Chairman At-large Corey Stewart at the Feb. 23, 2016 Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting.The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted Tuesday to eliminate concealed carry permit fees that are at the discretion of the localities, thus reducing permitting fees from $50 to $15. The resolution went into effect immediately.
While the resolution passed, it split the board 5:3. Those in favor of the motion were Republicans Stewart, Nohe, Candland, Lawson and Anderson. Those opposed were Democrats Principi and Jenkins, and Caddigan, a Republican.
Potomac Supervisor Maureen Caddigan told the board while she favors second amendment rights, she did not agree with the process.
“I certainly do support our second amendment right, but I will not be supporting this motion....There is another reason for doing this, and it is not the right reason.”
Chairman Corey Stewart brought the resolution to the board two weeks prior, but did not secure the necessary votes for it to pass. Some supervisors had concerns over added workload the decrease in the cost of permitting could create for the office of the clerk of the court and the sheriff's office. Another concern was cost. The two offices were already underfunded and less revenue coming in from permitting fees would make it even more difficult to sustain operations.
The new resolution differed in the supervisors agreed to immediately fund a low-level deputy clerk position to assist with the processing of concealed carry permits. In a full year, they expect the position would cost the county $40,000. The board members also said they would provide an additional $75,000 to the Sheriff’s Office to use for background checks.
Clerk of the Court Michele McQuigg and Sheriff Glenn Hill said they had privately met with Chairman Stewart and Gainesville Supervisor Pete Candland. During that meeting, they shared the needs of their offices.
McQuigg described her office as overwhelmed. While she would like to turn things around in 1-3 days, often her office needed 3-5 days, which then costs the taxpayers money in overtime. Her concern would be that reducing the cost of permits could overwhelm her office even more
However, when Brentsville Supervisor Jeanine Lawson asked McQuigg if she would like immediate funding for a second additional employee, she answered she would wait to do so within the FY17 budget process.
Sheriff Hill said he also needed additional employees but would be satisfied to work that out during the budget process. He wanted four new employees and two vehicles to be provided over the next two years. He wanted more employees to work with evictions as well as to provide security to the county courthouse.
Supervisor Marty Nohe of the Coles District said that he would want to make sure that these issues are definitely dealt with and not ignored. Stewart and others agreed.
Woodbridge Supervisor Frank Principi said he distrusted the process, which he called a “backroom deal” since only two supervisors met with McQuigg and Hill. He also mentioned a possible violation of the legislative process, referring to a citizen who suggested they broke with order in bringing the resolution before the board for a second time.
The county attorney said there was no legal concern, and Candland defended talking to representatives from the two offices to better understand their needs.
However, Caddigan questioned the reason that this was being pulled out of the regular budgeting process.
"I support the Clerk; however, I don’t know why this isn’t being done in the budget. I don’t know why this is being taken out of the budget cycle, and therefore, I will be voting ‘no' - not against you, but because of the procedure.”
Supervisors brought forth questions about the total amount changes to the two offices would cost them, but Stewart said as many of those costs were separate from the permitting issue they could be determined through the budget process.
Principi tried to pass a substitute motion that would help fund mental health services for children in the county, explaining it is an important need that is underfunded. His motion failed. Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Nohe supported it.
John Jenkins of the Neabsco District thought the matter should be brought up in a public hearing; while, Principi asked for a voluntary work session. Stewart chuckled at Principi's request.
Originally, Stewart’s resolution sought to make it easier to acquire a concealed handgun permit at a time when the Attorney Governor opposed reciprocity between states for concealed carry. That issue has since been resolved, and Virginia will continue to apply its reciprocity laws.
The Virginia State Senate is also considering a law that would make the $10 fee that the Clerk of the Court is required to charge for a concealed carry permit discretionary with the clerk. If that bill becomes law, the concealed carry fee in the county could drop to just $5.
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