Manassas Council Member Steps Down

Smith to Be General District Court Judge

Steven S. Smith resigned from the Manassas City Council on Monday, leaving officials with 45 days to find his replacement.

The lawyer is leaving his political position to begin his tenure as a Prince William County General District Court judge. Smith was appointed by the Prince William Circuit Court and will take his seat as a judge May 1. His appointment will be affirmed by the General Assembly next year.

"It has been an honor to serve the city," Smith (R) said during Monday's meeting. "This job has helped me grow personally and professionally, and it's with a heavy heart that I leave. My son said, 'Dad, I think you have enjoyed the sense of responsibility [of serving on council],' and I said, 'Yes, I really have.' "

The 53-year-old Manassas native graduated from Osbourn High School, later attending the University of Virginia and the University of Richmond, where he received his law degree in 1979. Smith served as a Prince William assistant commonwealth's attorney before becoming a principal at Smith Hudson & Carluzzo, a Manassas-based law firm specializing in criminal law, zoning and property rights.

Smith, who joined council in 2004, said he always wanted to serve the city but waited until his three sons, now ages 18 to 22, were older. He also said he always wanted to be a judge, following in the footsteps of his father, H. Selwyn Smith. Selwyn Smith served in Prince William Circuit Court for several decades.

"Becoming a judge is something most attorneys aspire to," Steven Smith said. "It's an honor to end your career as a judge; I just didn't think it would come at this time."

Smith is finishing up four days of "judge school" in Richmond. He abstained from voting during Monday's meeting.

"We are losing a very dedicated council member whose second term is just getting started," Mayor Harry J. "Hal" Parrish II said. "We are going to miss you, but we know you are leaving for a good thing."

Virginia law gives the council 45 days to fill Smith's seat. Otherwise, a circuit court judge will make the appointment.

Manassas City Manager Lawrence D. Hughes said the city is soliciting letters from people interested in the position until May 22. Interested parties will have a chance to present their qualifications and be interviewed during a June 3 public hearing before the council makes a decision.

Also at Monday's meeting, the council unofficially approved Manassas's $303.7 million fiscal 2010 budget with no changes. The council is set to officially adopt the budget May 11.

The budget includes a $100.9 million general fund, with almost $50 million going to schools. The general fund, which encompasses a majority of the revenue and program expenditures, is down about 6 percent from last year.

The council also approved a tax rate of $1.35 per $100 of assessed value, up 33.5 cents over last year's rate, and a 14-cent fire levy, up 4 cents, which is needed to fund the Fire and Rescue Department's $6 million budget. With this rate, residential tax bills are expected to decline 14 percent, and commercial property bills are expected to rise about 24 percent.

Because commercial and residential properties must be taxed at the same rate, the budget also calls for a reduction in the business personal property tax rate to mitigate the impact the real estate tax bills will have on the business community.

The budget freezes salaries, reduces the contribution to employee retirement plans and eliminates the equivalent of about 12 full-time positions. It does, however, keep funding intact for various community programs including the Flory Small Business Center, Securing Emergency Resources Through Volunteer Efforts (SERVE) and Habitat for Humanity.

The budget increases sewer rates 5 percent and water and electric utilities 2 percent -- each costing the average homeowner an additional $2.40 a month. Solid waste collection for single-family homes and townhouses, however, remain unchanged.