Week Ahead: Loudoun Board Considers Metro Financing, Consolidation of County, Schools Functions

The Loudoun Board of Supervisors will wade into some big decisions during Wednesday’s business meeting as a deadline approaches for decision related to the coming Metro Silver Line, and a proposal to consolidate some county and school functions.

The item on Metro is an information item, alerting supervisors to the need to decide whether to pay for three parking garages related to the Metro project. The board voted 5-4 in July 2012 to participate in the Silver Line project, which will extend the Metro from Reston to Dulles International Airport and Ashburn.

As part of a cost-cutting agreement, Loudoun agreed to attempt to find a way to build the garages. Any garages Loudoun does not construct – or find a partner to construct – will go back into the full project.

Loudoun has estimated the garages would cost at least $130 million. If folded back into the project, the county would be responsible for the same percentage on the garages as for the full project: 4.8 percent. The county’s share for the project currently is estimated about $269 million, not counting the garages.

Once the board makes that decision, supervisors must decide whether to continue to pursue a federal TIFIA loan for project, which is expected to lower the financing costs, according to the staff report on the item.

Supervisors will also consider whether to pursue consolidation of two functions that the county administration and Loudoun County Public Schools each perform on their own now: procurement and land acquisition. The Joint Board of Supervisors and School Board Committee recommended the county investigate such a move.

See the board’s full agenda for its Nov. 6 meeting online.

Also, don't forget about Election Day Tuesday.