Counties Lay Out Budget Contingency Plans

"That's when we have to make our go or no-go decision," he said.

In Arlington, where about 7 percent of county programs are financed by the state, leaders are planning to use cash reserves to continue services uninterrupted if there is a shutdown, county spokeswoman Diana Sun said. In the event of state budget cuts, the county would consider reducing hours of operation for county offices or cutting back on less essential services, such as mulch delivery.

In Alexandria, Mayor William D. Euille (D) said that the city would continue to operate all city-run programs and services indefinitely if there was a shutdown. A cash reserve of $60 million would make that possible.

In Prince William, Board of County Supervisors Chairman Sean T. Connaughton (R) said he is less concerned about the short-term loss of state dollars and more worried about losing critical state functions that local offices rely on every day.

"When someone tries to come in and get food stamps or some other social services program, we won't be able to verify their data with the state," Connaughton said.

James D. Campbell, executive director of the Virginia Association of Counties, said the shutdown would have a heavier impact on jurisdictions that depend on the state for more than half their money.

"We don't have that kind of money" to make up the difference, said Percy Ashcraft, Caroline County administrator. "Obviously if that happened, it would be a crisis."

But unlike some of the wealthier jurisdictions, Ashcraft has not begun preparing contingency plans for the county's 24,000 residents.

"We all want the budget stalemate to end," he said. "I guess we're not looking at the worst-case scenario. I guess we're looking at the best-case scenario."

Staff writers Annie Gowen, Rosalind S. Helderman and Lisa Rein contributed to this report.