Water/sewer authority a good move

The recent proposal by some astute local politicians to create a regional water and sewer authority is a great idea to solve the lingering infrastructure problem.

If the Culpepers are able to provide a final, stable answer to prospective businesses regarding the water/sewer situation, it will lead to real economic growth.

By taking out the guessing, more large employers like Terremark will feel comfortable locating to our great town and county. That type of economic growth is the type we need — not houses or stores, but places for homeowners and store patrons to work.

The creation of a regional water and sewer authority may not be the absolute best answer, but it is an answer. Answers are what prospective Culpeper industrial residents need. They want to know they are operating in stable business environment with sound infrastructure.

However, there are caveats in the memorandum of understanding in which the idea of the regional water and sewer authority is introduced. The “expanding town geographical area” aspect of the memorandum may create a possible tax situation which — residentially and commercially — is unfavorable.

This is because town residents are taxed by both the county and town governments, and businesses do not enjoy paying taxes. Also, under Virginia law if the geographic expansion of the town occurred, then the town would not be eligible to file for city status for 25 years

Given the current rate of growth in the last 25 years, city status may be garnered for the town before that time.

The regional authority should provide a water/sewer solution form the Culpepers for a longer amount of time than did the purchase agreement in June 2003. This stability in the longer term should attract employers, and an increase in residents’ income is the only vehicle to healthy, “organic” economic growth.

But wouldn’t it all be easier if we didn’t have to put the “s” on the end of Culpeper?

Business columnist Worth Richardson can be reached at