Shaun Kenney | Politics and Religion in Virginia's Public Square


Friday, March 26, 2004 Tax rate, budget debated Yep, yours truly made the paper again, this time managing to anger about 50% of the Spotsylvania County School System: Two hours into a public hearing on Spotsylvania County's proposed budget, speakers supporting the advertised real-estate tax rate of 96 cents and those wanting an equalized rate were evenly split. Shaun Kenney of the Battlefield District was among those calling for an 85-cent rate. He told the board that the answer to the budget question is not dipping into taxpayers' wallets. His next comment drew both laughter and applause. "If you feel you're undertaxed," he told the other people in the high school auditorium, "there's nothing to prevent you from donating to your government." Of course, this is what I received from my buddy Jason this morning: just listened to the radio on the way into work and 99.3 WYSK just had a news segment featuring our very own Shaun Kenney. The story was that Spotsylvania is locked 50-50 for/against raising property taxes. The announcer, Bob Jones, says "Here's what Shaun Kenney had to say." They played a sound clip of Shaun speaking very strongly saying, "No one is undertaxed. But if you feel that your are undertaxed, please, by all means, feel free to make a donation to your government." This was followed by a delayed, somewhat stunned laughter from the background assembly, as it seemed many didn't know if he was joking or really serious. This made my morning, and I am sure you all will find this at least amusing, no matter what your political "tendencies" may be. I'm proud of my boy, Blue. The compelling argument that earned the rancor of the tax-hikers was the rhetorical question, "will we see an 11% increase in the quality of our education?" Speakers for the rest of the evening fumbled for a response - and after my own speech I received a number of boos amid a good deal of applause. Nice to see we Republicans can still frame the debate. One of the more moving moments was as folks were leaving the public hearing. I met with about five to six people from the Lake Anna area who thanked me for my efforts. One lady was on the brink of tears explaining how her assessments were nearly 100%, which even if we held the line on taxes she would inevitably be forced to move unless real help came her way. It really does take a special hardness of heart to shrug and vote for tax hikes. That's the very real effect of property tax hikes, and why I am confident that our supervisors will do the right thing and hold the line at $0.85. posted by Shaun Kenney \| 3/26/2004 05:12:00 PM \| 0 comments 0 Comments: Post a Comment Home
	RedStormPAC $ JEFFERSONIAD POLL: Whom do you support for Virginia Attorney General? 1) John Brownlee 2) Ken Cuccinelli View Results About ShaunKenney.com is one of Virginia's oldest political blogs, focusing on the role of religion and politics in public life. Shaun Kenney, 30, lives in Fluvanna County, Virginia. Contact E-mail RSS/Atom Feed The Jeffersoniad Archives March 2002 April 2002 May 2002 June 2002 July 2002 August 2002 September 2002 October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 April 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009