To the Editor: We don't need – or want – data center money

Others have written, and spoken well and sufficiently, about the extreme environmental and aesthetic devastation caused by data centers. But not being considered sufficiently are the dangers inherent in the revenue proffers these data center proponents are dangling before of our citizens and county officials.

A view of the rooftop of a Haymarket, Virginia data center. Hugh Kenny | Piedmont Environmental Council

First, we don’t want their money. We didn’t ask for it, and we shouldn’t take it. It’s pernicious. This sort of free money feeds an accelerating spiral of more, and more elaborate county services, the cost of which is not being fully paid for by residents in their taxes. Discounted taxes encourage people to flee highly taxed areas, fostering the sort of congested suburban development that already is wrecking our countryside. If we want to stop, or at least manage runaway development, we can’t artificially lower our tax rates with free money from data center proffers.

Second, we don’t need their money. It’s not a Hobson’s choice between taking data center money or raising taxes. Instead, let’s focus the county on managing its finances the old-fashioned way, by living within our means. Our quality of life is pretty good right now. We can, and should, freeze the county budget and tax rates at the current level. If we need money for extraordinary expenses, it should come from a reduction somewhere else in the budget. We should stop scratching and digging for additional revenue to balance our budget, especially when that revenue would come from outside commercial interests.

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