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Will Spotsy get off the VRE track?
Date published: 6/26/2009 Will Spotsy get off the VRE track? In the June 13 article titled "Logan in favor of VRE hearing," it is reported that VRE attorney Stephen MacIsaac responded to Mr. MacIsaac said that there are no specific conditions stated in the VRE master agreement governing how a jurisdiction could withdraw. Dale Zehner, VRE's CEO, said one possibility was that the locality would have to pay its share of debt incurred during its membership from the time it joined. A key condition of joining the VRE compact is the imposition of a 2.1 percent tax on gasoline sales made by wholesalers to retail gasoline stations. Spotsylvania Supervisor Jerry Logan stated he thought that was a reasonable condition, and while he didn't say so, left the impression that a negotiated agreement could be achieved if the county ever decided to withdraw. However, County Attorney Jacob Stroman interjected that the VRE master agreement requires that all jurisdictions, not simply a majority, must assent to a withdrawal proposal. Fredericksburg City Councilman Matt Kelly and Stafford Supervisor Paul Milde made it clear they are eager The idea that the other jurisdictions would agree to a withdrawal by Spotsylvania County through a payoff of debt incurred during the time of membership is absurd. This idea totally ignores a boost in the annual operating deficit payments the remaining jurisdictions would have to make in the absence of Spotsylvania's gas tax contributions. Therefore, the prospect Nancy M. McNamara Spotsylvania
so if a county wanted to withdraw from VRE
(posted by
Ron_C
, June 28, 2009 12:06 am)
All it would take is for the others to vote to let them out. hmmm, lets thinkabout that for a second. If you had someone helping pay your bills and they could only stop contributing if you agreed to it, why woul you agree knowing you'd have to pay them all by yourself from then on? That would hardly be in their "enlightened self interest" now would it? In fact that would be the root of why the current members are so gung ho about getting Spotsy to join, to pick up a share of the bills for them.
Gas is high enough
(posted by
blitzburgh
, June 27, 2009 6:42 pm)
I don't want to pay 2% (.05) more per gallon.
An initiative to put in on a ballot and vote on it
(posted by
kspecial
, June 27, 2009 12:57 pm)
wouldn't be illegal. The problem is it's too LATE to get it on
a ballot and vote on it. Aren't Spotys supervisors deciding
this issue in a month or two? Again, those concerned about
this issue should email and talk to the supervisors NOW and
keep on them until they finally decide. Find out how and
where to reach your supervisors at:
http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/departments/bos/index.cfm?
doc_id=7
then we also have the folks saying that it is "illegal" to vote on VRE
(posted by
larryg
, June 27, 2009 9:38 am)
Really? Was it "illegal" to put a VRE station on the ballot?
Would it be "legal" to put the station on the ballot by itself
instead of bundled so we vote on it as a single capital
project?
I think - we could but listening to the "let's only deal with
facts" crowd - they'd have us believe otherwise.
The reason why it will take 2-3 years for a station is that the
funding for rail is not there.
How about we put on the ballot this fall - a referendum to
provide funding for the rail - would that be legal?
CONT - as an economic deveopment tool
(posted by
larryg
, June 27, 2009 9:32 am)
is not really the truth - but this aspect does not bother or
slow down the blind advocacy ... i.e. the folks saying we
need to be using facts are themselves saying "don't try to
confuse the issue with facts".
At some point, we might well get intercity rail (but probably
not at a Spotsy station if it is a spur) - but we'll get it from
the State - not VRE - and the State will run it for a few
years for free and then likely ask localities like Spotsylvania
to fund their share.
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