Dan Genz, The Examiner
2008-03-11 08:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

A controversial illegal-immigration crackdown and plans to beef up the police and firefighter ranks will be competing for money today as Prince William County supervisors begin debating a $924 million budget.

The county’s plans to add more than 100 public safety employees will receive their first detailed review in a pair of work sessions designed to help supervisors break a deadlock over tax policy.

Supervisors deadlocked on four attempts last week to set a maximum tax rate, with the Republican-led panel unwilling to reach consensus on plans ranging from a 23 percent rate rise to a 32 percent rate increase, that would result in anywhere from a 3.3 percent to 10 percent rise in the average homeowner's tax bill.

The varied public safety demands are responsible for much of the proposed increase in the budget, which puts supervisors who are trying to limit a tax rate increase in a difficult position.

“Public safety is the core responsibility of local government,” said Supervisor Martin Nohe, R-Coles, describing some of the police and fire positions as no-brainers. However, tax increase considerations are a major concern, he said, noting, “I’m also not persuaded we need to have this tax rate that is more than the public is going to be willing to bear.”

The Fire Department is reacting to a line-of-duty death report saying its staffing is inadequate to fight the blazes in larger homes that have become commonplace in recent years. The Police Department is girding for an illegal-immigration policy that has drawn national attention. The jail is completing a 200-bed expansion in the fall and will have about 29 additional positions next year.

The proposals totaling more than 120 positions are likely too high to support, Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart said.

“That's too many positions for one year, especially in a difficult budget year,” Stewart said. “I’m all for more police and firefighters, but we need to stay within our means.”

dgenz@dcexaminer.com