Board approves legislative priorities

Unfunded mandates are a huge concern to Prince William supervisors, as fiscal responsibility for certain programs has shifted from the state to county government to the tune of $100 million a year, and to the schools, $250 million a year, according to figures presented to the board on Tuesday.

"Education is [bleaker] than we could have imagined," said Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, R-Dumfries, regarding funding realities for foreseeable future. "It's even worse than last year."

The most recent budget cuts put forth by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will require the county to come up with another $2.4 million -- or else decrease operations for a dozen different agencies and departments. Specifically, state funding for police will dry by $728,571; for the Adult Detention Center, by $562,248; for community services, by $334,255; and the Circuit Court, by $225,942, according to figures presented in a packet to the Board of Supervisors by Dana Fenton, legislative affairs director.

Also cut: state funding to the county's finance department, by $123,000; to social services, by $112,885; to the sheriff's department, by $103,261; to the library, by $31,116; voter registration, by $11,086; and aging, by $8,734.

The budget numbers were part of the county's 2010 legislative wish-list that includes an extra $1 million reimbursement from the state for unexpected ADC construction costs, civil immunity for local notaries public, and increased civil penalties for Uniform Statewide Building Code violators.

Supervisors also added a couple of sentences to their goals for economic development, emphasizing the importance of unimpeded access between the county and Dulles airport, as well as the necessity to continue road projects planned for the U.S. 1 and Va. 123 corridor.

"Dulles International Airport is becoming the economic driver in Northern Virginia," said Chairman Corey Stewart, R-At-large, "and the county should continue its push for unimpeded travel access in order to boost economic development locally."

Prior to passage of the legislative priorities, supervisors did a little cost-cutting of their own. One item on the consent agenda to transfer $195,432 from one county budget to Public Works to improve and renovate bathrooms in the McCoart Building met with board resistance.

"Why are we spending $200,000 on toilets and sinks?" asked vice chairman Wally Covington, R-Brentsville.

The bathrooms are original to 1985, when the building was constructed, said Tom Bruun, director of Public Works, and are in need of repair.

"Given the economy … it just bothers me we're doing this at this stage," Covington said. "We should be tightening down. I'm not convinced they're that bad."

The board decided against the transfer and to consider the renovation request instead as part of normal budget talks.

On Nov. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m., supervisors are set to meet and discuss legislative priorities with the Prince William delegation in the Development Services Building behind McCoart. The meeting is open to the public.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.