Would Roanoke City residents and those in surrounding localities be willing to pay a 2% higher meal tax for the next two years, if the funds generated from meals in the city are targeted for Roanoke’s school system? The answer is a resounding “Yes,” according to several hundred people who gathered last Saturday for a rally at the foot of the Martin Luther King Jr. bridge.
Members of City Council, Roanoke City Schools Superintendent Rita Bishop, educators, parents and students were on hand to show their support for more funding of schools. Governor Bob McDonnell and the General Assembly received their share of jabs for $250 million of cuts that wound up in the final state budget.
Patrick Henry art teacher Bettina Gregory asked the crowd to be vocal, “loud and clear so the Governor can hear you in Richmond.” Gregory said McDonnell needs to “keep the promise…schools must be fully funded to meet the needs of our urban students.”
Roanoke Central Council PTA President Peggy Owens was busy handing out buttons, placards and having petitions signed before the rally. “This whole end of the state is getting short changed by Richmond,” she said. “The meals tax increase will help but won’t fix the problem entirely,” added Owen. Many parents “don’t truly understand” the problem–including more crowded classrooms if teachers are laid off. Owens was pleased to see supporters from surrounding localities at the rally.
Eleventh District Delegate Onzlee Ware said he and other area legislators “painstakingly” tried to fight the budget that was approved. State funding that won’t be coming to Roanoke City may mean additional school closures, the end of certain programs and layoffs of more than 100 personnel. Ware said that in his native Greensboro he “was one of those at-risk kids,” and decried the cutting of local programs that help keep young people on the right track.
Ware also said that many people would support a tax increase such as the meals tax hike proposed by City Council member Court Rosen, if that money was dedicated to school funding in Roanoke. “I believe that 70 percent of the people or better would say yes.” “Rosen,” said Ware, “understood what we didn’t do in the General Assembly.” Ware expects the problem to rear its head again in two years without a possible tax increase.
As those at the rally held up signs and cheered, speakers took turns lambasting cuts approved in Richmond. “This is not acceptable,” said School Board member Courtney Penn. On the other hand, he commended “a City Council that has stepped up and said education is important.” Standing beneath the Martin Luther King Jr. statue, Penn called education “America’s greatest civil right.”
Teaching assistant Leona Miller was on hand with a sign supporting the meals tax increase. “I’m here to support the children. I don’t think the kids should suffer.” Miller wonders, “What happened to the money” that was saved from Roanoke school closings (Ruffner and Raleigh Court) last year. “Where did the money go?” Miller was also distressed that a breakfast service might be discontinued, especially for those children who do not have breakfast at home, saying “They will not function without eating.”
Rosen, who expects City Council to debate and vote on his meals tax hike proposal soon, noted that both Roanoke City Schools and the city itself were 20 million dollars in the hole as a result of less state money and declining tax revenues.
The dedicated meals tax revenue would help continue “the progress made over the past two years,” in city schools. Rosen projected that the 2% meals tax increase could raise four million dollars for the school system. “It’s not time to let our schools get knocked back a decade,” he added. All but one of Roanoke’s 25 public schools are now fully accredited.
“There is a consensus of support on City Council for an increase in the meals tax,” said Rupert Cutler, who will not seek re-election in May. He added, “maybe even in the lodging tax. We’ll do everything we have to do to keep the Roanoke City School system intact and looking ahead.” Cutler said City Council would work to keep any layoffs “to a minimum.”
Even one student took a turn at the mike: Lucy Addison 8th grader Esther Umotoni asked, “How can we explore our options without the proper education?” Umotoni also said that elementary school Spanish, CITY school and the Governor’s School “allow us to excel… and reach for the stars.” All three programs could be shut down due to budget cuts.
By Gene Marrano [email protected]
