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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Prince William County can’t afford to save for even worse financial times as it tries to fix a multimillion-dollar shortfall, county officials said Tuesday.
Prince William County Executive Craig Gerhart abandoned plans to save $4.8 million this year to prepare for a lingering economic downturn and proposed a new slate of $1.27 million in spending cuts to balance the county’s nearly $900 million budget.
The move and several other cost savings would help close an $8.1 million shortfall in the county budget, while school leaders will meet tonight to discuss how to address a lingering $10.6 million shortfall in the public schools budget.
The county’s $7.1 million rainy-day account uses savings from the boom years to help the county endure shortfalls without having to dip into a much larger $61 million rainy-day fund, which supervisors consider untouchable.
While supervisors could decide to empty out the smaller account to help reduce a projected 27 percent increase in the tax rate at a budget meeting next week, Gerhart advised Tuesday against using the money this year because the county’s economic downturn is expected to last.
“This is going to get worse before it gets better,” he said. “Our recommendation is you do not use that money until we see things turning around.”
Home foreclosure filings, which helped drive property values down 15 percent last year, are rising in 2008, with more than 4,000 homeowners already filing for foreclosure by April 1.
Cutting spending proved difficult due to the growing cost of the illegal-immigration crackdown and jail overcrowding, which will require a combined $628,000 in additional funding, Gerhart said.
The hardest-hit services would be the clerk of court’s office, which will lose $537,000, the county’s police department, which will lose $430,000 in funding, and a community program for at-risk youth, facing $183,000 in cuts. The prosecutor’s office, sheriff’s office, electoral board, finance department and social services will also face cuts of up to $82,000.
dgenz@dcexaminer.com
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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
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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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