Prince William chair proposes freezing salaries

Residential property values in the county plummeted at least 16 percent last year and put the county in at least a $51 million hole as supervisors try to expand the police force and fire department and build more schools.

“We’ve got to lower expectations with regards to spending,” Stewart told The Examiner. “The reality is that all sources of county revenue are decreasing and the state has cut back its funding for local government and for teachers.”

The board’s tight 2008 budget included a 2.75 percent raise for its approximately 3,600 full-time employees and anticipated a 2.5 percent pay raise next year.

The Board of Supervisors tentatively approved a 28 percent increase in the property tax rate that would raise taxes on the average homeowner by 10 percent next year. However, supervisors want to fund a high-profile illegal immigration crackdown that enjoyed support in the November elections and also boost the size of the fire department after its first line-of-duty fatality investigation highlighted inadequate staffing.

While County Executive Craig Gerhart has said the public has been clear they want to spend more on issues like immigration, schools, roads and safety, not everyone wants to pay for everything.

An eruption of foreclosures combined with the overall real estate slowdown to send local government revenues south. Gov. Tim Kaine added to the concern last week when he announced a proposal to cut about $135 million from state aid to local governments, further dimming the budget scenario.

“This is going to be a very tough year and there are going to be a lot of cutbacks,” said Stewart, a champion of the illegal immigration crackdown. “I am not going to pass on the problems that we have because of decreasing revenues, and, more importantly, decreasing support from the state.”

dgenz@dcexaminer.com