Everyone in K.G. seeking money

Like other localities, King George officials face money shortfalls on all fronts

Date published: 10/8/2009

By CATHY DYSON

Money was the main topic of discussion among King George County's supervisors Tuesday night--as in, more is needed, but nobody's got it.

That's the message the board gave Sheriff Moose Dobson when he asked for more deputies. The supervisors funded two new positions 3 years ago and promised two more the next year. Then revenues fell off, and the positions never came.

Dobson realized he had a slim chance of getting them at this time. "I probably couldn't have picked a worse time to make a request," he told the board, "but I would be derelict if I didn't tell you about my needs."

The Sheriff's Office handles about 100 calls a day, and three detectives are investigating 116 cases, he said. Dobson pulled a deputy off patrol to help with the investigations, but the move means there are fewer officers on the street and less revenue generated from tickets.

"That's the pickle I find myself in," Dobson said.

Board members asked the sheriff to keep them informed, but also to continue searching for ways to trim his budget.

State legislators had the same message. "If you're looking for extra money, my best advice is to check under seat cushions and couches," Del. Albert Pollard told the supervisors Tuesday.

He and Sen. Richard Stuart, along with Eldon James from the Virginia Association of Counties, thanked King George officials for their financial prudence with finances--and warned that more would be needed.

"It's going to be tough," Stuart said. "There's no point in saying anything else. Revenues are down, and they're not going to be turned around that fast."

Last month, the state cut $1.35 billion from localities' budgets. Funds for sheriff's departments were reduced by 4.7 percent. In King George, those cuts totaled more than half a million dollars. That's coupled with less from local revenues, which are down 21 percent, said Supervisor James Howard.

He asked the legislators to stop passing mandates that localities have to meet without providing the money to finance them. "We know we're not getting any more money," he said. "By the same token, we can't accept any more mandates."

The supervisors already have started talking about next year's budget. They met Monday to start developing a plan to deal with expected shortfalls.

Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
Email: cdyson@freelancestar.com

King George supervisors are satisfied with the report that only one volunteer firefighter has resigned in recent months. Chairman Joe Grzeika said on Tuesday that he and Supervisor Cedell Brooks met with Chief David Moody. They discussed the status of the volunteer organization since 2008, when the board passed an ordinance putting Moody in charge of paid emergency-service workers and volunteers. In past meetings, former volunteers have told the board that more than 20 firefighters resigned because of friction with Moody. They also mentioned the case of Pete Sullivan, a volunteer who was dismissed after 46 years of service on charges that he stole equipment. Grzeika acknowledged "anecdotal data" suggested other volunteers had left the King George department, but said it didn't matter. "It's where we are and where we're going that's important," he said. Brooks will be a liaison between the board and the fire and rescue department. "That closes out the whole issue," Grzeika said.

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Date published: 10/8/2009

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