Opinion: A Reston Association Budget By and For The People

As part of the current budget process, members of the Reston Association were asked to be an integral part of the information-gathering phase and share what budget items were of priority to them.  

We took the “Get Involved” element of our principles to a whole new level, and instead of presenting the budget in November as a finished product, we reached out at the beginning of the process to solicit engagement.  

Many community members took RA up on the offer and submitted requests, ranging from capital improvements (drinking fountains, swing sets, new landscaping at the gateway entrances) to ongoing maintenance issues (edging, sweeping, street-scaping). 

Regardless of the suggestion, the message was the same, “we want to be involved in ways to improve our community”.   Based on the budget suggestions received from the members, the board, committees, and staff, it is clear that the strategic theme for the 2014/2015 Budget should be Sustainability & Community Viability – To effectively manage all resources, resulting in a sustainable and viable community. 

The board then reviewed and discussed the 136 budget submissions, while keeping in mind many of the suggestions have been on staff’s “wish list” for more than four years and that many of the initiatives will have a long-term impact on the community as they put in places processes that will improve the appearance of the community, property values and systems functionality.  

We know it is time for the organization to pay attention to infrastructure upkeep and maintenance.  We need to take seriously our responsibilities of conserving and protecting the value of all property; and improving, administering and maintaining such property in neat and good order.  We need to reinvest in Reston; we need to better maintain what we have.

Hard choices still need to be made regarding how to continue to provide the level of service Restonians have come to expect and deserve, while also keeping the cost of doing business at a reasonable and affordable level.  

We still have more meetings ahead of us, and many more hours of discussion regarding the most financially responsible ways to reinvest in Reston and to better maintain what we have. 

We invite all Reston Association members to participate, as it is a process of inclusion, thoughtful deliberation and an overall commitment to keeping Reston a place we all love.