As we consider new court facilities in Fredericksburg, we cannot lose sight of the current financial situation. In a 2007 report, city staff stated that "a cost of more than about $30 million for new court facilities
Since then, the economy has taken a severe downturn, with declining revenue and tough choices to be made to maintain services.
It is clear that this trend will continue.
The City Council has also been told that we cannot continue to use fund balance for operational costs. More state funding cuts are expected during the current year and next year.
The state has reneged on the Cowan Boulevard debt, of which their share stands at $2 million. A rate increase in the Virginia Retirement System is expected to cost between $600,000 and $1 million. Health insurance costs are also expected to go up. These expenses will probably more than offset any gains from anticipated commercial development.
And we are still facing more commercial closures as well as a continued drop in value of commercial property, which will be reflected by a further decline in revenue with the next assessment.
The argument for building a new court facility is to provide for better security and to meet future space needs driven by rising caseloads. Projected caseloads are being driven by regional growth. The city is to bear the sole burden of construction costs and operation of a new court facility to meet
Another argument is that the cost of building the court facility will only go up over time. The city also has critical capital and funding needs that have been deferred, projects that have a greater impact on the community than a new court facility.
Adding six to 10 cents on the real-estate tax rate for court debt service under the current fiscal constraints will affect funding to other city services and capital projects.
Under the current economic conditions the city faces, our focus right now needs
Matt Kelly
Fredericksburg
The writer is a member