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Leesburg Town Council stretches fiscal budget to add more

programming
Monday, Apr. 11 by Laura Peters | 0 comments | Email this story

Leesburg Town Council went around the round table Monday night—well, the rectangular table
—on their thoughts of what should be put back into the fiscal 2012 budget for final vote
Tuesday.

With an effective tax rate of 19.66 cents and almost an extra $250,000 left in the budget to
distribute, Town Council members had to decide what the most needed additions were.

“We will finalize the appropriate action before tomorrow and be up for a total vote tomorrow
night,” Town Manager John Wells said about the votes they’d be making during the meeting.

On the docket, the ROCK program, brought up by Council member Marty Martinez, would need
a net worth of $119,000 to keep from being scaled back. Council members were looking to have
the after school program, which serves low to middle income students, run during the summer
only to save money. On a straw vote of 6-0-1, with Council Member Tom Dunn abstaining, the
Council agreed to bring up an amendment in Tuesday night’s meeting.

Another addition would be the extension of the hours of Ida Lee Recreation Center that would
cost a total of $13,000. A unanimous straw vote put that item on the table for Tuesday as well.

“On those two, we have a strong consensus,” Mayor Kristen Umstadtt said of the ROCK and Ida
Lee programs.
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The Council also agreed on a 4-3 straw vote to add an amendment that, if passed, would add Wednesday, Apr. 6 | 9288 views
$61,000 of extra funding for fire and rescue services. UPDATE: Purcellville man seriously
injured after Route 287 crash
“My fear is that we are 40,000 people and if we were to throw this back to the county it would Tuesday, Apr. 5 | 5642 views
cost us more because of a bigger tax rate,” Martinez said. “These people are in our town and Lovettsville man killed following police
respond to our residents and support our town.” chase
Friday, Apr. 8 | 3930 views
The close vote was because of concerns that funding for Leesburg Fire and Rescue should be Loudoun deputy aides in saving
through the county, not the town. Ashburn girl’s life

“Are they living paycheck to paycheck or do they have millions of dollars in the bank? These are Tuesday, Apr. 5 | 3449 views
Weekend of work: Dulles Airport
big questions,” Council member Dave Butler said. officials seize alligator and jewelry,
arrest alleged child rapist
“I have no hopes of getting this money from the county. I can think of other areas we can cut,”
Council member Ken Reid said. Tuesday, Apr. 5 | 2817 views
Longtime Loudoun principal passes
away
Council member Katie Hammler said she appreciated Town Manager John Wells’ “going in the
right step in funding these projects.”

“I support full funding of the fire and rescue. Cutting their funds for the work they do is a
shame,” Council member Tom Dunn said.
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The three proposed amendments, if passed on Tuesday, will leave $56,215 in the fiscal 2012
budget.

Vice Mayor Kevin Wright brought up concern over the Morven Park Road sidewalks, which have
been put aside to make room for the proposed Linden Hill U-turn project.
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“I was concerned that we have a new project which is the Linden Hill U-turn road.” Wright said. News | Sports
“And the Morven Park sidewalks have be put on the back burner. I say the Linden Hill project be
deferred and the Morven Park road sidewalks be put back in.”

The proposed Morven Park Road sidewalk project would cost $1.1 million total and wouldn’t
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even affect the fiscal 2012 budget, but would affect the 2013 and 2014 budgets. on Facebook
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The motion was turned down with a straw vote of 6-1.

Butler proposed adding to the budget a $12,000 resting area by Raflo Park on the W & OD Bike
Trail. Butler said it’s a good place to add a resting area, and since the town had extra funding,
it’d be a great opportunity to get people to stop and rest in and around Leesburg. Subscribe
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“We’re adding stuff to the budget that wasn’t there before,” Dunn said. News | Sports

“It’s $12,000 and it’s something that I believe everyone will appreciate,” Umstadtt said.

A good point the council brought up was that there are already standing structures there to have
a resting area, they would just be improving it. It passed through with a 5-2 straw vote and will Join Our
be voted on in Tuesday night’s meeting. Email List
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Reid unsuccessfully proposed scaling back the severance packages for employees affected by the
budget cuts to less three months.

“We could save a lot of money. I think some taxpayers are going to be concerned that other
counties aren’t this long,” Reid said.

But, the packages have already been signed into agreement, so that motioned failed.

Dunn proposed to cut $250,000 out of the Operations Fund by reducing hours of the Thomas
Balch Library to appointment only.
The Loudoun Times-Mirror

Council almost instantly shot it down.

“That would be a 60 percent reduction. I don’t think we could do that to that program right is an interactive, digital replica
now,” Wright said. of the printed newspaper.
Open the e-edition now.
“It’s the single most expensive service that we provide,” Dunn said. “It’s a research library, if we
made it by appointment-only it’d be more efficient.”
His effort failed with a straw vote of 6-1.

Dunn also proposed to cut $185,000 from the Executive Department.

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“I still think that the Executive Department is still running a little heavy,” Dunn said.

His motion failed with a straw vote of 6-1.

Town Council will make the final vote on the fiscal 2012 budget at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at
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Leesburg Town Council Chambers. Homes Guide County 2010-11 Garden 2011

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