Teachers, representatives of nonprofit agencies and public safety supporters joined forces last night at Spotsylvania County's budget public hearing to urge supervisors to pass a spending plan without any additional cuts.

More than 350 people packed Courtland High School's auditorium. Teachers, fire and rescue personnel and deputies comprised most of the crowd. Together, they asked supervisors to pass the proposed budget with the 62-cent rate. About 60 people spoke.

There is a 6-cent tax rate increase with the proposed $444.4 million budget, a 4.7 percent increase over the current spending plan.

Schools

The School Board requested $7.6 million more than recommended in the county budget. If supervisors approve an equalized tax rate of 56 cents to keep homeowners' tax bills flat, the gap increases to $11.1 million. The school system also anticipates state funding to decrease $1 million more. Cuts to equalize the tax rate could affect teacher raises and delay the opening of new schools.

Clad in red like the numerous other education supporters, Parkside Elementary fourth-grade teacher Susan Street said it is more difficult to raise a family on her current salary in this economy. "I am among my many colleagues who work more than their regular teaching jobs. Working a second job is not our choice."

Public Safety

Sheryl Bennett, of the Spotsylvania Coalition for 24/7 fire and rescue services said, "Your own mission statement says safety is a No. 1 priority. I hope that you can adhere to that in this budget."

Her remarks drew loud applause from the more than 100 fire and rescue personnel and deputies in attendance.

Timothy Bryant, a sergeant with the Sheriff's Office, urged supervisors not to cut the vehicle take-home benefit some deputies have. He said a basic function of the government is to keep people safe and he asked them to fully fund the budget as proposed. "We shouldn't be sending one deputy to a domestic call, but we do, all the time," he said.

Taxes

Almost a dozen people supported a lower tax rate, some saying their property assessments were too high. To get to the 56-cent equalized tax rate, supervisors would need to cut another $11.7 million from the budget and there would likely be employee layoffs. Nonprofit regional agencies face at least an 8 percent cut at a 56-cent tax rate scenario.

Megan Cotter, spokeswoman for Micah Ecumenical Ministries, a group of Fredericksburg churches helping the homeless, said cutting their $5,000 request would hurt the homeless. "We need the funds that we've requested in order to open up at the 32-degree temperature mark. That, alone, is already very cold."

Nancy McNamara urged supervisors to consider residents on fixed incomes like she is. "Budgets can be cut," she said.

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