It seems that PWC has a financial  windfall this budget season.  That is good news, or is it?
According to insidenova.com:

On Tuesday, the over­whelming majority of the eight supervisors were in agreement with Chairman Corey A. Stewart’s tax rate and spending proposals dur­ing the annual budget mark­up. At $1.204 per $100 of real estate property, Stewart’s tax rate would allow for a host of long-sought-after trail proj­ects that the Park Authority has been unable to achieve due to lack of funding.

The proposed tax rate would increase the average tax bill by $62.

More than $600,000 of the $4.73 million in additional revenue from Stewart’s plan would be headed to the Park Authority to spend on im­provements or additions to a number ofprojects, includ­ing the Neabsco Creek Trail, Broad Run Trail, Catharpin Creek Trail, the Potomac Her­itage National Scenic Trail, Lake Ridge Eastern End Trail and the Old Bridge to Minnieville Loop.

Stewart also expects an additional $2.5 million from the annual carryover session in late summer, as well another $1.4 million in proffer funding that can be used for trails and park projects. These include the creation of the Fuller Heights Community Park and Occoquan Riverwalk Park, and the addition of fields at Catharpin Park.

As the county slowly recovers from a devastating crash in the housing market, and thus, a greatly reduced tax base, employees will finally get a much deserved raise of 2% cost of living.  They have not had a raise in 2 years, yet they have been asked to work longer and harder, often doing the work of others.

Other expenditures include:

Stewart’s plan would also create 10 new police positions to go with the six vacant spots that were placed back in the budget thanks to additional state 599 funding. Seven of these 10 new positions would be paid for out of the general fund with the rest also coming out of the 599 funding.

Other changes to the proposed budget would be the replacement of the planned 2 percent merit increase for county employees with a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment and the raising of the BPOL tax exemption limit from $100,000 to potentially as high as $250,000. A onetime 2.5 percent bonus for those county employees affected by changes in the Virginia Retirement System would also being considered at carryover in August.

Any additional police positions, especially uniformed officers, is needed. A cost of living raise is also needed. PWC must take care of its employees first. Public safety must also come first. The School Resource Officer Program must be restored to PWC middle schools.

Now, about those streams. Let’s ask the question: Do we just look stupid?

When the housing market crashed in PWC, our county went into severe belt-tightening mode. There were no extras. There were no raises. People worked overtime and did the work of others, filling in the gaps when people resigned but their positions were not filled. (some positions were filled, others were not.)

To put in trails now, while we are still in the throes of an economic recovery, seems to be a waste of taxpayer money. Trails aren’t something that need paving and grading. Often this work can be done by volunteers with a few basic supplies. Where is the county initiative for project and volunteer work? We do want and need trails.  Here is a way to get them. 

More to the point, since this is all part of the Stewart plan, is this a not so subtle attempt at buying the good graces of the smart land use  advocates? Major expenditures on trails seems like it could wait when there are so many other county issues that have been postponed.

Is this an attempt to appease the citizenry for the atrocity of Avendale, when a youth football league was used to manipulate and justify abandoning pledges to protect and preserve the Rural Crescent? 

There still are no trash cans out at Silver Lake. If we can’t afford cans and trash pick up in what was called ‘the Gem of Prince William,’ then perhaps those trails had just better wait. 

Is this a few dog bones to make up for past actions that have long term dire consequences to the quality of life of all citizens in Prince William County?  Too little too late.

4 Thoughts to “Unhappy Trails to You…until we meet again”

  1. While I to believe that spending tax money on expanded recreational services (as building/completing these trails would be) is not the best example of fiscal stewardship (no pun intended I do believe there was a citizen’s satisfaction survey done recently that indicated “green-space, parks, trails, etc.” was at or near the top of the list of things the citizen’s want. Is this pandering, or responsive government? I don’t know. Whereas we in the City are debating whether or not to hire additional public safety folks and buy new fire trucks, the announcement that PWC was building trails seemed kind of odd to me. Not throwing stones, as the county is much more politically and socially diverse than the City, due to its size. Just seems a bit odd to me as all.

  2. @Steve I thought it was odd also.

    I also left off that an article a few weeks ago announced the ok on a dog park. I recall that it said the citizens had to fund raise the $12k needed to build it. Dog parks are a form of open space.

    It makes me wonder why the dog park people (dpp) on the eastern end had to beg and plead for a dog park and then get the dubious honor of paying for it themselves.

    I wonder how many got a survey? I sure didn’t. I have just hollered about no trash cans at Silver Lake since it opened. Additionally, people can’t drive back to the wooded picnic areas. Not sure why that area is restricted to drive back. The roads are fine.

    Sorry, I digress. The City seems more responsible to me on this one. When you need cops and firefighters, you need them. The county needs public safety improvements and cosmetic improvements for sure. They have had funding cut from libraries.

  3. “Is this a few dog bones to make up for past actions that have long term dire consequences to the quality of life of all citizens in Prince William County?”

    Yes. He didn’t give a damn until now. Convenient that election time is drawing near, isn’t it?

    Sorry, but you can’t convince me that this man is sincere about anything.

    Do you know there are agencies in this county that have to count the amount of paper they use? At one point, an elementary school gave its teachers a ration of paper, and that was it. The school wasn’t doing this because there was paper being wasted. They did it to save money.

    How many agencies have broken printers, faxes and copiers? How many have outdated office equipment? How many have run out of pens, bathroom and cleaning supplies, etc., not because people are being wasteful, but because the budget it tighter than a closed fist?

    I am the first one to advocate for trails, parks and trees, but with the budget and economic crises we are in, it seems that’s a lot of money to be spending right now. MH, you are right that supplies and volunteers would make a big difference. We could also take advantage of partnerships and donations. I am not saying to ignore the trails (NO WAY), but I think the solutions needs to be more creative. Why not use some of the discretionary money instead?

  4. One more thing…if we slowed down on development, we wouldn’t have to put so much money into preserving green space because we would already have green space!

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