Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Contact: Mary Curtius 703-228-7943 (voice) 703-228-4611(TTY)
Arlington County Board Adopts FY 2010 Budget
Responds to economic downturn, preserves community priorities
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Board today adopted its Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 General Fund budget of $946.8 million, a 0.6% increase from FY 2009. This is the smallest budget increase in more than 25 years.
“In a time of economic instability, the County Board strived to keep the tax burden as low as possible while balancing the need to maintain core services, ensure a strong safety net for the most vulnerable residents, honor our commitment to the environment, and prepare for future budget uncertainty,” said Board Chairman Barbara A. Favola.
Budget Highlights
The only tax-supported programs expanded by the Board were critical safety net programs to help residents most affected by the recession. The Board added more than $1 million to increase funding for programs providing shelter and transitional housing, food and emergency assistance.
To balance the budget, the Board approved $19.8 million in service cuts, including $12.1 million in administrative and overhead reductions and more than $7.7 million in direct service reductions. These reductions cut 95 general fund positions.
The Board raised the base real estate tax rate 2.7 cents, to 86.5 cents per $100 assessed value. The County’s real estate tax rate is the lowest in the region. The storm water tax rate will remain at 1 cent per $100 of assessed value, and personal property tax rate will remain at $5 per $100 of assessed value.
The total tax burden for the average household will decline $48.
Combined fee increases for water, sewer, trash, recycling and motor vehicle licensing totaled $66 a year. The total impact of tax and fee changes for a household, on average, will be an increase of $18 a year, or $1.50 per month.
Considering the future uncertainty of the economy, the County Board also established a $10 million Budget Stabilization Fund, in addition to maintaining a reserve at 3% of the County’s general fund budget.
The total budget, which includes appropriations to the Arlington Public Schools, as well as Utility Fund and other self-supported funds, is $1.2 billion, an increase of 1.3% from the FY 2009 revised budget.
The FY 2010 County Government General Fund Budget is $946.8 million, a 0.6% increase from FY 2009. The transfer to the Arlington Public Schools is $352.4 million, a 0.65% increase from FY 2009. This year’s Pay-As-You-Go General Capital Budget is $9.5 million, a 46% decrease from FY 2009.
Budget reflects community values
“This budget reflects the values of our community and our residents’ desire to preserve the range of services that make Arlington such a special place,” Favola said. Among the Board’s specific actions:
- Keeping the Gulf Branch Nature Center open, but with reduced hours.
- Keeping the Aurora Hills Library open six days a week.
- Reducing hours at Glencarlyn Library and Cherrydale Library by only one day a week (three day reductions had been proposed).
- Restoring select human services reductions based on recommendations from County Board commissions.
- Restoring the program to eradicate invasive plants, funded by reducing the number of new trees that will be planted – an approach also recommended by a County Board commission.
- Restoring four staff in the Sheriff’s office.
- Authorizing application for federal stimulus funds to restore six police officer positions.
- Setting aside funds to initiate a recruit class for new firefighters if attrition rates exceed projections.
For a more detailed list of the changes the Board made to the County Manager’s proposed budget, and other budget documents, visit the County website.
Impact on Employees
No County employees will be involuntarily laid-off, even though there is a net reduction of approximately 95 general fund positions. This was achieved by moving employees into funded vacant positions and through a voluntary severance program that the County offered.
For the first time in recent history, County employees will not receive annual merit step increases. Instead, the Board funded one-time additional compensation of $500 for all employees. “This one-time compensation will give all employees some money in their pocket, and help offset increases to employee-paid health care premiums,” Favola said.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
