Cuts become dominant topic at Manassas budget hearing

Manassas, Va. - Mostly residents concerned with budget cuts spoke at Monday night's budget hearing in Manassas.

While the proposed fiscal 2011 budget offers a decrease of $0.021-- moving from$1.493 in 2009 to $1.472 in 2010 per $100 of assessed value -- according to most speakers, the savings would not justify service cuts.

The "Budget in Brief" distributed to attendees showed cuts of 6 percent to the general fund, .5 percent to Family Services, 4 percent to electric and 3.1 percent to city schools.

The most vehement speakers addressed the cuts to public schools.

President of the Manassas City Education Association, Janice Mernin, referenced the new homes being built in front of KC's restaurant on Center Street and how families moving into the area would affect student populations and need for services. She was also concerned about increased class sizes.

Mernin said the tax break would save her about $9 a year. She waved a $10 bill in front of the City Council and said she would donate it to offset the deficit.

Betsy Reid, treasurer of the Manassas City Education Association, said this was the second year teachers would go without a raise.

Reid also expressed concern about Baldwin Elementary, which she asserted is no longer part of the Capital Improvement Plan. "Baldwin is at least 50 years old," she said, and needs to be replaced.

"It pains me to see so many cutbacks" in programs, teachers and staff, said Debra Kuznor, a parent with children in the schools.

Meg Gruber, vice president of the Virginia Education Association, said "I'm sure I should be jumping up and down with joy," because she received a refund from her tax escrow. "But I'm not."

According to Gruber, instructional assistants who are already underpaid will be losing 5 days of pay. Yet, class sizes will increase.

The president of Georgetown South's Board of Trustees, Hanna Senft, asked council to restore weekly street cleaning in the community, citing the need to keep up property values and appearance. Necessary changes in signage would actually cost the city money, she said.

Senft also asked council to restore Parks and Recreation services and thanked the police for their efforts.

In favor of the budget was Chet Bowie, who said he was pleased that council "recognizes that a government should and cannot provide everything to everybody." He said he did have a concern over a "process issue," however, indicating that council did not provide a platform for public discussion on funding for the George Mason Hylton Performance Center, Securing Emergency Resources Through Volunteer Efforts Inc., Harris Pavilion and other organizations.

Bowie acknowledged the increases as well: a 2.5 percent increase to Fire and Rescue, 10 percent to sewer, 6.9 percent to water, .5 percent to airport, 5.5 percent to solid waste, 2.1 percent to internal service funds and .9 percent to all other funds.

James White, Manassas appointee to the Northern Virginia Community College Board, also approved of the proposal and thanked council for continuing to support NVCC, which he said needs more space because the student population is "multiplying quickly."

A work session is planned for April 21 at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall. Mayor Harry "Hal" Parrish said the session would not be the last meeting before the budget is finalized.