Budget options presented

Budget options presented
STAFFORD — With a projected $8.8 million shortfall looming in the 2010 budget, the county administrator’s office presented three different scenarios to its board of supervisors at a meeting late last week.

County Administrator Anthony Romanello, at the meeting held Jan. 22, stressed that these scenarios were topics for discussion, and not ironclad solutions.

He started with Scenario “B,” the one he called the “most difficult.”

Under Scenario B, schools, the sheriff's office, and the fire and rescue budget would remain the same as in 2009 while other government agencies would be reduced 21.7 percent.

This scenario would result in the reduction of services including real estate auditing, biennial real estate assessment, legal services, library services and broadcasting of public meetings. The plan would result in the equivalent loss of 118 positions.

Another plan, Scenario A, would result in an 8.2 percent across the board reduction, including schools, the sheriff's office and fire and rescue.

Reductions in force for public safety would be the equivalent of 15 full-time employees.

Scenario C included a 2.9 percent tax increase, providing an additional $4.4 million in revenues. Across the board reductions would be half of that in Scenario A.

Aside from closing the gap on a budget deficit, a big concern for the county is being able to maintain its AA bond rating, according to county officials. Four times in the last five years, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the county has not met affordability guidelines.

An increase in 1 percent in the bond interest rate would result in an additional payment of $250,000 annually and a “net value of $3.6 million for the life of the bonds,” according to the administrator's presentation.

At one time, said Romanello, attrition resulted in a reduction in force, but that is a decreasing option.

“People are holding on to their jobs,” he said, “and not going anywhere.”

“There aren't many more rabbits I can pull out of the hat,” he said of the office’s efforts to cut spending.

Romanello said the county had already realized some savings in an aggressive energy saving campaign.

“You noticed that the lights were lower in here,” he said, speaking within he county administration building.

Stafford Supervisor Joe Brito, I-Hartwood, had reported last year the schools' energy saving program in which two middle schools could be powered by the system's cumulative savings.

Supervisor Harry Crisp, D-George Washington, referred to Scenario B as “draconian” and recommended that the administrator's office combine scenarios A and C with an approximately 10 percent reduction.

“You're talking about a tax increase,” said Supervisor Paul Milde, R-Aquia.

Crisp acknowledged that as a possibility, but stated that he wanted to see what the scenario would entail.

Romanello agreed to the suggestion. He is expected to present a proposed budget to the board of supervisors March 3.

In other news at the meeting, area swimmers showed up to voice their support for maintaining swimming programs in the county.

An item on the agenda called for a discussion of the raising of fees to use recreational facilities. Scenario B of the 2010 budget discussions called for “pool closings,” and a statement from Parks and Recreation's minutes that “if further budget cuts are necessary, 'support' facilities and programs that the Department of Parks and Recreation maintain should be cut first; such as school swim teams at Woodlands Pool.”

Swimmers, feeling their programs threatened, showed up in force to voice their support for the programs. Students and adults voiced their support for the program.

At present, a new pool is not included in the proposed Parks and Recreation bond issue.

Crisp stated his intention to revisit the issue of a new pool, stating “I do not support the closing of Woodlands Pool.”

The next meeting of the board will take place at 1 p.m. on Feb. 3 at the Stafford County Administration Center.

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