Governing Body Approves FY2012 Budget in 5-2 Vote

Tuesday night Manassas Park City Council voted to approve the city's budget for fiscal year 2012. The $89.6 million budget, which is exactly $2,543,089 larger than the budget for fiscal year 2011, includes:

• General Fund: $34,307,341. This includes transfers to the Manassas Park City Schools in the amount of $15,331,352

• Capital Projects Fund: $3,979,476

• Debt Service Fund: $1,792,614
• Water, Sewer & Garbage Collections Fund: $7,519,142
• Water & Sewer Capital Improvements Fund $1,115,754
• Storm Water Retention Fund $245,000
• PRTC Trust Fund: $1,286,604
• Bull Run Alcohol Safety Action Program $1,248,000

 The city's budget also gives Manassas Park City Schools' budget:

• An Operating Fund of $29,929,520
• Food Service fund of $1,415,243
• Debt Service Fund of $4,746,469
• A new Medical Trust Fund of $5,988

 The budget was approved by a 5-2 vote. Councilmen Suhas Naddoni, voted against the budget because it increased the flat fee that residents and commercial business owners would have to pay on their water rates.

Mayor Frank Jones explained that while the rates were subsidized in the past by a tap fund from new construction, the fund no longer exists.  Councilman William "Bill"  Treuting added that the Department of Public Works would need additional funding to help fix its leak situation.

 “If we don't have a revenue source to put additional money to public works, then they have no money to go out and fix the leaks above what they've got, Treuting said. “So if we say we're going to fix [the leaks] without giving them money to fix it doesn't make sense.”

 Councilman Preston Banks also voted against the budget. “Just for the record,” Banks said, “I don't want to support the two-cent tax levy going to the debt. I don't want the kids to pay the price of our budget shortfall, and I think it's our responsibility to give the kids of our community the best opportunity we can give them."

 He added that he also voted against the budget because it included profit estimates from the Manassas Park Community Center he felt were “aggressive.”

 “I want us to restore fiscal conservatism,” Banks said. He added that his counter-proposal which included a salary cut for the entire board was not supported the last time he brought it up.

  In addition to approving the budget, the governing body also approved the tax rates for Fiscal Year 2012. The tax rates remain unchanged from last year and include:

•  Real Estate: $1.65 for every $100 valuation
• Personal Property: $3.50 per $100 valuation on the average trade in value
• Machinery and Tools: $3.50 per $100 valuation.

The governing body also approved a Permanent Vehicle Decal Ordinance. The Ordinance states that every resident of Manassas Park who owns one or more vehicles must purchase permanent decals for their vehicles. It would cost $25 for cars and trucks, $10 for motorcycles and $8 for “every trailer, semitrailer, or vehicle of like design.” Vehicles without the decal would be subject to a $250 fine.

 The governing body also approved updates to a Joint Taxicab Services Agreement between Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park. City attorney Dean Crowhurst explained that whenever one of the entities wants to change a part of the agreement the other two must agree to it. Prince William County wants their police jurisdiction to be able to enforce the ordinance. “This is very cost effective [to Manassas Park] Crowhurst said, “by allowing Prince William with a much larger force to be in-charge of the entire jurisdiction.”