I’ve been thinking about what the Loudoun County Government Administrator said last year about county taxes.  He said that the issue isn’t how high the taxes should be, rather how much taxes loudoun residents would pay.

In a recent public forum regarding the Loudoun County budget, the majority of the “public” at the forum seemed to be in favor of higher taxes.  In fact, they applauded it.  Flash back to 2004 when Loudoun County Board of Supervisors member created:

“Loudoun Legacy Fund to provide citizens the opportunity to voluntarily contribute funds above and beyond the taxes levied on real estate.

Through the Legacy Fund, individuals, businesses, estates, trusts and any other entity may make voluntary contributions and may designate those contributions to any of the agencies and departments of the Loudoun County Government, such as Parks, Recreation and Community Services; Economic Development; the Loudoun County Public Schools; and the Loudoun Public Library; and for projects such as road improvements and land easements. “

The website even provides who the check should be written out to and the address where the check should be sent.  Given the latest hoopla (a technical term) for and about higher taxes for Loudoun County residents, you’d think that this Legacy Fund was being used to the fullest, right?  Think again.  I was advised this week via voice mail from the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors that the Legacy Fund was shut down for lack of use and interest.  If that doesn’t provide market research or proof of what Loudoun residents think of higher taxes, I don’t know what does.

So I’ve lived in Loudoun County for six years, but it was only recently that I began to really take notice of local/county politics. My own economic circumstances were partly to blame. If I am taking a closer look at my own budget and making cuts where I can, is my government doing the same thing? I invite fellow Loudoun County residents to share and provide your input.

The first thing I really noticed was an announcement that the Superintendent was proposing a cut in its budget. Then come all of the scare e-mails from PTAs and other parent organizations to “ensure that every parent was aware of the spending cuts that may go into effect in 2010 if Superintendent of Schools Dr. Hatrick’s proposed budget is NOT passed.” This insults the intelligence of all parents: Budget cuts are bad, If you want to cut the school budget, then you hate children! You child hater! Going with this logic, am I a bad parent for reducing my own budget in certain areas to provide the best for my family with the means that we have? Why can’t the county use this logic?!!!   Puhhleease!

It was nice that the school board decided to have public meetings regarding these cuts. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much in the way of discussing the proposed cuts on their own merit (shocker!).  What’s worse, Dr. Superintendent Hatrick informed us that it wasn’t his intention to even contemplate cuts in the school budget; the school board was acting on the Loudoun County Government’s direction study the effects of school budget cuts.   Kirby Bowers, Loudoun County Administrator–“the highest level management office of the Loudoun County government”, said about a year ago that the issue is not how much Loudoun County should spend, it’s how much takes Loudoun County residents were willing to pay.  Can’t believe he actually said this in public!

My conclusions:

• Neither Dr. Superintendent Hatrick nor the Board intend to look at potential savings in the school budget (while Loudoun County residents have to look at their own budgets)
• Dr. Superintendent Hatrick does not want the blame for looking at cuts or even enacting them since he was instructed to do so by Loudoun County Government.   Dr. Superintendent Hatrick is not a child-hater!
• Mr. Bowers and Loudoun County Government is more than willing to tax Loudoun County residents into oblivion so long as the residents are willing.

Add to this recent articles in the Washington Post that reported on DC area Superintendents travel habits, which of course include Dr. Superintendent Hatrick’s professional travel accross the country and overseas.  I wonder which pot of money is funding those trips. Not only that, but will Loudoun County disclose it? Should they?

What are your thoughts?