The Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors approved more budget cuts last night to make up for projected revenue losses.
Budget staff told supervisors that fiscal year 2009 revenue projections were already down by $9.1 million, and they projected another $2.1 million drop.
The biggest drops are in recordation taxes, which are collected when a home sells or is refinanced, sales tax, and personal property tax.
They did not recommend that supervisors make adjustments to the projected revenue budget until they get more data in the next 30 days. However, they warned that revenues are not likely to improve, and will probably drop even more.
Supervisors decided to:
Order department heads to cut FY 2009 budgets by 2 percent, in addition to the 1 percent they have already cut. They also asked department heads to prepare an additional 7 percent in cuts.
Ask the school system to cut 2 percent from its fiscal year 2009 budget, a $2.4 million cut on top of the $1.2 million the school system did not spend in the last fiscal budget that supervisors kept. Historically, that money, called carryover funds, is returned to the schools.
Institute an immediate hiring freeze for all departments, including public safety positions. County Administrator Randy Wheeler can make exceptions on an individual basis. This is the first time supervisors approved a hiring freeze for public safety positions.
At their Sept. 9 meeting, supervisors laid off nine employees and ordered all departments to cut budgets by 1 percent.
Supervisor Gary Skinner, the only one to vote against the recommendations, said the public surveys that the county government pays for each year regularly show education and public safety are residents' top priorities. Skinner said his Lee Hill District constituents tell him they don't mind paying additional taxes if the money goes to services such as education and public safety.
Sheriff Howard Smith said the school system now must pay deputy salaries at school events, including sporting events, so he could make up a 1 percent reduction in his budget. Skinner said parents already complained that kids might get hurt at these events.
"I have some very big concerns about your recommendations," Skinner said. "I am sure the schools are willing to share in the reduction, but as a taxpayer, you are going to tell me you are going to raise my taxes and zero is going to educate the children? I have heartburn over that."
Supervisor Emmitt Marshall said all departments need to share in the budget cuts.
"We are close to being in a depression in this country; not a recession, a depression," he said. "The taxpayers of Spotsylvania County, I don't think they can pay any more taxes than what they are paying now. I think we are obligated to try and hold the line on raising taxes in the county."
Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com
Supervisor Emmitt Marshall last night asked county staff to conduct a full review of animal control and shelter policies to prevent a dog wearing identification tags from being euthanized without its owners first being notified. Animal Control supervisors are investigating how a dog named Buddy was euthanized without its owners being contacted. A resident found the dog injured in a ditch and called Animal Control on Sept. 8. The dog was euthanized because of a back injury, according to an animal-control incident report. The dog's owners, Gary and Carla Blevins, said they were never notified, even though the dog had identification attached to its collar. |