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New schools, $32M deficit to dominate budget meeting
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Related Topics: Prince William County
School officials are seeking funding for an estimated $32 million deficit to pay for its existing programs and essential services, while county supervisors are facing a 14 percent drop in the real estate tax base.
The annual funding workshop, set just before the Nov. 6 elections, is the first chance for school and county members to gather to discuss the bleak financial outlook and top priorities.
“Everybody realizes it’s going to be a tight year,” said Milton Johns, the Brentsville-area school board member running unopposed for chairman. “It’s got to be an agreement that both sides can agree with.”
The smallest tax rate increase under consideration is more than 13 cents per $100 of property value, which would keep the average homeowner’s tax bill steady. Supervisors are already weighing additional rate increases to pay for new county projects, including the illegal-immigration crackdown and more jail and police staff, and are trying to add the schools’ needs into a cohesive package.
“We’ve got some difficult decisions to make over the coming year,” Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart
said.
Eleven schools are already at least 20 percent over their capacity levels, and new construction to meet that demand is a top priority for both sides.
“I think the critical thing is that the schools do everything they can to ensure they don’t delay any school construction projects any further,” Stewart said.
The Kettle Run High School, set to open in 2011, had to be delayed in last year’s budget because of financial problems.
dgenz@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:44 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 23, 2008 re: "Pr. William chairman proposes cutting $21 million in spending"
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7:01 AM MST on Wed., Dec. 19, 2007
re: "Government agency needs pile up in county despite massive deficit"
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1:46 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 29, 2007
re: "New schools, $32M deficit to dominate budget meeting"
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blue_doggette said:
Perhaps if the Supervisors signed a waiver and agreed to pay for any legal fees awarded over our 287 (g) criminal alien out of their own pockets, they would quickly appropriate the money for vehicle cameras. Going against the advice of County Attorney Horton and the CXO, Corey Stewart continues to lead the charge against these devices. Perhaps he should listen to his executive employees rather than a certain Gainesville district resident who has been giving him very bad advise.
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Examiner Reader said:
No wonder foreclosures are so high in PW county. A county of 400,000 with an estimated 70,000 illegals (at the highest). The illegals have to live somewhere....so investors buy multiple homes to use as rentals. The illegals move out because PW county cracksdown (good)....however that leaves hundreds of homes vacant....and maybe foreclosed. We'll get through this pain. The Federal Gov't caused this problem by encouraging illegals to come by their silence.....the Feds should step up and compensate PW county for the problem they caused in the first place. PW county will be fine. We'll get through this.
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Examiner Reader said:
Get rid of the Illegals and you won't need to build new schools.
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