THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 6, 1995 TAG: 9503040315
SECTION: BUSINESS WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Forum
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: BY MARSHALL BOOKER
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
In the last several years, there has been renewed interest in consolidating Peninsula cities and counties including Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and York County.
It appears that consolidation for this area of about 700,000 population is at least 10 years away. But there is the possibility of developing a shared revenue base for the entire Peninsula.
As some areas grew faster than others on the Peninsula, community leaders worried about uneven growth.
For example, if a large factory opened in Newport News, many workers might locate in York County, burdening the school system.
As a result of concerns such as these, leaders began to talk openly, especially in the last five years, of the possibility of developing a shared revenue base.
The prospect of riverboat gambling leaders renewed interest in the concept.
Interest has not dissolved, although the casino idea has been sidetracked.
In early January, discussions occurred involving city managers and their representatives from Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Few details have been revealed to date, but meetings are continuing.
Revenue sharing remains a popular idea in the region. The Bureau of Business and Economic Research at Christopher Newport University surveyed 110 business executives in Hampton Roads.
The survey asked if they were familiar with the concept of revenue sharing. All answered in the affirmative.
The survey also showed a large majority of businesses - no matter where located, which industrial sector they represent, small or large - believe some sort of revenue sharing system for this area is necessary for future development.
It appears that revenue sharing on a regional basis is an idea whose time has come.
It may eventually lead to consolidation of the Peninsula first, the Southside second, and eventually the entire metropolitan area. MEMO: Marshall Booker is an economics professor at Christopher Newport
University in Newport News. by CNB