Pittsylvania County supervisors face angry constituents at Monday meeting

CHATHAM - Pittsylvania County residents gave the Board of Supervisors an earful of vitriol during a public hearing on the county's proposed $229.4 million budget, which includes several tax increases to help with a $70 million high school renovation bond voters passed in 2007.

A third hearing was held Monday night after $4.5 million in federal stimulus funds was added to the budget projection for Pittsylvania County Schools, which stands at $89.3 million. Supervisors held separate hearings for the school board's budget and that of the county.

Residents said taxpayers are struggling to pay their bills and the taxes they already pay.

"The whole budget's out of whack," Nathaniel Dix, a 92-year-old resident in the Westover District, said to the board. "You need a chop ax to start cuttin,' cuttin' and cuttin' instead of taxin', taxin' and taxin.'"

Dix said supervisors and the county administrator need to cut 10 percent of their salaries instead of increasing taxes to balance its budget.

The board is proposing increases in taxes on real estate, personal property and utilities, and a jump in the motor vehicle fee.

Advertised rate hikes include a 9-cent rise in the real estate tax rate to 62 cents per $100 of assessed value, and a 75-cent increase in the personal property tax, from $7.75 to $8.50 per $100 of assessed value. Also included is a proposed $9.25 spike in motor vehicle fees from $29.50 to $38.75. The Finance Committee previously discussed raising the personal property tax by 50 cents.

The county also anticipates a rise in the utility tax rate from 15 to 20 percent.

The county expects to generate an extra $4.78 million in revenue from the increases. The money will help pay for the $70 million high school renovation bond voters passed in November 2007.

"Quit taxin' people to death," Dix said.

Dix, who spoke on both budgets, and other residents mocked the three-minute time limit they were allotted, telling County Administrator Dan Sleeper they refused to pay attention to the red light which indicated their time is up. One resident told Sleeper to pay attention to constituents instead of watching the time lights.

Callands-Gretna District resident Deborah Lovelace said the board shouldn't be wasting money on 14 industrial parks that aren't creating jobs or generating money.

Dan River District resident J.J. Moore said he resents paying for new and renovated county schools when he has to send his daughter to a private school for a good education.

After the hearing, Callands-Gretna Supervisor Fred Ingram reminded everyone that 63 percent of county voters approved the bond in 2007.

"There would be no tax increase this year if the $70 million bond issue had not passed - bottom line," Ingram said.

The board will vote on the budget at its regular meeting April 6.

• Contact John Crane at (434) 791-7987 or jcrane@registerbee.com.