Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
County game plan: Supervisors set issues agenda for next four years
Goals were named by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors at a day-long strategic planning meeting July 23.
Although open to the public, the audience was largely composed of county staffers, who took the board's goals and initiatives and will come back to the board in September with recommendations on how to implement them.
Transportation
Goal: To build and operate a safe, reliable, high-performing and multi-model transportation network while promoting fuel saving practices like ride sharing, telecommuting and flex time (staggered workday hours).
Initiatives broken down into two categories
1. Advocacy and partnership
Continue lobbying state and federal agencies for funding
Engage owners of Greenway to change toll structure
Talk with county Sheriff’s Office about auto-accident management
Talk with county School Board about increasing walk-to-school zones
2. Modes of transportation
Continue and expedite current transportation improvement project
Make improvements to Waxpool and Church roads corridor
Make improvements to Route 606
Promote fuel-saving practices
Serving communities
Goal: Identify and address needs of existing communities
Initiatives
1. Complete suburban community process
Amending zoning ordinances to address overcrowding, tall grass and parking on lawns
2. Improving communication between government and its communities
Use technologies like Web site and hotlines to communicate with residents
3. Help establish a Sterling community citizens panel
4. Partner with Sheriff’s Office to work on public safety (speeding, health safety and welfare)
Energy
Goal: Promote energy efficiency in government, residents and businesses while saving local tax dollars and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Initiatives
1. Green the county fleet
Replace old vehicles with fuel efficient ones
Convert to bio-diesel
2. Promote more public school students walking to schools
3. Reduce government vehicle miles traveled
4. Join federal and state efforts to use energy wisely and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Promote greener building standards for county and school facilities
Economic development
Goal: Promote a positive, proactive and welcoming business environment that would grow the commercial tax base and help relieve the tax burden on residents
Initiatives
1. Increase the commercial tax base at a greater velocity
2. Work with universities and colleges to bring higher education to county
3. Promote affordable housing for lower income workforce
4. Decide what kind of building is wanted in Route 28 corridor
5. Look into changes in the sign ordinance, which regulates the sizes of commercial signs
Budget
Goal: For the Board of Supervisors to lead the budget process and to conduct fundamental expenditure and revenue reviews in order to relieve the residents of the tax burden, put the county in a better fiscal position and balance the service needs of the community.
Initiatives
1. Look at cost saving
2. Diversify revenue sources
3. Look at expenditures
4. Identify social service needs
5. Analyze how school money is appropriated and spent
6. Look at capital facility planning and land acquisition
7. Look at employing an inspector general
8. Look after vulnerable people in the community
9. Provide greater transparency in the budgeting process
10. Increase tax relief for the elderly
Finance
Goal: Board of Supervisors to lead the creation of a budget process that delivers all those essential services that people should expect from their government, while taking as little from the taxpayers as possible.
Initiatives are being identified by the county’s finance committee.
You must be logged in to post a comment.