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Caroline cuts programs

May 28, 2009 12:35 am

The Caroline County Board of Supervisors passed a budget that won't raise taxes but cuts funding for some county programs.

The $84.5 million budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 passed unanimously Tuesday night after some last-minute changes.

The Social Services department was recently informed by the state that it was $30,000 short for this year's fiscal budget. Not having that could cause the department to lose $150,000 in state funding.

Other changes included $6,500 for the Sheriff's Office to purchase measuring devices to enforce the current noise ordinance. $35,000 to the nine volunteer fire and rescue companies and $10,000 to fund the Summer Jobs Program, which was originally eliminated.

With those additions, other areas had their funding reduced. They include Public Works and funding for the Thurman Brisben Homeless Shelter, Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence and Disability Resource Center.

Supervisors cut $5,000 from Southeast Rural Community Assistance, which had previously given the county $100,000 for the Dawn Wastewater Project.

A majority of the funds, $57,000, came from the state-mandated Comprehensive Services Act, which assists at-risk children and families. The budget had called for a 5 percent increase from this year because the board believed investing in children now would keep them out of trouble later.

Supervisor Floyd Thomas voiced strong opposition to cutting any funding for youth programs.

"You can't cut a program in half or at 40 percent that's actually doing something now," Thomas said. "Either we make a full effort or don't do anything at all."

As a result, Caroline's Promise and Big Brother/Big Sister were two of the youth programs that had their funding restored to $25,000 and $15,000 respectively.

But the Summer Youth Program, which keeps young people busy while school is out, received a lot of discussion.

County Administrator Percy Ashcraft had initially eliminated the program because of a $36,000 deficit. But the board decided Tuesday to reinstate it but raise the cost from $100 per student to $250 in an effort to make the program self-sufficient.

The Rev. Melvin Covington of Calvary Baptist Church in Bowling Green told supervisors that area churches would be willing to establish a fund for families that couldn't afford the extra costs.

The school system will get $11.3 million from the $33.9 million general fund. That's $400,000 less than Superintendent Greg Killough asked for, which he said could mean teacher layoffs.

This year's real-estate tax rate of 53 cents per $100 of assessed value will remain the same.

Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
Email: psmith@fredericksburg.com