Call to Action from the Friends of Huntley Meadow Park

As we reported earlier this week, the Fairfax County proposed budget has been released. To overcome a gap in the revenues and spending, the County Executive has proposed a mix of cuts and tax increase. Here’s a message from the President of the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park:

Anthony Griffin, the Fairfax County Executive, has asked the Park Authority to prepare a budget proposal for FY11 with a 15% additional cut to the current budget! These proposed cuts will be submitted and reviewed by Mr. Griffin and the FC Board of Supervisors in November and December. If the full 15% cut is adopted, then RMD will lose (abolish) 10-13 positions, at least half of these will be at the sites, which will mean reduced hours at parks, staff working at more than one park, and RMD projects abolished and/or reduced.

The Park Authority and the Public Libraries are the only two agencies in Fairfax County that are being asked for a proposed 15% cut. All other agencies are being asked for an average of 3%. Apparently, Mr. Griffin believes that Parks and Libraries are discretionary. The current budgets of these two agencies comprise less than 2% of the total county budget.

It is crucial that you contact Mr. Griffin, the County Board of Supervisors, and the Park Authority Board and let them know that these kind of cuts are not what the County Taxpayers want. We need to impress upon them that they need to support ways to increase revenue. Suggestions such as increasing the property tax rate, reinstating the FC vehicle sticker fee, and allowing parks to charge parking fees should all be considered.

The Friends groups at the RMD sites are doing what they can to fill in some of the gaps left from cuts. They are raising money to hire interns, to provide funds for seasonal salaries, and to support programs and resource management projects. An additional 15% cut will have a noticeable impact on services at the parks.

The Park Authority and RMD have worked hard over the past 2-3 years to increase their revenue. Currently about 60% of their budget is revenue supported and 40% tax supported. The Resource Management Division is tasked with a major part of the Park Authority Mission, which includes the purchase and management of open space and cultural sites within Fairfax County for the use and educational benefit of it’s citizens. These natural and cultural sites are of great value to the education of our residents and require support from the taxpayers, just as schools do.

Please take the time to contact the Board of Supervisors, Park Authority Board members, and Anthony Griffin, the County Executive. Contact info is below. If you have any media contacts and/or would like to write a letter to local newspapers, do it! We need to get the word out as quickly as possible! If you know any young people who want to get involved and write letters and emails, please encourage them! I think this would be a great community service!

This is our chance to make a difference – Take it!

Thank you!
Kathi McNeil,
President, FOHMP