The kickoff of the budget season will begin next Monday, the 18th, at 5:30 in the second floor conference room. This
will be a work session on the 5-year forecast. Work session means public meeting but no comment period. A comment period at this point would be premature – we haven’t selected a forecast so there isn’t anything substantive to comment on!
The forecast is what we use to frame the budget discussions. It doesn’t “set the tax rate” but it is pretty close as the forecast is what the City Manager uses to develop his budget. The forecast is developed by creating a number of scenarios and the Council picks which one they want. The scenarios that I’ve seen so far are “status quo” (which is always done) and also a “flat residential tax bill” scenario. Early versions of the the flat tax bill scenario seem to require cutting about $1.5 million from the budget.
That shortfall is significant as I suspect that we will have less money coming from the State as they continue to fix their budget. The bulk of the rainy day fund has been spent and they can’t skip another retirement system payment so it looks to be tough in Richmond as well. Based on past experience, that means less money for Police, Schools and Social Services. The GA will also probably hold on to some of the revenue they normally pass through.
On a side note: The scheme the Governor has cooked up to sell the ABC stores won’t hurt us this year but the most likely deal seems to be a stew of taxes on various and sundry alcohol-related commerce to make up about the same amount of money that we currently get from the ABC department. It’s a future concern but what normally happens down the road is the state rolls back whatever payments it promised to localities. Witness the 599 funds, road maintenance payments, car tax relief and communication tax (each of which is a great story btw)…
If you’re interested in any of this – schools, police, fire, general gov’t – you should be there.
October 12, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Those of us who talk the talk on on Andy’s Blog should now walk the walk and demonstrate our interest by attending at 5:30 on the 18th. We have our differences at times but we are all Manassas-loving folks. Let’s show Council by our presence that we appreciate the difficult issues now pending before them. As Andy says, “If you”re interested in any of this – schools, police, fire, general gov’t – you should be there.”
October 12, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Andy, as I recommended last year, please do make the effort to post the drafts & working papers either as part of the Council’s Agenda Packet or here on the blog. Naturally, those that can be released to the public. 🙂
That way, even if folks can’t make the meetings as they unfold, the documents are at least there for folks to see and submit comments on. Just another way, like Rich writes, we can reflect our presence.
THANKS!
October 13, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Change of topic but FYI:
There was a large crowd of folks at the Harris Pavilion
this morning in front of a sign “Hugh DiJette For
President” – checked Google and came up with zip.
Curious, I returned to Old Town to pick up
some DiJette literature – third party candidate, but
which one? What is their platform? Turns out
Hugh DiJette is a fictional name, it is a commercial
complete with extras for apparently a conservative
leaning group. They have rented the Pavilion for
today and Thursday.
Hugh DiJette = Huge Debt
October 13, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Peter G. Peterson Foundation you can Google.
Our America. Our Future
October 13, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Peter G. Peterson Foundation you can Google.
Our America. Our Future
October 13, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I have to admit that I’m a bit disappointed (to clarify, however, not by Steve’s posts above). I appreciate that I’m preaching to the choir here, and I thus beg your indulgence as I do so below.
When the subject is sex, the input comes flying in. Now that the subject is the boring basics of schools, police, fire and gen’l government, there is relative silence…..
We must be engaged about these boring core issues. Maybe we just got a little overstimulated by the K&K debates and we are now merely in the process of, um, recharging our batteries.
If political candidates perceive that the people can be distracted from important but “boring” core issues by relatively minor issues that excite like a soap opera, then they will run on soap opera platforms and we will end up electing bit players instead of effective leaders. Certainly none of us wants that.
And so we must be engaged , and encourage our friends to be engaged, in the bigger but boring issues. It’s now time to really focus and take care so that we and our local elected leaders do not catch a case of political attention deficit disorder.
So, please say after me (repetez apres moi): “Schools, police, fire….”
Thank you.
October 13, 2010 at 10:11 pm
I’m listening, Rich. Just didn’t want to admit the last budget work session I went to I only lasted a few hours while everyone else went until 1 am.
Best way for citizens to engage, see the issues first hand and meet government halfway is to volunteer. Neighborhood Watch. Fire Corps/CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training. There’s also Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) that could be started in the city. All work to help Police, Fire, EMS.
Consider joining the 100 adults/38 youth already registered for the neighborhood conference Nov. 13. Our goal is 300 attendees, and the focus is on “volunteering for healthy and stable communities.”
October 13, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Rich, your right…folks need to stay engaged. There was a MAJOR threat from the House down in Richmond last year to kill the Machine & Tool (M&T) Tax.
For our City, that means around $5million lost to the coffers. The County does not have M&T as they collect other fees; the Park doesn’t either since they have no real industrial base.
That vote last year went three rounds in the House, with it failing the first time; passing the second; and on the third call died by two votes. All but one of the Delegates across Prince William voted to kill it – Torian was the only wise one who could see the impact. We citizens have to join with the Council and say – “oh no you don’t” especially to Delegate Miller (who served on the Council and should know the budget impact).
The second threat waiting to come alive is one to reduce or end the BPOL fees. For the City, that is about $3.5million, and the County folks will probably join in the fight to save since it means $20 million for them, and the Park is around $750,000. If those numbers are halved or ended, that means big trouble for all.
These both are local taxes and the Assembly needs to leave them alone. Let’s add them to the mantra…
October 14, 2010 at 8:07 am
Adding to what Cindy said, a great way to help the budget is to volunteer AT the fire company or rescue squad. Both offer free training, uniforms, etc, as well as a retirement plan and break on your car personal property tax (both generously supported by Council). There’s no greater feeling in public service than helping your fellow citizen in their time of dire need.
October 14, 2010 at 11:33 pm
As for sex in the City…tthat attracts people from all over, sort of like the PWC Fair. Schools, police and the businss of running a city are the business of the citizens and their elected LOCAL officials.
I would not presume to tell you how to spend your money. You will face tough choices, like PWC.
October 15, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Read the three scenarios attached to the agenda….and I for one am against “B” with a flat rate. Plus the flat rate nails the schools too.
We do not need to have another mil dropped out of revenue.
Considering when “One Cent = $356,000” as related to the levy, put that penny in my tax rate and let’s get funding for the at-risk and mandate….and fund MCPD FTEs and maybe a few across departments.
October 16, 2010 at 9:58 am
“State aid to localities has fallen by over one billion
dollars since 2008. State spending per pupil dropped
from $5,300 to $4,500 over the past two years.
Additional reductions were made to mental health programs, social services, sheriffs, police, jails and
courts. Ending the BPOL and M&T taxes would
gouge millions more a year from local budgets
at a time when they are being required to also
shoulder more state responsibilities.”
Virginian-Pilot op/ed (10-5-2010)
October 16, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Steve, rest assure the issue of M&T and BPOL has been heard loud and clear. I am beating the 55-gallon drum with a pipe to make as much noise as I can.
I plan on raising the issue to the COA, our DSB, and also to the NoVA Aging Network as it will impact Human Services big time if localities loose or get reduced local taxes. Starting with those three, figuring out who next. 🙂
October 18, 2010 at 11:29 pm
Rich,
The subject wasn’t simply sex. The subject was bad city management, poor government. Unfortunately, there is a tendency by many of the regular posters here to misrepresent what took place. The issue was fairly simple: OT is small with limited space; the products listed on the firm’s web site were pornographic.
The issue was circulated among a network of people from Manassas that many of the regulars posters here have crossed swords with before on local politics.
Instead, of keeping it focused on the problem many locals and not-so-locals saw it as an opportunity to continue the fight on a variety of fronts. Fine, flail away, but please tone down the moral condescension when you suggest that those who opposed the opening of the sex shop simply showed up for the cheap thrill of attending some City Council meetings.
I like Andy’s Blog because it does a decent job of keeping city management affairs front and center, better than the local paper, but honestly the comment sections can run a little long and moral lecturing about how others are all about moral lecturing is rather silly.