Those of us who have done our aging in place here in the world of Northern Virginia journalism have learned through the decades that there’s never really a “new” news story – just variations on a theme.
So we smiled to ourselves when officials with the Fairfax County Park Authority recently put out a rather draconian list of potential budget cuts, done at the behest of County Executive Bryan Hill.
(This is not, for the record, a rap on the Park Authority. They, like other county departments, were just, as the saying goes, following orders.)
Cuts in parks and other government programs are likely never to see the light of day, as this exercise is more about teeing up another government reach into the wallets of property owners in 2025. We weren’t, as they say, born yesterday. We know the game: Fearmonger the public with threats of cuts, then grab their wallets. (The Beatles in “Tax Man”: “Don’t ask me what I want it for/if you don’t want to pay some more.”)
It all brings back a similar episode of maybe 25 years ago, when the county manager in neighboring Arlington directed all departments to find options for trimming 5 percent of their budgets to address a “challenging” budget year.
Some departments took the issue seriously and got very specific on who and what could be cut, no doubt spending hours upon hours unproductively in meetings on the subject and causing unnecessary fear among staff.
The police department, on the other hand, submitted its proposal that said in effect, “Well, if you want to, you can always cut our SWAT team.”
They knew the score – few if any actual cuts would ever actually materialize, so why waste staff time in submitting anything more than a cursory non-starter of a response?
So fear not, Fairfax residents – your nature centers, sports courts, historic sites and other park facilities are not really imperiled. It’s all brinksmanship. But you’re going to have to pay for the privilege, and ask no questions along the way. cut our SWAT team.”
Those running the police knew the score – few if any actual cuts would ever actually materialize, so why waste staff time in submitting anything more than a cursory non-starter of a response?
So fear not, Fairfax residents – your nature centers, sports courts, historic sites and other park facilities are not really imperiled. It’s all brinksmanship.
But you’re going to have to pay for the privilege, and ask no questions along the way.
