The debate over whether the Sheriff’s Office has enough resources ended Monday when the Board of Supervisors voted against conducting a study of the office.
The board considered conducting an outside study of the management and resources of the Sheriff’s Office, estimated to cost $100,000 and not included in the FY03 budget.
“I don’t think we need to pay $100,000 for a management study for something we already know,” said Mark Herring (D-Leesburg), adding that the Board of Supervisors responds to the needs of the Sheriff’s Office. “It seems to me we already know the answer to the question.”
The study would have assessed the mission statement and objectives of the Sheriff’s Office, audited the office’s performance measures, evaluated whether resources are used efficiently and effectively, and considered whether sufficient funding is provided to the office to accomplish its mission.
The county administrator compiled a preliminary summary of the resources, personnel and budgeting of the Sheriff’s Office, said Supervisor James Burton (I-Mercer). “We have the lowest crime rate” in the region, he said. “That would indicate to me that the resources we give the Sheriff’s Office are adequate and have been adequate.”
Supervisor Chuck Harris (D-Broad Run) said the audit would show if the county was spending enough or too much on public safety, while Sally Kurtz (D-Catoctin) said the voters will have to decide, since the sheriff announced running for another term.
Harris and Kurtz voted in favor of the motion, which failed 6-2-1 with Drew Hiatt (R-Dulles) absent from the vote.
On Tuesday, Sheriff Stephen Simpson said, "It proves what I thought earlier, they didn't want to know the answers ... They had no idea about the funding and how many deputies we were supposed to have and a couple of weeks later all of a sudden they know what we need ... I'm curious how that happened ... they know how far behind we are, that's why they don't want to hire somebody to make it public ... I think they owe us a study or an apology."
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board:
* Set the priorities for Route 7 and secondary road improvements in the county if a proposed half-cent sales tax referendum passes to fund transportation projects in Northern Virginia. The tax is expected to provide $140 million in funds for the first year and to raise a total of $5 billion in 20 years.
“We need to prioritize these things even if the sales tax doesn’t pass,” said Chairman Scott York (R-At Large). “This is not an endorsement of the referendum. … We have a problem on Route 7 that needs to be taken care of. I don’t think we should wait to prioritize projects.”
The county’s priority list includes nine projects along Route 7 and several secondary road improvement projects. The Route 7 projects include seven intersections with route 7 and two road widening projects. The first two priorities are the Route 7 and Claiborne Parkway interchange and the widening of Route 7 and the Route 15 Bypass.
“You can’t set priorities in the abstract without the costs and amount of money available,” Burton said. “It’s a waste of time to write these priorities in concrete because in six months they could change.”
The motion passed 6-2-1 with Harris and Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) against and Hiatt absent from the vote.
* Tabled a vote on paying a $5,000 membership to support the Dulles Rail Corridor Association’s communications campaign.
“In these times, $5,000 is not a reasonable expenditure,” Harris said. “I strongly support Rail-to-Dulles. It’s critical … but I do not think it’s a prudent expenditure of our tight funds for this advertising campaign.”
York agreed. “I’m not going to support this, simply because we’re in [hard] financial times,” he said.
Herring said a no-vote would show the board is not involved with the project. Supervisors Kurtz and William Bogard (R-Sugarland Run) agreed. “I don’t think it’s a politically good thing,” Bogard said, suggesting the board table the matter and task staff with developing a smaller fee. “If we vote on it today, it will go down,” he said.