Last year, our county budget was a wake up call to many of us who saw Fairfax as a land of plenty with quality of life for all.  Slowly, we came to understand that we, too, were subject to the strong financial headwinds battering the national and state economies. 

The county executive’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 reflects our new reality—one that is likely to continue for some time.  Between the proposed budget’s release and its adoption on April 27, my colleagues and I will be listening to constituents and working to fine tune the budget to align it as closely as possible with citizen priorities and economic reality.  It will be a challenge to maintain our quality of life and our school system while reducing services and turning our backs on programs that might be wonderful but unaffordable.  I will be participating in these budget deliberations believing that there are some government responsibilities that are not negotiable.  Public safety and basic human services are more important than ever during this economic downturn. 

At first read, this budget makes the best of a difficult situation.  I am pleased that it recognizes the importance of zoning enforcement to our neighborhoods.  Bringing together staff from different agencies into a centralized department of code enforcement (including the Strike Team) will let us respond to enforcement issues more quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively.  The budget also recognizes that we cannot use homeowners as a bottomless piggy bank for programs that we cannot afford.  While the county executive’s proposed budget has a property tax rate of $1.09, because of declining property values, the average homeowner’s bill will be $48 less than last year’s.  This budget also recognizes the need to find revenue sources other than homeowners and I note that my suggestion last year to reinstitute the vehicle registration fee has been included.  The $33 fee is estimated to raise $27 million a year . 

Schools are the Board of Supervisors’ priority and that’s reflected in this budget with almost 54 percent of the General Fund.  It may be possible to increase the school transfer but it’s too early to make that call as we wait for more information about the impact of the state budget on K-12. 

Right now, I am concerned by the proposed elimination of middle school SROs (school resource officers )—these police officers have made impressive inroads into eliminating gang activity in our schools. Eliminating them would cost us much more in the long run.

Our challenge is to find new ways of doing things: better and more efficient ways to stretch our revenue dollars, more partnerships with non-profits and the private sector, and diversified revenue sources to take the pressure off our homeowners.

You can find more detailed information on the county budget at
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/2010/county-executive-budget-proposal-fy2011.htm