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THE CURRENT debate on building a new court facility is not about whether we need one; there is no question about that. The issue is whether the City of Fredericksburg can afford this project in the current financial climate.

I agree there are security, maintenance, and staffing concerns related to the current court facilities that would be alleviated with the construction of a consolidated court building. However, while I acknowledge the needs of the court, I am obligated to evaluate them in relation to the needs of the city as a whole--and within the context of current economic conditions.

Proponents of a new court facility cite security as a rationale for proceeding. But courts are not the only places where security is an issue. Public safety in the city in general has been affected by shrinking revenues.

This year, the police budget was cut by 4.5 percent; the fire department received an increase of only .66 percent, which is below inflation; and the EMS budget increase of 13 percent was based on funding from the ambulance charge to insurance companies, which, like all other sources of revenue, is performing below expectations.

Next year, the city is anticipating a $4 million revenue shortfall. The preliminary recommendation from staff to cover it includes a further reduction in the city's operating budget of $1 million. Even with all the cuts recommended, a $1.5 million deficit would remain. Covering the deficit would require either further cuts in the budget or an increase in the tax rate of 4 cents.

Since our last work session on the budget, the financial picture has worsened. With major retailers in Central Park such as Linens-N-Things and Tweeter Audio going out of business and Circuit City filing for bankruptcy, tax revenues for the city can be expected to decline further.

In any scenario, next year, city services including police, fire, and EMS will not be immune to further cuts. The following year, city residents would face a 9-cent increase in the real estate tax rate just to cover the debt service on the new court facility. How much higher will we have to raise the tax rate to maintain an appropriate level of public safety in Fredericksburg?