Comments on: Montgomery County is cheap

By: Clay Nichols

Clay Nichols — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:16:23 +0000

I came here, bringing my software company (which sells software nationally and internationally) largely because of the schools (9 years ago).

I did not count on mother nature (or poor construction) rendering the BHS unusable. I think it’s quite reasonable to expect the status quo to be maintained at a minimum.

By: Matt Herring

Matt Herring — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:19:24 +0000

Well said Lynda!

By: Lynda Nelson

Lynda Nelson — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:08:39 +0000

STANZ…I DON’T GET YOUR MATURITY TAKE ON THE ISSUE, IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER FOR THE UNHAPPY PEOPLE TO MOVE THAN TO MAKE THE CHANGES IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE THEM HAPPY
THEY COULD GO WHERE IT SUITED THEM AND THE REST OF US COULD STAY IN OUR HOMES BECAUSE WE DIDN’T HAVE TO PAY MORE AND MORE TAXES TO KEEP UP MORE AND MORE CONCRETE EDIFICES TO GREATNESS.

By: StanZ1987

StanZ1987 — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:33:48 +0000

BTW – all the folks that took the time to comment with the statement “Don’t like it, move”. I applaud your rational, mature responses. Took me back to the playground in elementary school….please grow up and provide constructive comments.

By: StanZ1987

StanZ1987 — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:30:48 +0000

@ James – thanks for the interesting numbers but I’m not really sure what they prove/disprove in this discussion. Regarding your statements about the percentage of county spending that goes to education, are you really that surprised? The roads are maintained by the state. That leaves public safety & other services. The number one responsibility of the counties IS education, you shouldn’t be shocked. BTW – public safety, health, courts are receive monies from the state too.

@ Barbara S – tax credits for parents = tax breaks (less tax revenues for the state and therefore the localities). I do not have children but I do have a problem with my tax support going to pay for private and/or religious schools. You want to send your children to a private school, then pay for it yourself. We don’t live in a society where one gets to pick and choose where are taxes are applied, accept it and stop ‘throwing public education under the bus’. Quoting the Cato Institute (a libertarian and neo-conservative think tank) as an independent source of information does not provide good, balanced, unbiased support for your assertions. Do you homework and come up with some original ideas on why YOU think public schools aren’t worthy of public support….as it stands, you come across as a tool of the Cato Institutes biggest supporters.

By: bigd7400

bigd7400 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:44:47 +0000

I hate to point out the flaws in the “State Averages” but this is completely misconstrued. Of course Montgomery county collects less property tax per capita than the state “average” home prices in Northern Virginia alone will skew this “average” not to mention the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area and the Richmond area. As for cheap try Franklin county at 48 cents per $100 and some of the best schools in the state. Schools should be built to last but they should also be utilitarian, glass edifices and hauty lighting are a gross waste of funds. Children can learn just as well in a rectangular brick building as they can in some art-deco architects wet dream.

By: Insider

Insider — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:24:19 +0000

Buying lighting at Home Depot, going for the cheapest possible materials IS WHAT GOT US INTO THIS MESS.
Blacksburg High School was built to low standards of quality, poorly made materials…and it collapsed. Had that facility been “extravagantly” built it probably would still be standing and we wouldn’t be having this conversation. “you get what you pay for” is the truth. Disposable is disposable.

By: P. LYNCH

P. LYNCH — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:59:31 +0000

Has anyone been in the new Prices Fork Elementary School since it opened?
Would someone please explain the educational value of the lighting in the
foyer alone! Who was the watchdog who approved such extravagant expenses?
I would like that person to justify these expenses and tell us what kind
of expenses are going to be frivolously spent on the new schools still to
be built? We probably could have saved a bunch a money by shopping at
Home Depot!

By: Edward

Edward — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:19:54 +0000

I agree with you Debbie-VT Class of 2005, the only problem is most of the lodging and eating establishments are in the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, who don’t have to budget for the school system. The county could have many more eating establishments if they would pass liquor by the drink, which would attract more restaurants, which may spawn more lodging. Another idea which has been tried in the past with no success is to add a fee to EVERY Tech sports ticket sold. The folks who come to games, no matter what sport, use the roads and over utilize the resources of this county, so make them pay for it!

By: Debbie-VT Class of 2005

Debbie-VT Class of 2005 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:13:03 +0000

Since Virginia Tech won’t collect meals tax, which would help the short fall greatly, why not raise meals and lodging taxes in the county? If Virginia Tech won’t assist the local community through this crisis then put the burden on the backs of Virginia Tech supporters. People are going to come to football games, stay at local hotels, and eat at local no matter what those taxes are.