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Board gives moral support for regional transportation approach
But now is not the time
"It's not the time to raise money for roads through taxes," Midlothian Supervisor Dan Gecker told fellow board members last week. "We should be planning for the future before it becomes a crisis." "We need to prepare for the storm before it rains," agreed Dale Supervisor Jim Holland. "It's not a tax issue but [a question of] how to fund road building." Matoaca Supervisor Marleen Durfee questioned what role a transportation authority would play in solving the thorny problem. "The devil is in the details," she noted. On Nov. 13, the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission met and declined to request a regional approach from the General Assembly this January. The commission represents eight local governments, including Chesterfield. The day before, the county board took no position on whether Chesterfield should endorse a regional transportation approach. Earlier, the Henrico board voted not to support a regional approach at this time. Board Chairman Art Warren pointed out that transportation woes are worse in northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads areas, and yet those voters turned down proposals for higher taxes to pay for improvements. "Those areas haven't worked out a solution yet," he said. In 2004, voters in Chesterfield easily approved $40 million in bonds to improve specific roads, but it will take a lot more money for a long-term solution. There has been some scuttlebutt that Chesterfield's legislative delegation might be open to "a shared responsibility" for funding. Legislative agenda Once again this year, the board's adopted priorities for next year's legislative agenda favors a defensive posture: have the General Assembly "do no harm." It includes preserving revenue authority, and retaining control of proffers, road impact fees, land use and zoning. The board also held a public hearing on a proposed charter change for an independent Circuit Court clerk, which it approved for consideration by next year's General Assembly. That legislative initiative is new and would allow the Circuit Court clerk to be independent financially from the state, keeping the revenue it takes in fees instead of sending it to the state. The position - currently held by Judy Worthington - will still be an elected office. Tighter money On advice from the Budget and Audit Committee (B&A), the board did not divide its excess funds from the FY08 general fund budget, initially intended to be split between the county ($11.87 million) and Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) ($5.34 million). "It is premature for us to make the allocation," Gecker advised the board, adding that he is concerned about future revenue and expenses. "We should reserve and wait," agreed Holland. For the time being, the county is retaining the full $17.2 million for the budget year ending June 30. Spending for FY08 was $9.3 million less than budgeted while income was $7.9 million higher. However, when compared to the previous three-year surplus average, the total is $1.4 million less. During the earlier B&A meeting, Gecker said FY10 (starting next July) would be even tougher. "We won't get through this unless we agree on how to trim government," he cautioned. "We have to manage it, not ignore it." Superintendent Marcus Newsome pledged cooperation with B&A working through county staff, but both Gecker and Holland said they would be contacting him directly. "[The previously announced cutbacks] have caused a level of anxiety [at CCPS]," acknowledged Newsome. He predicts spending $35-$36 million less in FY10 than for the current year. That will create higher student-teacher ratios in classrooms and reduce spending levels to those of four years earlier. "We'll be set back for years," Newsome said. FY08 audit Chesterfield received an "outstanding" rating for its audit of FY08 from KPMG, the outside accounting firm for the county government and CCPS. Only one "material weakness" was discovered when paperwork did not match the eligibility for Title I funding. All eligible students participated in the program. Planning fees At a Jan. 14 public hearing, the board will likely lower some planning fees for conditional use permits that it hiked last July. Those fees in residential neighborhoods jumped from $2,200 plus $95 per acre to $5,300 and $90 per acre, and affect home-based businesses and community associations. "We want to make it easier to start up a small business," said Planning Director Kirk Turner. He estimated a reduction in the fee would cost the county about $15,000 a year. |
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