Speak Out: Where Would You Cut in the County Budget?
What are your thoughts on the lower tax rate that could be adopted on April 24?
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors held a non-binding straw vote on Tuesday concerning a $1.209 tax rate per $100 of assessed property value, effectively nixing the previously advertised $1.215 tax rate.
During the April 10 Board of County Supervisors work session on the county school budget, Chairman Corey Stewart explained to Prince William County Schools Chairman At-Large Milton Johns that the board explored the possibility of a flat tax bill adjusted for inflation ($1.212) or a revenue neutral rate ($1.209).
The lower tax rate means the school board would have to revisit its FY 2013 budget and make further cuts in school services. The Prince William County School Board voted March 28 to pass the proposed $861 million operating budget, and directed Superintendent Steven Walts to make $5 million in cuts to fund an average 2.85 percent step increase in pay for teachers.
Several teachers spoke out at the School Board meeting Wednesday night for the 7.5 contract hour day that would come by way of the step increase in employee’s salaries.
Tell us: If services need to be cut to lower costs, where do you think the county should cut back?
Birgit Campana
1:28 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Makes no sense, actually. We need to keep them the same or raise them and get side walks put in on route 1 from Dumfries through Woodbridge where there are none. To be a pedestrian on the route 1 corridor is to risk ones life! It's absurd, especially when I see we are putting sidewalks out on Old Bridge. Let's put some much needed money into improving route 1, please.
Ken Reynolds
11:57 am on Friday, April 20, 2012
You are soooooooooooo right Birgit. Few have extra dollars to spend on taxes, but if we are to have services, it really is harad to believe the "magicians" on the Board of Supervisors who make phantom promises to cut taxes..........when we need added services. I would like to see across-the-board increases in teachers' salaries and benefits....also, give the School Board the power to tax and remove it from the BOCS.
theflo
5:40 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
I want our Local Government to use the resources that are currently collecting Money from us WORKING TAX PAYERS. Meaning if you are collecting checks, or public housing we can get the construction work done twice as FAST. You are already being compensated now it is time to serve your WORKING Community that is serving you those checks each month by widening streets, sidewalks, building schools, cleaning garbage off the street.
Time to go back to the days of Clinton with WORK FARE. You get compensation from Taxpayers it is time to WORK IT OFF or get off Public Assisstance and get a job.
John Bonich
4:17 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
A link to the proposed budget. http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/budget/Pages/Proposed%20FY%202013%20Budget.aspx
John Bonich
8:02 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Why is there an estimated $200,000 hike for expenditures the BOS in the 2013 proposal? They didn't think the $100,000 Covington tried to sneak to Rainbow Ridng was enough? Given the general dislike taxpayers have of these discretionary funds, it seems to me like they should have a lower outlook, not a higher one!
John Bonich
8:17 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
The biggest issue seems to be funding to give teachers raises. As usual, Everyone seems to be too busy looking at the trees to see the forest. The school board determines its own budget based on the lump sum given to it by the county. How come there's been absolutely NO discussion of the school board's proposed budget? Why is the PWEA so instant on politicizing this into a pro tax-and-spend propaganda campaign? You wanna get to the bottom of this, lets take a look at the school board's budget. Then we may get some answers on where we can find the money to adequately compensate teachers. But its harder to make a progressive democrat-leaning political campaign out of that, isn't it.. Just looking at the budget, all the COUNTY increases are relatively moderate, with a few decreases in spending here and there. (except the BOS budget. Surprise, surprise) You wanna find the answers? Lets look at what the school board's doing with the money we pay 'em.
John Bonich
8:37 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Not to come across a heartless here, but why are we budgeting nearly 1.5 million dollars for organizations that are clearly private charities? Regardless of the good they do, wouldn't it be better to allow the taxpayer himself to decide which charitable organizations he's like to fund, and more importantly, determine whether or not he can afford it? Why steel from the rich, middle class and poor to give to the special interest?