Here’s the Article from the Free Lance Star About Caroline County’s Budget.
CAROLINE CUTS Proposed budget maintains tax rate
Proposed budget doesn’t call for a tax increase in Caroline
BY PORTSIA SMITH
Caroline residents won’t see an increase in real-estate taxes next year, but they may notice a reduction in county services if a proposed budget is approved.
We all have to make sacrifices and cut back. I applaud the decisions of the county for understanding that we all are struggling. Incomes have been cut. It’s going to happen everywhere – and it’s ok.
County Administrator Percy Ashcraft presented an $84.5 million overall spending plan to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday night. It keeps the real-estate tax rate the same but lowers spending by 16.2 percent from this year.
This is going to hurt. We’re not all going to agree on where the cutbacks should be but we are thankful for the Board for trying to make the best decisions for the county residents.
In that proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1, Ashcraft suggests a 10 percent cut across the board in all departments and agencies except public safety, which would see a 5 percent cut.
Education would get $11.3 million from the $33.9 million General Fund. That’s roughly the same amount it received this year after returning $600,000 to the county.
Superintendent Greg Killough is expected to present the school budget to supervisors March 10. He could announce the need to cut at least 34 employees to meet budget demands.
As a homeschooling parent, maybe more parents will decide to homeschool their children and there will be more money per student for those that are in the schools. Maybe more students could use parks and recs instead of classes through the school. Hopefully teachers will be given the opportunity to teach out of the box and to make classes come alive. And hopefully parents will stand with their children to help them make the most of their opportunity to learn and grow.
The county’s social services department, which has seen a 20 percent increase in foot traffic over the past year, would receive $433,601 under Ashcraft’s plan. That’s the same amount as in this year’s amended budget.
Less money for health insurance means more coming and going to social services, for the needs of their family. If you can get services for less through the county, then many will pick that route.
Increased fees for the Parks and Recreation programs are also proposed. These increases would bring in about $25,000 and could make the department self-supporting outside of salaries and benefits, Ashcraft said.
If P&R fees go up, will as many people attend? If not, then the surplus could turn into a deficit. I don’t think this will happen, but it’s something to keep in consideration.
Despite the budget reductions, this budget still provides for the core services to be offered to our citizens,” Ashcraft said in his budget message. “Our employees remain committed to work hard and serve the public in a time when it is needed the most.
Supervisors didn’t comment on the proposal during the meeting, other than to say they needed to look at it in more detail and that they knew there wasn’t a lot they could do under the current economic conditions. But Board Chairman Wayne Acors was glad to see no call for increasing the real-estate tax rate of 53 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Thanks for understanding that our budgets are extremely tight also. And many are already struggling to keep their homes.”Now is not the time to raise taxes because people are struggling, and putting another tax burden is not going to help anything,” Acors said.
Also discussed during Tuesday’s meeting was a recommendation by Public Works Superintendent Allen Ramsey to close trash drop-off sites on Wednesdays and holidays. The Jericho Road site would close permanently.This recommendation was based on the need to meet mandatory furloughs of all county employees and could save approximately $10,652 this fiscal year and $47,596 next year.All members of the board opposed closing the sites this year and suggested finding some other way to absorb the furloughs.
We will continue to pray for wisdom for the county supervisors!
Portsia Smith: 540/374-5419
Email: psmith@fredericksburg.com
The indented quotations are my editorial and the credit of this well reported article goes to the Free Lance Star.
