Live Blog: FY 2012 Proposed Budget Public Hearing

The Board of County Supervisors will hold the first of two public hearings on the 2012 Proposed Budget. The second hearing will be Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and the board is slated to take final action on the budget on Tuesday, April 26 at 2 p.m. To follow the complete budget, click this link. 

To follow the agenda, click the image to the right. To watch the meeting on your computer, click here. 

7:39 p.m. The board has opened the public comment. 

7:44 p.m. Many residents are speaking in favor of the county's free clinic. A few personal testimonials: 

• “I am here tonight to tell you how vitally important they are,” said Cathy Bradford a Dumfries resident. “I do not have a job or any resources and there are so many people like me who need these services."
• "I thank God for the clinic and the position they are in to help us," said Larry Moore, a Horner Road resident. "They give me the meds that I needed to put myself back into health.” 

7:51 p.m. Members of the Lake Ridge Ladies Golf Club are speaking about the need for improvements at the Lake Ridge Golf Club. In these ladies’ opinions, the Park Authority needs more funding to have grass between tee boxes cut, an approach area in front of each hole trimmed as well as other maintenance issues. 

8:05 p.m.  Paul Hebert, President of the Prince William Professional Firefighters, has taken the podium on Virginia Retirement System and employee compensation (of which he will speak to on Wednesday). Hebert is asking for the county to opt out for the pass on of the five percent pay cut to new employees. About 30 members of the Prince William Professional Firefighters group have filed in the room. 

8:12 p.m. Two residents are speaking in favor of the free clinic and the assistance it has provided them for anxiety and diabetic issues. 

8:14 p.m. Bonnie Klakowicz, a Woodbridge resident and president of the Prince William Education Association, is asking the board to adopt the current advertised tax rate. 

Chad Briggs, a Woodbridge resident and Prince William firefighter, is speaking to the five percent pay cut in regards to the"Would you expect us to give five percent less to you, the board members and the citizens, in emergency services," asked Briggs. "We would be appalled if we did that to you." 

8:20 p.m. Michael Nardolilli, President of Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, is speaking about a potential public-private partnership between NVCT and Prince William County to create a land trust and conserve land in the county. 

8:22 p.m. Patrick Quinn, President of Police Association in Prince William County, spoke about employee benefits. He would like to see the board reinstate 401k benefits, support a staffing plan and allow a pay scale increase for those the work through the ladder. Chairman Stewart pointed out that the crime rate is going down in the county whereas it is going up across the country. 

8:31 p.m. Sarah Beasley, a Coles District resident, is asking to keep the advertised tax rate to keep the school district competitive and that the board fully support the VRS for the police and fire fighters.  

8:34 p.m. Public hearing remains open and will continue on Wednesday.