County bond referenda will be on November ballot
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| Bond would fund Metro improvements and maintenance. |
Three Fairfax County bond referenda are expected to appear
on the ballot on Election Day, Nov. 8, totaling $312 million.
on the ballot on Election Day, Nov. 8, totaling $312 million.
A $120 million transportation bond would be used to pay for
the county’s share – $30 million annually over the next four years – of the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s capital improvement program.
the county’s share – $30 million annually over the next four years – of the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s capital improvement program.
That includes safety and system maintenance projects, new
rail cars, power upgrades for running eight-car trains, additional buses
for operating “priority corridor networks,” and rail station improvements to
increase the capacity of the Metrorail system infrastructure.
An $85 million human services and community development bond
includes $48 million to renovate, expand, or replace four homeless shelters,
including the Bailey’s Crossroads Community Shelter, as well as the Patrick Henry, Embry
Rucker, and Eleanor Kennedy shelters.
All four are aging facilities, always full to capacity, and
can no longer meet emergency needs of homeless individuals or families, states
a description of the proposed bonds. “The bond funds could enable the county to
improve the service delivery model by providing both emergency housing services
and permanent housing solutions in one location.”
can no longer meet emergency needs of homeless individuals or families, states
a description of the proposed bonds. “The bond funds could enable the county to
improve the service delivery model by providing both emergency housing services
and permanent housing solutions in one location.”
That bond also includes $37 million for the replacement and
expansion of the Sully Senior Center and a new Lorton Community Center.
expansion of the Sully Senior Center and a new Lorton Community Center.
A $107 million park bond would fund capital improvements
and replacement of existing park facilities. That includes $94.7 million to address priorities identified
in the Park Authority’s needs assessment, previously identified funding needs,
and the growing need to maintain the Park Authority’s aging infrastructure. Funds would be included for the renovation of the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale.
and replacement of existing park facilities. That includes $94.7 million to address priorities identified
in the Park Authority’s needs assessment, previously identified funding needs,
and the growing need to maintain the Park Authority’s aging infrastructure. Funds would be included for the renovation of the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale.
The park bond also includes $12.3 million to sustain the
county’s capital contribution to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority over the next four
years.
county’s capital contribution to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority over the next four
years.
The Board of Supervisors has requested the Circuit Court to
order the bond referenda to be placed on the ballot.
order the bond referenda to be placed on the ballot.
Well, some things never change. Although County is strapped for cash, the BOS couldn't resist floating the next in an endless series of multi-million dollar election year bond proposals. The only difference this year is that they're also proposing a meals tax in a vain effort to put a band aid on additional spending. Maybe that's the new strategy: propose a new tax for every increased spending proposal. Only one thing is certain though: the endless cycle of property tax increases will continue regardless.
If I could actually see the results of the bond money, which I have voted for year after year, I would vote for them again. But I never see where the bond money goes after it is approved. Mason District parks, which are oldest in the county, never get improved. And I don't want to give Penny funds to shove a homeless shelter where it shouldn't go. The county is just too general with their justifications. Bonds were approved in 1998 to upgrade Route 7–we're still waiting.
While I agree with you about Penny and the homeless shelter, remember that a bond was used to repair our fire station at Baileys.
I will start voting yes or no on these bonds based on how many dollars from them are spent in Mason District.
I will never vote yes to any bond, since it is future debt. How can the county come up with $30M for Lorton Arts center and not have enough money for a little bridge?
We need an Inspector General for financial oversight, spending by the BoS is getting out of hand and is going unchecked.
BoS can give themselves a nice raise while they tax us to the poor house.
Mason has no metro, bad bus service, broken down bus shelters and the County wants me to vote yes so they can give more money for Dulles and Tysons………not me!
Forget a bout it!
I have never voted against a bond referendum, but after the debate over the relocation of the Bailey's homeless shelter and seeing what a poor steward the County is of our money, this may be the first time.
I agree. I voted for them in the past but because of how poorly the Bailey's Homeless Shelter relocation has been handled, it will be "no" for quite a few years. The County needs to be more transparent because right now there are very few who are trustworthy with our tax dollars. They need to "budget" like the majority of us. I wish I could shake my company down for more money if I overspend!