The News and Messenger reports the over-all tone of the Manassas City public hearing for FY2012 budget. The City is attempting to pass a $304 million dollar budget. Those who attended the public hearing appeared to be split 50-50 pro/ con. Of course, that number just counts those attending the budget hearing.
Citizens were divided over BPOL tax and its impact on business within the City. Others appeared to be concerned over adding police and fire personnel and equipment. The average tax bill was not projected to go up that much. Single family homes overall were projected to raise the property tax on that home by $2.00.
The Tea Party was vocal and its leaders spoke of people falling on hard times. Many homeowners are still under water.
Our very own Raymond Beverage put all of this in terms most of us can understand. The tax increase for most families added up to a 6 pack and 2 bottles of Sam Adams.
Another citizen summed things up nicely:
Mark Hempen said he wanted to make sure the city was safe, clean and well run, and he supported the budget.
“It isn’t just the tax rate. I think that we have to look at the whole picture. I think the city has done a good job in a lot of ways and I’d hate to see us not accept this budget and reduce the police force and reduce other services that are greatly needed to keep the city running and to keep the city growing and thriving and flourishing,” the Manassas man said.
What do our readers have to add on the subject? Let us know what you think. All too often we leave off what you guys think. The City has had some horrific crime and at least 1 very bad multi-home fire. These events have been punctuating some of the budget discussion.
Andy Harrover clarifies some of the tax issues on his blog, My Side of the Fence.
http://harrover.com/wordpress/?p=1274
I spoke for more police officers. I remember former Chief Skinner making the rounds of community groups and explaining how you have to keep the policing levels up so that you’re not caught short with the mixture of new officers still in training, other officers retiring and some jumping to other jurisdictions for higher pay. Chief Keen has echoed the same the whole time. I want to see that crime prevention specialist in there because ever since Officer Stallard got pulled off crime prevention last summer and put on patrol because of the shortage of officers, we haven’t had that strong liaison to keep growing the Neighborhood Watches in the City. In my neighborhood/community we just had someone shot with a pellet gun, assaulted and his bike stolen at Weems Elementary School this week.
I spoke for Education Forward. Council member Wolfe is on that team of 3 council members and 3 school board members who are going to think-tank a plan to bring up the “results on investment” — he’s an alumni of Leadership Prince William and that program is one of those that help think-tank communities forward. I do want my tax dollars investing in youth as the future of this community.
I also spoke for the City’s efforts to keep my utilities as low as possible. Even with the increases, the rates are reasonable. And these increases are imposed on the City from UOSA, etc.
Anyone who wants to watch the meeting, its available on the Media Center of the city website at http://www.manassascity.org.
Wish more speakers would time their comments ahead of time. It’s frustrating that they only have 3 minutes and have to cut what must have been important stuff to say.
And a footnote for those who know her, Lieutenant Meg Carroll is retiring from Manassas City Police after an outstanding career, and taking on her new job: community manager of Georgetown South Council, Inc. I heard it was announced at the residents meeting earlier this week and people roared with cheers. If you want to see what’s happening in that model community, Neighborhood Services Manager Kisha Wilson-Sogunro and Chief Keen’s presentation is in Monday’s recorded city council meeting.
And if anyone wants to volunteer for the 1 By Youth project in Point of Woods, check out the video at http://www.1byyouth.com/locations/spring-2011/manassas and call Neighborhood Services at 703-257-8315.
Moon, thanks for the reference…althought the paper left out the second half of it where I said a friend of mine put it differently – Cindy was thinking shoes…the difference between men and women 🙂
I also said when it came to the issue of the Police Force, we are a CALEA “Flagship” designation – the best of the best as only around 4% of the departments nationwide have it. And one of the things to maintain certification is keep up the ratio of Police to Citizens: minimum is 1.3 Officers per 1000 citizens; recommended is 2.8 to 1000. That is why over in PWC the contention on Police Officers – more was tried to be put in the budget because the population is growing, and the ratio is slipping.
Cindy B.,
Glad to learn than Meg Carroll will continue to serve our community after
her retirement from the MCPD. She is a first rate individual.
Steve – Don’t I know it. After my first husband Martin Cross died in Dec. 1998, Meg stepped in to help me lead a Girl Scout troop of 19 girls. I am forever grateful. That was a tough time.