University of Virginia Library

Voters Decide Merger Issue,
Seek To Avoid Annexation

By Jeffrey Ruggles
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Charlottesville and Albemarle County
voters decide today if the county and city
will merge and form a single government.

The consolidation, introduced a year
ago by the Charlottesville City Council
and the Albemarle Board of Supervisors,
would take place on January 1 1971.

The vote today is binding: that is, if
the majority is in favor of merging, the
merger will take place. If either the
county or city voters turn down the
proposal, the merger will not take place.

A major factor in the merger considerations
has been the threat of annexation
by the city. It has already announced
plans to make studies of possible areas, and has
made it clear that annexation proceedings will be
followed through if the vote is negative.

Consolidation Issue

The issue of consolidation has stimulated
much discussion among local officials. Four
members of the Albemarle Board have come
out for merger, and two have remained
opposed: four City Council members have
issued a statement supporting the merger, and
at least one has come out somewhat against it.

Edgar N. Garnett, Chairman of the Albemarle
Board of Supervisors, is for consolidation:
he spoke of the need to avoid any
annexation, fights, and mentioned the need for
services as the area grows.

Albemarle County growth "has created a
demand for expanded schools, police and
general services." Mr. Garnett said, "plus
additional urban type services such as water,
sewage, street lights, and other items..."

"We are advised that this type of growth will
continue whether we like it or not. Thus,
expanded services and needs are inevitable."

Tax Rise

R.A. Yancy, an Albemarle Board member
and Samuel Miller District Supervisor, opposed
the merger. He pointed to the fact that taxes
will go up with consolidation, because certain
state subsidies - such as for the Albemarle
Sheriff Department - will be eliminated when
the two governments are combined. Snow
removal on secondary roads is another area of
current subsidies which will be affected in this
way.

Donald Carroll, Scottsville District Supervisor
and Albemarle Board member, also came
out against merger. He said, "The county has a
better financial position, a better school system
and a better government, and can handle its
problems in a more orderly fashion under its
present form of government."

Four members of the Charlottesville City
Council, including Mayor Vogt, issued a joint
statement which said in part, "Every now and
again a generation of people is given the
opportunity to participate in a moment of great
historical significance. This is such a moment."

Premature

Mitchell Van Yahres, a member of Charlottesville
City Council, had his name originally
associated with the statement, but he later
denied any connection. He said the merger
proposal was not so "earth shaking," and
continued. "I think the idea of merger is a good
thing, but I think it is a little premature."

The Albemarle County Attorney, Mr.
Marshall, told The Cavalier Daily that he
doubted there would be any Albemarle officials
in favor of merger were it not for the threat of
annexation, and the costs and effort which
would come from a battle in the courts.

Mr. Marshall declined to make any prediction
about the results of the vote, but did
mention that some people were expecting a
60-40 split in the County against consolidation.
However, for most observers the vote could
come out any way.