Monday, March 9, 2009

EDC Reasserts Support for Full Funding

Author:
Following up on a letter written by Chairman John Wood last that had unanimous consent but no formal action, the Economic Development Commission unanimously adopted a resolution on Friday morning supporting the Supervisors' "Tier 1" (0% funding growth) option, which includes the School Board's full proposed budget.

Full EDC FY10 Budget Resolution

Exerpts:
...the Economic Development Commission strongly believes the County Administrator’s recommended Tier One County budget for Fiscal Year 2010 retains an appropriate level of core services mixed with a modest amount of needed infrastructure at a proposed tax rate that is affordable...

...the proposed budget supports education and the growth in our student population...

...as your advisors, we strongly urge the Board to "Please adopt the County Administrator’s recommended overall County Tier One budget." (original emphasis)
Labels:

11 comments:

  1. Wow, a bunch of rich businessmen, along with Edgar Hatrick and Robert Dupree, voted to pay more then we should to fund reasonable government services in a disastrous economy. I'm sure those at the lower economic rungs of the ladder are jumping for joy at this news.
    ReplyDelete
  2. It would appear that irresponsibility
    is contagious. It is amazing to me that a group of supposed smart, enlightened business folks would come to this conclusion given our current economic situation. It is as if our $ 200 Million simply does not exist.
    Here are a few facts to consider.

    16 Months or so ago Prince William County had a budget deficit of $200 Million. Today that deficit is $ 600 million.
    Note to the EDC, deficits when not confronted with aggressive spending reductions compound onto them selves.

    Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) has a budget of $787 Million. ALL 33 remaining agencies share a combined budget of 370 Million.

    The LCPS offer on the table for FY2010 provides for $ 11.9 million in reduced spending against the backdrop of a $ 200 million deficit. Ladies and gentleman, that is 1.5% of their budget. We are awash in red ink and LCPS comes to the table with 1.5% in spending reductions.

    I could find 1.5% in reduced spending by using a dart board. This was not a serious effort, by serious people dedicated to reduce spending. It was an exercise by those who wanted to stall, playing defense until a misinformation campaign could whip up the masses creating a wave in which to surf to full funding.

    Wait until FY2011 and the deficit is $ 350 million. The same groups advocating for this budget will be pointing fingers, while
    telling us ,there is enough blame to go around.

    G.Stone
    ReplyDelete
  3. So do all of you who are saying the budget is ridiculous support the firing of over 500 teachers? That's the 15% budget cut--these firings begin at the 5-10% reduction. You want to sit back and watch teachers lose their jobs while Hatrick's office building isn't touched? Come on--think through your arguments! We are the ones working directly with the kids.
    ReplyDelete
  4. Anon - I absolutely do not believe we should fire 500 teachers. But that's what Hatrick and his supplicant School BOard members want everyone to believe what will happen. Remember Penny For A Pay Raise last year, championed by Stevens here? They didn't get the penny but they still gave the raise. That lost them whatever little credibility with the BOS they had left. Of course admin cuts and perks should go first, but that doesn't help the Good Old Boy Network at the Taj Mahal. You teachers should take Scott York's advice and send him and the other BOS members real world examples of real waste and abuse in the system so they can show the public where the real fat is. No one expects teachers to take the brunt of this, except for those intimidated by the scare tactics of the day.
    ReplyDelete
  5. No one is advocating firing teachers.
    There are plenty of places to begin real reform before you get to firing teachers.
    ReplyDelete
  6. will the community have time to step up and fight for teachers when/if it comes to the tiered reductions? here's the timeline: bos votes on the 9th--if they vote to reduce sb budget, then teachers will return from spring break on the 13th with reduction in force notices--happy return to work! contracts go out on the 15th, so if the sb doesn't have the budget, there goes the teachers. can you post a response to this, please, john? and others??
    ReplyDelete
  7. The comment space belongs to the readers, and I try to let them have it. I would prefer, if readers disagree with comments made here, that they post their own comments in response. Now is the time to advocate for your budget priorities, both to the Supervisors and the School Board. The School Board is scheduled to make its final budget reconciliation on April 13th.
    ReplyDelete
  8. Loudoun Insider there was no raise last year (no cost of living or step increase).
    ReplyDelete
  9. Guess what dubbs - there was no raise last year for an awful lot of us non-governmental employees last year! As an independent consultant, I didn't raise fees last year and gave more price breaks than usual. Time are tough - we all must share in the pain.

    Once again, I am not advocating firing teachers - I think there remains plenty of excesses in the school system to be able to trim costs without affecting teachers. I encourage you and any other teachers out there with concrete evidence of waste and abuse to take Scott York up on his offer and send him information so that he can show the School Board how to do their jobs.
    ReplyDelete
  10. LI, you'll advocate here for reasonable government, but now that Lori Waters is proposing an unexpected, unasked for and unneeded new high school representing 100M you back away from the argument?

    What part of wasting 100M doesn't impress you.

    Is it because the personality that is behind this is Waters, and you're only interesting in attacking Hatrick, Dupree, and the School Board?

    I'd like to see you come forward and blast this ridiculous idea.

    Seems hypocritical to me that you won't and motivated by favoritism.
    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.
    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)