Prince William County officials now estimate the illegal immigration policy that starts Monday will cost the county $6.4 million next year, about $4 million more than anticipated over the next budget year.
That budget shocker takes into account Police Chief Charlie Deane’s proposal to put cameras in all of the Police Department’s approximately 250 cruisers to protect against charges of racial profiling.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” County Executive Craig Gerhart said as he announced the cost estimates as part of his $923 million budget proposal Tuesday, saying the cameras are critical to the county’s defense.
The immigration plan, combined with other proposals, drives the average homeowner’s tax bill up 8 percent in Prince William County.
“We are entering an environment where the whole world is watching,” Gerhart said.
The plan to check the U.S. residency status of traffic violators and minor crime suspects will cost the average homeowner about $72 next year, according to Gerhart’s proposal.
The plan’s cost would climb from the September estimate of $14.2 million over the next five years to $25.9 million as higher jail, police department and foster care services are added to its cost. The plan also includes an additional 35 police department positions over the next five years, including 19 in the next fiscal year. That is 14 more than the county expected it would need in September.
Supervisor John Stirrup, R-Gainesville, the author of the illegal immigration crackdown, said the county could try to limit costsby focusing only on cameras for police cars used by officers assigned to the six-person illegal immigration unit.
Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart said he supported cameras, but was not sure if the county could afford the measure.
