This month’s Free Enterprise Forum watch is now online. This is an excellent resource for information on the region’s more pressing issues regarding growth, development and more. You can check it out at their website. The issues facing our region are not isolated to one particular locality, be it Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, et. al. – they are regional issues; the FEF does a great job of consolidating this information.
Browsing Category Regional
Interesting transportation bills
Impact fees.Requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board to establish and apply an impact fee in any locality or region where pursuant to a comprehensive review, it determines that transportation needs are not being adequately met.Not a bad idea. Keep local tax money … local.Amendment:B. The governing bodies comprising the transportation district may agree to impose a local tax to be used exclusively by the district in order to accomplish its purposes. Prior to becoming effective, the tax shall be approved by two successive governing bodies of each locality, with an intervening election occurring between the votes of the governing bodies.
Property tax insight
For those of you who have the pleasure of paying property taxes, this is a good explanation of localities’ needs and methods for determining their millage rates.The key insight here is that aggregate real estate tax rates are set simply to cover the locality’s budget. There is no ‘fair,’ ‘equitable,’ or ‘normal’ real estate tax rate. It all depends on two things: How much the locality wishes to spendHow much local voters are willing to tolerate as their individual tax burdens.Here are the local mil rates for Central Virginia. Aargh. Government is the only “business” that I know of that seems to determine how much they need, and then they go out and take it.
Not used to NoVa traffic, are you?
In a recent post regarding the dearth of senior housing in our region, I noted a new development coming to Greene County. One might think (as I did) that it would be a beneficial idea for this developer to provide some form of transportation for the future residents into Charlottesville. This development is being marketed as “Four Seasons Charlottesville” despite its location in Ruckersville.
Toy Lift 2005
The Toy Lift is apparently a bit behind on toys and money. If you can give either, please stop by Lowe’s on 29 North or call – 973-6717.Yep, that’s me.
School closings?
Our area is expecting a little bit of snow today and this evening. For the most up to date info, I have found that NBC29 tends to have the most accurate info. Albemarle’s school closing link is a dead link to NBC29. We tend to have an inordinate amount of school closings, in my opinion. The primary reason for this is that our counties still are quite rural. My understanding is that if one rural road is dangerous, the entirety of the school division shuts down. Surprisingly, 29 does not yet have their red jackets on yet.
Another take on Growth in Central Virginia
Virginia Business Magazine has an excellent article this month focusing on the challenges (and successes) faced by the Central Virginia region. One thing is clear from the article – Charlottesville’s reach extends far beyond its limits. asdfThe area is adding jobs, unemployment is low, and the U.Va. is helping research-oriented entrepreneurs begin new businesses. New companies in the area find that, despite the low jobless rate and high cost of living, the pool of well-educated available workers is large. Many are “underemployed,†willing to take lower-paying jobs just so they can stay in the area.asdfEconomic and population growth has not been limited to Charlottesville and Albemarle County. The surrounding counties — Greene, Fluvanna, and Orange among them — are seeing spillover development as they keep up with 4 percent annual population growth in some areas. A large mixed-use retail complex, Hollymead Town Center, just went up north of Charlottesville near the Greene County line.