Pat Gauthier, executive director at the Ecumenical Community for Helping Others (ECHO), was surprised how bad March was on the charitable-assistance front, and she looks toward the bleak state-budget picture with even more concern. Even though ECHO does not receive direct state funding, the trickle-down effect might have an impact.
"March really frightened us. You hear so much about transportation and education. Human services are certainly going to take a hit," she said.
Over in Franconia, Koinonia is in the same position. Although both organizations rely on private and corporate donations, when Fairfax County cuts back in charitable services, such as medical and financial assistance, more people will be turning to the charitable community organizations for help. Lisa Edwards, executive director at Koinonia, is in the same position as Gauthier.
"If the county cuts human-services programs, then they send people to the community-based organizations," she said.
Both organizations specialize in services such as providing clothing, emergency food, financial help, prescriptions, housing or utilities. Both depend on the area churches or religious "faith communities," as Gauthier put it.
"There's certainly a trickle-down effect. It puts a strain on our services," Edwards said.
SUPERVISOR Dana Kauffman (D-Lee) has the budget on his agenda for the next few weeks. The budget markup meeting with the county Board of Supervisors is April 22, where corrections are made, and the budget will be finalized April 29. He looked at all elements, and that includes schools, which account for about half the general-fund services.
"The list that the county executive came up with is much more do-able than what the superintendent of schools came forward with. The county executive as a whole has proposed a package that offers some balanced cuts we certainly can live with and need to make happen," Kauffman said, although he recognized the trickle-down effect on the nonprofits.
"I was concerned with the community funding pool increase. Cutting that I think is wrong. Our nonprofits need that money to deliver the services," he said, talking about the county funding some services so the nonprofits can focus their funding in other areas.
In response to constituent concerns about the school budget, Kauffman composed a letter attempting to explain the situation. "Reality is a hard master," one paragraph begins. "We have a moral and fiscal responsibility to all our citizens, from school age to seniors," it says in another section, before pointing out that on April 29, when the budget is adopted, "we will be trying to re-allocate dollars to meet pressing school needs."
IN THE PROPOSAL, which is not in final form, several police and other county positions were eliminated also. That does not mean people will lose their existing jobs, but vacancies will not be filled.
Supervisor Elaine McConnell (R-Springfield) said that despite budgetary cutbacks, she will not sacrifice any of the vital services the county has. But there will be some scaling down, possibly requiring an increased waiting time for certain services.
"I think that most of the services are going to be bare to the bone," she said. There was also some indication that the West Springfield District Station police would face possible decrease in manpower by not hiring and training new officers when others retire, so the number of officers would eventually decrease. McConnell said she would fight that.
"With attrition, we're going to lose some. There's no way we can pare this department down any further," she said.
Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock) sees a possible cutback in the libraries. While hours the libraries are open are not in jeopardy, some of the materials may not be updated as often.
"People looking for the latest book might have to wait," she said and then looked at the bigger picture of all-around trimming of the budget.
"We're going to see a little bit of pains on all fronts," she said.
McConnell was around in 1990 when the county budget faced a $120 million deficit. Unemployment was up, and property values were down.
"We managed. It took some maneuvering. It was not easy," she said.
Another area targeted for cutbacks is the Fairfax County Community Handbook, which is facing a 50-percent cut.
ROAD PROJECTS are also subject to the chopping block. At a recent meeting with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) on Monday, April 15, supervisors urged the state to leave projects that have already started alone, but a final decision will be on hold until mid-June, when the Commonwealth Transportation Board puts out its six-year plan. The board consists of appointees by the governor.
"So far they said they'd leave 123 alone," McConnell said.
VDOT spokesperson Ryan Hall reiterated the general consensus from the meeting, but it wasn't finalized.
"Basically, it appears the projects that have already been started will continue, but nobody will know until the final plan comes out in June. They are trying to make a realistic plan with the money available," Hall said.