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At lavish meeting, VACo thumbed its nose at taxpayers

At lavish meeting, VACo thumbed its nose at taxpayers

Date published: 5/6/2003

I was shocked to learn recently that taxpayers foot the bill of the Virginia Association of Counties annual meeting at The Homestead ["Officials spent lavishly on VACo convention," April 28]. The bill covers not only the conventioneers, but also their spouses.

With budget cuts in education and other vital services, I regard conducting their meetings at such a lavish location a blatant disregard for taxpayers. In light of the current economy, I think they could have found another, little less lavish "vacation spot" to hold their "meetings."

As a former government employee, I had per diem rates which determined where I stayed when on business (which were not resorts). The per diem did not include rates for spouses, and it certainly did not cover luxurious amenities.

The statement by Jimmy Alderman, Carroll County's accounting officer, that, "It's the supervisors' only outing of the year," is insensitive. Most of us taxpayers would like to have such an "outing" once in five years.

These people need to get a grip. They work for the people of these counties, and as such, they should be looking at ways to reduce costs. That $300,000 could have been put to better use in education or other vital community services.

They are supposed to be working for the good of their counties, not taking advantage of their positions to "vacation" at the taxpayers' expense.

Judy Minzes

Lake of the Woods

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Date published: 5/6/2003