VA government (Richmond: sales, credit rating, how much) - Virginia - City-Data Forum

Home_Kid · 12-07-2009, 08:43 AM

just looking for some feedback/opinion on how you VA residents rate your state government folks. bad, good, incompetent, waste money, etc etc ?

here in AZ its a mess. 1.6B in the red and just borrowed 700M from BoA to pay schools. AZ govt is basically incompetent. AZ schools (k-12) are the worst in the nation. AZ economy for Nov just surpassed Detroit in terms of down-turn (AZ economy is still better than Detroit. Detroits down-turn has been going on for last 20yrs).

i ask this question because i have to move to VA in a few months.

VaYank5150 · 12-07-2009, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Home_Kid

just looking for some feedback/opinion on how you VA residents rate your state government folks. bad, good, incompetent, waste money, etc etc ?

here in AZ its a mess. 1.6B in the red and just borrowed 700M from BoA to pay schools. AZ govt is basically incompetent. AZ schools (k-12) are the worst in the nation. AZ economy for Nov just surpassed Detroit in terms of down-turn (AZ economy is still better than Detroit. Detroits down-turn has been going on for last 20yrs).

i ask this question because i have to move to VA in a few months.

Still way too much wasteful spending. NOT business friendly, and oh yeah, they just instituted a smoking ban in all restaurants so our restaurant's business is hurting at a time when they can least afford it.

richmondpics · 12-07-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VaYank5150

Still way too much wasteful spending. NOT business friendly, and oh yeah, they just instituted a smoking ban in all restaurants so our restaurant's business is hurting at a time when they can least afford it.

Not "business friendly" yet ranked the #1 state for Business by Forbes?
Gov. Kaine Announces Fourth “Best State for Business” Ranking for Virginia by Forbes.com | Greater Richmond Partnership

It's also not an outright ban on smoking in restuarants, but rather a restriction. Smoking is still permitted if restaurants follow certain protocols.

VaYank5150 · 12-07-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richmondpics

Not "business friendly" yet ranked the #1 state for Business by Forbes?
Gov. Kaine Announces Fourth “Best State for Business” Ranking for Virginia by Forbes.com | Greater Richmond Partnership

It's also not an outright ban on smoking in restuarants, but rather a restriction. Smoking is still permitted if restaurants follow certain protocols.

And while these new restrictions took effect at what SHOULD be a highly profitable season for restaurants, what state money was set aside for these businesses to help them abide by them? NONE. Hence, most restaurants have been forced to go completely non-smoking whether their clientele are smokers or not. Great move, King Kaine!

CAVA1990 · 12-07-2009, 03:34 PM

Our state is very well run. Doesn't seem to matter whether its Republicans or Democrats in charge. We've been fortunate in having a string of good governors from both parties (with one exception - I didn't care for Gilmore that much) who have maintained our strong credit ratings and kept taxes and spending steady.

EricD · 12-07-2009, 05:35 PM

In addition to being named the most business friendly state, Virginia is also named one of the best managed state in the country.

As far as the smoking ban, all a restaurant has to do is have a physical barrier between the smoking and non-smoking sections. A lot of places already had this, others have easily complied. Unfortunately, some smaller restaurants didn't have any kind of separation between smoking and non-smoking, so they either had to build a wall, or turn all non-smoking.

Anyways, personally I think Virginia has been fairly well run. Not really any of the horror stories you hear of other state governments. When VA had to cut the budget, they did a really good job at cutting things as far as they could, but then dipped into the 'rainy day' fund when absolutely needed. They still have money in the 'rainy day' fund, which I think is great since the economy seems to be getting a little better.

CAVA1990 · 12-07-2009, 09:08 PM

Property taxes have gone up a bit because of home prices but in the 20 years I've lived here other taxes haven't increased and in some cases have dropped (personal property tax and food sales tax). The income tax has stayed the same. We have great schools, police, fire protection, roads, and social services where I live so I can't complain.

VaYank5150 · 12-08-2009, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricD

In addition to being named the most business friendly state, Virginia is also named one of the best managed state in the country.

As far as the smoking ban, all a restaurant has to do is have a physical barrier between the smoking and non-smoking sections. A lot of places already had this, others have easily complied. Unfortunately, some smaller restaurants didn't have any kind of separation between smoking and non-smoking, so they either had to build a wall, or turn all non-smoking.

Anyways, personally I think Virginia has been fairly well run. Not really any of the horror stories you hear of other state governments. When VA had to cut the budget, they did a really good job at cutting things as far as they could, but then dipped into the 'rainy day' fund when absolutely needed. They still have money in the 'rainy day' fund, which I think is great since the economy seems to be getting a little better.

I assume you missed the part in these new regulations that require separate HVAC and exhaust systems for non-smoking and smoking sections? Not to mention the separate entrances? Do you have ANY idea how much new HVAC equipment INSTALLED, costs? My local Applebee's said it would cost them > $200K to comply with the new regulations. How's THAT for business friendly?

RVA-Jsn20 · 12-08-2009, 07:19 AM

Well maybe people should quit smoking. I understand that you run a restaurant but we have to look at the bigger picture....

Home_Kid · 12-08-2009, 08:42 PM

its all good info.

as for the smoking bills, restaurant owners needed to nag legislature folks with the info from their perspective. in AZ i helped to inform legislature folks the facts about carrying concealed firearm into establishments that serve alcohol. i watched the sessions live online. we law abiding citizens prevailed even though there was lots of voice from such establishments against the bill. establishments still have the right to ban firearms, but here in AZ we CCW'ers will typically will not frequent places that have banned firearms.

my moto is, if you dont like the law you rally your troops and get it changed.