Peter Candland got a good ole fashioned verbal a$$ whuppin’ on Tuesday!
I have to admit, I was pleasently surprised by the turn of events during the budget discussion on Tuesday. As we all by now, the “main event” was centered around Peter Candland and his incoherent suggestion that we gut the government spending with absolutely NO vision on how to get it done.
He set himself up as the victim being circled by “sharks”. Really? Who were the sharks? His “in the majority republican” fellow supervisors? He came unprepared with only his silly soundbites. Mike May, in his usual measured way, had tough questions for Candland.
“Forgive me if I sound like a circling shark,” he began. “It sounds like you talk about reasonable proposals but you haven’t come here today with any of your own.”
On one hand Candland says “I support the 3% raise” for county employees but offers no feasible way to follow through if his tax rate is adopted. He looked like a deer caught in head lights when fellow Board members asked him for specifics on how to run government while keeping the tax rate so low.
Staff and Supervisors have been working on a county budget for months and Candland, last minute, has the gall to suggest everyone start from scratch? How RUDE!
As we all know, I am not usually prone to compliments for Corey, but whatever his reasons, whether it be his run for Lt. Govenor or whatever, he was terrific and deserves kudos for squashing the ridiculousness of $1.175 tax rate.
The Gainesville Times reporter, Tara Donaldson, wrote a fabulous article.
Corey gave the final blow to Candland, when, with a raised voice, he said:
“It’s not responsible” and said supervisors need to act responsibly, “not just sit here and make political points.
We are the 9th richest county in the United States, our schools, our roads, our general infrastructure needs to reflect our financial status.
Maureen Caddigan probably made the most sane comment during the entire debate though. She said she use to believe that housing paid for itself, but clearly, only new housing in the 650 grand range actually was net positive. She said that 500 house here, or new housing over there, was putting an incredible burden on the budget, i.e. taxpayers. Supervisor Caddigan then followed up with the common sense statement that we need more commercial and less housing!
I hope that sentiment holds strong during the debate surrounding the Rural Crescent and its fiscal importance to the County
Moonhowler gets full credit for the title, a stroke of genius!
Your title is a stroke of genius…and appropriate considering the phrase means a person/program which was once great begins decline. As I listened, it confirmed what I was told by an long-time Gainesville resident active Republican – back in his campaign days, Pete was rumored to say that when he gets elected, the “old guard” would be gone. If he had pulled in some of the “old guard” who worked with Mr. Stirrup for years on the budget, there would have been some solid points to discuss. Ah, youth….
He should have taken that advice regarding the “old guard” the district. Very active citizens in this district. Only a fool would’ve ignored the oldest established neighborhoods in the district during the primary. He chose to align himself and staff his office with the wrong people. Citizens in the Gainesville District are used to a certain level of service from the supervisor’s office. Sadly, it’s an all new staff, and we the citizens will have to deal with it.
I wonder if Mr. Stirrup was as this most recent Town Hall on the budget this past Monday night. Anyone know?
Good post Elena. As one who has also criticized Corey in the past, I agree that he handled the meeting well, and both spoke and acted maturely; not as “Captain Soundbite” as he has been called in the past.
Regarding the Rural Crescent, I don’t think the threat comes mainly from Corey or Peter at this point. Corey is focused on his Lt. Gov. campaign and is not interested in the Rural Crescent anymore. Regrettably, he would likely vote the interests of the developers who are funding his campaign if a significant matter regarding the Rural Crescent comes before the Board, but he is not actively pursuing it as an issue one way or the other. Candland demonstrated during the campaign and subsequently that he doesn’t understand what the Rural Crescent is, or land use policy in general.
The main threat to the Rural Crescent now is Nohe. Recall the meeting where the Board considered the Comp Plan Amendments (CPA). We discussed this in a previous MH thread. To everyone’s surprise Nohe voted against Mark Granville-Smith’s application to initiate a CPA to increase residential density on some land he owns in the Rural Crescent that would have effectively removed it from the Rural Crescent. However, Nohe followed that surprise move by directing staff to initiate a “study” of the Rural Crescent in whole as opposed to considering land use changes there parcel-by-parcel. Staff was obviously aware Nohe was going to make this request and jumped in supporting him. It’s all in the streaming video if anyone wants to see it for themselves.
This “study” will quite clearly be the first step in dismantling the Rural Crescent and opening it to far greater residential density throughout. Granville-Smith will not only get what he wants on his property, but all developers will get what they want in the entirety of the Rural Crescent.
Kudos as you said to Maureen. However, her current tone is a result of having been stabbed in the back by Peacor and other Supervisors. Recall that it was Maureen who allowed Avendale to pass by changing her vote from opposing Avendale to becoming the fifth vote that got it approved. She changed her vote at the time in exchange for a promise of funding for the new library in her district. Later, Peacor pulled funding for her library and neither Corey nor the other supervisors would back her on getting it back. Knives in the back don’t feel good regardless of from where they come.
Maureen has no reason now to keep up the façade on behalf of Corey, Marty and Wally that residential development is not revenue-negative.
The Rural Crescent and smart, taxpayer-friendly land use policy are more threatened now than ever before, but our focus should be mainly on Nohe and Covington, and perhaps Jenkins as its drivers. May and Principi vote correctly on the Rural Crescent and land use issues most of the time. Maureen is now a woman betrayed, scorned and used over Avendale. Corey’s mind is already in Richmond. Candland will do as he is told.
Corey, Mike, Marty, John, Maureen all did the right thing at the meeting. They had to handle sophomoric behavior quickly and firmly and they did. They couldn’t have some upstart acting like everyone else had been sitting back playing tiddlywinks until the great conservative Mr. Candland enters and sends everyone back to start.
Let’s give credit where credit is due. I am a great believer in not blurring praise with every past sin I can think of. I try to be positive to our various members of the BOCS whenever possible. If I don’t, no one listens, including them, if I am always carping at them.
@Moon-howler
Regarding Tuesday’s meeting I agree with you completely. I was mainly addressing Elena’s points about the Rural Crescent and fiscal sanity rather than the conduct of the Supervisors this week.
You can’t throw those subjects out and not expect me to chime in!
I am hopeful that praise will win out and I want to support sanity whenever it appears NTK! Like I said, good governance, even if it comes out of self interest, still serves citizens well 🙂
Is it possible to get a copy of the budget that is being presented? I know several organiations have asked for extraordinarily large sums of money.
Moon, all on the County Budget page. In terms of the organizations, that is the section labeled “Community Partners”. Also worth while is looking over at the left hand menu for “Base Budget Review” as there is a very, telling, in-depth analysis of the Community Partners done this year.
http://www.pwcgov.org/government/dept/budget/Pages/Proposed%20FY%202013%20Budget.aspx
Thanks for the link Ray!
It appears as though Rainbow Riding and the War Musuem are not recieving their huge taxpayer funded stipend they requested.
You need to review the CIP more carefully and Wally’s request regarding carryover funding.
What does it say? I can’t even get the right document open. @Corey’s accountant
In short, the funding issue isn’t dead yet.
So what do we do? Just accept it? I still can’t get the right budget to open. It has to be easier than this?
If it isn’t dead, what is the amount proposed to give RR and the tank farm?
The CIP is full of “dirty little secrets”. 👿
@Corey’s Accountant
Have you stroked the check for BAM yet?
They don’t want us to be able to see it. 😉
The entire $200,000 is supposedly in the budget for approval according to my lastest source.
That is simply too big of a slice of the pie. I am not complaining about the original $30,000 that they get. I am complaining about this add on that should not be the taxpayer’s financial obligation. Rainbow Riding has plenty of money.
When the Marshalls and others have to go out begging for senior day care and the teachers haven’t had a step increase in 3 years, the answer is NO.
There are over 30 residents who need residential mental health services. $$$$$$$$ It isn’t there.
Those budget questions and answers have been interesting. Someone has suggested that the Gainesville District supports the rest of the county. How arrogant is that. Isn’t that where all the whining is coming from? We are back to real estate taxes aren’t a surprise. If you buy or build a house, you have a general idea what the taxes are going to be. If you don’t like the taxes, 1. don’t buy a house 2. Buy a smaller house 3. Move elsewhere.
Under extension:
1. Rainbow Riding
Prince William County makes an annual contribution to the Rainbow Center, which provides services to individuals with physical,
developmental disabilities and psychological, emotional or neurological disorders. The contribution supports the Rainbow Riding
program, which provides hippotherapy and therapeutic riding instruction.
FY 10 FY 11 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13¾
Actual Adopted Actual Adopted Base
Total Activity Annual Cost $31,750 $31,750 $31,750 $32,385 $32,385
Students enrolled in the Rainbow Therapeutic
Riding Program 60 42 61 80 80
This money is for the old money they get from the county. I have no problem with it. I have a problem with them getting additional funding.
60 kids is just too few PWC kids for that kind of money. The powers that be need to get some donors, some volunteers and do some fund raising.
Furthermore, a paved parking lot doesn’t fit in with the rustic vision of the park that is being robbed daily with that school. At this point, I am ready to suggest just filling in the lake, paving it over and creating a commuter parking lot. That’s the direction its heading anyway.
Once again, not trash cans, yet we can give away $200,000.
sounds like we may need to do a “repost” of our rainbow riding post!
Yes there does, Miss Elena. You are in charge@@
Will do Monday morning!