Fairfax County Supervisors' Chairman Offers Budget Alternative to Save Jobs

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova has proposed scaling back key housing and environmental initiatives next year as part of a budget proposal that aims to save county jobs, keep taxes even and preserve services for those being hit hardest by the economic downturn.

In a proposal to be unveiled publicly tomorrow, Bulova (D) restores many of the programs cut in the budget proposal from County Executive Anthony H. Griffin, who suggested eliminating more than 500 jobs to help offset a $650 million shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Under Bulova's plan, no police officers or firefighters would be laid off, although some non-emergency workers might lose their jobs and dozens of empty positions would be slashed. Middle schools would keep the police officers stationed there, and senior centers that had been slated for closure would remain open.

During a budget committee meeting tomorrow, she is expected to endorse a 13-cent increase in the tax rate, to $1.05 per $100 of assessed value. Because of the decline in home values, however, most homeowners would not see an increase in their tax bills this year, and about half could see at least a modest decline.

To achieve that, she plans to suggest cutting in half a program that devoted 1 cent of the real estate tax rate to preserve affordable housing, an initiative that had received accolades from advocates who noted that Fairfax County's high cost of living locked out many low- and middle-income residents.

Her budget will not include a planned expansion of storm-water management efforts designed to repair aging infrastructure that helps protect waterways from urban runoff. Nor will it include a $21 million funding increase requested by School Board members to cope with the expected influx of thousands of students next year.

School district officials said that they hope that at least some of the difference can be offset by federal stimulus funds but that they might have to increase class sizes.

"We already raised class sizes by half a student this year, and I have serious concerns if we end up having to raise them even more," said School Board member Stuart D. Gibson (Hunter Mill).

Bulova's budget approach appears to have support from Democrats and Republicans on the Board of Supervisors. They are slated to begin final negotiations over the budget tomorrow. The board is scheduled to formally adopt the budget April 27.

Supervisor Pat S. Herrity (R-Springfield), who ran against Bulova for chairman and is often at odds with the board's Democratic majority, said he supported the broad outlines of Bulova's plan, although he did not rule out presenting his own alternative budget, as he did last year.

"Frankly, I'm having a hard time finding a reason to vote against this," said Herrity, who has long supported keeping taxes even and pulling back on the penny for affordable housing. "I believe we should go further to give our citizens tax relief, but it gives us a great place to start working from next year."

Significant issues remain unresolved, including Bulova's decision not to pursue a county car tax. Several supervisors said this week that they thought a local car tax, though politically unpopular, could help diversify a revenue stream that is reliant almost exclusively on real estate taxes.

One of the biggest critics of Bulova's budget might turn out to be one of her Democratic colleagues. Yesterday, Supervisor Catherine M. Hudgins (Hunter Mill), who wants to preserve the penny for affordable housing, declined to say whether she would vote for a budget as proposed by Bulova.

But several supervisors praised Bulova's success in reversing some of the cuts to public safety and human services. Griffin had recommended eliminating the police department's motor carrier and marine units and shuttering several of the fire department's "heavy rescue" companies, which respond to major catastrophes. All of those are restored in Bulova's budget, as are some services for senior citizens, children and the homeless.