Candidates for Prince William County’s top elected position disagree sharply over whether tax rate decisions in prior budget cycles helped prepare the county to handle the current fiscal crisis or whether it’s made the looming problem worse.
Democratic former County Attorney Sharon Pandak claims the county would not be in such a difficult position this year if supervisors had not made an unnecessary effort to reduce taxes about $20 per resident last year.
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County Chairman Corey Stewart, the 10-month Republican incumbent, said the budget and tax-cutting efforts this spring forced the county to cut unnecessary spending and did not stick taxpayers with a higher burden than was necessary.
Both candidates are using the debate to suggest they have the more “fiscally responsible” approach to leading the county, a vital argument knowing the winner will be called on to lead daunting budget negotiations created by the surprisingly steep real estate downturn.
“If we hadn’t saved and scraped and cut back on wasteful spending this year, the tax rate would even be higher this year,” Stewart said.
Now the county will have the opportunity to focus most resources on its core priorities of school construction, roads, public safety and parks, Stewart said.
But given the county’s infrastructure deficit on roads, parks and schools, reducing taxes last year was a poor decision that puts the county in a catch-up mode, Pandak said.
“The failure of the board of supervisors to bump the tax rate up more to fund schools, parks, other social services makes it even harder now that we have a true budget crisis,” she said.
Stewart defeated Pandak last year after a contentious campaign with 53 percent of the vote, and the rematch has pitted the familiar foes together again.
The county board is holding a fiscal retreat Thursday for the first detailed look at next year’s budget picture. The double-digit erosion of property values across the county has already put pressure on supervisors considering new school construction, park expansion and a high-profile illegal-immigration crackdown.
