Are we thinking long term?

The time is now for our County Board of Supervisors and our Interim Town Manager/Town Council, to think about the long term effects of this pandemic.

Our economy will continue downward. Job loss will continue to grow. The inability of so many to pay their bills will continue. The town income is uncertain for this year and next year’s budget. The loss of meal tax and lodging tax alone are only two of the huge losses the Town and County will face.

Mr. Tederick and the Town Council’s tax rate reduction from the rate of $13.5 to $.13 cents per hundred, which was an obvious political move by Mr. Tederick and his Republican Party for votes in the upcoming election, will certainly come back to haunt them. I believe the following are only a few items that could be considered at this time.

1. County and Town Tax bills to be deferred for several months or until the end of the year. This I believe can be a request to the state government.
2. County and Town budgets should be deferred until all citizens can safely attend the meetings and have their input. I’m sure we can get an extension on the deadline from our state government.
3. All large items cut from the upcoming budget: town infrastructure loan – what is one or two more years of kicking the can down the road, assistant town manager, redundant water line to the corridor – which the town citizens should not be paying for anyway. This was a request from Dominion Power. It is not mandatory for the town to do this project. , town road paving project – which should be done over a couple of years instead of one year.

These large ticket budget items, except for the I & I upgrade, which is mandated by the DEQ should be put on the back burner until we know exactly where the finances of the town will actually be for the rest of this year and next year. To do these items now would be ludicrous and not in the best interest of the town citizens and the small businesses located in the town.

If Mr. Tederick and the Town Council care like they say they do, I encourage each of them to lay down their political views and do what is in the best interest of the citizens, business owners and the Town of Front Royal.

Paul Gabbert
Front Royal, Virginia