Residents: Raise quality, not taxes

Residents gave Albemarle officials some free advice Wednesday night: Focus on improving government efficiency before considering tax increases.

In the meantime, Albemarle is paying the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute $89,000 to help the county find ways to waste less money and increase efficiency. The group will roll out its recommendations in January.

Five local residents spoke at Wednesday’s forum, with most stressing that improving county efficiency could help prevent tax increases.

“We might have to cut some stuff out, and there might be some people crying over it,” said one resident, Greg Quinn, explaining that belt-tightening was essential. Quinn said after the forum that, in step with the county’s urban population increase, the county’s budget has grown, despite the will of some rural residents.

Speakers expressed dissatisfaction with the small number of residents who attended the forum. The public comment period lasted less than 20 minutes. Ann H. Mallek was the only member of the Board of Supervisors to attend.

The Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute was hired in July to examine county policies and procedures. Lane Ramsey, a member of the public institute housed at Virginia Commonwealth University, said he has already seen areas where it will be able to make recommendations to increase efficiency significantly.

“Basically it will be up to Albemarle County to implement these,” said Ramsey, adding that it is too early to release any recommendations as the institute is still conducting its research.

CEPI has 10 people examining Albemarle government. The group will interview about 125 county leaders, one official estimated. It examined volumes of county documents about three feet high, Ramsey said.

CEPI, housed at Virginia Commonwealth University, has reviewed several school systems and governments in Virginia, including Albemarle County schools in 2007. A 58-page report presented to the Albemarle School Board in December included 176 findings and observations, according to school officials.

Albemarle schools can save $400,000 a year by following CEPI efficiency recommendations, Supervisor Dennis S. Rooker said in July.