It’s something that Christiansburg has started wrestling with … and not just because their high school wrestling team has won five straight state titles.  The issue comes up regularly in local government as the costs for infrastructure – including Fire/EMS, Police Services, transportation and the like – continue to rise.  Christiansburg has not addressed its’ rapid growth in the last several years through a rate hike, and now is facing the budgeting realities.

Council is arguing that residents don’t want higher rates … on the one hand, I can understand their position.  No one wants to pay more money for anything – or do we?  If the statistic they quote is true, response time for rescue and police has almost doubled in the last two years, from four minutes to eight.  That’s truly a life or death issue I’d be willing to pay for.  On the other hand, the cynic in me questions whether this is just political grandstanding to gain attention for an otherwise thankless elected position.  I know if it were me, I wouldn’t mind paying higher rates for improved emergency response, or a well-designed municipal infrastructure.  If you live in Christiansburg, how do you feel about it?