Beach council asked to find way to save consumer protection program

VIRGINIA BEACH

Now, it's up to them.

The City Council heard a plea Tuesday from the city's chief prosecutor to restore funding to the Consumer Affairs Program, which would be shuttered under the budget proposed by the city manager.

Closing the four-person office - one of three locally operated programs in the Commonwealth - would save the city roughly $339,000 next year. The four people probably would be transferred to other jobs in the city, and the state consumer affairs office would take over Beach complaints.

"Sure, there's an office in Richmond," Commonwealth's Attorney Harvey Bryant told council members during a budget hearing. "They can barely handle what they've got up there."

Bryant said he cut the program from his budget because it is not a mandated service, such as prosecuting criminals or paying lawyers. He quickly added: "It's clear this has been a great service, a lot of bang for the buck."

Council members lobbed a few questions at Bryant but gave no public indication whether they would save the program. The council is set to vote on the proposed budget May 13.

Most of the questions focused on what would happen to the program's employees. City Manager Jim Spore said they would be offered other positions.

The consumer program has been budgeted for elimination twice before in the past 15 years, but public outcries each time persuaded council members to save it. The office runs classes on fraud prevention, responds to consumer complaints, and works with senior-citizen groups to deliver food and educational materials to home-bound citizens.

After the meeting, Bryant noted that the office also is providing information to Suffolk residents dealing with the aftermath of Monday's tornado.

Mayor Meyera Oberndorf said she once used the office to resolve a dispute about a defunct business' gift card.

Part of the office's power is the badges and authority that come from its association with the city's chief prosecutor, Bryant said.

"If somebody really gets obstinate and doesn't want to work with you," Oberndorf said, "it really helps to have someone from the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office."