Loudoun County residents will have their first chance to comment on the county administrator’s proposed fiscal 2013 budget Feb. 22 at one of four planned budget public hearings.
Two hearings are slated for Feb. 22 in the Board of Supervisor’s chambers at the government center, one at 3:30 p.m. and a second at 6:30 p.m.
Two more hearings are scheduled this week – Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom and Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Office in Ashburn. The Feb. 23 meeting is on an “as needed” basis, meaning it’ll be an extension of the Feb. 22 hearing if there are more citizens signed up to speak.
County Administrator Tim Hemstreet proposed his budget to the Board of Supervisors Feb. 7. Included in his comprehensive packet are proposals that won’t increase taxes on the “average homeowner,” as well as a budget that could reduce the average tax bill by up to 5 percent.
In the zero percent budget – that which requires no tax increase – there’s no reduction in full-time positions.
County programs listed for potential elimination at the 5 percent reduction budget are: the county drug court and the county post dispositional program; construction and waste management’s energy program; family and consumer science program; community transitions program; and urban horticulture program.
Eliminating a 2 percent wage increase for county employees is also included in the f5 percent reduction budget. Scrapping the raises would save the county $4.6 million.
Listed as enhancements to county services that wouldn’t require a tax increase are an addition of an energy specialist; upgrades for broadcast support; more funds for child protective services; approximately $500,000 in additional funds for community development and the Kinkora Fire-Rescue Station staffing; and nearly $1.7 million for the Gum Spring Library branch.
More than half of county government departments have less staff now than in 2008, the study states.
Hemstreet said his budget “responsibly address the fiscal challenges Loudoun County faces,” including maintaining a vibrant community that meets the needs of a growing population, both residential and commercial.”
The tax rate for Hemstreet’s proposal is $1.27 per $100, which wouldn’t call for an increase to the average homeowner’s tax bill. However, the county administrator will advertise a tax rate of $1.29 in order to provide the Board of Supervisors with additional flexibility and options during budget discussions.
Last year’s tax rate was adopted at $1.285.
Eighty-five cents of every dollar of local tax funding goes toward schools, debt service and public safety, Hemstreet noted.
Hemstreet’s proposal and the adopted budget for fiscal 2013 can be found online at http://www.loudoun.gov/budget.
County programs affected by a 5 percent tax reduction include:
County Drug Court (four positions; $284,400 savings)
Countywide Energy Program (two positions; $284,700 savings)
Health and Welfare (9.5 positions; $876,100 savings)
Portions of Parks, Recreation and Community Services (seven positions; $252,400 savings)
Public Safety and Judicial Administration (five positions; $593,000 savings)
Source: Loudoun County Government
