20 hours of City meetings total this week. I am crabby and tired. The tax rate that the Council will present to the citizens at our next meeting will be $1.35. The city manager’s budget, which was a wonder of balance and priority, used a tax rate of $1.37 and cut a lot of money and positions from the budget. We cut some more last night. We also used a very small amount ($200k) of fund balance. We have more than $13 million in the fund balance (rainy day fund).
The proposed fire levy will also go down a cent. The 3rd fire station has been put on hold until our Fire and Rescue department can complete their plans. I think the station is a reasonable idea but we need to make sure we understand what we’re getting into. We’ll get there and probably sooner than later.
I’ll post the category by category summary later but average taxes should go down $40/month.
More later.
April 2, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Andy, last night was a great example of what can be accomplished when reasonable people sit down and discuss issues in an intelligent, rational manner. All parties involved set goals and worked to achieve them. Congradulations.
April 2, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Andy,
Did you see my post below regarding the drop out rate? If so, do you have anything to say about it?
April 2, 2009 at 7:42 pm
COM:
I wish we had no dropouts but we do. However, the schools are run by their own elected board and not the council.
I encourage you to contact them and make your position clear.
April 2, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Andy,
I understand there is a school board, but as a member of the City Council, you must have some leadership role and since there is that silly budget agreement between the Council and the school board, why don’t you show some leadership and instead of providing even more money to the failing school system tell them to get their act together or additional funding will not be provided.
You took the lead on “Manassas next” which you obviously believe in, yet, you seem to not be bothered with the failing school system.
We usually see this type of indifference from the out of touch elites in Washington.
April 3, 2009 at 7:03 am
Andy,
Who hires the school Superintendent? She should be held accountable as well.
April 3, 2009 at 10:09 am
COM,
The Superintendent is selected by the City of Manassas
School Board that is, in turn, selected by the citizens of Manassas
through elections.
April 3, 2009 at 11:01 am
Steve,
Does the Council have any control over the school system?
April 3, 2009 at 11:25 am
FYI-
The Council has very little control over the school system. In the Virginia system (which I think is flawed), a school board is independently elected by the citizens to run the schools. The City provides some of their funding (about half). They set their budget and personnel decisions independent of the City Council. The kicker is that if they run a deficit, we are ultimately liable to cover it for them. Now, politically I don’t think that would happen but it is a worst case scenario. In my view the schools should have taxing authority independent from the City. Many states have this system. If you agree with me, the place to voice the issue is Richmond and our electeds there. I’ve already said my piece with them.
April 3, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Would note that the citizens of Manassas
voted to move from a School Board appointed by the
City Council to an elected body. A reasonable assumption
is that was a decision by the voters to put more
“control” in the hands of the School Board. (FYI – Manassas Park
voted the other way – their School Board remains appointed).
In Manassas, the City Council works with the School Board –
it doesn’t “control” it.
April 3, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Thanks for the information. Though, it does seem our money goes to fund the schools, and that money goes through the Council. Andy seems to not want to answer any questions regarding the ” funding agreement” between the Council and the school board.
That would be the way to go to get more control over the failing school system. I simply can’t understand why the Council is not more concerned with the failing school system that is taking more and more valuable tax income.
The move to reward the school system with even more money for “Manassas next” was a huge mistake. How is a a school system with one of the highest drop out rate, schools that are barely meeting standards gong to attract better students and families.
It seems to me the Council is just about how much money it can spend with a could care less attitude if it is wasted or not. A palms up, slumped shoulder what can I do reaction to the wasting of tax dollars and under preforming school system is not what I consider good leadership or focus on the larger picture.
Even though the Council may not have much control over the school board and the school system, it seems to me a collective statement from the Council, expressing disappointment in the recent news, should be directed at the school board and Superintendent.
April 6, 2009 at 10:26 am
FYI-
Off topic, but in todays N&M on page B8, surrounded by Trustee Sale
notices, is an official City of Manassas notice for a council public
hearing on Monday, April 20th, 7:30PM to admend the Code of
Manassas. ” This admendment would limit the size of signs in residential
zoning districts to no more than 32 square feet.”
Thought some of you would like a head’s up.
April 6, 2009 at 4:30 pm
“In spite of the large amount of unemployment, there has been
no compliant of thieving. It is believed that general orderliness
of the town is largely due to the practice of the police
requiring that all hoboes found on the streets spend the night
in the lock-up and get out of town promptly upon being released
in the morning.”
“The major efforts of the police have been directed toward
prevention of the violation of the prohibition laws and in control
of traffic on the major throughfares.”
“For many years the volunteer fire company has used obsolete
equipment all dating back to the days when horse power was used
exclusively.”
“In consideration of the town having bought and paid for new
apparatus the company was reorganized and is now composed
of twenty-five men whose devotion of time and effort to the
safeguarding of the town should be given full and just recognition.”
From – Report for Biennial Fiscal Years
September 1,1928 to August 31, 1929
September 1,1929 to August 31, 1929
Respectfully submitted,
Wm. F. Cocke, Town Manager
(Thought some might find this of interest – or maybe not – but in
the last two weeks the council – 80 years later – is still focused
on fire/rescue issues and police crime trend reports.)
April 6, 2009 at 9:46 pm
That’s nice Steve, but what makes you think those who would erect already illegal signs in our City residential areas would comply with this new ordinance? It baffles me why the City doesn’t have the willingness to enforce what was already on the books. Why wasn’t Public Works just told to go take down the offending sign before? I have little confidence this new ordinance will make a difference.
April 6, 2009 at 10:56 pm
DavidB-
Public Works is not enpowered by our system to act on their own and remove the sign. The City needs a court order. The new ordinance will hopefully clarify our rules so that the courts will be more willing to allow City action. The courts are reluctant (understandably) to act hastily, to unduly restrict what they perceive of as property rights and to hand more power to local government. Not saying that I agree with them in this case but the process is a part of our civil liberties/judicial system.
April 7, 2009 at 11:47 am
WOW…I just got my utility bill from the city. It appears, according to the city, that my water meter quit working sometime during the “billing” cycle. So to make up for their loss they averaged my bill based on history for the current period and additional for what they feel they might have lost.
Therefore, my water and sewer was 3.4 times higher than last cycle and 2.08 times higher than the same period last year. TOO BAD, SO SAD for me! The whole family was gone for 9 days of the billing period and 1 person for the entire month…WHICH probably would have made my bill less.
I guess I will have to NOT ONLY have someone watch my pets while we’re on vacation, but my water meter as well. I was SO looking forward to a cheaper bill, instead, got a MORE EXPENSIVE ONE!
Just when you think you might catch a break…something does!
April 7, 2009 at 3:38 pm
The rates for water/sewer/garbage, etc have gone through the roof the last seven years. The best excuse I heard was from Mr. Moon, who said our costs were in line with other area jurisdictions. Wow, just wow. Should we also aspire to have the same murder rates as DC, PG County etc? Should we aspire to have the same crime rates as those areas? Of course not. But, that seems to be how our City Government defends higher taxes, to compare us to others.
April 7, 2009 at 3:43 pm
COM you need to get a life. I bet your family just loves the way you whine and complain about everything. You must be a joy to be around, I don’t even know you and I feel sorry for those who have to around your crying all day long. How about something positive once and a while? How did you feel about the weather last weekend?
April 7, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Get a life…
Hmmm, you want to call me out for complaining too much, by complaining about me. Yup, that makes sense.
Sorry, if you think I am too negative, but if there is something positive to say about the City, I usually will do so. However, there has not been much to brag about lately. High taxes, low home values, poor results from the schools, lay offs etc.
April 7, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Wah, wah, wah….call the wahmbulance. But really, how bout that weather? And you usually say the positive things about the city? Name a couple of posts you have had that are positive about the city. Taxes are not high as a matter of fact they are coming down, the home values are much closer to where they should be and the schools are doing great things, you should stop by one sometime. You are right though, the lay-offs in the city suck.
April 8, 2009 at 9:04 am
Taxes are high, fees are high. Go back and look at the rates from 2002 and compare them to now. Even with inflation, there has been a steep increase in them. Taxes are high. Did you know in addition to the State tax, Manassas also has a meals tax? So every time you go eat out in the City, you are charged an additional tax for having the nerve to support your local business owner. At a time businesses are suffering in Old Town, the tax should be reconsidered until the economy improves.
How can the schools be doing great things when the drop out rate is high, the budget is out of control, the standards are just being met?
I’ve supported the City in their attempts to cut down on illegal aliens, supported their efforts on the “sign”. I supported the City Council when they committed to preserving the history and heritage of the City.
The weather is just fine, a typical spring here in the area.
April 8, 2009 at 4:24 pm
How is the school budget out of control? I hear they cut it around 7 million bucks. No raises and benifit cuts for employees. Yes I know about the meals tax, not a big deal. The city budget is tight, like you said they have had layoffs as have the schools. The city has cut the budget as well, not much waste as I see it, the council has done a great job keeping most of the services while giving us a tax break this year. The weather last weekend was great but it has been far from typical. Very dry, rainfall down over 5 inches for the year. Smile COM, you live in a great city, but if you think it is so bad you can always leave.
April 8, 2009 at 6:43 pm
get a life, thank you for calling out the very angry citizenofmanassas. I thought I was the only one who was tired of this individuals critisizing of the Manassas City government. if he is so unhappy, he should try MP.
April 8, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I would leave, except I can’t sell my house, unless I want to take a loss, and no, I did not buy at a high price.
The weather is almost very typical, cold one day, warm the next, hot, then back to cold. Very dry? I guess you’ve not been paying attention the rain over the last week? We were above average last year for rain, in the end it equals out. Also the ten day forecast has plenty of rain forecasted.
An additional tax is no big deal to you? Wow, I’d like to have some of your money.
Remember when everyone was complaining about $4.00 a gallon gas? How much of that was tax?
If I recall correctly, the budget went up 10% in 2003 or 2004 and then it was up about 8% and so forth. I’d say there was a lot of waste, starting with the funding for the “arts” center, paying for too many illegals to go to school, etc.
Of course the school budget is too much, when you consider it accounts for 50% of overall budget of the City. Last year and the previous year the school board said they could not cut anymore. Yet, some how they were able to cut 7 million this year. Hmm, seems someone was not very honest in years past.
April 9, 2009 at 1:16 pm
More moments in History-
Under the headline “Several Projects Are Not Funded”
“A $300,000 appropiation for a second fire station and training site
called for in the CIP in 1987 is left out of the FY 1987 budget.”
Manassas Journal-Messenger (4-15-1986)
Also, a chart on the same front page showed Manassas education
expenditures as 60.4% of the proposed 1986-87 budget.
April 9, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Well, prepare for phone calls. The FF union was out distributing flyers today urging citizens call you Council types in support of the Central Park fire station. People on the south side of town should be seeing them in their door as they arrive home from work today.
April 9, 2009 at 7:27 pm
We are not getting a tax break. $ 1.10 to $1.49 per hundred is not a break.The property tax is based on the assessed value of real estate which has gone down approx 30-50% from the inflated values of the last several years. Sure, we are going to pay about 10% less than last year when it should be more in line with the declining value of our houses. Over the last several years the city goverment and schools took in alot more revenue and grew fat and happy, now that the market has downturned they are having trouble maintaining some services. Unfortunately more cuts need to be made and the local goverment needs to realize their job should be to only provide basic services and not cater to every groups whims. I also think attacking others opinions solves nothing. The councilmen have a tough job as this is one of the only venues where the taxpayer can talk directly to the men in charge. Less goverment and lower taxes, isn’t that what the Republican party is about? Thank you for the opportunity to post.
April 9, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Ok, here is something nice. With the very nice weather we had today, we got out and took a nice long walk around the neighborhood this evening.
April 9, 2009 at 8:37 pm
That a boy COM. It was a great day, I couldn’t enjoy it til late because I was working indoors all day but it sure was nice when I got done. Hey bud, take a lesson from COM and enjoy the day. We care what the city is all about, not “what the Republican party is about”.
April 9, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Of course it is all about the GOP, since they run the City. We should not act like the people who want to take control of the City, and who bash the GOP at every turn. When the GOP acts like the GOP we will have an even nicer City.
April 10, 2009 at 1:27 pm
City Proposes $1.70 Rate on Real Estate
Headline – Manassas Journal-Messenger
April 21, 1977
“Twenty residents attended the hearing which did not produce
protest or outcries about the proposed budget … Praise was
given the council …”
April 10, 2009 at 2:26 pm
COM,
Who are the people who “want to take control of the City, and who bash the GOP at every turn”? I hope you don’t mean the Democrats because I don’t think they exist in the city.
April 10, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Yes, I do mean the Dems. Timmy Kaine bashes the GOP all of the time, Obama bashes the GOP all of the time. And, what does our Council who has a GOP majority do? They hold their hands out and ask for money from those two clowns. Not a single member of the GOP in the House and only three turn coats in the Senate voted for the “stimulus” bill. That bill is going to cost much more in the long run, but our Council must think there is still such a thing as a free lunch. The debt payment alone on the bill will be more than enough to wipe out any revenue produced by it.
And, while some on the Council complain about Federal unfunded mandates for education, what do they do? They buy into a bill that is full of unfunded mandates.
There are plenty of Dems in the City, though, some are confused and still consider themselves to be members of the GOP.
Anyway it is Good Friday, the weather is great, so I’m off to enjoy….