Yea or nay on county bond referendums?

Worthy projects on tap

Two bond referenda will be on Tuesday's ballot in Fairfax County, one for parks and the other for public safety facilities.

As an alternative to strictly pay-as-you-go spending, debt financing for public facilities allows long-term community assets to be financed more equitably by current and future taxpayers over a more representative lifespan of the project.

Policies limiting the amount of debt, including a 10 percent annual funding limit for the purpose of debt retirement, are strictly adhered to by the Board of Supervisors. These policies have contributed to producing Fairfax County's AAA bond rating and thus given us the lowest possible borrowing costs.

Under board policy, 60 percent of the county's capital budget is committed to the public schools. These new bonds would be sold over a number of years as budgets and year-to-year priorities permit.

If approved, the $87 million park bonds would allow Fairfax County to buy parkland, refurbish playgrounds and playing fields, build a new recreation center in western Fairfax, and provide $12 million in capital funds to the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.

If approved, the $99.9 million public safety bonds would be used to expand the county courthouse, known as the Jennings Judicial Center. The expansion would put the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court under the same expanded roof as the other two courts and provide office, meeting room and storage space.

The bond would also provide funds to build two parking garages at the courthouse, a fire station in the Crosspointe area of southern Fairfax and a rebuilt Burke Volunteer Fire Station.

To provide room for our now-larger number of law enforcement officers, the bonds would finance the expansion and renovation of the overcrowded West Springfield and Mount Vernon police stations.

Copies of the printed materials sent to homes by the county Office of Public Affairs are available at all public libraries. In addition, a video is being shown frequently on cable Channel 16, and information is available on the Internet at www.co.fairfax.va.us. Please take the time to consider these two important issues, and don't forget to vote Tuesday.