RESOLUTION

A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE BUDGETARY STRATEGIES RELATING TO ANTICIPATED FISCAL 2003 AND 2004 STATE REVENUE REDUCTIONS

WHEREAS, On August 19, 2002  Governor Mark Warner announced a $1.5 billion revenue shortfall in the State’s two-year budget cycle; and

WHEREAS, in response to the $1.5 billion shortfall Governor Warner has initiated a plan of action at the State level to freeze all discretionary spending, continue the State hiring freeze, place a moratorium on the approval of any new capital project construction or consulting contracts, place State agencies on a monthly spending limit and directed reduction plans of up to 15 percent  be developed in all agencies of State government; and

WHEREAS, local government have been advised that all aspects of the State budget will be significantly impacted, including support to local government operations, including schools and that the specific programmatic impacts may not be known until October or November of 2002; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors has determined that it is necessary and appropriate to initiate certain budgetary strategies effective immediately to increase its ability to effectively respond to the Fiscal Year 2003 and 2004 State revenue reductions;  now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors this 16th day of September 2002, That the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors does hereby adopt the following budgetary strategy relating to anticipated Fiscal Year 2003 and Fiscal Year 2004 State revenue reductions:

1. Effective immediately a hiring freeze shall be instituted for all permanent positions with the exception of sworn law enforcement personnel, emergency responders and E911 call takers.
2. Effective immediately there shall be a moratorium on the creation of new positions/or other expenses which constitute discretionary new programs or an expansion of mission outside of the annual budget cycle.
3. The County Administrator is directed to initiate a detailed review of capital project balances and related operating costs.
4. Effective immediately there shall be a moratorium on the further appropriation of un-obligated FY02 carryover balances for both the General Government and School Division, except to address specific State reductions, until the mid-year revenue and expenditure review.
5. Following the identification of the areas and amounts of State funding reduction, the County Administrator is hereby directed to prepare a detailed response plan for Fiscal Year 2003 for consideration by the Board of Supervisors. This plan shall be presented to the Board no later than December 2002.
6. Any identified State funding reductions for FY 2004 will be addressed as part of the FY 2004 Budget process.