Read Part I Here My recent article about the land use program spurred a great deal of debate, which I think should always be the purpose behind any reporting. However, I think some of the debate came about due to some misunderstandings for the purpose underlying my writing of the article. So I hope to […]
How much does that cost? Land Use Taxation in Pulaski County
When talking about taxes in Pulaski County, especially about raising taxes, I am often told “the farmers won’t go for that.” As a counterpoint, I was also told that farmers get a discounted tax rate and thus won’t be affected by any increase in property taxes. While I cannot know for sure what every farmer […]
How much does that cost? Land Use Taxation in Pulaski County
When talking about taxes in Pulaski County, especially about raising taxes, I am often told “the farmers won’t go for that.” As a counterpoint, I was also told that farmers get a discounted tax rate and thus won’t be affected by any increase in property taxes. While I cannot know for sure what every farmer […]
How Much Does that Cost? Digging into the Pulaski County Budget
As we all debate the cost and necessity of a new middle school, one topic dominates the conversation- tax increase. So I went to look at the Pulaski County Budget, to find out what exactly we’re spending money on and perused the 2015-2016 (latest available) Budget Expenditure Summary. One thing stuck out at me while […]
Pulaski Explainer- Tax Reform and the Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction
We’re all hearing a lot more about tax reform these days, and though no one who’s done their own taxes recently thinks the tax system is uncomplicated, tax reform makes navigating a 1040 seem simple. All proposals that deal with tax reform simplification have to balance out changes to tax rates with removal of deductions. […]
3,000 Pulaski County residents to lose insurance coverage
Congress votes tomorrow on TrumpCare. According to the numbers projected by the Center for American Progress, the average Virginia enrollee will pay $4,000 more annually by 2026. A few points of reference: $4,000 is almost 10% of the median income for Pulaski County. 1,115 Pulaski County residents were enrolled in an ACA plan in 2016 and […]
Defunding the ARC punishes Pulaski
68.1% of Pulaski County voters voted for Trump, but, according to the editorial staff of the Roanoke Times, when we look at his recently shared budget proposal, 45 has “an odd way of returning the favor.” The Roanoke Times staff did a good job covering this betrayal and what it could mean for southwest Virginia […]
Budget impact: Community Development Block Grants
Earlier this month the Town of Pulaski held a public meeting where the NRV Regional Commission and a design firm presented a proposal for a Virginia Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The CDBG program is administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and funded by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)‘s CDBG program. The particular grant […]