Arlington in deep financial trouble -- $30-$40 million budget deficit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.arlnow.com/2024/11/27/arlington-county-forecasting-30-40-million-budget-gap/

The situation is dire, and higher taxes are on the way.

Arlington’s budget is like $1.7 billion. That’s not a “dire” deficit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.arlnow.com/2024/11/27/arlington-county-forecasting-30-40-million-budget-gap/

The situation is dire, and higher taxes are on the way.

Arlington’s budget is like $1.7 billion. That’s not a “dire” deficit.

There is not a lot of discretionary budget areas. So it’s amazing how significant a $40 million shortfall in a $1.7 billion budget can be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.arlnow.com/2024/11/27/arlington-county-forecasting-30-40-million-budget-gap/

The situation is dire, and higher taxes are on the way.

A million of that is probably defending the missing middle lawsuit. I assume that there will be at least a million more as they try to appeal the judge’s decision.

How about the cost of the other six lawsuits the County recently lost?

How about the suits from the developers to whom they issued valid missing middle permits and building permits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would hardly say it is dire. Property taxes are not that high here. I would gladly pay more for the services I get.

I wouldn’t. Taxes have gone up so much since I moved here 25 years ago, and the schools are getting worse and worse since 1/5 of the county school population is ESL.

That is not the reason schools are getting worse.

People who don’t parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington is shooting them starting next winter. Board changed ordinances to allow discharge of firearms.
Mysteriously the "community preference" switched to lethal means.

Hold on there, what if a child gets shot? I think we need study and community input.

It’s either in a park or a school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it will only require a small tax increase. With so much home appreciation, you can afford to spend 5-10% more on property taxes. And if you can't afford it, you can sell and take all of your profit with you.

And move where?

It is sh!tty when new people move in and gentrify places forcing people out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to raise residential tax rate to make up for decline in commercial real estate tax revenues. Empty towers. Negotiated lower assessments.

Love how the people who assess the values are from the same municipality that decides on taxes. They will raise both.

[Anonymous]

Wait until they close the Pentagon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait until they close the Pentagon.

why does a building need 5 sides anyway? 4 is totally normal, anything more is just inefficiency.

/s, but wouldn't be surprised...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait until they close the Pentagon.

In the real world the DoD budget is expected to top $1 trillion for the first time ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Article about dysfunctional governance in Arlington
https://www.arlnow.com/2024/11/29/governance-structure-should-be-an-arlington-priority-in-2025-expert-argues/

Board currently does everything staff recommends.

I really wish the county was governed by a single executive who also controlled the schools. This would allow for much more accountability.

Maybe then the county would appropriately fund the schools.

APS is underfunded.

No, the % of admin staff is bloated - that should be cut first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait until they close the Pentagon.

why does a building need 5 sides anyway? 4 is totally normal, anything more is just inefficiency.

/s, but wouldn't be surprised...

I thought we needed to add a side for the Space Force? Think of the job creation!

[Anonymous]

WTF are they overspending on?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.arlnow.com/2024/11/27/arlington-county-forecasting-30-40-million-budget-gap/

The situation is dire, and higher taxes are on the way.

A million of that is probably defending the missing middle lawsuit. I assume that there will be at least a million more as they try to appeal the judge’s decision.

How about the cost of the other six lawsuits the County recently lost?

How about the suits from the developers to whom they issued valid missing middle permits and building permits?

This is going to happen in MOCO, but on a much larger scale.

[Anonymous]

Once the deportations get rolling APS will need less money.