Candland Rebukes Budget Review

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — In an annual budget process that began earlier in the cycle than normal, political leaders are far from running out of steam.

Prince William County Gainesville District Supervisor Peter Candland on Tuesday called a review by county staff of his flat tax budget plan for fiscal year 2014 – a plan designed to curtail spending and to hold property taxes at their current rates – a presentation that was riddled with mathematical errors and false assumptions.

That budget review was presented by Prince William County Executive Melissa Peacor on Dec. 4, and in it noted Candland wanted a $21 million reduction in real estate tax revenues collected, a $5 million cut in business taxes collected next year, and an overall spending cuts of $207 million over the next five years.

Candland fired back Tuesday afternoon and said his plan does not simply reduce revenues collected from businesses, but added the reductions will be made up by other cost savings included in his budget, to the tune of $17.4 million.

He also took issue with the staff analysis that stated his proposal meant $195 million in new school funding. On Tuesday, Candland said his plan includes $26 million to cover the cost of rising student enrollment, $15 million to reduce the number of students in classrooms, and for teacher pay raises in 2014 and 2016. He also supports abolishing a 56 percent revenue sharing agreement with the county school system where Supervisors automatically hand over that portion of their annual budget to the public school system.

Candland’s budget committee quickly crafted a response document following the staff analysis presentation Dec. 4.

“All I’m asking is that we do like every other family in Prince William County who has had to cut back on the things they spend their money on, and we keep our spending flat from one year to another,” said Candland.

Ultimately, supervisors Tuesday voted 5 to 3 to direct county staff prepare a plan that would show what the tax rate would need to be under the current five year plan – which does not include a flat tax, but does include four percent increases annually to cover anticipated operating costs for items included in the county’s capital improvement plan. Supervisors will make a final decision on the tax rate this spring.

Prior to the vote, Potomac District Supervisor Maureen Caddigan said the budget process was moving too fast, that is began too early, and urged Supervisors to throw out budget proposals from Candland and Corey Stewart (At-Large) – both whom support a flat tax — and proposals from Woodbridge Supervisor Frank Principi, and Neabsco Supervisor John Jenkins, and urged them to hold an unscheduled meeting Dec. 18 to come up with a new unified plan.

She went onto scold Candland and his budget committee after he put forward a vote of no confidence in County Executive Melissa Peacor.

“You talk about your budget committee…they are the bloggers, many of them are associated with your office. These are the people who have crucified our county executive, defamed each member of this Board. We do know them by name, we do know who they are, and it is disgraceful that they are going to twist our arms, put us out of office so they can get people that can be ‘behind Candland so he can run for Chairman.’ I don’t want to be a small person here, but your budget committee is despicable and I will not be listening to them,” said Caddigan.

Afterward, the audience in the Board Chambers erupted with applause. The next meeting of the Board of Supervisors is scheduled for January 8, 2013.