Amherst budget hearing draws four responses

By: Duffy Taylor | New Era Progress
Published: April 30, 2010

Only four Amherst residents commented on the county’s 2010-11 budget at the public hearing held by county supervisors Thursday night at Amherst County High School.

Central Virginia Services Council Executive Director Nancy Cottingham and the Amherst Education Association President Sarah Thomas both requested level funding from the board, while two other residents offered fiscal suggestions for the future.

County Administrator Lee Lintecum said the total budget figure — $66 million — was affected by both state and local revenue shortfalls but did not call for a tax increase.

The budget — which includes the county schools’ budget of $46 million — did force the county to reduce its staff by six positions, though all were through attrition, he said. It also required the elimination of 37 school positions, though only 12 of those were brought about through termination.

“We tried to manage and spread the pain as much possible,” Lintecum said. “Our resources were down significantly but we’re going to try to provide services at the same level.”

Amherst resident Gary Jennings advised supervisors to place more emphasis on tourism and economic development in the years ahead.

“We could draw people from each direction,” Jennings said. “It can be done. We’re in a perfect location. Somebody has just got to get it started.”

Lintecum responded, saying that because of the budget shortfall, he was assuming the role of economic development director and was planning to push forward with marketing ideas.

Supervisor Claudia Tucker added that partnering with officials at the regional level could also benefit Amherst and attract tourists to the area.

“We need to have a regional view of this,” Tucker said.

Amherst resident Mark Labadie urged supervisors to be more fiscally conservative, advocating a reduced property tax that would reflect declining real estate values.

“We at a local level need to set a precedent that we don’t need to provide an excessive amount of subsidies for citizens,” Labadie said.

Supervisors have yet to vote on the county’s 2010-11 budget but will do so in an upcoming meeting, Lintecum said.