Public hearing for Spotsylvania County budget is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Courtland High School

Date published: 3/30/2008

By DAN TELVOCK

Spotsylvania residents get their say Tuesday night on a proposed budget that is devoid of employee raises and new jobs, but still carries a 6-cent tax increase.

County Administrator Randy Wheeler proposed a $444.4 million fiscal year 2009 budget that is 4.7 percent larger than the current budget.

He recommended keeping the real-estate tax rate at 62 cents. But because property assessments increased, supervisors would have to cut the rate to 56 cents to keep homeowners' bills flat.

Supervisors have not yet indicated what they will do on April 10, when they are scheduled to adopt a tax rate and the budget.

A Budget at 62 cents

A budget with a 62-cent tax rate keeps the local school funding level at about $118 million. County government employees would not get raises.

Supervisor Emmitt Marshall has been the biggest proponent of employee raises. It would take about $1.2 million to provide a 2 percent cost-of-living increase.

The school system is asking for an additional $7.6 million that is not funded in this proposed budget. To raise that money, the tax rate would have to increase about another 5 cents.

Supervisor Gary Skinner, a former School Board member, has been the biggest proponent of additional school funding.

He and Supervisor Hap Connors wanted supervisors to agree to advertise a tax rate of 65 cents as a cushion, but the effort was thwarted during a meeting last month.

Sheriff Howard Smith pressed supervisors to fund four new positions and 26 new vehicles, totaling at least $1.5 million, or a penny on the tax rate. Supervisors gave no indication if his request will be met.

The proposed budget includes funding to pay debt service on the courthouse master plan, which includes a new circuit court building and public safety center and road projects in a public-private partnership agreement.

There is also $49 million in the six-year capital improvement plan for 22 projects.

A Budget at 56 cents

If the majority of supervisors chooses to equalize the tax rate, there probably will be layoffs.

A 56-cent tax rate would require $11.7 million in additional cuts from the $444.4 million advertised budget.

Supervisors Gary Jackson and Jerry Logan are leading the charge to lower the tax rate, despite a backlash from the school system and public safety officials.

Budget staff presented options to supervisors over several work sessions that showed 18 positions would have to be cut, 11 of which are currently vacant. Six are in public safety.

Other cuts could include 8 percent from all regional nonprofit agency funding which saves $545,000; $3.5 million from the school system; and delayed funding for some capital projects.

Connors said during a recent work session that he has more than a "dollar-store vision" for the county.

But Jackson said supervisors must face the reality of difficult fiscal times as state sales-tax revenues and funding continue to fall. In his blueprint to manage the budget, he writes that supervisors need to balance community needs against the ability to pay.

"Keep in mind, this too shall pass," he wrote.

Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com

The hearing begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Courtland High School. Residents will have three minutes to speak. Supervisors are scheduled to adopt the tax rate during a meeting that starts at 3 p.m., April 10 at the Holbert Building on Courthouse Road.

Read more stories about Spotsylvania
Date published: 3/30/2008

Most recent reader comments: