Pogo was proved right again when three members of the Finance Committee voted against their own budget proposal at the last Town Council meeting ensuring that all Middleburg activity could grind to an ungraceful halt.

How could the Finance Committee present a budget and vote against it at the same meeting? Well, let's not exaggerate. Only three members of four voted against it. One stood behind the proposal and was resoundingly voted down.

Does it matter? It matters a lot.

We must invest intelligently in our business community. It is rare that a commercial sector contributes over 50% to tax revenues. But in Middleburg, taxes from the business sector contribute enough revenue to provide more than 60% of the entire town budget.

Seems pretty logical that we should keep this going, because that also keeps all of our taxes low and pays the bill to run the government and to provide services.

There are obvious things Middleburg businesses need: better street lighting, better parking solutions and better entry, exit and traffic routing signage.

We need an economic development administrator to make certain our businesses receive the support they need. Sadly, the money for that position was in the proposed budget that was just voted down.

We also need to be very concerned about supporting our volunteers. Without volunteers there would be no Christmas in Middleburg, no Pink Box, no Middleburg Beautification, no Bluemont Concert Series, no Mainstreet Middleburg Program and too many other events, fund raisers and services to mention here.

Families come to Middleburg for these special events, and they shop and shop and shop.

These volunteers are angry about being taken for granted and frustrated by the cavalier attitude the town takes about their willingness to stand and deliver year after year. Remember, the Goose that laid the golden egg was more productive under positive conditions.

We need the Town Council to approve Middleburg's budget and recruit a terrific individual to work with and support our businesses and volunteers.

We need to prove Pogo wrong. Not right.