Authority offers light at the end of the tunnel

R. Ron Jordan, of Advantus Strategies, made an interesting presentation to the board of supervisors at a work session last week. The presentation was sponsored by Supervisor Terry Nyhous (Center District) and was titled “Community Development Authorities (CDA) and the Public/Private Education and Infrastructure Act.”

Our local government has created and controls a couple of authorities, purportedly to do the bidding of the supervisors. These include the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and the Water and Sanitation Authority (WSA).

There is also the Vint Hill Economic Development Authority (VHEDA), created and appointed by the state for the economic benefit of Fauquier County.

The titles given these authorities are indicative of their limited areas of responsibility.

This Community Development Authority (CDA) and its much broader areas of responsibilities can be found in the Code of Virginia Title 15.2 — Counties, Cities and Towns, Chapter 51 — Virginia Water and Waste Authorities Act, paragraphs 5100 through 5158.

The presentation was introduced by our director of economic development rather than our director of community development. What does this indicate?

Does this action demonstrate a desire to put additional infrastructure in place in order to attract commercial and industrial business? What actions are required of our local government and how would this authority impact the citizens?

The supervisors are required to advertise in a local paper only after developing a descriptive summary of the ordinance, agreement or resolution, and they are required to hold a public hearing 30 days after publication of the advertisement.

A referendum will be held only if 10 percent of the qualified voters file a petition; otherwise an authority can be created without voter approval.

The CDA, as with most authorities, can issue bonds (primarily revenue bonds) that shall be a debt of the authority, not the local government.

Although Chapter 51 centers around stormwater control systems, water systems, or waste systems, paragraph 5158 lists a multitude of areas that a CDA can become involved as mandated by our governmental body.

These include funding for: roads, bridges, parking facilities, traffic signals, parks and facilities for indoor and outdoor recreational uses; fire prevention and control systems, including fire stations; school buildings and related structures; and infrastructure and recreational facilities for age-restricted active-adult communities.

In addition to the issuance of revenue bonds to pay for identified projects, the authority can request that the local government levy and collect a special annual tax on real property within the development authority’s jurisdiction to finance the services and facilities provided by the authority.

Is the concept of a CDA good or bad?

Since our county, like many others, is facing hard times in terms of finding new revenue to pay for needed projects, and since we have reached our debt limit and cannot borrow, perhaps this is a light at the end of a dark financial tunnel.

Perhaps our most pressing need is to ensure we achieve maximum capacities at our wastewater treatment plants in Marshall, Bealeton/Opal/Remington, and New Baltimore before Dec. 31, 2010 to ensure future growth will take place in the locations envisioned by our community. If not, we will be frozen in place and time until the Department of Environmental Quality decides that we are making progress in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. To achieve these goals is estimated to cost about $22.1 million.

It would seem that the WSA is reluctant to issue bonds. Maybe it has accomplished all that it is capable of doing, and, based on previous projects, cannot achieve the stated goals in the time allotted. Perhaps a new authority is the answer.

Other issues needing attention include renovation of Fauquier High School, Taylor Middle School and Warrenton Middle School; many transportation projects, including a U.S. 211 to U.S. 17 by-pass; new fire stations; a new public-safety firing range; expansion of the public radio system; a new library; and new sports fields, to name a few.

Could the establishment of a CDA be the answer to some of our woes? Or is it just a method to get the citizens in a “pay-to-play” mindset.

Griffin is a retired U.S. Navy cryptogolist and a community activist.