Residents speak out on fiscal issues

STAFFORD — About 70 people attended a public hearing concerning the FY 2010 budget and other issues Tuesday evening at Colonial Forge High School.

About half of them had something to say publicly.

Representatives from local agencies including the Food Bank, Salvation Army, Board of Mental Health Association of America, Rappahannock Legal Services, Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault and Rappahannock Agency on Aging, made their cases to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors for funding.

Stafford resident Liz Healy decried the board's decision to decrease the airport tax.

The board recently voted to drop the tax rate from $3 per $100 of assessed value to 10 cents.

She said the airport has “failed to make a profit in the past” and did not see a bright future for it.

“Taxes are for schools,” she said. “The airport should pay its way in taxes and no county money should go to that enterprise.”

Former Stafford supervisor David Beiler weighed in with his opposition regarding the proposed airport tax.

He questioned the legality of the board's action to decrease the tax without a public hearing. Regarding Manassas' substantially lower rate, he said, “I'm not sure the people of Stafford want Manassas to be their model.”

Airport Authority member Henry Scharpenberg defended the airport's reduced tax.

He stated that the tax was 120 percent higher than Manassas and was the biggest impediment in drawing corporate business. That corporate business would result in presently vacant space being used, more jobs and more income for the county, he said.

He said $45 million had been invested in the airport and that another $40 million had been invested in the Centreport Parkway interchange. The airport would not be able to be “wished away,” and given the money invested into it already, Stafford would not be able to “walk away without anteing up,” he added.

Stafford Supervisor Joe Brito, I-Hartwood, said he was “disappointed” in the 97 percent decrease in the advertised airport tax rate. He moved for a compromise in the proposed tax rate, but his motion was voted down 5-2, with only Supervisor Bob Woodson, D-Garrisonville, voting with him.

In other news, the VDOT residency administrator's transportation office reported that design plans are under way for the widening of Warrenton Road and will be complete by June 2011 with a public hearing targeted for May of next year.However, it was reported that Courthouse Road plans will be not ready until December of this year.

Supervisor Paul Milde, R-Aquia, expressed his disappointment that VDOT would not have a “footprint” for the Courthouse Road interchange until then.

Discussion also ensued regarding the widening of Onville Road and improvements to that intersection. Ultimately, the board agreed that $950,000 be dedicated to the intersection and any changes to the road that would accommodate it.

In addition, supervisors’ Chairman George Schwartz, D-Falmouth, recommended a one-third of one cent tax to pay for a 24/7 ambulance to the county. After a great deal of discussion, the motion was voted down 4-3, with Dudenhefer, Milde, Brito and Supervisor Cord Sterling, R-Rock Hill, casting the dissenting votes.

Jim Lawrence is a contributing writer for the Stafford County Sun. Reach him at info@staffordcountysun.com.