Board Cuts Projects Rather Than Raise Vehicle Tax

$3 Million Earmarked for Transportation Is Trimmed From County's Capital Improvement Plan

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors cut more than $3 million in transportation projects from its capital improvement plan budget Tuesday rather than pass an increase in the vehicle decal fee.

County staff had recommended increasing the vehicle license tax to $38 from $24 to make up for millions lost for major transportation improvements.

"Some of the revenue support we proposed was not adopted," County Executive Craig S. Gerhart said. "We have a series of options to bring the CIP into alignment."

The board reduced general fund capital projects by $3.3 million.

The projects include the Transportation and Roadway Improvement Program, which will be slashed in half to $1.4 million in the upcoming budget year. The Route 1 widening project was reduced by $900,000, but it will be completed, according to county staff.

Other cuts include $700,000 in street light upgrades and $8 million in safety and intersection improvements, which are funded through debt service. No projects had been identified.

That leaves a $950 million capital improvement plan over the next six years.

Also Tuesday, more than a dozen people spoke encouraging supervisors to create an animal advisory committee.

"The need for this committee is long overdue," said Melissa Korzuch, president of the Prince William Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She said the county staff is underfunded and understaffed to handle pet overpopulation. Without a committee, "cruelty cases will not go away . . . dog parks will not spring up," she said.

Supervisor John D. Jenkins (D-Neabsco) proposed a resolution to create a 15-member committee, which would include one pet owner from each magisterial district, but the board decided to create a provisional committee.

The county shelter took in more than 8,000 animals last year.

More than 60 percent of animals leaving the shelter to rescues or for adoption are spayed or neutered. The county would need an additional $116,000 to spay or neuter all animals in its care.

Last year, the police department recommended that the county not form an animal advisory committee because of the potential to "create undue pressure and demands on already overburdened county staff" and potential for it to be an administrative oversight committee.