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Council spends $10K at meeting
Council members say VML a worthwhile trip, even in tight budget year
Date published: 11/3/2008
BY EMILY BATTLE Fredericksburg City Council members have been talking for more than a year now about the pressures that the regional economic slowdown has put on city finances. For three days in Norfolk last month, they talked to their counterparts in cities all over the state and heard from Gov. Tim Kaine about the similar budget problems facing the state and local governments. The cost to send the seven council members, along with the city manager, assistant city manager and city attorney, to the three-day Virginia Municipal League conference at the Norfolk Waterside Convention Center Oct. 19-21 was $10,378. That included meals, accommodations and mileage for the 10 officials--many of whom carpooled--to stay two nights at the Marriott hotel at the convention center. It also included one night of accommodations for four police employees who came to accept a statewide award the city received for its AutoChalk parking enforcement system. All or part of the council attends the VML conference each year. Mayor Tom Tomzak said he realizes that the expense of attending is something the city shouldn't take lightly in a year when tax increases and service cuts are both on the table. He said he thought the expense this year was worth it, in part because the VML offers local officials an opportunity to talk face-to-face with state officials who have the power to put even more pressure on local budgets by cutting what the state pays for its share of public services. "The decision to go ahead with this is made in the context of the difficult times we are in," Tomzak said. "State officials and federal officials may listen sympathetically when officials from one locality tell them about how their cuts affect them. But when all the elected officials from all the municipalities across the state come together they're going to have to listen more intently." Tight budgets at home did not appear to hurt attendance at the conference. VML communications director David Parsons said the group typically sees about 475 local appointed and elected officials at the conference, and that number remained the same this year.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 11/3/2008
VML-VaCO
(posted by
RA59
, Nov. 3, 2008 11:32 pm)
Both are very worthwhile. The coming together as a group to work towards a common goal that would benefit the cities and counties is necessary and pays for itself many times over. One that complains should get involved in some of the committees to appreciate the work.
The County Administrators and Deputy Administrators should be there also to support the elected officials.
Don't Know
(posted by
southwest
, Nov. 3, 2008 5:22 pm)
I don't know what Stafford County taxpayers will spend for their Supervisors to attend the VACo conference but Spotsylvania County taxpayers will spend nothing. Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors decided that if a Supervisor or county staff member wanted to attend the VACo conference they have to "pay their own way." Supervisor Benjamin Pitts will be the only Supervisor from Spotsylvania County attending the statewide event.
VaCo Conference
(posted by
DeanFetterolf
, Nov. 3, 2008 4:34 pm)
Thanks for the clarification on VML. There is a similar conference for county governments known as VaCO (VA Association of Counties) to be held Nov. 9-11 at The Homestead. $275 registration, $225 per person per nite, $75 banquet ticket, plus meals and travel expenses.
Dean
(posted by
meanasasnake
, Nov. 3, 2008 3:11 pm)
Stafford and Spotsylvania don't belong to the VML, which is a league of primarily city governments. No comparison.
And Stafford Spent ??
(posted by
DeanFetterolf
, Nov. 3, 2008 1:09 pm)
How much did Stafford and Spotsy Spend? That would have made a more complete story.
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