SCHOOLS CLOSED WEDNESDAY

There are very bad road conditions in Sterling tonight due to the weather. The icy conditions began about 2 p.m. and continue throughout the night.

>>> SCHOOLS CLOSED.

Loudoun County Public Schools will be closed Wednesday, February 14th. Administrative offices will open at 10 a.m. The LEAP meeting has been canceled.

>>>ADMINISTRATORS BUDGET PRESENTED

Administrator Kirby Bowers budget presentation was changed from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. tonight due to a computer glitch. Although planned as a "webcast" due the inclement weather, the board had two supervisors present at 4 p.m. (Staton and Delgaudio) Six of its members were in attendence for the budget presentation at 6:30 p.m. and for the Public Hearing. The low attendence by board members was due to the bad weather.

I just got back from Leesburg a few minutes ago.

Administrator Bowers proposes a 5 per cent increase in tax bills over last year. I oppose that.

There must be another 15 million dollars taken out of the Administrators budget and another 60 million dollars out of the proposed increase in the School budget for the tax rate to remain the same. At present 85 per cent of the reductions are coming out of the smaller county government side and there must be more balance coming in order to maintain the tax rate rather than increasing it.

I will work to reduce the spending and keep the rate down through less spending. For spending to stay the same the equalized rate would be 81 cents. Due to decreased property assessments (more on that from me shortly) the rate to keep spending the "same" would be 89 cents. The administrator is proposing 97.5 cents

Summary of Bowers budget at
http://www.loudoun.gov/news/budget08.htm

>>>SHERIFF SUBSTATION MEETING SUCCESS

Last Monday's meeting was a big success. Thank you to those of you who attended that meeting a week ago. Several newspapers reported on it (Post and Connection) as well as advancing it (Eastener and Indepdent and Compass). Thank you. "Opposition To Substation Evaporates" read one headline.

6 Photos Posted from Sheriff Substation-- VIDEO COMING SOON.
http://www.joineugene.com/photogallery/gallery.php?id=207

>>>Citizens asked to Serve on the Design Committee

Paul Brown, Assistant to the County Administrator (703) 777-0293 (email address) [email protected] has asked that members of the public who are interested in the design of the station are welcome to participate in the design committee. This will help determine the cost for the bond on the ballot in the Fall of this year.

>>>> TRANSPORT MEETING WAS PACKED WALL TO WALL

The room was packed at the Transportation Briefing last week at the senior center and photos are now posted. Many ideas and suggestions have been recorded. I was joined by Sups. Mick Staton and Bruce Tulloch and over 100 citizens. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT.

9 PHOTOS POSTED FROM TRANSPORTATION MEETING.
http://www.joineugene.com/photogallery/gallery.php?id=209

>>Donate by Credit Card To Friends of Delgaudio

The campaign has entered the electronic era and needs your credit card donation to keep it there.
https://secure.donortownsquare.com/SSL/donate.aspx?sgst=-1&amt=0&ai=425&qs=X4FNW

>>Donate by Snail Mail to Friends of Delgaudio
Make Checks payable to Friends of Delgaudio and mail to Friends of Delgaudio Post Office Box 1222 Sterling, Va. 20167.

>>>DEATH OF GROWTH ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR TAX RELIEF

With much of the county now downzoned, a moratorium placed on new residential rezoning applications and new home construction plummeting to its lowest point since 1996, the death of residential growth rate increases in Loudoun County means supervisors should make similar reductions in taxes and spending.

Growth is dead. Supervisors have no reason to continue expanding tax bills and county budgets at unreasonable rates and then blame it on growth,

>>> JUST POSTED: DELGAUDIO WITH ROCK-IT THE 10 FOOT TALL ROBOT
http://www.joineugene.com/photogallery/photo.php?id=2852