Leesburg 2009 Budget - Something for Everyone

In spite of a down economy, the Town of Leesburg's 2010 budget, which was passed last night, contains something for everyone. Here's the announcement from the Town:

Town Council Adopts FY2010 Budget and Capital Improvement Program

Leesburg Town Council votes to adopt the FY 2010 Budget and Capital Improvement Program totaling $94,249,443 and to set the real property tax at 19.5 cents for an overall tax bill reduction for Town residents of approximately 8.6% to 22.8% depending on housing type.

Leesburg, VA (April 15, 2009) –At yesterday’s Town Council meeting, the Council formally adopted a FY 2010 Budget and Capital Improvement Program. Demonstrating its commitment to public safety, Council budgetary amendments included the addition of two police officers. With respect to the Capital Improvement Program, the Town Council also committed to accelerating the Downtown improvement projects advocated by the Downtown Improvement Association (DIA), while maintaining its long-term commitment to completing roadway and drainage programs throughout the Town.

FY 2010 Adopted Fund Breakdown:

• General Fund: $45,197,609


• Capital Improvement Program: $19,116,239


• Utility Fund: $23,733,964


• Airport Fund: $6,201, 631

During the course of the Budget approval process, Town Council identified over $1,349,040 in funding reductions across all Town funds. $165,000 in additional revenue was also identified. The adopted real property tax rate of 19.5 cents provides an overall tax bill reduction for Leesburg residents. Residents in single family housing will receive on average 8.6% in savings. Residents living in townhouses will receive on average 21.6% in savings. Residents living in condominiums will receive on average 22.8% in savings.

Adopted FY 2010 Budget and Capital Improvement Program Amendment Breakdown:

• Eliminated or froze 11.5 staff positions


• 2 Additional Police Officers (cost of $160,000)


• Downtown Improvement Projects Accelerated in Capital Improvement Program


• Four Community Agencies (cost of $48,000) and Dodona Manor funded (cost of $16,000)


• Roadway and Drainage projects maintained in Capital Improvement Program


• Tavistock Traffic Light moved up one year in Capital Improvement Program (cost of $50,000)

- The Town of Leesburg

It is a remarkable testament to the quality of Town Management that Leesburg has been able to sustain its excellent services in a time of budgetary contraction, and take advantages of opportunities presented by the current economy to accelerate critical infrastructure investments.

We as a Town, however, must be careful to not see the success of fiscal management in the past few years as our right, but as a carefully crafted and maintained condition that must be conserved going forward. This year, it has meant the ability to reduce tax burdens, but that will not always be the case. In order to limit tax burdens this year, the Town has been cutting its operational safety margin by asking fewer staff to do more work. In coming years, we will need to re-establish that staffing safety margin as economic conditions improve. Overworking the excellent town staff that put us in a position to weather this economic storm will lead to a weakening of our town's administration. And that puts our prosperity at risk.

A growing and prospering Town has growing needs. This year we were able to hire two more police officers, in the future we will need to invest more in other staff and infrastructure. And we will all do well to remember the fact that the water rate lawsuit has as yet unforeseen consequences that could result in greater costs to the Town in the future.

Leesburg has done well, and we are benefiting. We owe it to our Town's future to be as thoughtful in the good times as we have been in the bad.