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Money for schools likely to fall short
While Loudoun supervisors appear poised to raise the real estate tax rate, it looks increasingly unlikely it will be the 25-cent hike proposed by County Administrator Kirby Bowers in the county's next fiscal plan.
Over discussions this month about Loudoun's fiscal year 2009 budget, supervisors have dropped clear hints that they are not comfortable with Bowers' tax rate of $1.216 per every $100 of a home's assessed value. The current rate is 96 cents.
Such an increase, county budget officials said, would raise the average tax bill in Loudoun by $640.
Since Bowers made his $1.6 billion budget pitch in February, supervisors have said they've been inundated with e-mails from property owners upset over the prospect of paying higher taxes while food and gas prices continue to climb.
Supervisors are now attempting to balance the concerns of residents with the needs of the budget's largest beneficiary -- the school system.
Even at the proposed rate of $1.216, funding for schools would still fall $23 million short of what the School Board requested from supervisors.
On March 19, county and school officials met to discuss various tax rate scenarios.
One tax rate being floated by supervisors is $1.10. Such a number would mean the school system would have to trim its budget by unprecedented $81 million. At a rate of $1.15, the school system would fare better, but it would still need to cut $52 million from its spending plan.
Facing continued growth and higher fuel and health-care costs, school officials say any funding shortfall from the county would force tough cost-saving decisions on their part.
"We would have to seriously rethink a lot of things," warned J. Warren Geurin, the Sterling District representative on the School Board.
Though it's premature to determine exactly where savings would come from, schools Superintendent Edgar Hatrick did explain to supervisors that cutting programs and positions appear to be obvious places to start.
Hearing this, Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) suggested schools also look to its salaries to save money, citing that since "many teachers are married" they're "getting double salaries" in their households.
Depending on experience and education, teachers' salaries range from $44,357 to $96,887.
Burton's remark drew the ire and a quick response from Supervisor Kelly Burk (D-Leesburg), who is a special education teacher with the school system. She called Burton's comment "sexist."
"You should pay people on the merit of what they do," she commented. "Not on whether they are single or married."
The board will set the tax rate and adopt a budget by early April.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
When we moved to Loudoun County in the late 1970's, the tax rate was among the lowest in the region. At the same time, the county provided less in the way of services than some other jurisdictions, but that was a reasonable and acceptable trade-off. Now Loudoun has one of the highest, if not the highest tax rate in the region, and still provides less in the way of services than other nearby jurisdictions. There are multiple reasons for this. The business tax base is a smaller percentage in comparison to the residential base, partially because past Boards of Supervisors have fallen all over themselves to help residential developers while paying scant attention to 'growing the business sector.' There has also been a lack of attention to infrastructure. The recent water restrictions were not so much the result of the drought (Loudoun Water buys most of its water from Fairfax County, which had no serious problem) as much as a lack of planning to keep up with the explosive residential growth. Loudoun has more than doubled in population since the 1970's, yet reservoir storage capacity hasn't increased by one drop.
The school system continues to be the elephant in the room, demanding more and more of the available tax base. And since it consumes the majority of the county budget, it is only realistic to expect that it will have to take a significant cut in these lean times. If the new Board of Supervisors holds true to its promise regarding residential construction, there are probably several planned schools that can be eliminated, or at least postponed for several years until the economy improves. Mr. Geurin is absolutely correct: it is time for the school board to rethink a lot of things. Maybe some "nice to have, but unessential" programs need to be cut. (Mandarin Chinese comes to mind.) Maybe class size does have to grow a bit. It's comparatively easy to be a school board member in flush times, but these are not such times. And with Superintendent Hatrick asking for every toy in the store, it's time for the grown-ups minding the treasury to encourage him to "pick the ones he really wants."
Several years ago, there was a popular bumper sticker that said "Don't Fairfax Loudoun." It appears however, that with regard to balancing the residential/business tax base and development of infrastructure, Fairfax has gotten it right. Compared with Loudoun, they are able to provide a far more comprehensive level of services at a significantly smaller tax rate. I'm not ready to say, "Please Fairfax Loudoun," but until the tax base and infrastructure issues get resolved, the county -- and particularly the school system -- will have to learn to make do with a bit less.
Posted by J.W.
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There are many days that I miss the beauty of Loudoun and the excellent school system. Comments like this make me remember how divisive the situation get regarding the budget. Sexist is the first of many terms to be applied to this incredibly ignorant statement. I wouldn't let this one go without a formal apology to all teachers that work hard for their money.
Posted by formerloudouner
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J.W., I agree with you completely. I am personally offended by Hatricks continual (yearly) threat that if he doesn't get what he has asked for, then teachers and teacher's salaries are the ONLY option for cuts. There is a mid level management empire in the school system, teachers should be the first protected group, mid management could be whittled down by the effective use of technology. Year after year Hatrick plays the same emotional cards, year after year parents (who are concerned for their children) fall for the ruse and year after year the glutted inefficiency of the Loudoun County School System increases.
Posted by 4truth
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