Guest Commentary: Plant that tree, Mr. Stewart!

Commentary

I am amazed at the lack of courage, commitment and understanding our elected leaders have shown for education. The teachers in our county are told they cannot have a raise for three years and they are teaching to the largest class sizes in the region. Our infrastructure continues to lag behind and we still have trailers for our student classrooms across the county. This is embarrassing since we are the 9th wealthiest county in the United States. 

The Board of County Supervisors and Chairman Corey Stewart are blaming Governor McDonnell for education cuts. Marty Nohe, Coles supervisor, says that the School Board ought to ask for a higher tax rate. The chairman of the School Board, Milton Johns, has said the BOCS must lead on the rate increase. Hiding behind one another is comical. Stewart blames McDonnell (his own party) for making our situation worse. Johns blames the lack of taxing authority for the dilemma.  He has decided to lobby for taxing authority. That is about as practical as drilling for oil on the moon. The supervisors abdicate their responsibility and continue to demonstrate a lack of leadership by dumping it on the School Board. Strange that Mr. Stewart wants to run for lieutenant governor when he cannot summon the courage to do what is right for our community. 

Now I would argue that our school system is world class and they have done more with less. Let me be crystal clear, they have done fantastic with less. They continue to improve and win national awards. Although, the teachers are among the lowest paid in Northern Virginia, and we have the largest class sizes, Prince William County schools still outperform systems our size.

I believe that the tax rate needs to increase so that we can replace the monies lost by the governor’s cuts. Based on the current revenue sharing agreement, increasing the base tax rate 13 cents generates enough revenue to pay for teacher salary increases and money to lower class sizes. It will also provide raises for police and firefighters, who have not seen a raise in many years. This increase amounts to less than a dollar per day on the average tax bill in the county. It still keeps our tax burden the lowest in the region and it allows us to invest in our future. 

Chairman Stewart stated in his State of the County Address:
As President Kennedy said, “The time to repair a leaking roof is when the sun is shining.” The sun is shining, and the time to invest in the future is now.

He went on to say:
Marshal Lyautey, a famous French marshal went out to his gardener and asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener asked “Why plant it, it won’t flower for 100 years?” “In that case,” Lyautey replied, “Plant it this afternoon.” That is what we have to do.

Bold words indeed. So, Mr. Stewart, it is time to fix that leaky roof! It is time to plant that tree! The residents of this county are looking to YOU to lead.

People of all parties have told us that they do not mind paying taxes as long as they deem the service valuable and they get a good product. Our school system is delivering that product under the tightest of constraints. Our public safety officials are first-class. We are getting a great deal because of the commitment of those professionals. The taxpayer understands and appreciates this. 

“Plant that tree this afternoon Mr. Stewart.” Let’s see that tree flower in less than 100 years and you, my friend, should take all the credit. 

Babur Lateef ran for chairman of the BOCS in 2011.