Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
PW slashes building plans
In the wake of falling revenues, county officials are planning to slash the county's Capital Improvement Program, which funds transportation and other infrastructure projects.On Dec. 16, County Executive Craig Gerhart said he plans to continue all projects that are currently under construction but that almost all new projects will be halted.
The general rule, he said, is that “If there's a project underway, we're going to finish it."
Most of the projects that will retain funding are for economic development and transportation, including some work currently in progress at the Innovation business park and the road bond projects that are already underway.
Work on Heathcote Boulevard, James Madison Highway and Linton Hall Road will continue, funded in part by proffers, and the Route 28 widening from Linton Hall to Fitzwater Drive will receive some state and federal funds, as well as proffer money. However, there is no new funding for Old Carolina Road.
Gerhart also said the county won't sell bonds for road projects that were approved by voters but that haven't been started yet and no future road bond referendums are planned.
Money for historic properties and museums has dried up and will only be funded by grants and what Gerhart called “other people's money,” meaning proffers and state or federal funds.
Parks and recreation will also be cut. Park Authority bond projects “will be halted, at least semi-permanently,” Gerhart said, though he added he's hopeful that federal funding will be available for the Nokesville Park amphitheater.
Silver Lake Park in Haymarket will get a little more money, but not much. Gerhart has recommended using $350,000 in proffer funds for security at the park.
“It's far too important an asset to leave it just at the hands of those who might wander in from time to time,” he said.
However, that money won't be enough to actually open the park to the public. Board of County Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart (R) asked how much will be needed to get the up and running enough so that residents can at least walk the trails. The answer, Gerhart said, is somewhere between $500,000 and $550,000.
All in all, the proposed Capital Improvements Program is budgeted at $155 million for the coming year. That's a huge cut from the fiscal year 2007 CIP, which was $860 million. And while the proposal is just a recommendation at this point, Gerhart told supervisors they “don't have a lot of options” because there just isn't enough money to do more.
“It's what we think we can afford. It's all we think we can afford,” he said.
You must be logged in to post a comment.