PWC Turns Deficit To Surplus
By Greg L | 6 August 2007 | Prince William County | 8 Comments
Prince William County practiced some fiscal restraint this year, and as a result has wound up with a $27 million surplus, of which almost one million dollars will go to enhanced immigration enforcement, according to the DC Examiner. Not bad at all. Despite continuing weakness in the residential real estate market which is pressuring local municipal budgets, at least one locality in the region has managed to not only act responsibly with taxpayer dollars, but seems to have a decent grasp on what the priorities are for using those savings.
About $9.4 million will go to the county’s rainy day fund and additional funds will fortify the county against dropping real estate tax revenues, [Assistant County Executive Melissa] Peacor said.
New efforts to curb illegal immigration will receive $900,000 according to the staff proposal and Police Chief Charlie Deane will ask for additional money later, Peacor said.
“We wanted to take this opportunity to address this board priority,” Peacor said. Money will address several fronts, from helping educate county residents about new police efforts to check legal residency status to developing a system denying some county services to illegal immigrants.
And it was just last month that the illegal alien lobby was moaning that improved enforcement against illegal aliens would bankrupt the county…
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8 Comments
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I don’t know if one million is really enough. But it’s a start.
Greg, tell me more about this crazy concept called a BOS that actually SAVES money?
Fairfax residents would love to hear this fairy tale.
That would be deficit, not defecit.
Thanks, es. Can’t believe I missed that.
I am very confused–we now have a surplus after we were all told that the sky is falling due to the budget shortfall and gnashing of teeth from the departments where budget cuts were going to enacted. I have only a question for all to ponder–who in the world is doing the county budget projections? For the last 5 years or so this team of inept projectors incorrectly budget revenues each and every year. If I worked for a company and got my job wrong for over five years, I would not have a job. I guess we all know where all the defunct Arthur Andersen accountants have gotten jobs. Maybe our supervisors should ask some more tough questions the next time the projections gang decides to so some projecting.
Just my Thoughts-
Trent A Barton
Trent, I think the county recognized the had a potential problem, took decisive action to address it, and did such a good job that they ended up cutting expenses more than they actually needed to out of an abundance of caution.
I find it hard to fault anyone here. About the only question I have is whether any of this spending was generally unnecessary whether or not there was a budget problem, and if we’ve learned anything from this that will help us control costs more effectively in the future.
Greg-
Good point and probably correct however we have four straight years of them getting it wrong. I have served on several budget committee over the past 4 years. Typically the staff presents the budget committee with their dreary budget predictions which attempt scare the supervisors to raise taxes to stave off the losses to only have a surplus miraculously appear. The amount of cuts from this passed Fiscal Year budget were asked for by the staff and the supervisors cut almost to the dime the exact amount. This surplus might be credited to Supervisors budget cuts but it was predicated on the budget staff recommendations. Therefore it is the same staff missing the mark again and again and again and again. It is hard to give them a pass with their past record.
Just my Thoughts-
Trent A. Barton
Excellent points, Trent. I have had the same concerns about the budgeting process in the county, and it’s good to see those concerns substantiated by someone with experience in the process.
The county staff has operated too long without adequate supervision, and hopefully what we’re seeing indicates that long-needed oversight may be coming. Let’s keep these folks under the microscope.