IRVINGTON—Over the past several months, some Irvington residents have been demanding a change in the town charter to institute a public referendum for incurring corporate debt.
With numerous residents speaking in favor of a referendum during council meetings and a related petition circulating, council scheduled a forum on Thursday, May 9, to seek public input on specifics and parameters for such referendums.
Resident Bob Westbrook voiced his support of incorporating a referendum into the charter and used select texts from the Constitution of Virginia as well as examples from other localities ordinances and codes to back his stance.
Westbrook initially noted Article VII, Local Government Section 10 of the Constitution of Virginia, to reference the amount of spending that should and should not be allotted to incur debt.
Westbrook read, “No city or town shall issue any bonds or other interest-bearing obligations which, including existing indebtedness, shall at any time exceed 10% of the assessed valuation of the real estate in the city or town subject to taxation, as shown by the last preceding assessment for taxes.”
Westbrook also referenced the City of Buena Vista’s Charter that has a referendum. It states that any bonded indebtedness shall be by referendum and passed by a majority of the qualified voters voting in the referendum. The charter also states that any other indebtedness….
