INSIDE Republicans sweep Goochland elections > page 4
Volume 55, Number 44 • November 12 2009
County facing budget cuts $2.5 million revenue shortfall for 2010; $5.4 million for 2011 By Amy Condra acondra@goochlandgazette.com
Photo by Ken Odor
The Edible Garden is now closed, after almost five years of encouraging diners to enjoy food prepared from local sources.
Edible Garden closes doors By Ken Odor news@goochlandgazette.com
Hard times have forced a local restaurant with a menu that revolved around locally grown food to close. But the restaurant’s promotion of local fare has made a difference, said one of the Edible Garden’s co-owners.
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“We accomplished our mission to promote local food,” said Molly Harris, who paused for a moment while serving a busy lunch crowd last Thursday. Harris and co-owner Lisa Goldstein opened the restaurant in 2005 after purchasing the building, which formerly housed the English Garden, at 12506 River Road.
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Their goal was to serve dishes, concentrating on seasonal foods, prepared from ingredients available within a 100-mile radius. “We didn’t just want to close our doors,” said Harris. So the restaurant posted a notice on its Web site announcing they were closing up
SPORTS Bulldogs shutout No. 6 Albemarle. > page 8
see Restaurant > page 5
At last week’s Board of Supervisors meeting, County Administrator Rebecca Dickson said the county is projecting a revenue shortfall of about $2.5 million in the 2010 budget. Last year the Board of Supervisors set aside $1.2 million from the county’s fund balance in response to a tumultuous economy. This leaves a $1.3 million shortfall that needs to be addressed this year. Schools have been asked to contribute $650,000, said Dickson. “On the county side… I’ve asked folks to identify $600,000 in cuts right now,” she said. “They have done that.” She said that these cuts included unfilled positions and a reduction in part-time staff. Dickson said that things don’t look any better for 2011, when revenue is expected to fall by $5.4 million. The biggest drop in revenue sources comes from a $3.7 mil-
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lion loss in real estate taxes. “The county is projecting a 12 percent reduction in assessed values from last July to this,” said Dickson, “and next January, another five percent reduction. That’s a significant loss.” The county is also looking to lose $550,000 in interest income and $511,000 in personal property tax. “Other local taxes are down $100,000,” said Dickson. “We hope local sales taxes hold.” Both the general county and the schools look to share in the budget shortfall in the coming year, said the county administrator. “$2.9 million on the school side and $2.5 million on the county side,” said Dickson of how much needs to be slashed from the 2011 budget. “On the county side, nothing’s off the table,” she added. Schools are expected to make deeper cuts since they represent about 55% of the see Budget> page 3
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Virginia Randolph students spruce up park