Whereas, Arlington County had the opportunity this year to provide relief to taxpayers and to adjust public spending priorities; and

Whereas, the burden on Arlington taxpayers continues to increase, due to rising property assessments, with no reduction in tax rates for a decade; and

Whereas, the County’s bipartisan Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission recommended specific ways in which spending could be controlled, to permit a slight reduction in the real property tax rate; and

Whereas, the all-Democrat County Board rejected those recommendations, and voted to continue or even increase spending for pet projects with minimal community benefit; and

Whereas, the Board specifically rejected FAAC’s recommendation to defer new funding for subsidized rental housing, and instead voted to spend $1 million on that project, a $500,000 increase over last year’s amount; and

Whereas, at the same time, the Board rejected the recommendation by the Fire Department, the former County Manager, and an independent consultant, to provide $500,000 to add staff for improving emergency response; and

Whereas, the Board’s decision means that money which could have been used to improve public safety will instead be used for one of the Board’s pet political projects;

Now, therefore, the Arlington County Republican Committee resolves:

We are disappointed, but not surprised, at the action of the all-Democrat County Board in rejecting sound fiscal advice to restrain spending and reduce taxes; and

We commend FAAC for its efforts to try to restore a sense of balance to the county’s subsidized housing program, and we are particularly disappointed by the Board’s disregard for that effort; and

We deplore the Board’s decision to deny needed funding to the Fire Department, and for diverting money away from public safety into a pet political projects.

Considered and adopted by the Arlington County Republican Committee at its monthly meeting on July 26, 2001, in Arlington, Virginia.

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