
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990                   TAG: 9005310485
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-14   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HOW PROVE MERGER WILL SAVE TAX MONEY?

IN RESPONSE to your May 16 editorial, I must ask once and for all how you have deduced that consolidation is going to "save valley taxpayers a few bucks and . . . help give the valley more control over its own destiny."

This is hardly accurate in light of the fact that consolidation is going to cost city taxpayers more, whether the referendum passes in November or not. Prorated personal property taxes and higher taxes on cigarettes bought in the city can hardly be interpreted as measures to save taxpayers "a few bucks."

You have not pointed out that consolidation is first going to cost taxpayers, and cost them a bundle - $25 million for start-up, by conservative estimates.

Who do you think is going to bankroll that kind of money? None other than the taxpayers of the valley. And while you don't think Salem has a role in this since they didn't want to be part of the negotiations from the start, who will be paying to "buy" those areas of the county that want nothing to do with RMG? Where are the "bucks" they will be saving?

The real key to economic growth in the Roanoke Valley is cooperation, not consolidation. If you don't agree, fine; but please do your readers a favor and try harder to be unbiased. Stop trying to sell the idea of merger and just stick to your job, which is to inform the public of the pros and cons of merger so that they can make an intelligent decision about their own destiny. KITTY J. BOITNOTT ROANOKE

by CNB