The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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| Practical courses in schools beneficial
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Well, it's about time.
Starting next year, students at Franklin County High School will be required to earn a credit in economics and personal finance. And that should include such basic skills as opening a checking account, learning about savings, loans and interest rates, and developing at least a minimal understanding of how the country's economic system works.
Believe it or not, a course including these skills and information has not been required; rather, it has been an elective course. The result has been that many students have graduated without a clue as to the realities of banking, borrowing, investing and handling their personal finances.
Incoming freshmen at FCHS in the 2011-12 school year, as well as all other high schools in Virginia, will have to earn a credit in a new economic and personal finance Standards of Learning (SOL) course in order to graduate. The state Board of Education is in the process of developing that course.
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| Move town election to November
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When local elections that have been held on a separate date are moved to the general election, they are not necessarily overshadowed by a larger field of offices and candidates.
In fact, far more people usually vote in a general election than in a separate municipal election, so more voters are involved in the process. That's a good thing.
Another good thing about including, in this case, Rocky Mount Town Council elections in the general election is that it will most likely save money. The May elections usually cost about $4,000, and that figure would certainly drop at least some with a November election.
But money is not really the issue. Voter participation is what's most important.
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| Local sales tax income upswing a good sign
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Both town and county officials are pleased that the sales tax receipts have seen a positive trend this summer. Sales taxes in both municipalities have seen increases during the last few months over last year.
Sales tax receipts are important because they basically serve as a measure of how much money residents are spending. During tough economic times, they understandably decline, and rise again as the economy improves.
With that revenue on the increase for three or four months in a row, it's certainly an indication that the local economy may be on an upswing.
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