Update: Town Council Approves Resolution Showing Support for Metro

The Town Council voted 5 to 2 Tuesday night to forward a resolution to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in support of bringing Rail to Loudoun County. It took about three hours until council members could make a final decision. Mayor Kristen Umstattd and Councilman Tom Dunn were opposed.

Dunn said that the project costs too much and that he wouldn’t support it if it meant raising the taxpayer's dollar. He suggested that the resolution be deferred indefinitely and said he wasn’t sure why the town was getting involved with the issue anyway. That motion failed as did another one made by Councilwoman Katie Hammler that would have postponed the council’s decision until June 26.

“I find this unfortunate. About 75 percent of the people in the county want the metro. Twenty five percent don’t and the 25 percent are trying their damnest to keep it out and the same thing here,” said Councilman David Butler. “We have a very simple motion in support of metro and we have a minority of council members who are basically sabotaging the resolution and I understand that’s politics but I don’t have to like it.”

Vice Mayor Kevin Wright said that this wouldn’t be the first time that the council has shown interest in something outside of the town border. This issue impacts Leesburg, he said, and the longer the town waits, the more it will cost.

“Can it be funded another way? Yes,” Wright said, who also showed no interest in the rising of taxes. He encouraged the board of supervisors to make the best decision possible before the July 4 deadline.

After much debate, council members finally agreed with the orignial resolution, which included an amendent made by Councilwoman Katie Hammler. It suggested that some of the language be changed in the resolution to state:

WHEREAS, however, the funding sources of the phase II extension of Metrorail have not been determined, and

WHEREAS, the Town of Leesburg faces the possibility of losing its gas tax revenue by the phase II extension of Metrorail, which is a significant source of revenue for the Town, and

WHEREAS, a special taxing district should be considered for funding instead of a countywide tax on all Loudoun County taxpayers or a commercial and industrial tax on Loudoun County businesses, as well as consideration of a replacement for the loss of gas tax revenue for the Town of Leesburg.

Councilman Marty Martinez said he just wanted a simple resolution that read, “we support metro in Loudoun County.”

"We have to say something. It is incumbent on us to support our citizens who believe Metro into Loudoun is a good thing,” Martinez said. “All we can hope is that [the board members] are doing the right thing. We are subject to their decisions.”

For more information regarding Town Council opinions regarding Rail to Loudoun read Monday's .