Fairfax County’s Human Services Council, a volunteer citizen-led body appointed by the Board of Supervisors, presented its recommendations to address the ongoing budget shortfall of the Community Services Board (CSB) last week. The Human Services Council was tasked with the difficult job of reviewing the CSB’s proposed program reductions to meet its budget limits. Increased service demands and long-term inadequate financing from the Commonwealth of Virginia have created a structural imbalance for the CSB, which must be addressed to avert draconian cuts to existing services, and restrictions for new CSB clients.
In its review, the Council urged the Board of Supervisors to keep open New Horizons, Sojourn House, Gartlan Center Emergency Services, and Daytime Shift Mobile Crisis Services. Council Chairman Kevin Bell noted that “the adverse impact and ultimate higher costs in the long term outweigh any short term financial budget savings that might otherwise be achieved.” To keep those programs going would cost $1.1 million this year. Instead, the Council recommended eliminating several positions, potential use of county reserve funds (the Board of Supervisors set aside $4.2 million in the FY2013 budget to assist CSB in getting out of the “hole,” which is expected to be larger next year if action is not taken soon), and adoption of a Work Plan that will support and strengthen the CSB’s commitment to long-term financial stability. County Executive Edward L. Long made his recommendations at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors’ meeting, as part of the Carryover package that will be considered in September.
For the first time in my memory, the chairman of the CSB addressed the Board of Supervisors about CSB governance. Deputy Sheriff Mark Sites, newly elected CSB chairman, told the Supervisors that the CSB will do “everything in our power to ensure that neither we, nor you, find ourselves in this kind of budget and service crisis again.” Chairman Sites anticipates a Transformation Completion Plan from CSB staff and quarterly written reports to the Board of Supervisors, to ensure that the CSB agency is sound fiscally and programmatically. He said that the CSB already has established an ad hoc fiscal oversight committee, will receive technical assistance from the County Executive’s office, and will review CSB program efficiencies to help mitigate any future projected shortfall. This is a huge undertaking, but one that is crucial to the future of CSB and the people it serves.
Also on Tuesday, the Board adopted the streetcar as the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Columbia Pike Transit Initiative, which will serve the Skyline area of Mason District. The Arlington County Council acted last week to adopt the same alternative, so now an application to enter the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts Program can be submitted in the fall. Planning efforts to enhance public transportation along the Columbia Pike corridor have been underway for the past decade, and support of both jurisdictions is necessary to move forward. Details of the project are on line at www.piketransit.com.
Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be e-mailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov
Lisa Released on June 27, this is a big sports drama about professional auto racing and personalities behind the scenes. Brad Pitt continues to defy his age in the action
I was born in early 1938, and started first grade during World War Two. At that time the town of Falls Church had only three schools: Madison (a grade school),
For my “Front-Page History” series, today we are looking at headlines from July 2, 1977, just one day after the new Virginia laws passed by the General Assembly went into
Hope may be a theological virtue, an inspiration or an aspiration, even a town in Arkansas, but hope is not a strategy. Hope is not a plan. General Colin Powell
Legitimate news organizations need grass roots support like never before, and that includes your Falls Church News-Press. For more than 33 years, your News-Press has kept its readers informed and enlightened. We can’t continue without the support of our readers. This means YOU! Please step up in these challenging times to support the news source you are reading right now!
A Penny for Your Thoughts: News of Greater Falls Church
Penny Gross
Fairfax County’s Human Services Council, a volunteer citizen-led body appointed by the Board of Supervisors, presented its recommendations to address the ongoing budget shortfall of the Community Services Board (CSB) last week. The Human Services Council was tasked with the difficult job of reviewing the CSB’s proposed program reductions to meet its budget limits. Increased service demands and long-term inadequate financing from the Commonwealth of Virginia have created a structural imbalance for the CSB, which must be addressed to avert draconian cuts to existing services, and restrictions for new CSB clients.
In its review, the Council urged the Board of Supervisors to keep open New Horizons, Sojourn House, Gartlan Center Emergency Services, and Daytime Shift Mobile Crisis Services. Council Chairman Kevin Bell noted that “the adverse impact and ultimate higher costs in the long term outweigh any short term financial budget savings that might otherwise be achieved.” To keep those programs going would cost $1.1 million this year. Instead, the Council recommended eliminating several positions, potential use of county reserve funds (the Board of Supervisors set aside $4.2 million in the FY2013 budget to assist CSB in getting out of the “hole,” which is expected to be larger next year if action is not taken soon), and adoption of a Work Plan that will support and strengthen the CSB’s commitment to long-term financial stability. County Executive Edward L. Long made his recommendations at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors’ meeting, as part of the Carryover package that will be considered in September.
For the first time in my memory, the chairman of the CSB addressed the Board of Supervisors about CSB governance. Deputy Sheriff Mark Sites, newly elected CSB chairman, told the Supervisors that the CSB will do “everything in our power to ensure that neither we, nor you, find ourselves in this kind of budget and service crisis again.” Chairman Sites anticipates a Transformation Completion Plan from CSB staff and quarterly written reports to the Board of Supervisors, to ensure that the CSB agency is sound fiscally and programmatically. He said that the CSB already has established an ad hoc fiscal oversight committee, will receive technical assistance from the County Executive’s office, and will review CSB program efficiencies to help mitigate any future projected shortfall. This is a huge undertaking, but one that is crucial to the future of CSB and the people it serves.
Also on Tuesday, the Board adopted the streetcar as the Locally Preferred Alternative for the Columbia Pike Transit Initiative, which will serve the Skyline area of Mason District. The Arlington County Council acted last week to adopt the same alternative, so now an application to enter the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts Program can be submitted in the fall. Planning efforts to enhance public transportation along the Columbia Pike corridor have been underway for the past decade, and support of both jurisdictions is necessary to move forward. Details of the project are on line at www.piketransit.com.
Penny Gross is the Mason District Supervisor in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. She may be e-mailed at mason@fairfaxcounty.gov
Recent News
F1: The Movie In Theaters
Lisa Released on June 27, this is a big sports drama about professional auto racing and personalities behind the scenes.
Old Falls Church: School Days (Part I)
I was born in early 1938, and started first grade during World War Two. At that time the town of
Our Man In Arlington 7-10-2025
For my “Front-Page History” series, today we are looking at headlines from July 2, 1977, just one day after the
A Penny for Your Thoughts 7-10-2025
Hope may be a theological virtue, an inspiration or an aspiration, even a town in Arkansas, but hope is not
Cult Century: 1970s Roots Of Trumpism, Part 8 of 25
“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God” Proverbs 14:31.
The Importance of F.C.’s Fall Election
This November’s election in Virginia and in Falls Church, in particular, are already turning hot. The statewide races for governor,
Stories that may interest you
F1: The Movie In Theaters
Lisa Released on June 27, this is a big sports drama about professional auto racing and personalities behind the scenes. Brad Pitt continues to defy his age in the action
Old Falls Church: School Days (Part I)
I was born in early 1938, and started first grade during World War Two. At that time the town of Falls Church had only three schools: Madison (a grade school),
Our Man In Arlington 7-10-2025
For my “Front-Page History” series, today we are looking at headlines from July 2, 1977, just one day after the new Virginia laws passed by the General Assembly went into
A Penny for Your Thoughts 7-10-2025
Hope may be a theological virtue, an inspiration or an aspiration, even a town in Arkansas, but hope is not a strategy. Hope is not a plan. General Colin Powell