https://www.hcspotlight.org/ 2026-04-16T14:30:19+00:00 https://www.hcspotlight.org/ https://www.hcspotlight.org/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=wiki:logo.png text/html 2026-03-17T15:42:47+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.hcspotlight.org/doku.php?id=opinions_corner:floyd_m:03-03-2026_taxation_without_representation_part3&rev=1773762167&do=diff ---------- In another marathon session—nearly six hours long—the County presented its proposed budget. As usual, the largest increases were in salaries and benefits. The presentation referenced a 115-page document and was scheduled during normal work hours, beginning at 9:00 a.m.—convenient for County staff and ensuring that most taxpayers could not attend. This is no accident. These extended sessions act as a kind of indoctrination process: department heads outline “challenges,” highlight … text/html 2026-03-17T15:58:56+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.hcspotlight.org/doku.php?id=opinions_corner:floyd_m:03-17-2026_a_budget_built_on_habit_not_need&rev=1773763136&do=diff ---------- In consideration of the scheduled 2027 budget proposal, being presented at the Highland County School Board meeting on the 12th of March, I attended the meeting out of morbid curiosity. I had some hope that the budget request would be realistic, but I expected something outlandish. I wasn't disappointed. First, I delivered my speech during the public comment period in a severely abbreviated form (only 3 minutes are allowed), before the proposed budget was presented. text/html 2026-03-17T15:44:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.hcspotlight.org/doku.php?id=opinions_corner:floyd_m:05-19-2025_the_recall_justice_dismissed_-_accountability_dies&rev=1773762246&do=diff ---------- To many, the recent recommendation to dismiss Highland County’s recall petition came as a shock—especially after more than a year of persistent effort by local citizens. Let’s step back and look at how we got here. The first petition began using the correct document for signatures, with 80 signatures obtained. However, according to legal advice, text/html 2026-03-17T15:43:49+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.hcspotlight.org/doku.php?id=opinions_corner:floyd_m:11-17-2025_the_high-cost_christmas_you_didnt_approve&rev=1773762229&do=diff ---------- At the November 5th meeting of the Board of Supervisors, employees on the County side of local government were given 1½ additional days off for Christmas and New Year’s, in addition to the 3½ days already provided for the holidays. This was requested by the County Administrator because “the Committee of the District Court has awarded extra days” (an extra ½ day for Christmas and 1 full day for New Year’s). As she put it, this creates “consistency between offices” by closing all Cou… text/html 2026-03-17T15:44:19+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.hcspotlight.org/doku.php?id=opinions_corner:floyd_m:11-24-2024_the_case_for_a_recall&rev=1773762259&do=diff ---------- As a concerned tax-paying citizen of Highland County, I would like to express my opinion regarding the case for a recall of two current members of the County Board of Supervisors (the Board). Before moving to Highland, my wife and I researched numerous counties in the state of Virginia to find that special place to put down roots. Our chosen location needed to be rural, with reasonable tax rates and conservative government. We visited many counties and looked at several propert… text/html 2026-03-17T15:43:30+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.hcspotlight.org/doku.php?id=opinions_corner:floyd_m:12-08-2025_taxation_without_representation_part1&rev=1773762210&do=diff ---------- During the November 19th Board of Supervisors meeting, slips of paper were passed to the Board to examine — but notably not shared with the public. These slips detailed a set of proposals for “Christmas Pay.” More accurately, they should be called what they are: across-the-board bonuses. text/html 2026-03-17T15:43:15+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.hcspotlight.org/doku.php?id=opinions_corner:floyd_m:12-15-2025_taxation_without_representation_part2&rev=1773762195&do=diff ---------- At the Board meeting of December 11th, the Board voted unanimously to give $15,391 to County employees in the form of across-the-board Christmas bonuses. Honestly, I wasn’t surprised. This motion, and the call for a vote by Harry Sponaugle, were predictable, since it was Mr. Sponaugle who had previously asked the County Administrator to determine what “Christmas Pay would look like this year.” text/html 2024-12-12T05:52:33+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://www.hcspotlight.org/doku.php?id=opinions_corner:floyd_m:floyd_m&rev=1733982753&do=diff