Proposed Stafford Budget Has Department Increases

STAFFORD, Va. — School funding remains a hot topic in Stafford as officials are expected to approve the county’s proposed $247 million 2013 budget.

County administrator Anthony Romanello said the county government has offered the largest one-time transfer of local funds to the school system in history: $105 million, a 3.6 percent increase over last year.

Teachers and residents told the Board of County Supervisors at a public hearing earlier this month that school funding should remain a priority for the county. Teachers said they need cost of living raises, and that they must purchase supplies for their classroom with funds from their own pocket.

According to county documents, 54 percent of Stafford’s budget is allocated for public school funding.

Several other departments will also see budget increases under the proposed 2013 budget which, when approved, will take effect July 1.

County Administration
The County Administration Office works directly with the Board of County Supervisors and with residents on various projects countywide. With a projected budget of $789,000, the administration office will get nearly a 14 and-a-half percent raise this coming year.

The rise is attributed to increases in group life insurance contributions for employees, increases in mobile phone and data plans (members of the county’s staff and Board of County Supervisors were issued iPads to reduce paper costs), as well as increases in the costs of public notifications, supplies, and dues and memberships.

Capital Projects
With a proposed budget of $3 million, the county’s capital projects budget will increase nearly 60 percent. County documents state $1.1 million will go to rules set forth by the Board for managing infrastructure, while $1.4 million will go to fund new sheriff’s and fire and rescue vehicles. An additional $500,000 will be allocated for parks and recreation in the county.

Fire and rescue / sheriff’s office
First responders in Stafford County will also see budget increase in 2013. The fire and rescue budget will increase by five percent to $12.3 million. Department response times are slated to remain the same as the year prior – eight minutes or less 90 percent of the time.

The sheriff’s office will see at 9 percent increase this year, bring their budget to $15.8 million. The funding increases come as the department looks to pay for maintenance of a new radio communications system (unlistenable to the public) as well as new deputies in the courthouse.

Tourism
The county will work harder in the next year to attract more visitors, as the county’s tourism office will receive $100,000 more next year than they did this year. The money will go, in part, to fund a new position in the office as the county looks to celebrate its 350th Anniversary.