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BUDGET FORECAST IS BLEAK
Stafford supervisors get first look at next year's budget and the news isn't good
Date published: 11/21/2008
By JONAS BEALS Stafford County may have to come up with almost $9 million to meet the budget shortfall project for the fiscal year that begins July 1 That information came from budget division director Nancy Collins who yesterday presented supervisors with a preliminary look at next year's budget. As expected, the county is facing lean times, and supervisors will have to make some difficult decisions in the coming months.
Staff has projected that the county will need to come up with an additional $19.4 million to meet the minimum needs of the budget. But that figure then was pared down to $8.8 million--the bare minimum.
"That basically keeps the lights on," County Administrator Anthony Romanello said.
The smaller figure does away with customary items like salary step increases that can become optional in tough financial times.
A dramatic slowdown in development activity, falling personal property values and declining state revenues were blamed for the financial problems. To make up the shortfall, supervisors will have to contemplate budget cuts, tax increases or some combination of the two. The debate is only now getting started.
Supervisors asked Romanello to pursue three scenarios that were presented to the board.
Scenario one maintains the current real estate tax rate of 84 cents and calls for an across-the-board budget cut of 8.2 percent.
Scenario two also maintains the current real estate tax rate of 84 cents, but exempts public safety and schools from having to cut their budgets. In that case, all other governmental agencies would face cuts of 21.7 percent.
Scenario three is a combination of a tax increase and budget cuts. The real estate tax rate would rise to 86.9 cents, accompanied by a budget cut of 4.1 percent across all county agencies, including schools and public safety.
"It's premature to talk about raising taxes," Supervisor Paul Milde said. In his opinion, it would be nearly impossible to protect schools and public safety from budget cuts.
Supervisor Bob Woodson agreed. "Before we look at taxes," he said, "we need to look at spending."
Decisions are months away, but the board hopes to get a jump on the situation by looking at the situation from multiple angles. "I would like to give Anthony [Romanello] a free hand to be flexible with this," Supervisor George Schwartz said.
Earlier this year, the board approved $5.6 million of cuts to the fiscal year 2009 budget. Savings came in the form of spending cuts and a staff reduction of six positions in the Planning and Code Compliance offices. Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 11/21/2008
Stop the Abuse Can Help
(posted by
llmorioles
, Nov. 24, 2008 9:12 am)
Stop using county vehicles for personal use by employees can help save taxpayers dollars. Just think of all the gas that was used in 2007 and 2008, when gas prices were at their highest, by county employees taking their county vehicles home and using them for all sorts of things.
Priorities First
(posted by
DeanFetterolf
, Nov. 21, 2008 10:58 am)
Put priorties first, protect education and public safety. Crime goes up as the economy goes down = more protection not less!! Wasteful spending = Lease revenue bonds of $97M for $83M in CIP projects. A $36M public safety building 1/3 occupied. $8.8M for unwanted firehouses, A $35M courthouse to replace 1 courtroom, Patawomeck fields costing 2X as much as Spotsy's, $1.8M for plastic grass, 400% VRE subsidy increase, numerous assist county attorneys & fire chiefs, transportation dept (for what?).
Making Cuts
(posted by
bluemoonluck
, Nov. 21, 2008 10:48 am)
I invite you to join me in urging the Stafford Board of Supervisors and School Board to look for cuts that would not affect any currently employed personnel. We can get along with the same text books for a few more years, we can make do with fewer office supplies, and we can limit the number of field trips our students go on. The LAST thing we need is is to reduce the numbers of teachers and counselors in the schools. Why increase unemployment when other cuts can be made??
Hmmm
(posted by
Fredtastic
, Nov. 21, 2008 7:46 am)
Well, if lack of development is the main reason for the budget shortfall, I'm sure that the $92,000 proffer requirement for all new houses will really ramp up development!
should have listen to the elected
(posted by
USA2007
, Nov. 21, 2008 7:22 am)
officials who warned of this- instead of Buying Land that was never gonna be developed, taking over state roads, building schools that are not needed, courthouse that could have waited. All of this economic news should not be a surprise to anyone. Stay out of our pockets, all some of us have left is our homes PLEASE dont tax us out of them. Jobs have been lost, many of u s are working 2 or 3 jobs just to keep our homes. While the county and SB spends our money without batting an eye.
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