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ARLINGTON
COUNTY, VIRGINIA
OFFICE OF THE COUNTY BOARD
#1 COURTHOUSE PLAZA
2100 CLARENDON BOULEVARD, SUITE 300
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22201-5406
(703) 228-3130 - FAX (703) 228-7430 |
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TONI COPELAND
CLERK TO THE
COUNTY BOARD |
July 1, 2003 |
MEMBERS
PAUL FERGUSON
CHAIRMAN
BARBARA FAVOLA
VICE CHAIRMAN
JAY FISETTE
J. WALTER TEJADA
CHRISTOPHER ZIMMERMAN |
To the Residents of Arlington:
The County Board unanimously adopted a budget for
Fiscal Year 2004 which reflects the vision and values of our community.
The budget was developed in partnership with our residents, boards and
commissions after a lengthy public review process.
This year’s budget process was challenging due to
external forces that have put our past and present fiscal policies to
the test. Prudent fiscal management is a high priority of this Board,
and we believe this budget reflects responsible stewardship of the
County’s resources. While other local and state governments in Virginia
and across the nation are experiencing severe deficits, we have been
able to approve a balanced budget that maintains the same level of high
quality services our residents have grown to expect.
For the second consecutive year, we have been able to
reduce Arlington’s real estate tax rate. Despite tough economic times,
and the fact that Arlington residents already have one of the lowest
real estate property tax rates in the region, the Board has approved a
1.5¢ reduction for calendar year 2003, reducing the tax rate from 99.3¢
per $100 of assessed value to 97.8¢. We are sensitive to the needs of
our residents who are on fixed incomes and will continue to provide real
estate tax relief to qualifying elderly and disabled homeowners.
The adopted budget reflects a number of community
priorities.
Education
Unchanged and unwavering is our commitment to the
Arlington County Public Schools and the revenue-sharing agreement that
will provide for quality public education. The agreement apportions
48.6% of County tax revenues to the public school system. The transfer
of funds to the Schools for Fiscal Year 2004 is $252 million, and fully
funds the School Board’s approved budget. This funding will provide for
reduction in class sizes, opening of Claremont Elementary School, and
provision of advanced classes in high schools. Funding at this level
will enable the Schools to fulfill their strategic goals of ensuring all
students experience rising achievements and eliminating achievement
gaps.
Strategic Initiatives
In addition to funding continuing services, we have
approved a number of strategic initiatives that will enhance our ability
to respond to the needs of our community. These strategic initiatives
include economic sustainability, transportation, human services, and
neighborhood conservation. These initiatives were specifically
identified as actions that will help us fulfill the County’s vision.
Economic Sustainability
The Economic Sustainability strategic initiative
supports the Rosslyn Business Improvement District which will result in
self-supporting enhanced services to that district.
Transportation
The transportation strategic initiative addresses the
transportation needs of Arlington’s urban environment related to
pedestrian, transit and parking issues. These will include expanded
transit services including Columbia Pike shuttles and north/south
routes. The pedestrian initiatives will include new traffic signals and
traffic calming projects. Parking will be addressed through a concerted,
coordinated effort to evaluate and improve parking conditions in the
County. In addition, subsidized taxi fares and enhanced transportation
services to the senior centers will enhance the quality of life for our
senior citizens.
Human Services
The Human Services Grant Allocation strategic
initiative includes $3.8 million in federal funding for critical human
services needs. This funding will provide supportive housing
initiatives; prevention and early intervention, language access,
behavioral health services programs; and technology improvements.
Neighborhood Conservation
The Neighborhood Conservation strategic initiative
provides the addition of staffing necessary to support the increased
number of projects generated from the November 2002 Neighborhood
Conservation Bond, and complete existing projects in a more expeditious
manner.
Living Wage
The Board also approved the County’s first living wage
policy for County employees, home health care workers and certain
service contracts. The living wage of $10.98 per hour was based on a
regional study that established the amount of income necessary to
support basic needs (food, housing, health care, transportation, etc.)
for a single adult without relying on public or private subsidies.
Employer of Choice
Essential to providing high quality services is our
ability to attract and retain a high quality work force. To this end, we
continue to support sufficient funding to maintain employee step
increases, healthcare, retirement benefits, and a competitive pay plan.
While healthcare costs continue to escalate, we will continue to pay 80%
of health insurance costs for our employees, absorbing a $1 million
increase over the past year in the cost of employer premiums. Other
employee benefits include a one percent reduction in employee
contributions to retirement, a one percent cost of living adjustment,
and a one percent lump-sum adjustment. Funding has also been approved in
the amount of $1.5 million to increase pay scales for our firefighters
that will make their compensation more regionally competitive.
Capital Investment
Capital investments for General Fund supported
pay-as-you-go funding has been approved in the amount of $8.8 million.
This will support continuing commitments for technology investments,
neighborhood conservation, neighborhood traffic calming, street paving
and traffic signal installation, and the new Emergency Communications
Center and Emergency Operations Center.
Conclusion
In a recent article published in “The Bond Buyer”
dated April 17, 2003, Arlington was profiled for once again garnering
triple-A ratings from all three major rating agencies. An analyst from
Moody’s wrote in his credit report: “The county’s favorable financial
performance during a period of unexpected costs associated with the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon demonstrates the
county’s strong financial flexibility, which has enabled it to absorb
state cuts in the current year while maintaining target reserve levels.”
According to Joseph D. Mason, a director at Fitch based in McLean,
Virginia, “I would say Arlington County is, with a triple-A rating—even
among the universe of triple-A’s—it really stands out as one of the
strongest credits that we rate. Economically, financially — just an
extremely well-run government.”
The Fiscal Year 2004 approved budget represents a
balance between responsible taxation and strategic investment in the
community. Our fiscal policies and prudent financial decisions are
intended to consider not only our pressing immediate needs, but the
needs of our future generations.
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Sincerely,
Paul Ferguson
Chairman |
