County Agrees to $744 Million Stimulus Wish List

By Kafia A. Hosh

Originally published at 4:48 p.m., January 6, 2009
Updated at 10:17 p.m., January 6, 2009

Loudoun officials are asking Congress to include the cash-strapped county in the proposed federal stimulus package that would help localities fund public infrastructure improvements.

The Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to request about $744 million in federal aid that would be used within two years to jump-start a host of delayed transportation, school and other capital projects.

The board also approved sending Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) a letter explaining the county's need for federal assistance. The letter, written on behalf of the board by Chairman Scott K. York (I) , outlines the effects of the national economic recession in Loudoun: state budget cuts, declining real estate tax revenue and rising home foreclosure rates. The letter notes that Loudoun is one of the fastest-growing localities in the nation and says the county government cannot afford to keep up with the rising demand on public services.

"This is only made worse by the current economic conditions, which have forced the county to postpone, sometimes indefinitely, many public projects that are currently needed and have already been planned," York wrote.

Loudoun's aid request includes more than $512 million in projects that could begin within 120 to 180 days of the county's receiving federal funds. Most of those are school and transportation projects, such as $83 million for construction of Tuscarora High School, $70.6 million for Woodgrove High School, $91.2 million to widen Route 659 between Route 7 and the Dulles Greenway, and $75 million to widen Route 50 between Route 742 in Loudoun and Lee Road in Fairfax County.

The county is seeking an additional $232 million for projects that could begin within two years. Those include construction of other schools, repairs to school and government buildings, a Western Loudoun sheriff's substation and a truck climbing lane on westbound Route 7 from Leesburg to Route 9.

The board voted 7 to 2 to approve the list of projects and the letter to Webb, with Andrea McGimsey (D-Potomac) and Eugene A. Delgaudio (R-Sterling) casting the dissenting votes.

Delgaudio called the federal stimulus proposal "wholesale socialization" and said it would eventually result in tax increases.

Although he agreed that public infrastructure improvements are needed in Loudoun, "that does not mean I'm going to automatically vote yes on this package," he said. "It's $744 million that we are putting onto the backs of our citizens in the form of a federal stimulus package."

McGimsey said she had concerns about road projects that had been left off the list. "I do not understand why the Board of Supervisors does not prioritize these critical east-west roads," she said.

The list was compiled by county and school staff members. At the request of Supervisor James Burton (I-Blue Ridge), the board added a request for $1 million for Hillsboro to upgrade its failing water distribution system. The town "is desperately trying to deal with a situation to provide clean water and sewage treatment to a community," Burton said. "Sooner or later, we're going to have to help them."

Most of the Loudoun projects were in a general survey of local needs that the lobbying arm of the National Association of Counties presented to President-elect Barack Obama's transition team Dec. 15.

If it includes Loudoun projects, the federal stimulus package would reduce the burden on the county's taxpayers, Assistant County Administrator John Sandy said.

"If there are federal moneys made available, it means less upward pressure on debt financing and local tax funding of these projects," he said.

Tagged: Board of Supervisors, budget, Chairman Scott York, Economy, stimulus, U.S. Sen. James Webb

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