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Cuts in state funds run localities off the road
State road funding declines to "Why Bother?" status, says Spotsylvania supervisor
Date published: 10/27/2009
By DAN TELVOCK State funding for new road projects is quickly evaporating. The dilemma leaves elected leaders in Spotsylvania County and throughout this region with few options to address their local transportation needs in the coming years.
Will they raise real estate taxes to pay for road improvements? Will they shift money from public safety and education? Will they borrow more money? Or will they ignore the problems and continue blaming the General Assembly for not addressing Those are some of the choices elected leaders in Spotsylvania, and others across the state, have in these economic times. "It is almost down to a 'why bother?' status," Supervisor Hap Connors said during an interview yesterday. Spotsylvania supervisors are expected tonight to update the county's six-year secondary road plan to reflect the loss of millions of dollars in expected state funds.
The county will get from VDOT $1.9 million for this fiscal year, then just $415,858 annually for the remaining five years--barely enough to make simple intersection improvements. The proposed update of the six-year plan totals $3.9 million, less than a third of the $13.5 million in the current plan. Stafford County is in a similar situation. Caroline County will see only about $90,000 and King George about $80,000 each year for secondary roads. Stafford Supervisor Paul Milde said Stafford may use funds from the newly adopted business, professional and occupational license fee to fund some transportation projects. Milde opposed BPOL. "It's laughable," he said of the state's funding. "Obviously, the state is not going to be giving us any help for the next couple of years, but I don't think this is a permanent situation."
Caroline County Board "There is very little we will be able to do with that money," Acors said. "It does not leave leave us with many choices."
Read more stories about Spotsylvania Date published: 10/27/2009
Barnes County Adm
(posted by
trailmix
, Oct. 28, 2009 1:25 pm)
Sorry to hear about Doug Barnes appointed as Co Adm. He is a very bad manager. Mainly because he looks out for his friends and if you oppose him watch out!! I guess this means that Ernie Pennington is the Deputy Co Adm. The two of them together is bad news.
here is the MONEY Question
(posted by
larryg
, Oct. 28, 2009 10:57 am)
HOW much money does Spotsylvania NEED ... PER YEAR
- for it's road needs?
We talk about the "rest" of the bond money and leveraging
VRE money but what we don't do - that we should do IMHO
-
is to make clear how much more money we need PER
YEAR to be able to work down the list of projects listed on
the Referenda.
We need to know that number - then we need to
understand how much of it can be done by VRE money -
and how much of it will need other sources of funding.
That would be a rational approach.
you guys know - that Spotsylvania and Stafford had the opportunity
(posted by
larryg
, Oct. 28, 2009 10:39 am)
to levy Road Impact Fees and had a consultant study that
looked at the counties 20 year road needs and then showed
how to do impact fees that would pay for those roads
and both of them turned it down without explanation and
without a peep from you guys who now want more road
funding...
what I'm saying here is that many of us don't know the facts
and don't even pay enough attention to know when our
BOS pass on methods of funding .... and tell you to support
VRE or for Richmond to raise the gas taxes.
re: VRE $ leveraged - is limited
(posted by
larryg
, Oct. 28, 2009 10:33 am)
Yes.. you get the 30 mil.. but that's it until you pay if off.
The bigger question is - where will you get the rest that is
over and above the 30 mil?
If Spotsy needs 90 mil - it's going to take VRE plus 4 cents
on the property tax.
Any of us who would advocate for VRE - ON THE BASIS -
that it will "help" us with Transpo funding - needs to
acknowledge that VRE alone won't take care of the
problem and along with the VRE advocacy - how else
would you pay the rest? Lets talk Transpo more than just
VRE!
Dean - know the facts FIRST before supporting or condemning
(posted by
larryg
, Oct. 28, 2009 10:30 am)
If VDOT is out of money - WHERE do you think MORE
money will come from?
If you do not know right now how much money you get right
now for maintenance and construction - then how much
more would you be willing to pay in increased taxes?
I'm not arguing for or against more taxes here. I'm asking
how any of us could take a position if we don't know the
facts.
why would you vote for or against someone if you and
he(she) don't know the facts?
that's all I'm saying.. nothing less...nothing more
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