Wednesday's Augusta County Board of Supervisors meeting was amazing on several levels. What could be billed as
Augusta's tax revolt brought citizens together to ask supervisors to roll back their assessments to 2005 values.
First, We the People came out en masse to an organizational townhall meeting on February 3, 2009, as
600 citizens packed into Verona United Methodist Church to hear from Supervisor Tracy Pyles and Francis Chester to learn how to make their voices heard in the real estate assessment issue.
Second, We the People came out
en masse --
1,000 strong -- to the Board of Supervisors meeting on March 11, 2009, to speak up and show support for Churchville attorney
Francis Chester who called on the board to roll back assessments to 2005 values.
Even though the Government Center had been told a
huge crowd was expected, they did not feel it necessary to move the proceedings to a larger venue. As a result, the board room filled quickly, then two auxiliary rooms set up with monitors filled, and then the hallways where chairs were set up and small audio speakers allowed some to hear the meeting.
The remaining folks, estimated at up to several hundred, were left outside. Others reported they drove by, saw the crowd, and left. The large turnout was an indication of taxpayer frustration, many who feel their tax money is wasted by their government. One citizen
wrote a letter to the editor saying he was upset at the supervisors' lack of planning for the large crowd. A local
Patrick Henry was there holding a "Don't Tread On Me" flag.
Third, 50 citizens addressed the board. Forty-nine disagreed with the increased real estate assessments ... only one agreed with them. Speakers were given one minute to state their case, five minutes if representing a group. When Churchville attorney Francis Chester asked for 10 minutes and was told he could have five, he held up the stack of petitions consisting of 10,000+ signatures and asked for one minute per thousand signatures. He got his 10 minutes.
Fourth, over
10,600 signatures were collected on petitions that were circulated countywide. The petitions, asking supervisors to roll back assessments to 2005 values, were taken by citizens who carried them to work, to their neighborhoods, and families;
30+ businesses displayed them; Tractor Supply, with a finger on the pulse of the farming community, invited
Augusta Citizens Against Unfair Assessments to join their Community Days on February 14th to collect petitions, and they displayed petitions on the counter for six weeks where hundreds of signatures were obtained. Jake's convenience store on Rt. 250 between Staunton and Churchville, a popular spot for Subway sandwiches, coffee, and gasoline, collected hundreds and hundreds of signatures. The petition drive was a movement that carried itself.
Fifth, volunteers offered help in ways that were much appreciated by all involved. Some offered
background on the current finanical climate. Others sent assessment information. They are still volunteering as Phase II of this effort gets underway with plans to carry a lawsuit against the supervisors in Augusta Circuit Court.
Sixth, the media's coverage of the BOS meeting provided information for citizens who could not attend, and follow-up for those who did. The
Staunton News Leader had a live feed on their website that was viewed by many including one activist who emailed that he and others watched on the computer, reacting along with those who were on-sight at the meeting. The
Waynesboro News Virginian was there as well as
NBC-29 and
WHSV TV-3. Pat Jarrett, a photojournalist with the
News Leader, snapped many photos that are on display on their website.
Eighty-One magazine weighed in on the subject as did
Nelson County Life magazine. Finally,
four local bloggers were in attendance and covered the meeting with commentary and photos:
Yankee Philip,
The Journey,
Augusta Water Cooler, and SWAC Girl.
The Board of Supervisors voted down the request to roll back assessments to 2005 values.
What is next?
Wednesday was a microcosm of
what is occurring across the nation as concerned citizens aka
The Silent Majority begin to take action against elected officials who are perceived as not listening to citizen concerns and needs. While Americans are tightening their belts in economic hard times, government continues to spend, spend, spend.
Tax revolts --
tea parties -- are springing up across the country, and many are planned for April 15 including one in
Shockhoe Slip in downtown Richmond.
There is a
groundswell of discontent among those who pay taxes and feel those taxes are increasingly squandered by the government. Tough times have hit Americans, something that is evident in the SWAC area of Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County after local companies laid off hundreds of employees ... Invista, Mohawk Carpet, American Safety Razor, Gem Ply, Unifi, Hershey ... as home prices dropped 18% the last quarter of 2008, as housing starts dropped to their lowest level since 1959. Baby boomers have seen half their retirement savings disappear as the Stock Market dropped ... others lost their investments.
Now
Dinwiddie County residents are asking their supervisors to throw out 2009 assessments because of huge increases. Sound familiar? Bath, Gloucester, and Nelson Counties have already had these battles ... and Washington County residents are contacting Augusta folks asking for help in fighting their real estate assessment increases. The discontent is spreading.
The next Board of Supervisors meeting is
Wednesday, March 25, at 7 pm at the Government Center. Supervisor meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. This is the time to keep an eye on your elected representatives as they begin to discuss the budget and other issues that will involve your tax money.
Stay informed ... stay involved.
Together, Augusta ... we can make a difference!
Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn R. Mitchell
March 11, 2009
Life is a little more relaxed at a farm law office.
Attorney Francis Chester plants in preparation for the summer produce stand.
The sign says it all.
Taking a break from the law books ...
... to add more rows of lettuce. Planting in Augusta County provides the extra benefit of beautiful mountain scenery while taking a break from working the soil.
Brrr. This morning was 28 degrees with frost ... a fire is crackling in the woodstove to ward off the chill. The central Shenandoah Valley's safe frost date isn't until May 15 so we still have a month to go. Still, it's sometimes easy to forget with all the nice weather we've enjoyed this spring. The grass is green, the tree leaves have really popped the past week, and the mountains are greening for the season with only the highest ridges still waiting for the spring leaf canopy.
Copies of petitions containing 10,500 signatures from Augusta County residents ... 83 pounds and numerous reams of paper. The judge requested a set for each of the supervisors and Commissioner of the Revenue Jean Shrewsbury. Ms. Shrewsbury had already put together a list from the original set of petitions. Using taxpayer money, Ms. Shrewsbury had her staff put together a elecronic list from the original set of petitions submitted to the BOS, but Shrewsbury is not willing to share the complete list with others.
Francis Chester addresses Augusta County residents.
Media coverage
Francis Chester talks with press.
Francis Chester at the Highland County Maple Festival March 21. He is pictured in the Cestari Farm booth in McDowell selling wool-related products.
Heading to the Board of Supervisors meeting.
Francis Chester holds petitions handed to him by those in the overflow crowd outdoors at the Government Center.
Mr. Chester addressed the overflow crowd outside the Government Center and thanked them for coming out while apologizing that they were not able to get inside.
Going over notes before the meeting....
