The Arlington County Civic Federation plans to ask the Arlington County Board whether it would consider an independent inspector general to oversee county government, and for a commitment to approve a budget that does not require taxes to be raised.
The federation, composed of members from civic groups around the county, is expected to meet with the county board early next year to discuss a laundry list of questions about how the board will run the county in 2007.
Each year, representatives of the group meet with the board to discuss concerns.
The group is one of the few organizations in the county that actively follow and critique county board actions.
The questions and the meeting with the board “highlight what some of the interests and concerns are, as well as giving the board an opportunity to talk about some of the things they did well,” federation president Larry Mayer said.
The group separates its questions into five categories: revenue and expenditures, development impact, policy and plans, affordable housing and other programs or items.
Issues they will question the board about include what progress the county has made on street improvements, how the county will provide affordable housing, how the county with deal with job and commercial space loss due to military base realignment, and if the county is committed to preserving open space.
Mayer said the meeting is a chance for the federation and the board to open a dialogue about the issues facing the county.
“The objective here is to try to work with the county, not to knock heads,” he said. “We hope the same is true from their perspective as well.”
