I want to share with you some of the highlights of the Fiscal Year 2002 Budget adopted by the County Board on April 16th. This consensus budget provides a balance across all of the needs of the community, while targeting resources to areas we consider most critical: Schools, our employees, housing and human services, and the environment.

Once again, education was the top priority, with a $16 million increase for the schools. This figure resulted from a first ever Revenue Sharing Agreement between the two boards, plus an additional $1 million for the purchase of textbooks. This represents an 8.3% funding increase and the largest dollar increase ever.

New funding for Housing and Human Services was significant, including an additional $1 million for the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, $1.2 million for non-profit human service providers, and $1,000,000 for our paratransit program.

While the President is recommending a 10% funding reduction for Chesapeake Bay efforts, Arlington will be increasing our efforts by nearly $800,000. We also recently adopted our Chesapeake Bay Preservation Plan and our Watershed Management Plan, as recommended by our Chesapeake Bay Task Force -- putting us in the forefront of protecting water quality in the Washington region.

Public safety enhancements included seven new full-time fire department employees, including the full year funding for an additional EMS unit, a $775,000 technology initiative for police on the street, an additional sheriff's deputy, and significant pay plan enhancements for police and fire employees.

Other highlights include: 3% COLA for all employees, plus pay plan enhancements $170,000 for our public art and arts grants programs $1,000,000 fund to provide a catalyst for infrastructure investment on Columbia Pike. $500,000 for Master Planning including the North Tract of Potomac Yard $500,000 for the Neighborhood Conservation program $370,000 for new voting machines

Also of importance, we adopted additional real estate tax relief for low-income elderly and disabled County residents. This proposal will provide significant assistance to those most challenged by the increased real estate assessments.

We are proud of the consensus budget we produced. We believe it reflects the values of our community and gives us an opportunity to enter FY 2002 with much optimism.

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