Update: McLean Citizens Assn to MCC Board: Release Secret $100T Report

The McLean Citizens Association sent a strongly worded letter to the McLean Community Center board Monday asking for public disclosure of a $100,000 taxpayer-funded report and the possible refund to taxpayers of a $12 million surplus.

"The MCA is extremely concerned with government decisions made outside the public view and with related documents that are withheld from the public," said the letter MCA President Rob Jackson sent to MCC board chair Kevin Dent. "We urge openness by the (MCC board) as stewards of our tax dollars."

The MCA board voted unanimously June 1 to ask the MCC board to release to taxpayers a copy of a $100,000 report concerning the MCC's plans to replace the Old Firehouse Teen Center in downtown McLean. MCA board member Bill Dent, from the El Nido community, led the fight for the public's right to know the contents of the secret report.

"Under these circumstances, the MCA Board simply does not feel that this study should be withheld from the public even though it may be related to a potential real estate transaction," the letter said.

The MCC board has said that the Virginia Freedom of Information law allows it to discuss real estate negotiations in private and the report is part of those negotiations.

A committee of the McLean Community Center Board on May 11 refused to release to McLean residents copies of a $100,000 consultant's report paid for with taxpayer money on the feasibility of a downtown project.

The Capital Facilities Committee, then headed by Kevin Dent, discussed the report from Jones Lang, a leading real estate company, in a meeting closed to the public. Last week, the entire McLean Community Center voted on a secret resolution concerning the report. Dent is now chair of the MCC board.

In addition, the MCC board has accumulated a $12 million surplus over the years by collecting more in tax dollars than needed to run the Community Center. The MCC board plans to use that money to partially finance its downtown construction proposals. McLean residents pay an additional property tax to finance the Community Center.

The MCA added in its letter "One of the major frustrations is the (MCC Board's) long-term failure either to construct additional facilities or to refund the large taxpayer-funded reserve, which is intended to pay at least part of the MCC expansion."

"It seems to be time for the (board) to set a date certain by which it will either have committed its reserve to the construction of a specific improvement or adopted a policy to refund the construction reserve to taxpayers in the form of a tax rate reduction," the letter said. "The status quo is unacceptable to many residents."

Dent said he had not received a copy of the letter when he was asked to comment on it.

Here is a complete copy of the letter that McLean Citizens Association sent to the McLean Community Center Board:

June 13, 2011
Mr. Kevin Dent Chairman McLean Community Center Governing Board 1234 Ingleside Avenue Mclean, VA 22101
Dear Mr. Dent:
Congratulations on your recent selection as Chairman of the Governing Board. As we discussed on the phone, I am looking forward to working with you this coming fiscal year.
On that same call, I expressed the McLean Citizens Association’s (MCA) strong concern about, and opposition to, the decision of the McLean Community Center Governing Board (MCCGB) not to release the study performed by real estate consultant Jones Lang LaSalle, which was paid with taxpayer funds budgeted at as much as $100,000. Indeed, on June 1, 2011, the MCA Board of Directors voted unanimously that I communicate our position that the MCCGB should immediately release the study or explain why the study is exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This letter is in response to the board’s direction to me.
I would like to express the MCA’s thoughts in greater detail. While MCCGB is dealing with a potential real estate transaction, the funding for any purchase or construction would be paid from taxpayer dollars. The MCA is extremely concerned with government decisions made outside the public view and with related documents that are withheld from the public. We urge openness by the MCCGB as stewards of our tax dollars. Under these circumstances, the MCA
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Board simply does not feel that this study should be withheld from the public even though it may be related to a potential real estate transaction.
As I mentioned in our discussion, one of the major frustrations is the MCCGB’s long-term failure either to construct additional facilities or to refund the large taxpayer-funded reserve, which is intended to pay at least part of the MCC expansion. According to the 2010 annual report for Fairfax County, the MCCGB has an unreserved fund balance of more than $12 million dollars. In contrast, the larger Reston Community Center has an unreserved fund balance of approximately $8.7 million. It seems to be time for the MCCGB to set a date certain by which it will either have committed its reserve to the construction of a specific improvement or adopted a policy to refund the construction reserve to taxpayers in the form of a tax rate reduction. The status quo is unacceptable to many residents.
In sum, the MCA urges the MCCGB to release the report as soon as possible. Thank you for your time and interest in our concerns.
Sincerely,
Robert Jackson President
cc: Supervisor John Foust