Jack Leffel in January 2012 at the joint Board budget input meeting at JRHS

Fincastle District Supervisor Jack Leffel has released the following:

At the public input meeting at Lord Botetourt I was reminded of why my heart is so deep in Botetourt County. The people of Botetourt truly do come together to make tomorrow a better place. Opinions on a variety of concerns were shared, and sometimes there was disagreement on the way to make us better. At the end of the day, though, there was a common desire to come together as a community. I cannot thank everyone enough who came out to participate in democracy at its very base. We did listen and you did make a difference. You clearly demonstrated there is no room left for pettiness and acrimony, its echoes found no place from which to bounce.
To each of you who contacted me with phone calls and emails, it is much appreciated and helpful. Please continue doing so.
I am truly honored to serve on the present Board of Supervisors. Steve Clinton, Terry Austin, and Billy Martin have welcomed Mac Scothorn and me with sincerity, respect, and patience. Mac and I hope to contribute to their vision to make Botetourt even better tomorrow than it is today.
Sincerely,
Jack Leffel
Supervisor Fincastle District

MORE ON BOTETOURT’S BUDGET SITUATION:
* March 22: School board weighs closing elementary school, cutting sports
* March 23: Parks and rec urges citizens to attend meeting
* March 23: Botetourt’s tax rate lowered twice since 1999
* March 24: Supervisor Jack Leffel opposes school closings
* March 26: Librarians talk about the budget impact on their programs
* March 27: Packed house at budget meeting; many call for tax increase to maintain services
* March 28: Board of supervisors budget committee meets
* March 29: School board passes what Alderson calls “an apparition of a budget,” school closure, no athletics still on table