Well, the crafty old man has pulled another fast one on you, my loyal readers. See, while all of you were distracted with real life I nonchalantly blended into the stream of rush hour traffic on a sunny friday afternoon and decamped south. Indeed, I snuck out of town to attend a field hockey tournament at Lynchburg College. The OHS field hockey team was there for a day-long tournament.
At the risk of another “Miami Episode” I’ll say that Lynchburg isn’t a bad place. It kinda reminds me of Roanoke although, on the fringe, it looks a lot like parts of NoVa. For whatever reason, having at least 3 and maybe more colleges hasn’t transformed Lynchburg into a hip little mountain town. Mr. Falwell may have something to do with that…dunno…whatever the fact of the matter, both are relatively small conservative southern towns. I like them. They have an incredibly strong sense of community. of “self”. From a visitors point of view, Roanoke’s vision…or maybe identity seems a bit more cohesive. However, both have significant problems as well. Outside their central cores, zoning is kind of crazy – gas stations next to houses – and there is quite a bit of run-down almost blighted property. That part I don’t like so much.
Manassas has this kind of identity or “self”. It’s changed over the past couple of years but it is still here. I know it’s here because through all we’ve endured, people still care and argue passionately about this place. Go look at the previous post: 100+ comments. That’s not a community where nobody gives a crap. People call me, they come to my house and setup grand plans to take over the governement. People that don’t care don’t do stuff like that. People call us “Manaxico” and “Manassashole”, hell, I called it “The Jungle” but many of those same people aren’t leaving.
Now we all join arms and sing songs right? Not exactly. I have a confession: I like that Fairfax has killer schools. I want to live in a place that has killer schools. I like that central market in Roanoke. I like that Fairfax and Prince William have tons of infrastructure for public recreation. I want great schools and great recreation in my town. I want to maintain that sense of place and identity. We’re doing none of this. At all. In fact, the leadership of the city is very busy in making our town compare ever more poorly with our neighbors.
However, there is one bright spot: Our tax burden is the lowest in the region. A great example of how that is helping us is that the “Fashion Fantasy” adult store has closed and been replaced by a “we buy gold” store. Let me put it to you like this: have you ever encountered someone who said, “well, we were going to move to Prince William so we could enroll our child in the Science and Tech high school but taxes were a couple hundred bucks cheaper in Manassas so we moved there.” Ever heard that? Me either.
None of this is an argument to raise taxes. I don’t want to pay more tax than I have to. I also own a business in the City so I pay almost every tax we have. I’m arguing that we’re always having the wrong conversation: let’s figure out what we want Manassas to be and figure out how to make it happen. Our ambitions are clearly limited by our means but we need to set those goals so, when resources are available, we make strategic choices that everyone understands.
April 1, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Lynchburg has been doing study circles for four years now, and has increased their civic engagement through face-to-face dialogues, which continue to this day. http://www.lynchburgva.gov/Index.aspx?page=4149.
Leslie King, assistant to the city manager in Lynchburg, can tell you how to get them started in Manassas. She and Christen Zenich are both on the planning committee for the Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference, which will be in Charlottesville in Sept. 2012. Her contact information is at http://www.vsnc.org/?id=7
April 1, 2012 at 3:02 pm
I want:
1. Top notch schools….there are ONLY 8.
2. Clean, safe streets.
3. Well informed, committed community.
We can get there!
April 1, 2012 at 3:58 pm
http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/279104
Interesting story on the “Hill City” today.
April 1, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Andy,
Glad you enjoyed your trip to real Virginia. I thought the Gold store replaced the dry cleaners, or is that another store all together. It’s a shame more foresight was not used with Lake Manassas(or maybe the City was not able to purchase more land beyond the lake?). We could have had an 800 acre lake with bike and hiking trails, along with a campground or two.
I think the City still has “that feel” because it was not manufactured, but took decades to develop, and we may well have passed the point of no return, but still have a little of that feel left. Yes, out tax burden might be low, but as has been pointed out, we spend a bucket load of money on our schools already. Would it make sense to join the Northern Virginia Regional park service, that way, we can have access to many different parks at a discounted cost of access for visitors? I keep going back to the trains and airports, maybe it’s just not possible to incorporate them into a larger attraction, I don’t know.
April 1, 2012 at 4:47 pm
COM:
I think we’re on the same page. My own (perhaps too long) point was that we need to get about it in a structured way….
April 1, 2012 at 5:14 pm
A: Good post.
April 1, 2012 at 10:39 pm
I agree with Michele. We only have 8 schools. It looks as though the number per pupil is over $14,000 now?
More money in the hands of poor decision makers does not necessarily translate into more money for the students or teachers. Once again, we perform poorly and have poor morale because we have a top heavy dictatorship.
Clean safe streets and a new definition of “commercial vehicles” with regard to parking on residential streets or NOT!
April 2, 2012 at 6:31 am
Andy,
I guess that means development around the DMV area, but what might hamper that is the idustrial area on the other side of Godwin. But, we’ll see. Attracting new businesses that that area and a much needed hotel would go a long way.
April 2, 2012 at 9:06 am
http://www.roanoke.com/editorial/wb/306913
A public school system success story in Roanoke.
April 2, 2012 at 9:08 am
COM,
I almost always agree with you so I have to ask…….why a hotel? Hotels can lead to trouble and we do not need any more of that.
April 2, 2012 at 9:28 am
COM:
The city has made several attempts to develop that area. Most recently we had a deal with Lerner Enterprises (same guys that own the nationals). The poor economy killed that deal. I think that when the economy comes back, that land will be developed this time around. A hotel would be an attractive option as it provides a good base for restaurants and other commerce. However, I think we need to hold out for a nice hotel, not an economy deal.
April 2, 2012 at 9:46 am
Tenacity,
The 2013 budget includes 1,044 full time equivalent personnel consisting of 582 full time equivalent teachers, leaving 462 devoted to administration, food service, facilities/maintenance, and transportation. It also includes an additional $667,199 worth of hourly teachers and $947,100 to pay for substitute teachers when needed.
Of those 462, there are:
• 125 software/hardware/network support
• 74 office clerical
• 19 counselors
• 11 librarians
• 5 psychologists
• 3 social workers
The budget projected 2 different enrollment rates of 7358 and 7214. Using the higher enrollment, 582 teachers represent a ratio of 13 students per teacher. Accounting for the 131 Special Education teachers and assistants and the 44 ESOL teachers, those 7358 students being taught by the remaining 407 teachers (not counting the $667K hourly teachers) represents a ratio of 18 students per teacher. This data would suggest that numbers of personnel dedicated to instruction is not the issue. Rather what tasks the teachers are being required to perform based on current curriculum and assessment policy. It also begs the question of how many of these 407 teachers are actually dedicated to the students and how many are actually “teachers teaching teachers”. Clearly a worthy dialog to have with the new Superintendent is how to re-task instructional personnel so there is an effective focus on the students.
April 2, 2012 at 11:22 am
From personal experience I know that it’s difficult, if not impossible, for any Board of Directors to effectively micro-manage an organization, particularly a school system, where there are so many intangible and unquantifiable variables, i.e. ‘quality of instruction,’ ‘learning rates,’ ‘effective testing,’ ‘English comprehension,’ etc.
Developing an effective organization is a joint effort by a Board and a competent CEO, or Superintendent, who implements effective policies. This is not the right Board, and Gail Pope was not that person.
Yet, reverting to political survival instincts to cover their tails, the existing School Board and City Council timorously deferred to Gail Pope even though she was demonstrably both incompetent and ‘political,’ and who herself deferred to her staff (particularly Michaelene Meyer) whenever anyone asked her a pertinent question. In addition (or, in subtraction…), Gail Pope et al did not even know how to provide coherent reporting to the Board.
The other side of this ‘imbalanced sheet’ is the School Board, which has been consistently incapable of demanding lucid reporting. The big not-so-secret is that the current School Board is renowned for its incompetence — as evidenced by the current state of affairs.
Although budgetary analysis is essential, the primary objective of a School Board is to set coherent policies and have a competent superintendent implement them. Such policies would include reducing the inflated bureaucratic hierarchy of so many inflated egos (inflation-squared?), eliminating much of the useless testing, developing a professional atmosphere for teachers, having teachers involved in the curriculum, imposing traditional parameters of etiquette and moral discipline on students and staff, inculcating parental participation, eliminating waste, developing financial and administrative accountability, enforcing truancy and other laws, and converting the schools back into an education system instead of a bi-lingual welfare organization.
All of this is best done by engaging the services of a competent superintendent, and removing most members of the existing School Board. (For the latter position, I happen to be available at the moment… )
April 2, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Who can and can’t run for school board? If you work for the school system or you are in close relation to someone who works for the school system would that not be a conflict of interest?
April 2, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Fourkids,
As Andy said, we need a nice hotel( I was thinking of a notell hotel anyway), one that can not only be used for people flying in and out at the airport, but people that come into town by train, or would like to stay after attending a show at the Hylton Center. Or, just have a nice option on that part of the town. Not so much a town center, just a nice retail development.
Andy,
Yes, I recall that, but as you said a lot might change if the economy ever gets going again, and we make some other changes. Also, we should benefit from the high end developments in Bristow. The County does not have anything in that area yet, we need a good plan and the right timing.
April 2, 2012 at 5:21 pm
FourKidsnaDog,
Essentially any one can run for the School Board, provided that you get enough signatures to be on the ballot by the deadline.
Unfortunately, from what one can observe, nepotism does not seem to be a negative factor in this school system, or with relatives on the School Board…! There are plenty of examples.
However, if you are someone who wants to challenge the establishment, and you happen to work for the City, the mayor will get in your way. Ask around, and you’ll understand.
I am running because others won’t.
April 2, 2012 at 7:29 pm
I believe Mr. Sutherland is also running because others encouraged him to, because he is a person with intelligence, experience and the courage to ask the pertininent questions, and because he won’t settle for the redundant, lame responses that have been given in the past and demand real answers.
This board need to stop settling for opinions and summaries, require data and have access to the documentation to qualifiy the information given.
April 2, 2012 at 10:09 pm
I have spent a lot of time in Lynchburg as my daughter attended Lynchburg College for a year and I got quite familiar with that city. Also have friends down at the Beard Center for Aging at the college. And your right, Andy, in part Liberty has something to do with it, but also right it is a southern town for the most part. Shoot, considering Lynchburg’s history includes being the place during the Prohibition years the Moonshiners brought the jugs to float up the river to Richmond, can’t get much more South’n then that 🙂
Set a Stategic Plan with major goals – our current one is not bad and Pat did a fantastic job of relating City Manager budget to it. Comp Plan also is another place, but tie the Economic Development Plan in tighter. Think BIG, then plan accordingly because every hill gets taken one piece of ground at a time.
But looking at Lynchburg as an example, see more than three colleges in terms of what the City Government was willing to step up and “spend money to make money” – having a stadium for a Carolina League Baseball farm team is not a bad deal at all.
Their Council is also paperless – watch one of their sessions and they fire up tablet computers. Used to be laptops, but they moved forward from there. They also have a form of Public Information Office, and their website (although a bit clunky in part) is chock full of information.
They also have an office of Housing that is effective. Ours is still stuck in many peoples minds as still related to the lawsuit, but has been moving on from there. Our Housing Manager & Fair Housing Advocate has recruited two volunteers she is working to get trained and Virginia Certifications; goes out to where the homeless are and visits them & tries to assist them (as I stated to the Council a month or so back with examples of her great results); is working with the HOAs and also Landlords to form ongoing committee-style meetings; obtains her own certifications and striving toward getting the funds to get the HUD Certification which will lead to the City being able to apply for Federal Grant money – and not wait on PWC Housing & Community Development to give us a slice; and dozen more things. All with one person, two volunteers, and almost nothing for a budget. And gets very little press.
There are some who have relied on Neighborhood Services (NS) to be a Housing Office more than what it should be. Our own draft Comp Plan says “Housing & Neighborhoods” and rightly so – you cannot have a neighborhood without houses. NS should be not only an office where they coordinate assistance in ensuring neighborhoods are within City Code, but also the place to not only bring in volunteers, but also create a corps of volunteers to carry on after the groups leave. Look to other places and NS act as the City’s Ombudsman for Neighborhoods – Lynchburg and Roanoke both are two good examples of this. Give Housing the missions such as working with landlords especially since Housing Management must have certifications – Neighborhood Services does not require such. 16 months ago I stood before the Council and said we needed an Office of Housing & Neighborhood Services with Housing having the lead.
Back to looking at Lynchburg, they have done a great job of chasing Community Development Block Grants for housing area issues. I can think of one area prime for a CDBG and that is Wildwood Condos. 85% of the residents are elderly and/or disabled…and those buildings make me want to holler out why aren’t we chasing Fed dollars. Why? We don’t hold necessary HUD Certification yet by Housing.
Lynchburg and Roanoke both have great Comp Plans. They don’t table them because people holler – they lay out the ideal state in those plans knowing it takes years to get money for roads and other capital projects. Of course, they also sell them appropriately to the citizens, but even looking at the notes from all the meetings on Sudley Road/Hospital Sector, our citizens who were involved at the time right down to the two major components over there were in favor of the majority of the plan aspects.
Capture the data and make predictions for economic future is also used by them. For us, did we capture the data on the Stadium and make a forecast? Granted, economy tanked, but that forecast should remain as a “possible” and added as an appendix in a sector plan as an example. Odds are, it is filed away (maybe in the warehouse with the Ark like Indiana Jones?).
April 3, 2012 at 7:10 am
Great post, Ray. Mickey helped me with many of those Neighborhoods Work meetings over the past two years. I disbanded them because not much came out of them, but she has the right idea, bringing small groups of people together to communicate and take action. Not everything we try works, but at least we’re trying it and it’s VOLUNTEERS doing the legwork, with Mickey and Kisha leading the way. I wish more people would listen to you.
You did leave out Hampton Roads with their “Sold on Hampton” and “Caught with Curb Appeal” programs. Hampton, Roanoke, Manassas, Lynchburg — all these folks know each other and share ideas through the Virginia State Neighborhood Conference planning and events each year.
April 3, 2012 at 12:33 pm
@Cindy – thanks for the add-ins on Hampton Roads. So many programs, so much information…and my brain sometimes seizes up with overload.
April 3, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Back on Economics and our City: What kind of drivers do we have which we should look at that are not “straight” business such as Micron or the Airport?
Housing: I rethought a bit about saying having a combined Housing & Neighborhood Services. Housing Office should be under Economic Development since the RE Tax is the biggest contributor to General Fund. I’ll skip expanding on that as I gave a long speal above.
Historic District: it is both an economic driver in terms of the RE Tax, but also as said in other posts here (back on Prescott House) a reason people visit us. Historic Resources should be both our Musuem System plus the houses. An aspect not explored fully yet, but also fits into the role of Housing Office working with ARB and HRB for those home on the National Historic Registry.
Schools: not gonna say much as we have beat the horse on this one. We all know this is a major economic driver and a major consumer of funding.
Nonprofits:
(1) We have the Contributing Agencies providing for the most part elements of Human Services for a public benefit. Within these Agencies which the City provides a contribution, there are ways to measure both the data-driven benefit and also the “soft skill” proxy benefit. Example: contribution to SERVE for the homeless shelter allowing both our Family Services and Housing Office to have them “off the street” and at a fixed place to enable working to resolve their homelessness or provide other services. Government cannot provide the same shelter service at the lower cost, nor is a for-profit business willing to set up a chain of homeless shelters so the nonprofit does.
(2) Arts: using the broad term to cover the various entities. This is a toughy and a sore point with many of us. We contribute to various groups, but also to facilities. What is the economic benefit back to the City? Do we actually have people who come into the City before or after performances at Hylton Center? For the various groups, they receive the Box Office proceeds, but what benefit to those who cannot afford the ticket? Do the groups contribute by having free performances or free classes to those who cannot afford them? Could they come into MCPS and assist with their Arts programs? Lots of questions and hard to measure the economic benefit.
(3) RE Tax: ok, this one may set some folks off. Much is talked about now in these economic times about how much the nonprofits are holding in tax exempt properties. There is over $795million in exemption within Manassas which does not include the Public Facilities ($77million). That’s a large chunck held by the nonprofits and the current debate is how much are they contributing to cost of Public Services especially Public Safety. Debate centers on nonprofits should be contributing to Police & Fire, and still have their nonproft exemption. But combined in that is for the times nonprofits hold for-profit entities such as thrift stores (collect sales tax, but also on this for-profit aspect pay RE Tax on that building). An area which is unfolding, but something to think on in terms of economic driver….especially what public benefit are we receiving by allowing those millions of dollars not to be taxed.
Hospital: major employer, major economic contributor to factors such as people come to the hospital then may purchase food at resturant, buy gas, stop in 7-11, etc. In terms of the economic driver, we should have better representation on the Board of Trustees – an area being explored also.
Old Town: Major driver, but who is running it? We have the Historic District (think Musuem System), OTBA and HMI. Each contribute to activities driving economic engine. At least in terms of HMI, we should have a Council representative on that Board and the IRS rules do allow for when a government has a major interest in the activities of a nonprofit such as HMI and all they do, the nonprofit has to accept the government on their board (I’ll skip the citiation as it is boring to read).
Chamber of Commerce: contributes as economic driver, but too County focused. We need also a Council seat on the board ensuring we have our say.
April 3, 2012 at 3:38 pm
The Chamber is region focused, not county focused, Ray, there’s a difference. The more city businesses that are active members, serving on councils and committees, the better. The Chamber is to “economic gardening” as OHS mulch is to my azaleas. But you have to get out there and work it.
Hylton has free-admission stuff all the time – from Vision Series lectures to the Arts Alive 2012 event coming up on May 6, noon to 6 pm. How many city businesses purchase tickets to give to their clients – “appreciation marketing” – or donate them to silent auctions – I’ve seen plenty of those. And you’d be surprised how many city residents are involved in those resident arts partner groups. There are benefits if you use it as a resource.
April 4, 2012 at 6:38 am
I wonder if the City of Lynchburg also purchases tables at special events for City employees to attend for free? Because that’s what it appears our City is doing. http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2012/04/03/free-taxpayer-dinner-tux-required/
April 4, 2012 at 8:05 am
Cindy, my comment on the Chamber was the gist of a conversation with someone who expressed that opinion. Was sort of hoping the individual would appear here and expand on that…LOL..
I can speak the “language” and talk as to how the Arts contribute to the community in the sense of culture enhancement as we have opportunities many do not have. The point on Hylton is what is the economic benefit – I have attended the Vision Series when a topic comes around. Given though the dollar amount going out ($319,000), what is the return? Alas, I also know that is an answer difficult to obtain.
April 4, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Art as contibution to economics & development: ok, found part of the answer reflecting positive factors in the VA Municipal League Jan & Feb 2012 edition:
http://www.vml.org/VTC/12VTC-PDF/VTCJanFeb12_web.pdf
April 5, 2012 at 9:24 am
COM, the purchase of the table is an interesting question to pose. Given the range of the table sponsorship ($3000/$5000/$10,000), one has to wonder why and what benefit. I can support similar action when there is a “seeable” benefit – whether that be a “soft” or “hard” benefit – but this one has me pondering.
April 5, 2012 at 2:11 pm
School Budgets in Other Places (to include Lynchburg) pulled from the VA Municipal League latest Update:
School budgets mix spending cuts with requests for more local dollars
The country music group Rascal Flatts has a song called “Holdin’ On.” The song title might also serve as the theme for many of Virginia’s school divisions when it comes to the preparation of next year’s budget. With the expiration of federal stimulus money and the unknowns surrounding next year’s state budget, school boards might be wondering how they can meet increasingly stringent education standards with finite resources.
Below is a snapshot of what is going on across the state based on newspaper reports.
The Poquoson School Board approved its budget for FY13. The plan includes more than $900,000 in budget cuts along with a request to city council for $160,000 of additional funding. The budget includes no layoffs or employee raises.
Spending reductions include the elimination of nine teachers and 2.5 support positions through attrition and almost $150,000 in categorical cuts. Spending pressure comes from new expenses for transportation, fuel and health insurance. Local dollars now comprise just over 37 percent of the school division budget.
In Norfolk, the school board approved a budget asking the city to cover a $6.6 million budget shortfall. The plan gives school employees a 2 percent pay raise, the first increase in five years. City council may not be able to fulfill the request because assessed property values fell for the third consecutive year, a potential $5.6 million drop in real estate taxes.
The Suffolk School Board approved a budget that includes a 2 percent raise for all employees but that eliminates 76 positions (no teachers). The budget also ends the division’s contribution to Sentara Obici Hospital’s School of Practical Nursing. Local money comprises 40.6 percent of the operating budget. The proposal would have the city up its contribution by $7 million.
The Portsmouth school plan had to cope with the loss of $3 million in federal funding as well as changes in the local composite index. The school board-approved budget asks the city to increase its support by $2.5 million in FY13. The proposal contains no layoffs.
In Chesapeake, the school board adopted a budget proposal nearly identical to the one offered by the superintendent. The budget plan is balanced without layoffs, furloughs or significant program cuts. However, the budget provides no employee raises and eliminates 23 positions, including teachers and administrative support through attrition. Teachers would no longer receive extra pay for supervising the halls and cafeteria during their planning periods, and would receive less in tuition assistance when taking college classes. Students in behind-the-wheel driver’s education would pay $300, a $100 increase. An accelerated-learning program to serve about 60 middle-school students who are falling behind academically would be eliminated.
Facing a $4.2 million budget shortfall, the Charlottesville School Board closed the gap with $3.4 million in extra local contributions and $1 million in reductions. A good portion of the city hall money, however, is one-time, meaning the shortfall will pop up again next year. To find a permanent fix, the city plans to assemble a group later in the spring to examine consolidation of city and school departments along with a greater partnership with Albemarle County.
According to city officials, the school budget has been seriously strained by state funding decisions. Since FY09, state funding for city schools has dropped by more than $3 million or roughly 18 percent.
The Lynchburg interim superintendent told city council that the school division will cut more teachers, beyond the 34 positions already budgeted, if $3.7 million in additional local funding does not materialize. The city manager has proposed a $3.7 million per year increase to the schools, plus $3.8 million in division cuts. In the last three years the school division has had 122 layoffs, reduced the instructional supply allotment from $25 to $1 per pupil, reduced allotments for field trips by transferring those costs to parents, cut employee benefits, and required employee contributions for health/dental/vision insurance.
A portion of the spending reductions or increases in local contributions could be reduced depending on the actions taken by the General Assembly and Gov. Bob McDonnell on next year’s state budget. Both the House and Senate versions of the state budget include additional state funding for public education.
April 28, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Councilman Harrover, I do not live in the City but I have a close elderly relative that does live in the City and another that works for the City and I work and play in the City. Therefore, I keep up with the happenings. I have wondered in the past couple of weeks why the City has allowed the vacant property on Centreville Rd. Next to the run down auto sale business to look like it does. This has really become a blighted property. Does it have something to do with the property on Prescott Ave? I fully understand the citizens who pay taxes being against spending money on private property, but with state laws that allow the City to recoup the money in a relatively short time, I would think that allowing properties to look like these, it must be hard for the inspectors to enforce existing codes on other property owners when they know the City will not go the extra mile to finish jobs on owners like these. Just my two cents and hope there are no hard feelings for a neutral party expressing things they see that could help.