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Warrenton Council makes final budget adjustments
Warrenton Council makes final budget adjustments
By Kelly Alm and Laura Ruby
Times-Democrat Staff Writers
The Warrenton Town Council last week passed its approximately $20 million budget for FY 2009 with few changes. The budget maintains the current 1.5 cent per $100 of assessed value real estate tax.
In its June 10 meeting, council members agreed to increase spending for the Virginia Regional Transit's (VRT) Warrenton Circuit Rider by $6,872.
Following a motion by Councilman John Albertella, the council allocated $52,033, up from $45,161, to the bus service, acknowledging concerns about dramatically increasing fuel prices since the budget was proposed in January.
“As prices climb, the proposed amount may not be sufficient,” said Councilman John “Sparky” Lewis in supporting the motion.
The council approved small increases in funding to the Lord Fairfax Community College Small Business Development Center and Fauquier CADRE.
It also allocated money to the Mosby Museum Foundation, earmarked for the annual Warrenton-Fauquier Heritage Day.
The council rejected amendments offered by Albertella to double the marketing budget for the Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation Facility from $30,000 to $60,000 and to add $100,000 to the town's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for sidewalk construction.
Councilman David Norden suggested that sidewalks to be constructed be tied to the future effort of the Pedestrian/Trail Committee as part of the Comprehensive Plan review. Albertella accepted that amendment to his motion and the council voted in favor of showing its support for sidewalk construction in that manner.
Councilman Sam Tarr said that the town completed in February a drawing that offers a comprehensive inventory of both the current and planned sidewalks, trails and paths in Warrenton and Fauquier County.
“We’re trying to put everything into one drawing that would show us where a person could walk in the town,” Tarr said.
The council also approved an amendment by Councilman Dennie Sutherland, parks and recreation chair, for $134,453 for Eva Walker Park.
The amendment marks a reduction in funding of about $50,000 for the park. The money will be used to “retool, revisit, replace” current playground equipment, said Town Manager Ken McLawhon, noting that the bulk of the funding will go toward making it more easily accessible by addressing the steep slope from Horner Street to the park.
McLawhon said that three features — a water fountain, bathrooms, and a gazebo — originally planned for the park were not funded in the budget. He noted, however, that those features at Warrenton’s Rady Park were funded by Fauquier County and volunteer groups.
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