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King George County bids two projects during a slumping economy and saves about $7 million Date published: 3/22/2009
BY CATHY DYSON Governments don't have much financial news to cheer about these days, but the King George County Board of Supervisors found about 7 million reasons to be happy this week. That's how much money the county will save by building two new government offices during a lousy economy. On Tuesday, the board learned that the apparent low bid for the new sheriff's office was $7.33 million, considerably less than the estimate of $13 million. It was the second time in a month bids came in well under projections. The low bid for the animal pound was $1.5 million, compared with an estimate of $2.75 million. Together, the projects will cost less than $9 million, compared with estimates of nearly $16 million. "That's astonishing," said board Chairman Joe Grzeika. "We hit it right at the sweet spot. We rolled the dice on it, and it really came out in our favor." Supervisor Dale Sisson Jr. added, "I would never have guessed it would have been that low." Last fall, the board borrowed $28 million in Virginia Resources Authority bonds to pay for the projects, part of the county's new government complex. The 62-acre complex is at State Routes 3 and 205, next to the new Rappahannock Area YMCA. It will take King George 24 years to pay off the loans. The payments will amount to about 3 cents on the real-estate tax rate, said County Administrator Travis Quesenberry. As board members look at next year's budget in the weeks to come, they will decide whether to raise taxes or absorb the extra amount in the operating budget, Quesenberry. Then the board will talk about how it might spend the money saved on the first two building projects. The money can't be applied to the general budget, but must be used for capital improvement projects. The county has quite a list of needs, including: A health and human services building A new operations center for service and maintenance of the county fleet Expansion of Smoot Library An expanded school bus garage. "We can't even get a modern bus in there," said Quesenberry, who added that the garage hasn't changed since 1969, when he was a 16-year-old high school student who made $4 a day by driving a bus.
Date published: 3/22/2009
I agree we should expand. The 7 million saved should be utilized. Our county is in need of a face lift. There's not much here to attract businesses. Each day there is a great deal of money leaving the county, because we do not have shopping centers, hospital, restaurants, etc. I know all will not agree, but give it some thought. Also, thank you to a police force that is helpful and always visible.
If you build four, six, or eight new big expanded buildings, think of the millions you could save. And that new football stadium--how much could you save if you built two or three?
But does King George really need all these building expansions? The recession is supposed to give us relief at last, when governments cut out needless waste until it's over.
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