Supervisors receive update on transportation options
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

In a special work session on Monday night, County Administrator Lane Ramsey updated the Board of Supervisors on the options for the county's transportation initiative that will be part of the FY08 budget scheduled to be adopted on Apr. 11. If approved, the proposal will raise $300-$500 million for roads over the next 10 years.

County leaders also discussed pending road funding advanced by the General Assembly, but believe Chesterfield will have to fend for its own citizens since the state's proposal is targeted more toward northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.

The supervisors are expected to earmark one penny of the county's property tax rate this year to pay for road projects. That amount would then be increased by a penny each year over the next five years. That could raise $140-$160 million in funding to finance road improvements.

Ramsey is awaiting responses from the Chesterfield County Chamber of Commerce and the Chesterfield Business Council about his recommendation of using tax revenues over the current Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax cap of $15.6 million annually to generate $70-$80 million over the next decade for road improvements.

A transportation district has been proposed for Magnolia Green (see story on page 2). Under the plan, homeowners would pay a property tax rate 25 cents higher than the rest of the county.

"The downside of a transportation district is it will take many years to generate significant revenue until people move out there," advised Ramsey.

Community Development Authorities (CDAs) like at the Watkins Centre could be established at Cloverleaf Mall and Magnolia Green and even the proposed Roseland and Branner Station developments. Like transportation districts, property owners would pay higher property taxes to pay for roads, but that option would affect the county's future borrowing power.

Though the board chose not to raise proffers from the maximum of $15,600 last year, county staff will bring up this possibility again this spring. "May is our normal timetable, and we'll put another calculation on the table for board consideration," explained Ramsey. The supervisors rejected last year's proposal to increase proffers to $22,600 per home.

Chesterfield is not expected to hold another referendum until 2012 when roads would probably be presented along with schools and other services, but "I would anticipate that the board might want to have a vote on roads before then," Ramsey said.

In 2004, the county overwhelmingly approved selling bonds to pay for $40 million in road improvements.