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New city court facility would be ill-timed
Date published: 11/23/2009
As we consider new court facilities in Fredericksburg, we cannot lose sight of the current financial situation. In a 2007 report, city staff stated that "a cost of more than about $30 million for new court facilities Since then, the economy has taken a severe downturn, with declining revenue and tough choices to be made to maintain services. It is clear that this trend will continue. The City Council has also been told that we cannot continue to use fund balance for operational costs. More state funding cuts are expected during the current year and next year. The state has reneged on the Cowan Boulevard debt, of which their share stands at $2 million. A rate increase in the Virginia Retirement System is expected to cost between $600,000 and $1 million. Health insurance costs are also expected to go up. These expenses will probably more than offset any gains from anticipated commercial development. And we are still facing more commercial closures as well as a continued drop in value of commercial property, which will be reflected by a further decline in revenue with the next assessment. The argument for building a new court facility is to provide for better security and to meet future space needs driven by rising caseloads. Projected caseloads are being driven by regional growth. The city is to bear the sole burden of construction costs and operation of a new court facility to meet Another argument is that the cost of building the court facility will only go up over time. The city also has critical capital and funding needs that have been deferred, projects that have a greater impact on the community than a new court facility. Adding six to 10 cents on the real-estate tax rate for court debt service under the current fiscal constraints will affect funding to other city services and capital projects. Under the current economic conditions the city faces, our focus right now needs Matt Kelly Fredericksburg The writer is a member
Date published: 11/23/2009
Be careful what you ask for....
(posted by
libbylu
, Nov. 24, 2009 1:07 pm)
The City recently requested that the State find the Court facilities here in the City to be inadequate in order to charge an additional fee with certain case filings.....it seems that there is no going back from there. The City facilities are grossly inadequate...especially the Circuit Court. Security is a joke in all of the courthouses and it is a wonder that something bad hasn't happened. The Courts are a core public service and the need has been great for some time. The time to act is now.
Courthouse has been needed for YEARS
(posted by
tpifos
, Nov. 24, 2009 9:44 am)
but always gets put aside for more politically profitable
projects. The city is obligated to meet the courts needs but
isnt doing it. They just keep spending more money on
studies & architect fees. Kelly & his cronies scrapped the
less expensive site near Roper Brothers. Why? Kelly says
the courthouse doesn't impact downtown economy. Delays
will not reduce the costs or the need.
Not Getting It .....
(posted by
Einstein
, Nov. 23, 2009 11:30 pm)
The opposition to Mr Kelly's position is baffling. He argues that the cost now, in this economy, for an isolated project like a new court building (lived here 14 years, been in the Court once for jury duty) is unwise and will substantially impact the City's ability to deliver other, more vital core services. And people argue against that? Further, if it is the truly primary impetus to build a new court, is there another way to improve court security that doesn't cost 30+ million dollars?
Kelly is either unwilling or incapable of "getting it"
(posted by
tpifos
, Nov. 23, 2009 8:39 pm)
He preaches about local govt providing services and then
balks when it's a service he doesn't want to pay for.
Security is the biggest problem with the courts in the city --
all of them, not just the Circuit. Instead of the typical "Tax
& Spend" they should be looking for real businesses to
generate more $ like Spotsy.
On Court Ordered Construction
(posted by
MattKelly
, Nov. 23, 2009 6:35 pm)
Covered this issue back in January--
http://questeverything.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html
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