler
Stonewall District
Bill M. Ewing
Opequon District
Gary W. Dove
Gainesboro Distriet
Gina A. Forrester
Red Bud District
February 25, 2004
The Honorable C. L. "Clay"Athey, Jr. (R)
Virginia House of Delegates
General Assembly Building, Room 512
P. O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Dear Clay:
At their regularly scheduled meeting last evening (which was immediately preceded by a difficult joint
budget meeting with our County School Board), the Frederick County Board of Supervisors unanimously
passed the attached resolution urging all members of the General Assembly to fix the State's tax structure.
As you know, Frederick County was forced to significantly increase our real estate taxes in FY '04. Given
the anticipated lack of increased funding from the state, we will more than likely be forced to do so again
in FY '05. The only alternative available would be to reduce services to our citizens; neither option is a
pleasant one.
The attached resolution is being sent to all County Administrators within the state urging them to support
the message. In addition, all your fellow members of the house will receive a copy. We certainly hope
you, as our representative, will give favorable consideration to the tax packages proposed by either Senate
or the Governor. To do otherwise merely forces local officials to impose increased real estate taxes on our
citizens as we have no other mechanism available to us for raising revenue.
Respectfully,
~~-~-,
Richard C. Shickle, Chairman
Frederick County Board of Supervisors
RCS/cih
cc: The Honorable H. Russell Potts, Jr. (R)
Attachment
VA Tax stmcture RES.wpd
107 North Kent Street . Winchester, Virginia 22601