Editor, Gazette-Journal:

As a Gloucester County educator, volunteer and resident of the Petsworth Magisterial District, I have taken a keen interest in the development and the decision making process regarding the FY-2017 county budget.

At various forums, I have listened to countless citizens of many demographics, including business owners and retirees, speak in favor of a tax increase to improve schools and community services. I have also spoken with several members of the school and county governing bodies regarding the budget.

The increased transparency from our school division and increased communication between the school board and supervisors has been a very positive step in the right direction. While I was slightly disappointed with the compromise of a potential two cents tax raise, I applauded our boards’ willingness to work together for the betterment of our entire community.

To me, the path followed to get to that point was one that renewed my faith in county politics for the first time in my adult life. After years of contentious 4-3 votes seemingly against the will of the people in favor of such controversies as the landfill, I found myself disillusioned with local politics. Petitions, lawsuits and midnight decision-making did little to boost my enthusiasm. This year was different. I was proud of my colleagues, my school leadership, my fellow citizens, and my elected officials. I was proud of my government. 

However, last Tuesday’s bombshell decision and 4-3 vote to adopt a one-and-a-half cent tax increase, in my opinion, negated much of the hard work that went into the process this year. Furthermore, the clincher for me came when the comment was made stating that no one from the Petsworth District wanted a tax increase. While that statement was amended in the local media to say that most constituents from the Petsworth District didn’t want a tax increase, the initial shock of hearing myself referred to as “No One” made me want to give up.

The problem with giving up, however, is that Gloucester citizens will forever be saddled with the “back-room politics” that don’t reflect the desires of the clear majority that took time from their homes, families and other responsibilities to share their viewpoints. If we continue to shrug our shoulders and walk away as I did for so many years, the words of those willing to speak up will continue to fall on self-serving ears. Our citizenry will essentially be “No One,” as it has been for so many years.

With this, my first letter to the editor in a long string of firsts, I hope that we won’t give up. I hope citizens will continue to take part as they did this year and cast votes for openness and compromise in upcoming elections. Only then will all of our elected officials realize the importance of truly listening without bias to what all of their constituents are saying. It is time to make a difference. Our “Land of the Life Worth Living” depends on us.

Jennifer Worrell

Gloucester, Va.