York Notebook: GOP Candidate Forums, Supes to Meet and New Quarter Jams

By Sam Thrift Monday, August 15, 2011

With the Republican Primaries approaching, York County resident will get the opportunity to see the current Board of Supervisors in action and meet the incumbents and challengers before the polls open. Also, find out how you can “jam out” under the stars in New Quarter Park this week.

Board of Supervisors to ask state to restore funding
The Board of Supervisors is voting Aug. 16 to request that Gov. Bob McDonnell restore state funding for aid to localities in fiscal year 2012 and eliminate the reduction in the budget bill for FY2013 and FY2014.

The resolution is in response to the General Assembly's decision in the 2009 to 2010 biennium to give local governments the responsibility of reducing $100 million of core services - $50 million per fiscal year - due to shrinking revenues. According to the county, this was in addition to the reductions made by the General Assembly, and approved by the governor. It affected law enforcement, education, profits from the Alcoholic Beverage Control tax collections and constitutional offices.

A memo from York County Administrator James McReynolds explained that York County had to respond to the unfunded mandate by taking reductions in state aid programs or by sending a check to the state for the amount determined by the state’s Department of Planning and Budget.

The Virginia Association of Counties (VAco) and the Virginia Municipal League (VML) recommended that localities issue a check to the state for their share of the cuts. Based on this guidance, the county paid $628,054 for FY2009 through FY2011 and $255,753 for FY 2012, according to the memo.

Since the State has shown no signs that they would restore the funding, VAco and VML encouraged localities to have their local officials contact McDonnell to ask him to submit a budget amendment to the 2012 work session of the General Assembly. The amendment would reverse the reduction of funding in FY2012 and eliminate the aid to localities reduction in future budgets.

McReynolds recommends the resolution because “State revenues are beginning to recover and there is a revenue surplus expected for the second year in a row at the State,” according to the memo.

The Board of Supervisors will vote on this proposal Tuesday.

Tuscany Forum holds Town Hall Meetings
York County Residents will have the opportunity to meet some of the Republican candidates running for the Board of Supervisors and York-Poquoson Commonwealth’s Attorney today and this Thursday at two Town Hall Meetings held by the Tuscany Forum.

The first meeting will have the candidates for the York-Poquoson Commonwealth’s Attorney, incumbent Eileen Addison and her former deputy Ben Hahn, from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight at the Holiday Inn and Suites, located at 515 Bypass Road in Williamsburg. Mitchel Thomas, challenger for the District 1 seat on the Board of Supervisors, will also be at the meeting. District 1 incumbent Walt Zaremba said he would not be attending the meeting because his campaign schedule precludes it.

The second meeting is Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Yorktown Library at the corner of Battle Road and Route 17. The Tuscany Forum has invited candidates from District 2, 3, 4 and 5, as well as Addison and Hahn.

To find out more information about the Tuscany Forum click here.

Jamming out under the stars
York County residents can jam out under the stars Aug. 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for Moonlight and Music, a music jam led by local vocalist and instrumentalist Joe Duggan.

The program is for residents of all ages and music of all genres. Play guitar, banjo, fiddle, harmonica, and other acoustic instruments in the round robin session and take turns leading a song.

Listeners are also welcome and are recommended to bring a lawn chair. The jam is held in the picnic shelter area near the office and parking lot. New Quarter Park is located near the Queens Lake neighborhood at 1000 Lakeshead Drive.

For more information call York County Parks and Recreation at 890-3500.