Boards face budget woes

STAFFORD — A budget discussion continued Tuesday at a meeting of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors. There, Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent David Sawyer requested that approximately $1.8 million carried over from the 2008 budget be returned to the board to pay for 2008 encumbrances, asking that the board does not have to pay for them with 2009 money.

Encumbrances are those items that have been ordered but not delivered and are thus not paid for as of yet.

The school board has already been asked to slash $2 million from its 2009 budget.

Sawyer stated that cost-cutting measures were already in effect, those being a successful energy-saving program and a freeze on hiring. He stated they were projecting the 2010 budget on a zero student population increase, which would thus result in larger class sizes. No new school buses would be ordered.

He suggested that the board use part of the 10 percent reserve balance, a level that the county tries to maintain in order to keep its AA bond rating.

Sawyer stated that the county has not kept the balance inside the 10 percent range in four of the last nine years.

Anthony Romanello, county administrator, stated that decreasing the budget another $2 million at this time would result in “massive layoffs.”

A drop in the AA rating would substantially increase the interest on the debt service that the county is paying down.

Though he acknowledged the board's difficulty in finding money to cut, he reminded them that the county in general is facing the same dilemma.

“We're all under the gun,” said Stafford Supervisor Harry Crisp, D-George Washington.

“I do have a lot of faith in the school board to come up with the $2 million,” said Harry Crisp, D-George Washington, to School Board Chairman Patricia Healy, Rock Hill, and Vice Chairman Nanette Kidby, Garrisonville.

“If we lose the AA rating, we're in deep trouble,” he concluded.

On Tuesday, Sawyer also presented an FY2010 Budget Summary Plan in which he noted that there would be a $13.4 million shortfall in the school system’s budget in the next fiscal year.

The board of supervisors voted unanimously to return the $1.8 million to the school board unencumbered, but it still expects to see $2 million in cuts to the 2009 budget.

In other news, a draft of the long-awaited comprehensive plan was presented by several staff members. The plan needs are mandated to be studied every five years, though they do not have to be changed that often.

“It says we are where we want to be,” said Jeff Harvey, director of planning and zoning. It addresses land use and the delivery of all government services.

A consultant was hired in 2006 and public opinion was gathered on the matter.

Planning Commission Chairman Pete Fields indicated that the USA was shrunk, with areas on Courthouse Road and Mountain View to be phased in as late as 2019. The recommended area allows adequate room for growth, says the commission's recommendations.

He said another goal of the plan was to maintain agricultural areas.

Supervisor Cord Sterling, R-Rock Hill, pointed out that under the proposed USA some houses on Mountain View Road would be in agricultural areas. This presented a “human” issue, he said, indicating that some homes with failing septic systems could not look forward to hookup for a while.

The commission also took areas on both Mountain View and Courthouse roads that they would phase in with the 2019 expansion.

Work sessions will follow to fine tune the plan.

“I have a ton of problems with this plan but I'm excited to see it moving forward,” commented Supervisor Paul Milde, R-Aquia.

VRE executive director Dale Zehner presented an uncertain future for the commuter rail program.
Though ridership is up, the increases decreased between Sept.-Nov. 2008. Due to declining revenues from the state, VRE-s budget is dependent upon those fares. He stated several things were uncertain as to their budget's future. Insurance rates can vary depending upon the amount of litigation. Reaction to fare increases are uncertain. State funding may decrease.

Sterling brought up the issue of Spotsylvania riders. Riders from Spotsylvania County will board in Stafford County, leaving this county to pay for the subsidy for their ridership.

Lehner replied that funding for the VRE came primarily from the state, and no one could discriminate based on locality. However, Lehner said Spotsylvania was “looking at the possibility of joining” VRE.

“They've been looking to join for a decade,” said Dudenhefer.

Mention was made that Stafford's support of the VRE is affected due to Spotsylvania's refusal to join the program.

The board unanimously recommended a rate increase of FRED to 50 cents from the present 25 cents. In addition they are asking for a scenario of a further increase to 75 cents next year.

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