Politics & Government

Council Approves Fiscal 2012 Budget

Council votes unanimously for $84 million budget, property tax rate set at 19.5 cents on every $100 of assessed value

The Town Council unanimously voted to adopt an $84 million budget on Tuesday night, despite the wishes of one council member that the board be “more responsible.”

Council Member Thomas S. Dunn, II, who voted for the budget, criticized the council for “wasteful policies” and “excessive spending” over the years, which combined with the recession put the town in a difficult place going into fiscal 2012.

He said the 28 town staff members that will be laid off to balance the 2012 budget were not to blame for the dicey budget situation, and leveled an accusation at fellow council members for irresponsible fiscal policies.

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He said government should be providing only for the “health and welfare of the community,” and that additional services the town provides should fall to the private sector.

Council Members David S. Butler and Fernando “Marty” Martinez were concerned that the budget was cuttng "into muscle and bone,” rather than trimming the fat, but Dunn disagreed.

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“For the 95 percent or more of the citizens of Leesburg, they’re going to see a seamless break in services,” he said.

Reid said it was important to reprioritize some programs in town.

“There are some things that are worth funding, and there are some things we are spending too much money on,” he said.

Two programs that might have been cut were reinstated in the budget because of citizen concern.

The R.OC.K. Program, an outreach program for at-risk youth, will cost the town $119,000 in fiscal 2012, and adding the additional hour to Ida Lee Recreation Center would cost $13,000.

The council also voted to maintain funding for the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Company and the Leesburg Volunter Rescue Squad, both of which council members consider a vital service to the community, at the fiscal 2011 level.

Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd said she wanted to thank the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors for paying for 70 percent of time Leesburg Police are in schools as school resource officers.

The council also set the property tax rate at 19.5 cents on every $100 of assessed value, though Dunn and Council Member Kenneth “Ken” Reid voted against it.

Butler said the average tax bill has decreased by $200, and he had spoken to residents who said they would be willing to be taxed at a higher rate to maintain the level of services in town.

But Reid and Dunn said they would like to have seen the tax rate lowered.

 “I must be travelling in the wrong circles because nobody I’ve ever talked to has said ‘please tax me more,’” Dunn said.

The council also voted on a $63.6 million capital improvement budget for fiscal 2012 – 2017, with only Martinez dissenting. He said the town had made commitments to certain construction projects in the coming years, and delaying them was a disservice to residents.

“Now you’re being told to do these same improvements with less,” Martinez said. “There comes a point where you can’t do that.”


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