Arlington Budget - Playing chicken?

[Anonymous]

Too much for housing assistance and too much for schools. Actions have consequences. All are welcome except in some neighborhoods and overcrowded failing schools. Happy to see recognition that this is not sustainable long term.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they were ending gymnastics at Barcroft.

Now they are closing Cherrydale library?

Are they just pulling out worst case scenarios they can walk back after gaining concessions elsewhere?

There has been huge growth in APS administrators so has that increased expenses.

As well as direct housing assistance has ballooned to almost 10% of the budget.

They need to freeze the housing assistance program to new applicants until it declines to 5% of the county budget or less. This is absurd to spend that much money on handouts.

It’s not even going to county residents.

[Anonymous]

Do gooder County staff drive everything with brainless Board rubber stamping everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read today that there is a fight over not automatically giving the cash from the property tax increase to APS, which now consumes 42 percent of our money.

We have no kids. Lived here 40 years. Do our part, yadda yadda but sheesh.

Good schools ensure those housing values. Don’t fool yourself that Arlington is that desirable— PG county is just as close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they were ending gymnastics at Barcroft.

Now they are closing Cherrydale library?

Are they just pulling out worst case scenarios they can walk back after gaining concessions elsewhere?

There has been huge growth in APS administrators so has that increased expenses.

As well as direct housing assistance has ballooned to almost 10% of the budget.

They need to freeze the housing assistance program to new applicants until it declines to 5% of the county budget or less. This is absurd to spend that much money on handouts.

What? I thought all housing assistance was simply credits to builders to allow them to build higher density (you can go up 10% if provide 10 below market rate units etc). We pay out cash to landlords for people to live here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Folks - I’m a Dem and I vote Blue. But we brought this on ourselves. We kept telling the board housing affordability was priority one, and they listened, and now they are cutting the things we actually value to make it happen.

The commercial market is in the toilet so we need to start making choices now. Do we want to import more poverty, recognizing that there is literally no end to the demand for cheap housing, or do we want subsidized gymnastics and a library every 1.1 miles in North Arlington?

Not being snarky - but this what people mean by putting your money where your mouth is. Not everyone has a bottomless supply of cash to pay so you can have your feel goods and your nice to haves too.

So many vacant storefronts in Ballston and Clarendon. Worse than GFC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks - I’m a Dem and I vote Blue. But we brought this on ourselves. We kept telling the board housing affordability was priority one, and they listened, and now they are cutting the things we actually value to make it happen.

The commercial market is in the toilet so we need to start making choices now. Do we want to import more poverty, recognizing that there is literally no end to the demand for cheap housing, or do we want subsidized gymnastics and a library every 1.1 miles in North Arlington?

Not being snarky - but this what people mean by putting your money where your mouth is. Not everyone has a bottomless supply of cash to pay so you can have your feel goods and your nice to haves too.

So many vacant storefronts in Ballston and Clarendon. Worse than GFC.

Don’t know what GFC is, but those vacant storefronts fill quickly. It’s all the vacant offices causing our budget problems. And, literally no one in Arlington would pick PG county over it. I don’t even know where it is, and always mix it up with PW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Dem, but the portion of our budget allocated to housing assistance programs has gotten out control. They are cutting too many programs that Arlingtonians value. When we were flush with cash, it was great to direct more to affordable housing, but they shouldn’t be cutting services at the same time that they are trying to bring in more people that will need more very expensive services. Will be choosing my local votes more wisely next time.

You are going to vote for a Dem in the next election and will get exactly what you have now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Folks - I’m a Dem and I vote Blue. But we brought this on ourselves. We kept telling the board housing affordability was priority one, and they listened, and now they are cutting the things we actually value to make it happen.

The commercial market is in the toilet so we need to start making choices now. Do we want to import more poverty, recognizing that there is literally no end to the demand for cheap housing, or do we want subsidized gymnastics and a library every 1.1 miles in North Arlington?

Not being snarky - but this what people mean by putting your money where your mouth is. Not everyone has a bottomless supply of cash to pay so you can have your feel goods and your nice to haves too.

So many vacant storefronts in Ballston and Clarendon. Worse than GFC.

Don’t know what GFC is, but those vacant storefronts fill quickly. It’s all the vacant offices causing our budget problems. And, literally no one in Arlington would pick PG county over it. I don’t even know where it is, and always mix it up with PW.

What are you talking about? Have you ever walked around inside Ballston Quarter? There are more vacant storefronts than actual stores on floors 1-3. And how do you not know where PG County is? Are you that new here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they were ending gymnastics at Barcroft.

Now they are closing Cherrydale library?

Are they just pulling out worst case scenarios they can walk back after gaining concessions elsewhere?

There has been huge growth in APS administrators so has that increased expenses.

As well as direct housing assistance has ballooned to almost 10% of the budget.

They need to freeze the housing assistance program to new applicants until it declines to 5% of the county budget or less. This is absurd to spend that much money on handouts.

What? I thought all housing assistance was simply credits to builders to allow them to build higher density (you can go up 10% if provide 10 below market rate units etc). We pay out cash to landlords for people to live here?

Yes, the county is paying peoples rent through housing voucher programs. Arlington voluntarily adds a significant amount of funding for county funded housing vouchers in addition to the federally funded housing vouchers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First they were ending gymnastics at Barcroft.

Now they are closing Cherrydale library?

Are they just pulling out worst case scenarios they can walk back after gaining concessions elsewhere?

There has been huge growth in APS administrators so has that increased expenses.

As well as direct housing assistance has ballooned to almost 10% of the budget.

They need to freeze the housing assistance program to new applicants until it declines to 5% of the county budget or less. This is absurd to spend that much money on handouts.

What? I thought all housing assistance was simply credits to builders to allow them to build higher density (you can go up 10% if provide 10 below market rate units etc). We pay out cash to landlords for people to live here?

Yes, the county is paying peoples rent through housing voucher programs. Arlington voluntarily adds a significant amount of funding for county funded housing vouchers in addition to the federally funded housing vouchers.

There’s also some sort of “investment” fund designed to support the construction of affordable units. At an an average cost of $400k or something like that. For that money, we could build smaller row houses and let actual firefighters and teachers buy them via lottery. Instead, we subsidize uber drivers from PG, first to build the unit, then to subsidize the rent, forever. And at the end of the day, they have nothing to show for it and can be evicted on a week’s notice if they let another adult stay or their kid brings home a dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are interested in supporting gymnastics please check out our website at:

https://savearlingtongymnastics.com

From there you can learn about the gymnastics program in Arlington, sign our petition, and find ways to take action. We appreciate any support. Thank you.

you are probably aware but this is like the lottery schools. You have to luck into them and then everybody who didn't questions why the masses have to support a tiny fraction of the population who wants the service. I played the gymnastics lottery for years, never won. I'm not working against you b/c I don't care, but that's a strong head wind. The library on the other hand. I tour them all in ARL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are interested in supporting gymnastics please check out our website at:

https://savearlingtongymnastics.com

From there you can learn about the gymnastics program in Arlington, sign our petition, and find ways to take action. We appreciate any support. Thank you.

you are probably aware but this is like the lottery schools. You have to luck into them and then everybody who didn't questions why the masses have to support a tiny fraction of the population who wants the service. I played the gymnastics lottery for years, never won. I'm not working against you b/c I don't care, but that's a strong head wind. The library on the other hand. I tour them all in ARL.

DP, but your statement is contradictory. You sat only a “tiny fraction of the population… wants the service.” But you also acknowledge the huge demand/waitlists. So clearly, many, many people want the service. Similarly, thousands of kids are in option schools or programs in APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read today that there is a fight over not automatically giving the cash from the property tax increase to APS, which now consumes 42 percent of our money.

We have no kids. Lived here 40 years. Do our part, yadda yadda but sheesh.

Good schools ensure those housing values. Don’t fool yourself that Arlington is that desirable— PG county is just as close.

People want to live close in if they work close in. Sorry APS lobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are interested in supporting gymnastics please check out our website at:

https://savearlingtongymnastics.com

From there you can learn about the gymnastics program in Arlington, sign our petition, and find ways to take action. We appreciate any support. Thank you.

you are probably aware but this is like the lottery schools. You have to luck into them and then everybody who didn't questions why the masses have to support a tiny fraction of the population who wants the service. I played the gymnastics lottery for years, never won. I'm not working against you b/c I don't care, but that's a strong head wind. The library on the other hand. I tour them all in ARL.

DP, but your statement is contradictory. You sat only a “tiny fraction of the population… wants the service.” But you also acknowledge the huge demand/waitlists. So clearly, many, many people want the service. Similarly, thousands of kids are in option schools or programs in APS.

I think you’re agreeing with PP. Only a tiny fraction of those who want (gymnastics/option schools) are able to participate.

Demand far exceeds supply, but PP is saying that since everyone pays to subsidize the lucky lottery winners, it feels especially unfair.