Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Over the past few weeks, I have observed comments about what candidates’ platforms represent, thereby providing comments like I support schools, police and emergency services, which are empty comments without knowing how they will support each of them. Let me explain.

Gloucester County, like most rural counties, struggles with not having a broad-based revenue source to support necessary services like schools, police and emergency services, given that most of the county’s revenue is derived from real estate tax. Yes, there are other tax sources; however, when all combined, they represent limited revenue to support many required and desired services by the community while being further diluted by collection rates.

So, what’s my point? Well, when you remove personalities, politics, opinions and pet projects, all counties need representatives that can balance the needs of the community against limited revenue sources, not a representative who tells you what you want to hear while supporting your pet project. Mr. Winebarger has shown he can balance the needs of the community without raising taxes to support pet projects from those speaking the loudest at budget hearings.

We can all have what we want if we all are willing to pay for it in the form of higher real estate taxes, and with my experience in this area, higher real estate taxes are not favored by most taxpayers. Yes, we could reduce expenditures like eliminating or reducing services taxpayers request and, when you do that, these folks will loudly speak out to support their pet project. I am not pointing fingers; I am talking about facts where most of us must limit our spending based on our income, which is a requirement of local governments.

It is easy to say ‘What’s an extra $50 a year’ until you are faced with talking to single parents, the elderly, the unemployed or under-employed, each of which struggle financially every month. Support balance in government by reelecting Mike Winebarger for Petsworth District Supervisor.

Kevin Wilson
Gloucester, Va.