Stafford County officials are grappling with a leaner budget next year, one that considers a tax rate to keep the average homeowner's tax bill flat, but would result in significant cuts across most county agencies.
The Board of Supervisors proposed a modified, equalized rate of 84 cents per $100 of assessed value and a total budget of $570.7 million.
As a result, most county agencies could cut their spending by an additional 6.3 percent. The proposed budget would trim the county's work force, forcing layoffs in four part-time positions. It would also leave 34 full-time positions and eight part-time positions vacant, and there would be no pay increases for county employees.
"This is a budget that, we think, has significant impacts on the county and we've done everything we can to mitigate those," said County Administrator Anthony Romanello.
But during yesterday's board meeting, supervisors disagreed on whether to give up pay raises they received Jan. 1. Their annual salaries were increased from $20,500 to $25,000 and the chairman's pay rose from $21,000 to $25,900.
Supervisors ultimately voted, 4-3, to keep their current salaries, but to suspend an additional 2.5 percent salary increase that was set for 2009.
Supervisors Cord Sterling, Mark Dudenhefer and Paul Milde cast the dissenting votes.
Officials from various county agencies shared the impact the proposed budget would have on their respect departments.
The Parks and Recreation Department could slash $90,000 from its field-improvement program. The reduction leaves $150,000 for field upgrades "but that will be spread very thinly across all of the county parks," Romanello said.
The Commonwealth Attorney's Office could reduce its budget by $44,000, which would put off hiring a part-time employee needed to regulate victim and witness contacts with defendants.
The courts system currently has no physical space separating victims from defendants on trial.
"There have been a number of horror stories that have resulted in a failure to provide that space," said Commonwealth Attorney Daniel Chichester. "I don't want us balancing the budget on the backs of victims."
Voter Registrar Sharon Persinger may have to cut the maintenance budget for voting machines that date back to the 1990s.
"They've never really had any real maintenance," she said.
With more than 70,000 registered voters in Stafford, Persinger fears a meltdown if the voting machines malfunction during the presidential election in November.
Supervisors also received a warning that the proposed budget could hurt the county's bond rating. The national bond-rating agencies reissued Stafford's AA stable-outlook bond rating recently, meaning the county can borrow money at a low interest rate to finance projects.
But Stafford's fiscal policy requires keeping 10 percent of annual general-fund revenues in an undesignated fund balance. If the equalized tax rate is adopted, the county will fall below 10 percent and risk its bond rating.
"That will raise the cost of your debt and further crunch your operating budget going forward," said Karin DeMoors, a financial consultant for Stafford.
Stafford's fiscal state depends also on whether the School Board keeps its promise of returning $1.5 million to the county.
"The check is not in the mail or in the bank yet, but they have committed to doing that," Romanello said.
In general, board members expressed the idea of reducing the government's size during an economic slump.
"My philosophy is when the economy is down, government needs to shrink," said George Washington Supervisor Harry Crisp. "It seemed that we've gotten accustomed to growing. I think we need to get used to the fact that we cannot continue to grow our county government the way we did in the past."
Kafia Hosh: 540/735-1977
Email: khosh@freelancestar.com
Stafford County residents gave their input on the proposed tax rate, funding for schools, public safety and other outside agencies last night. The Board of Supervisors held a public hearing at Colonial Forge High School about its proposal to adopt a modified, equalized rate of 84 cents per $100 of assessed value and a total budget of $570.7 million. The board will adopt a budget and tax rate at its meeting on April 22. Here's a look at what the public had to say: TAX RATE Many property owners, whose real estate reassessments increased this year, argued for a lower tax rate. Supervisors are proposing the 84-cent tax rate with the assumption that it will keep the average homeowner's tax bill unchanged. Farmers argued for a lower tax rate since higher fuel and fertilizer costs have already set them back financially. "There should be even more budget cuts mandated to lower the tax rate," said farmer Bettina McWhirt. But others expressed relief the suggested tax rate is lower than the 89.8 cent rate recommended by county staff. Dana Brown said her tax bill has increased each year since she moved to Stafford in 2000, though she'd like to see a rate lower than 84 cents. SCHOOLS Dozens of Stafford County Public school teachers, faculty members and even students urged the board to give the school system more funding. The School Board requested $15.4 million more in 2009 funding, but are slated to receive only a $500,000 increase in the county's proposed budget. "Usually the gap is reasonable to span, people come together, we work things out," said Dale Lewis, a school employee. "I'm terribly concerned that the gap this year is far too wide." The proposed budget will see cuts in the school system's supplies and materials budget among other reductions. PUBLIC SAFETY The proposed budget calls for no new positions in the public safety departments, which concerned some residents. The Sheriff's Office and the Fire and Rescue Department are both dealing with staffing shortages. Deputies without adequate backup and an overwhelmed 911 call center are just some of the staffing challenges facing the Sheriff's Office. "They are responsible for deterring the criminal element that continues to move south as we grow," said one concerned speaker.
OUTSIDE AGENCIES Several non-profit organizations and outside agencies asked supervisors to fund their budget requests, touting the positive impacts their groups have had on Stafford residents. Tina Skinner, executive director of the Rappahannock Emergency Medical Services Council, said the group provides coordination activities such as consolidated testing for EMS certification, which bring new volunteers to the county. Residents will feel comfortable in knowing that "a licensed EMS agency will respond to their emergency," Skinner said. A Stafford man, who benefited from the cold-weather shelter operated by the Micah Ecumenical Ministries, urged board to continue supporting the group. The man said the shelter came to his aid when he was temporarily homeless and found himself living on the streets. "The first night I thought I was going to freeze to death," he said. "I had never been so cold in my life. I was able to get something to eat and a warm place to sleep." --Kafia Hosh |