Apr 26, 2022 Regular Meeting

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

>> NICE JOB. YEAH. NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> NEXT, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THE REAL ESTATE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE AND HOW IT WORKS.

>> GOOD EVENING MR. STOKE, MR. WITTNEY, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN, WE HAVE THE ASSESSOR, THE COMMISSIONER REVENUE IN THE TREASURER ON THE SAME ROOM, BUT WE AGREED BEFOREHAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO RESIST THE URGE TO BILL YOU FOR SOMETHING.

>> [LAUGHTER] WE APPRECIATE THAT, THANK YOU.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I ALSO HAVE A BRIEF DISCUSSION TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. POWERPOINT HERE.

IT'S REALLY ONLY ABOUT THREE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.

JUST GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THE REASSESSMENT.

YOU GUYS KNOW BY NOW THAT IT'S COMPLETE, YOU PROBABLY ALL GOT A NICE NOTICE IN THE MAIL WITH UPDATED VALUES.

ALSO WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OFFICERS COMPUTER SYSTEM, THEN ALSO GIVE YOU SOME OPTIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT CONSIDER ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE OFFICE.

[00:10:12]

RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS.

HISTORICALLY, THE OFFICERS RECEIVED ABOUT 50 APPEALS FROM FOLKS WHO JUST CALL IN AND HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

SO FAR, I THINK WE'VE HAD ABOUT 30 PEOPLE AND IT'S BEEN ABOUT A WEEK-AND-A-HALF OR SO.

I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY SURPASS LAST YEAR HISTORICAL AVERAGE, BUT IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN OVERWHELMED. THAT'S THE POINT.

ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THE COUNTY INVESTED IN A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM.

AT THAT TIME, THE SOFTWARE PROVIDER DID A CONVERSION OR MIGRATED THE PROPERTY DATA FROM THE OLD SYSTEM INTO THE NEW SYSTEM.

WE HAVE ABOUT 420,000 DATA POINTS THAT ARE IN THE DATABASE, SO ALL THAT WENT OVER JUST FINE.

I HAVEN'T HEARD VERY MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT THINGS NOT MIGRATING.

BUT THE NEW SYSTEM HASN'T BEEN FULLY SET UP TO TAKE THE DATA THAT LIVES THERE AND CONVERT IT OR MAKE IT SO THAT IT CAN CALCULATE VALUES THAT HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED YET.

THE COUNTY ALSO HIRED A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT FROM VISION, MR. MYERS, AND HE WAS ENGAGED TO FACILITATE THAT PROCESS OF TAKING THE DATA AND MAKING IT USABLE TO CALCULATE VALUES.

HE WAS HIRED TO WORK ON TWO THINGS, RESIDENTIAL VALUES AND ALSO THE LAND VALUES.

THAT WORK IS BY AND LARGE COMPLETE, IT HASN'T BEEN LOADED ONTO THE SYSTEM FULLY OR TESTED.

BUT MY DISCUSSION WITH MR. MYERS WAS THAT IT WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY DONE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S LACKING IS THE COMMERCIAL THAT WASN'T PART OF THE AGREEMENT.

I'VE TALKED WITH HIM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT WORKS.

IT WORKS PRETTY SIMILAR TO SETTING UP THE RESIDENTIAL.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A HURDLE THAT WE HAVE TO JUMP OVER GOING FORWARD, AND ALSO SOME OF THE LAND-USE VALUES WEREN'T WORKING PROPERLY.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO DO.

HAND-TO-HAND MANUAL DATA ENTRY, NOTHING TOO SERIOUS.

BUT OVERALL, WE THINK THIS FALL, IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL, WE'LL BE ABLE TO CALCULATE VALUES IN THE NEW SYSTEM.

THERE IS AN OPTION I GUESS THAT YOU GUYS COULD TAKE TO SWITCH OFF SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS THAT ASSESSORS DO.

THERE'S BASICALLY FOUR FUNCTIONS.

THEY DISCOVER PROPERTY, THEY LEASE PROPERTY, THEY VALUE PROPERTY, AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOURSELVES, THEY TAX PROPERTY.

THOSE ARE THE FOUR FUNCTIONS THAT ASSESSORS DO.

THERE IS AN OPTION FOR YOU TO TAKE OFF PART OF THOSE FUNCTIONS AND OUTSOURCE IT.

BUT CURRENTLY, THERE'S, AS AN INTERIM ASSESSMENT MYSELF, TWO FULL-TIME STAFF AND ONE PART-TIME STAFF MEMBER.

WE HAVE OPENINGS CURRENTLY FOR THE LONG-TERM ASSESSOR, A SENIOR APPRAISER IN A REAL ESTATE TECHNICIAN.

IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THERE'S FIVE TOTAL POSITIONS PLUS SOME PART-TIME WAGES AND A SIXTH POSITION IS APPROVED BUT NOT FUNDED.

THERE IT IS. I DID MY BEST WHEN I PREPARED THIS TO USE PUBLISHED SOURCES AS MUCH AS I CAN.

THAT WAY IT WOULD JUST TAKE MY OWN OPINION OUT OF IT.

WHENEVER POSSIBLE, I QUOTED FROM THE ASSESSORS ASSOCIATION STANDARDS.

THEY PRODUCE 13 DIFFERENT STANDARDS.

THEY'RE USUALLY DOCUMENTS ABOUT 50 PAGES LONG OR SO.

THEY'RE WRITTEN BY ASSESSORS FOR ASSESSORS, AND THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE ABOUT THOSE STANDARDS IS THAT THEY ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE CODE OF VIRGINIA BY REFERENCE.

IF YOU DO THINGS ACCORDING TO THOSE STANDARDS, YOU ENJOY THE PRESUMPTION OF CORRECTNESS IN A COURTROOM SETTING.

I TRIED MY BEST TO QUOTE THE BEST I COULD.

AS FAR AS THE EVALUATION FUNCTION, THE COUNTY DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY BUSINESS OR ANY USE FOR KNOWING WHAT PROPERTY IS WORTH, EXCEPT FOR THE TAX IT, THERE'S NO REAL BENEFIT TO THE COUNTY.

OF COURSE, CONSUMERS, THE PUBLIC,

[00:15:03]

THEY SOMETIMES USE THAT INFORMATION TO HELP THEM PURCHASE INSURANCE.

OR IF THEY WANT TO SELL THEIR PROPERTY, THEY'LL LOOK AT THOSE THINGS SOMETIMES.

BUT AS FAR AS THE COUNTY IS CONCERNED, THE MAIN REASON WE HAVE THE EVALUATION FUNCTION IS TO BE ABLE TO TAX.

OF COURSE IT STANDS TO REASON THAT CREATING THOSE VALUES COSTS THE COUNTY IS SOMETHING WHICH IS ALSO JUST ANOTHER TAX DOLLAR, IT HAS TO BE GENERATED TO COVER THAT COST.

AGAIN, THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN BY ASSESSORS FOR ASSESSORS.

THEY SAY THAT THE OBJECT OF MASS APPRAISAL IS TO PRODUCE EQUITABLE EVALUATIONS AT LOW COST.

RIGHT THERE, IT SAYS, WE WANT TO DO YOUR BEST.

YOU THINK IS WELL, KEEP COSTS TO A MINIMUM.

THERE'S ABOUT 5,000 COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY.

ALL OF THEM HAVE TO DO A CERTAIN THING.

PRETTY MUCH THEY HAVE TO INVENTORY THE PROPERTY, LIST IT, AND EVALUATE.

THOSE COSTS WILL BE THERE REGARDLESS OF WHO COMPLETES THE WORK, WHETHER IT'S A STAFF MEMBER OR A THIRD PARTY.

BEYOND THAT, THOSE BASIC THINGS, IF YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND MORE MONEY, THE ASSESSORS BASICALLY SAY, IF YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND MORE MONEY, MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING IT TO GAIN AND IMPROVE ACCURACY AND EQUITY, YOU WANT TO TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY.

STANDARD FOR TREATING PEOPLE FAIRLY IS REGARDING THE ASSESSMENT LEVEL.

YOU WANT THE ASSESSMENT LEVEL ACROSS DIFFERENT PROPERTIES REGARDLESS OF SIZE OR ACREAGE, WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED.

ASSET CLASS, WHETHER IT'S RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL.

YOU WANT THAT ASSESSMENT LEVEL TO BE EQUAL ANY WAY WHICH YOU COULD SLICE IT OR DICE IT ANY WAY YOU WANT TO STRATIFY THE DATA, THEY SHOULD ALL BE SIMILAR.

I PREPARED AN EQUITY ANALYSIS JUST TO SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE.

IF YOU DON'T MIND SWITCHING TO THE OTHER DOCUMENT, PLEASE.

[NOISE] IN THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR A JURISDICTION THAT I HELPED OUT, THIS IS A JURISDICTION THAT IS PROBABLY 2,1/2 TIMES BIGGER IN POPULATION.

BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY'VE CHOSEN TO NOT ACCELERATE THE REASSESSMENT CYCLE.

IN VIRGINIA, IT'S BASED ON THE POPULATION OF YOUR COUNTY.

THIS COUNTY, COULD CHOOSE TO ONLY DO A REASSESSMENT ONCE EVERY FOUR OR SIX YEARS.

IT DOES COST THE COUNTY MONEY TO DO IT MORE FREQUENTLY, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT'S A PRETTY GOOD IDEA TO DO IT ANNUALLY.

ANYWAY, THIS IS A JURISDICTION.

THEY DID A REASSESSMENT IN 2019.

THE RALLIES WERE UPDATED ON JANUARY FIRST 2019.

AT THAT TIME THE ASSESSMENT LEVEL ACROSS THE COUNTY WAS ABOUT 95 OR 96 PERCENT.

I DID THIS ANALYSIS ABOUT ONE YEAR, NINE MONTHS AFTER THAT REASSESSMENT, SO FALL OF 2020.

WITHIN THAT ONE YEAR AND NINE OR TEN MONTHS, THE ASSESSMENT LEVEL HAD DROPPED DUE TO MARKET FROM 95 OR 96 DOWN TO ABOUT 89 PERCENT OVERALL.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, I DID IN AN ARRAY, IF YOU DON'T MIND GOING TO THE NEXT PAGE.

I READ THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS OR PROPERTY GROUPINGS WITHIN THE COUNTY, BASED ON THEIR ASSESSMENT LEVEL.

THESE ARE NEIGHBORHOODS OR GROUPS OF PROPERTIES THAT HAD AT LEAST FIVE SALES.

THAT'S THE STANDARD FOR BEING ABLE TO COMPUTE OR A CREDIBLE STATISTIC.

AGAIN, WITHIN ONE YEAR AND NINE MONTHS ASSESSMENT LEVEL HAD DROPPED FROM 95 OR 96 DOWN TO 89.

THIS ANALYSIS ARRANGED THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE PROPERTY GROUPINGS FROM THE LOWEST ASSESSMENT LEVEL AT THE TOP DOWN TO THE HIGHEST ASSESSMENT LEVEL ON THE NEXT COUPLE OF PAGES.

WHAT IT'S STRIKING AT LEAST TO ME, IS THAT THERE ARE WITHIN ONE YEAR AND NINE MONTHS THEY WERE 38 NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ENJOYED A SUBSIDY OF FIVE PERCENT OR MORE.

THERE WAS 38 NEIGHBORHOODS OUT OF ABOUT 200 IN THIS JURISDICTION THAT WE'RE PAYING FIVE PERCENT OR MORE, LOWER THAN THE REST OF THE COUNTY.

THEN ALSO GO INTO THE NEXT PAGE.

[00:20:03]

THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTY WAS WITHIN FIVE PERCENT.

AGAIN, THAT FIVE PERCENT IS THE THRESHOLD ACCORDING TO THE ASSESSORS STANDARDS THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

GO DOWN TO THE NEXT PAGE PLEASE.

THERE'S A LINE THERE.

PAGE THREE, RIGHT THERE AT THE BOTTOM.

I THINK THAT IS THE OVERALL ASSESSMENT LEVEL RIGHT THERE AT 89 PERCENT, SO THE MIDDLE OF IT IS WITHIN FIVE PERCENT.

THE MAJORITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE STILL WITHIN TOLERANCE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS ON THE NEXT PAGE, THERE WERE 22 NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE ASSESSED AT FIVE PERCENT OR HIGHER THAN THE OVERALL.

AGAIN, THE OVERALL WAS 89 PERCENT, AND THEY WERE STILL 22 NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE ABOVE THAT BY A GREATER THAN FIVE PERCENT.

SOME OF THEM WERE EVEN AS HIGH AS 98, 97, 96 PERCENT.

THEY HADN'T GONE UP A WHOLE LOT IN THE ONE YEAR, NINE MONTHS.

THESE PEOPLE ARGUABLY, WE'RE SHOULDERING MORE OF THE TAX BURDEN THAN THEY OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN.

IF THAT MAKES SENSE. THERE WERE OVER ASSESSED AS COMPARED TO THE OVERALL NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS OCCURRED WITHIN ONE YEAR AND NINE MONTHS.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANTED YOU TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS.

THE REASON I BROUGHT THIS UP.

FIRST OF ALL, IT DOES TAKE THE COUNTY MORE MONEY TO DO IT, IT COSTS MORE MONEY TO DO AN ANNUAL REASSESSMENT.

THE SECOND THING IS THAT, IF WE DIDN'T DO THE ANNUAL REASSESSMENT THINGS LIKE THIS ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY GOING TO OCCUR HERE.

THEY'LL BE PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER ASSESSED AND UNDER ASSESSED WITHIN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

I THINK EVERYONE WOULD AGREE THAT THE BEST THING TO DO, THE BEST POLICY DECISION IS TO TREAT EVERYBODY FAIRLY.

AGAIN, THE MEASURE FOR TREATING PEOPLE FAIRLY IS ASSESSING BY THE SIMILAR LEVEL, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

THE THIRD THING THAT I WANTED YOU TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS, IS THAT, IF YOU THINK IT THROUGH IT'LL COME TO YOU.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO INCREASE DIFFERENT GROUPS OR DIFFERENT SEGMENTS MORE THAN THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS OR GROUPS IN ORDER TO TREAT THEM FAIRLY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST, THERE WERE SOME NEIGHBORHOODS, THEY WERE IN THE UPPER 60 OR LOW 70S PERCENT.

IN ORDER TO GET THOSE BACK IN LINE, YOU'D HAVE TO INCREASE THEM ABOUT 25 PERCENT.

IF THAT MAKES SENSE, THEN THERE WERE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO INCREASE AT ALL.

WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC TALKING TO YOU ABOUT WHY MY NEIGHBORHOOD WENT UP A WHOLE BUNCH AND THIS WHENEVER THERE, IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING IT BY THE SALES.

ACTUALLY IT'S COUNTER-INTUITIVE.

BUT SOMETIMES TO TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY, YOU HAVE TO INCREASE SOME MORE THAN OTHERS.

ANYWAY, WE GO BACK TO THE POWERPOINT.

AGAIN, CONTINUING TO DO THAT ANNUAL REASSESSMENT IS THE RECOMMENDATION.

THAT'S WHAT THE ASSESSORS MANUAL SAY.

AGAIN, THE REASON TO DO THAT IS TO TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY.

IT'S NOT ABOUT WINDFALL PROFITS, IT'S NOT ABOUT HERE WE GET LOTS OF MONEY, IT'S ABOUT JUST MAINTAINING THAT EQUITY.

CURRENTLY THE COUNTY IS MEETING OR EXCEEDING ALL THE STANDARDS.

MYSELF AND MR. MYERS HELPED WRITE THE STANDARDS.

WE'RE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THOSE STANDARDS. EXCUSE ME.

WE UPDATE THEM.

THEY WERE WRITTEN DECADES AGO.

WHATEVER TIME THEY'RE UPDATED.

I THINK THE OFFICE HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OVER TIME.

BUT THERE IS AN OPTION IF ELEMENT A HYBRID ADMINISTRATION OF THE ASSESSMENT FUNCTION.

AGAIN, THE FOUR MAIN FUNCTIONS ARE DISCOVER PROPERTY, LIST PROPERTY, VALUE PROPERTY, AND ULTIMATELY TAX PROPERTY.

SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS WOULD REMAIN IN HOUSE.

THOSE WOULD BE BASICALLY LAND RECORDS, MAINTAINING OWNERSHIP.

EVERY DEED, EVERY WILL, EVERYTHING IS RECORDED HAS TO BE LOOKED AT, VERIFY TO MAKE SURE OUR RECORDS ARE UPDATED.

I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY CONTRACTOR WHO DOES THAT IN VIRGINIA.

[00:25:01]

IT'S ALWAYS DONE IN HOUSE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.

YOU HAVE TO BE GETTING BASICALLY THE DEEDS OF THE DAY, LIKE EVERY SINGLE DAY SOMEBODY GETS UPDATES FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

SOME OF THE ADVANTAGES OF USING A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR.

IT ALLOWS JURISDICTIONS TO OBTAIN A PRODUCT AT A KNOWN COST IN A GIVEN PERIOD OF TIME.

ANOTHER ONE IS THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES THAT ARE STANDARDIZED AND IT IS VERY STANDARDIZED.

THERE'S RECOGNIZED METHODS THAT ARE UNIVERSAL AND APPLICATION.

BUT ANYWAY, WHEN PRODUCTS ARE STANDARDIZED, THE ASSESSORS THINK THAT IT'S MOST EFFICIENTLY DONE BY CONTRACT.

ALSO, COMPLEX TASKS REQUIRE SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE, NOT AVAILABLE INTERNALLY.

SO THAT ANOTHER THING THAT COULD BE SUITABLE, THERE'S NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE WHO CAN APPRAISE HIGH-POWER TRANSMISSION LINES OR ROLLING STOCK OF RAILROADS.

THAT'S WHY THE STATE DOES IT.

THERE'S ONLY A FEW PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.

THERE'S NOT A HIGH VALUE D. THAT'S NOT EVEN DONE HERE.

WE DON'T DO THAT, THE STATE DOES IT.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S A SPECIALIZED TASK.

AGAIN, THERE'S A FLEXIBILITY.

ASSESSMENT CONTRACTS CAN COVER ANY OR ALL OF THESE ASSESSMENT FUNCTIONS.

[NOISE] ANOTHER ADVANTAGE IS THAT CONTRACTORS CAN SPREAD THEIR COSTS OVER MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS.

IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO RESEARCH AND VERIFY SALES DATA.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I WAS WORKING ON THE APARTMENTS HERE, I CONSIDERED SALES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR APARTMENTS.

I COULD TAKE THAT SAME INFORMATION AND APPLY IT IN CHESTERFIELD OR IN HOPEWELL OR WHATEVER, IF IT'S SIMILAR APARTMENT BUILDING.

ONCE YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN SPREAD THAT COST OVER MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PLACES.

AGAIN, ANOTHER ADVANTAGE IS THAT CONTRACTORS, THEY'RE EXPERIENCED, THEIR KNOWLEDGE BECOMES IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND TIME DEVELOPING ON COST AND PAYING FOR PEOPLE TO GO TO CLASS AND STUFF LIKE THAT TO DEVELOP THE TALENT IN-HOUSE.

[NOISE] THEN I GUESS FINALLY, A LOT OF TIMES THE CONTRACTORS, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.

THERE'S ONLY SIX PEOPLE IN VIRGINIA WHO ARE APPROVED CONTRACTORS.

IT'S ACTUALLY ILLEGAL TO OFFER YOUR SERVICES TO DO A REASSESSMENT WORK OR DO THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTOR APPRAISAL WORK UNLESS YOU'RE ON THE APPROVED LIST.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TAKES THAT VERY SERIOUSLY BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH ABOUT 40 TO 60 PERCENT OF A JURISDICTION'S BUDGET COMES FROM REAL ESTATE TAXES, I THINK MR. STOKES SAID, OUR WAS ABOUT 40 PERCENT.

SO THEY HIGHLY REGULATE THAT.

BUT MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME.

THEIR METHODS HAVE BEEN TESTED AND PROVEN IN OTHER PLACES AND YOU CAN JUST HIRE AGAIN.

SOME OF THE DISADVANTAGES OF USING THIRD-PARTY CONTRACTORS.

THE FIRST ONE, AND THIS IS A BIG ONE.

ONCE YOU START DOING IT, YOU MAY BE STUCK WITH IT.

OF COURSE, YOU CAN ALWAYS HIRE PEOPLE BACK, BUT BECOMING DEPENDENT UPON IT MAY NOT BE THE BEST THING.

ANOTHER ONE IS THAT CONTRACTORS MAY NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND OR BE PROPERLY CONCERNED WITH LOCAL NEEDS.

THERE'S ONE CONTRACTOR IN RICHMOND.

THE REST ARE FROM ROANOKE OR DANVILLE.

THERE'S ONE THAT'S BASED ON MIDLOTHIAN.

THEY PROBABLY WILL KNOW.

IT'S NOT VERY HARD TO BECOME JURISDICTIONALLY COMPETENT.

I CAME IN AND I KNEW THE AREA WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO BASED FROM TALKING WITH CINDY AND SOME OTHER FOLKS BUT THAT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

ALSO, IF CONTRACTORS OR EMPLOYEES, THEY DO A BAD JOB, IT CAN BE CUMBERSOME, COSTLY AND EMBARRASSING TO MAKE THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS.

ULTIMATELY THE RISK OF UNSUCCESSFUL RESULTS RESTS MORE HEAVILY ON THE COUNTY.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO DICTATE EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT DONE AND WHEN.

[NOISE]

[00:30:10]

THIS THING IS NOT WORKING.

AGAIN, USUALLY WHEN COUNTIES OR JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING ANNUAL OR BIANNUAL REASSESSMENT AND THEY'RE HIRING IT OUT IT'S A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT.

I THINK TYPICALLY, I'M TRYING TO THINK THE CITY OF GALAX USUALLY AWARDS A SIX-YEAR CONTRACT.

THE CITY OF FRANKLIN DOES THE SAME.

BUT ANYWAY, IF YOU DECIDE TO DO THAT, YOU COULD BE STUCK WITH THE PERSON WHO DOESN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB.

THAT'S A DRAWBACK. OF COURSE, MR. WITTEN COULD PROBABLY WRITE SOME LANGUAGE THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO GET OUT OF IT [LAUGHTER] AGAIN, THERE'S PROBABLY EMPLOYEE THEN A CONTRACTOR.

AGAIN, THERE'S ONLY SIX IN VIRGINIA WHO ARE APPROVED.

THIS IS A BIG ONE. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT.

THE CONTRACTOR MAY NOT LEAVE A REALLY GOOD WORK FILE IF YOU GET SUED AND THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DOCUMENTATION IN THE FILE TO BE DISCOVERED, WHEN YOU'RE IN A COURTROOM SETTING, THAT LOOKS PRETTY BAD.

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU IF YOU CHOSE TO DO THAT YOU ADDRESS IN THE RFP.

BUT ANYWAY, THE RISK OF AN UNSUCCESSFUL OUTCOME IS MITIGATED BY WRITING A REALLY GOOD RFP.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT TWO-THIRDS OF THE JURISDICTIONS IN VIRGINIA CHOOSE TO OUTSOURCE.

THE MAJORITY OF JURISDICTIONS ARE OUTSOURCING THE EVALUATION FUNCTION.

THERE'S A LOT OF RFPS AND SAMPLED CONTRACTS FOR YOU TO LOOK AT.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO COST A LITTLE BIT LESS.

IF YOU WERE TO HIRE OUT THE EVALUATION FUNCTION.

PROBABLY WOULD REALIZE SOME SAVINGS, BUT ALSO NOT PAYING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AND BENEFITS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHEN I TALK WITH BETSY, I THINK SHE DID A REAL BASIC ANALYSIS WHERE I THINK IT'D BE ABOUT $140,000 WOULD BE SAVED BY NOT PAYING AS MANY PEOPLE AND ALSO ABOUT $5,000 IN OTHER COSTS.

IF YOU DECIDE TO OUTSOURCE THE EVALUATION FUNCTION, AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE, PROBABLY THREE PEOPLE WOULD NEED TO BE RETAINED AND SHIFTED OVER TO THE COMMISSIONER REVENUE.

THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD BE BASICALLY DOING NEW CONSTRUCTION.

ALL THE NEW HOUSES AND NEW BUILDINGS THAT ARE BUILT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING, WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO DOES THAT NOW, BUT IT'S COMMONLY DONE ALSO BY CONTRACTORS.

THEY CHARGE ABOUT BETWEEN $15-100 TO GO AND MEASURE A BUILDING AND ADD IT TO THE TAX ROLLS.

THAT'S AN OPTION, BUT WE HAVE ONE PERSON MAY AS WELL KEEP THEM.

ALSO TWO PEOPLE TO HELP MAINTAIN THE LAND RECORDS AND ALSO ADMINISTER THE LAND USE PROGRAM, SO ABOUT THREE.

OBVIOUSLY, THE COST WOULD BE DRIVEN BY WHAT YOU ASKED FOR.

IN VIRGINIA WE HAVE TO DO WHAT'S CALLED PERIODIC REVIEW [NOISE], WHERE ABOUT 1/6 OF THE COUNTY IS REVIEWED EVERY YEAR.

THEN EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DOING ANNUAL REASSESSMENT, WE DON'T PHYSICALLY GO TO EVERY PROPERTY OR REVIEW EACH PROPERTY INDIVIDUALLY EVERY YEAR.

THE STANDARDS IN VIRGINIA ARE THAT YOU GO AND YOU THINK ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY AT LEAST ONCE EVERY SIX YEARS.

THE COUNTY HERE HAS HISTORICALLY HAD DONE THAT ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.

WE'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE FREQUENTLY.

IF YOU WERE TO REMAIN ON THAT CYCLE, THE RFP WOULD REQUIRE THAT ABOUT 2,800 PARCELS BE PERIODICALLY REVIEWED.

THE CONTRACTOR WOULD GO OUT TO 2800 PARCELS EACH YEAR, AND REVIEW THEM, MAKE SURE THE DATA IS CORRECT, AND THEN VALUE THE WHOLE COUNTY.

AGAIN, BECAUSE THE VISION SYSTEM ISN'T FULLY SET UP, THE FIRST YEAR THAT YOU DO THIS, IT MAY COST A LITTLE BIT MORE IF IT'S NOT FULLY SET UP WHEN YOU HIRE THE CONTRACTOR, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT VISION ITSELF, THE SOFTWARE PROVIDER, THEY'RE ONE OF THE SIX CONTRACTORS.

[00:35:02]

THEY OFFER THAT AS A SERVICE, AND THEY OBVIOUSLY, THEY KNOW THE PROGRAM VERY WELL.

THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION FOR THEM TO GET THE PROGRAM FULLY FUNCTIONING AND ALSO PERFORM THE REASSESSMENT.

HERE'S A CHART, IT'S PRETTY DETAILED.

BUT [NOISE] YOU ALREADY HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION THAT'S BEING PAID FOR BY THE STATE, THE COMMISSIONER REVENUE.

THAT PERSON COULD POTENTIALLY HANDLE THE LAND RECORDS, AND UPDATING, MAINTAINING THOSE RECORDS.

THAT'S A BREAKDOWN.

I GUESS THE SUMMARY [NOISE] OF THIS CHART IS, I WON'T GO POINT BY POINT, BUT THE EVALUATION FUNCTION WOULD BE OUTSOURCED.

ABOUT HALF OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE RECORDS, ABOUT THAT 420,000 DATA POINTS WOULD BE ON THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE, AND THE OTHER HALF WOULD BE ON THE CONTRACTOR.

THAT'S ABOUT WHAT IT IS. IF YOU DECIDE TO USE CONTRACTORS, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU OBVIOUSLY FORM A COMMITTEE AND TALK TO THE FOLKS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION.

[NOISE] AGAIN, ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE JURISDICTIONS IN VIRGINIA, ARE CHOOSING TO OUTSOURCE THE EVALUATION FUNCTION.

AGAIN, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PLACE THAT THE CONTRACTOR MAINTAINS THE LAND RECORDS.

IT COULD BE THERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

THERE IS LOTS OF GOOD SAMPLES OUT THERE, RFPS THAT YOU COULD LOOK AT.

IF YOU DECIDE TO FILL THE OPEN POSITIONS, AND YOU CONTINUE TO DO THINGS IN THE HOUSE, I RECOMMEND YOU FORM A COMMITTEE TO HIRE THE NEW ASSESSOR.

I ALSO RECOMMEND THAT YOU HAVE SOMEBODY YOU CAN ASK TECHNICAL QUESTIONS, INTERVIEW THEM, SOMEBODY FROM, IT'S PRETTY COMMONPLACE THAT THE ASSESSOR AND HOPEWELL WOULD JUST SIT IN ON YOUR COMMITTEE TO HIRE THEM.

JUST ABOUT MOST OF THE TIMES WHEN I'VE INTERVIEWED FOR THOSE TYPE OF JOBS THAT TOOK PLACE.

THEN ALSO, PROBABLY ABOUT HALF THE TIME BEFORE DECISION WAS MADE, AS A CANDIDATE, I WOULD HAVE TO COME IN AND BE INTERVIEWED BY YOU GUYS.

I WAS UP FOR THE JOB, I THINK IN PORTSMOUTH, AND THEN MONROE COUNTY NEAR CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

I HAD TO GO AND TALK TO YOU FOLKS BEFORE I WAS HIRED.

[NOISE] ALSO, I WOULD ADVERTISE IN THE ASSESSORS MAGAZINE TO GET A NATIONWIDE APPROACH.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU HIRE SOMEBODY WHO CAN DO COMMERCIAL ASSESSMENT WORK.

THAT'S A SKILL SET THAT IS NECESSARY.

IN GENERAL, YOU NEED ONE APPRAISER FOR EVERY 5,000 PARCELS.

WE HAVE ABOUT 14,000 PARCELS.

THAT MEANS 2.5 APPRAISERS.

AGAIN, IF YOU KEPT THINGS IN HOUSE THE WAY THEY ARE NOW, YOU'D HAVE TWO APPRAISERS, AND THEN THE ASSESSOR WHO WAS DOING SOME ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, IN ABOUT HALF THE TIME THEY DO EVALUATION FUNCTION, PRIMARILY COMMERCIAL WORK.

THAT'S TYPICALLY HOW IT WOULD WORK.

THAT'S ALL I HAD. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> GO AHEAD, MS [INAUDIBLE].

>> [NOISE] I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, I THINK THERE WILL PROBABLY BE PRETTY EASY TO ANSWER.

HAS ANYONE FROM THIS BOARD EVER COME DOWN SINCE YOU BID HERE TO THE ASSESSORS OFFICE, AND ASKED YOU TO RAISE THE APPRAISAL OF OUR PROPERTY, SO THAT WE COULD GET MORE MONEY IN THE COUNTY?

>> NO, SIR. IF IT HAPPENED, IT'D BE IN THE NEWSPAPER THE NEXT DAY.

[LAUGHTER] [NOISE]

>> HAS OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR EVER COME DOWN TO THE TAX ASSESSORS OFFICE AND ASKED FOR ASSESSMENTS TO BE RAISED SO THAT THEY CAN BRING IN MORE MONEY?

>> NO, SIR.

>> I ASKED THIS QUESTION BECAUSE I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME, THAT THE BOARD DOESN'T RAISE THE TAX RATE.

WE GO DOWN TO THAT OFFICE, AND WE ASKED THE ASSESSORS TO RAISE THE ASSESSMENT VALUES SO THAT WE CAN SECRETLY GET A TAX INCREASE.

I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THAT'S JUST NOT HOW THINGS WORK, SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO ASK YOU THAT.

>> YES, SIR.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR RESPONSE, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO COME IN AND GET US ON TRACK SO THAT WE COULD MEET OUR COMMITMENT. THANK YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MADAM CHAIR.

[00:40:01]

>> MR. [INAUDIBLE]? NO QUESTION. MR. [INAUDIBLE]?

>> NO, MA'AM. THANK YOU. GOOD PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.

>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU.

>> YES, SIR.

>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

>> WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ASSESSOR AND AN APPRAISER?

>> IT'S LARGELY JUST A FORMALITY.

I THINK THE CODE OF VIRGINIA SOMETIMES STATES THE LANGUAGE IS THE POINTED ASSESSOR, BASICALLY THE BUCK STOPS WITH A CERTAIN PERSON.

I THINK THE WORD IS PROFESSIONAL ASSESSOR.

SOMEBODY WHO IS APPOINTED BY YOU, YOU CAN JUST VOTE TO APPOINT A CERTAIN PERSON.

BUT THE APPRAISERS USUALLY JUST WORK UNDER THEM SUBJECT TO THE REVIEW BY THE HEAD PERSON.

>> THANK YOU. WHAT IS THE CRITERIA USED TO APPROVE THE ASSESSOR BY THE STATE? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?

>> YES, MA'AM, I DO. I'M HAPPY TO EXPLAIN THAT.

IT'S VERY HIGH. THAT'S WHY THERE'S ONLY SIX PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTIFIED GENERAL APPRAISERS LICENSE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE ASSESSOR TRACK, TO OBTAIN.

OTHER STATES SUCH AS GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA, THEIR APPRAISAL BOARD HAS CHOSEN TO HAVE A LICENSE THAT'S ISSUED BY THE VET APPRAISAL BOARD.

APPRAISAL BOARDS ARE DICTATED BY CONGRESS.

THEY ARE THERE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC TRUST, PRIMARILY FOR LENDING INSTITUTIONS.

BUT IN GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA, THEIR APPRAISAL BOARD IS CHOSEN TO GIVE THE OPTION OF HAVING WHAT'S CALLED A CERTIFIED GENERAL MASS APPRAISER LICENSE, WHICH IS REQUIRED TO DO ASSESSMENT WORK IN THOSE STATES.

BUT OUR APPRAISAL BOARD HAS NOT DONE THAT.

TO DO ASSESSMENT WORK, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE, ACT LIKE YOU'RE DOING BANK APPRAISAL WORK.

IT'S VERY SPECIALIZED THING, AND IT'S HARDER TO DO BANK APPRAISAL WORK THAN IT IS TO DO ASSESSMENT WORK, IT'S MORE DETAIL, MORE RISK, YOU HAVE TO BUY INSURANCE, THAT STUFF.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTIFIED GENERAL APPRAISERS LICENSE.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE ADMINISTERED AT THE ASSESSOR LEVEL OR AS A PROJECT MANAGER, AT LEAST ONE REASSESSMENT.

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE THAT, AT LEAST AT A PROJECT MANAGER LEVEL, THEY WON'T APPROVE YOU.

THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN THINGS.

THEY ALSO LIKE TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE LETTERS AFTER YOUR NAME FROM THE ASSESSORS ASSOCIATION, WHICH HAS TESTS AND EXPERIENCE CLASSES.

>> ARE THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?

I THINK THAT CONCLUDES OUR WORK SESSION.

WE WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL SEVEN O'CLOCK.

[NOISE] IT IS SEVEN O'CLOCK.

[INVOCATION]

THE BOARD HAS JUST COMPLETED ITS WORK SESSION AND IS NOW IN THE BUSINESS SESSION PART OF THE MEETING.

WE WILL NOW HAVE OUR INVOCATION.

>> HEAVENLY FATHER, BE WITH US TONIGHT AS WE DO TO BUSINESS OF PRINCE GEORGE AND BUSINESS OF YOUR WORLD, LORD. IT'S ALL YOURS.

HELP US AND GUIDE US TO DO THE THINGS THE DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.

BE WITH THOSE WHO ARE SICK, BE WITH THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND AND NEED TO HEAR THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.

BE WITH ALL OF THOSE WHO NEED YOUR HELP, LORD, FOR WHATEVER THEY NEED, AND WE ASKED ALL THESE THINGS IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME. AMEN.

>> AMEN.

>> AMEN. THANK YOU.

NOW, WE'LL HAVE OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

DO WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP, MS. [INAUDIBLE]?

>> YES, MADAM CHAIR. WE HAVE TWO SIGNED UP.

THE FIRST-PERSON IS MR. LEE DIXON.

[00:45:05]

>> YOU MAY COME FORWARD, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK.

>> MADAM CHAIRPERSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STALKS, MR. WITTEN, MY NAME IS H. LEE DIXON AND I AM MEMBER OF YOUR BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.

I'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND FOR THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS, I HAVE BEEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT BOARD.

LAST WEEK WE MET AND TALKED WITH MR. COWEN AT LENGTH.

I HAVE A LETTER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO READ INTO THE RECORD IF I MIGHT.

BASICALLY, DURING THE BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BOE ON THE 21ST, THE ABOVE REFERENCE DOCUMENT WAS DISCUSSED FOLLOWING ON WITH THE DISCUSSION WE JUST HAD DURING THE WORK SESSION.

FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS, THE BOARD RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS THAT THE TRANSFER OF DUTIES NOT BE CONSIDERED.

THE REAL ESTATE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WAS CREATED BY ORDINANCE IN 1968.

THE PG COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE HAS ENJOYED AN EXTREMELY FAVORABLE OPINION BY THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY FOR THE PAST DECADES.

THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE HAS DEMONSTRATED A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND COMPETENCE IN DISCHARGING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY.

THIS FAVORABLE OPINION AND RESPECT BY THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY HAS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE SEPARATION OF THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF THE REVENUE.

A TRANSFER OF EVALUATION FUNCTION AND SOME WORKFLOW ITEMS AWAY FROM THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WILL CREATE A LEVEL OF TURBULENCE AT A TIME OF SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENTS.

THIS TURBULENCE IS COMPOUNDED BY THE SWITCHOVER TO A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM.

THE TRANSFER OF EVALUATION FUNCTION OF THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE WOULD IMPEDE THE SERVICES CURRENTLY RENDERED TO THE CITIZENS OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.

DURING THOSE 10 YEARS THAT I'VE ON THE BOARD SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE HAD NO CITIZENS COME BEFORE THE BOARD TO APPEAL THEIR VALUATION.

THAT IS BECAUSE OF THOSE CITIZENS WORKED WITH THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE AND THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY SAW.

THAT OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE PROFESSIONALISM WITHIN THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.

SOME YEARS WE DID HAVE CASES.

LAST YEAR, WE HEARD THE ROLLS-ROYCE CASE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WAS OF SOME SUBSTANCE.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S BEEN A PHENOMENAL ACTIVITY AND IT WOULD JUST BE A SHAME TO SEE ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THAT.

I KNOW IT'S HARD TO FIND ANOTHER ASSESSOR.

PART OF THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE, IS WE'VE ENJOYED PEOPLE LIKE ROD COMPTON AND SOME OF THOSE ASSESSORS WHO WERE REALLY EXCEPTIONAL, IN MY OPINION.

I WOULD STRONGLY URGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO FIND AN ASSESSOR.

IT IS A UNIQUE SKILLSET.

OF COURSE, YOU MAY HAVE TO, AS THE PRESENTATION AS MR. COWEN SUGGESTED, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO FIND SOMEBODY TO FILL THAT.

BUT I WOULD SINCERELY ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER CONTINUING ON WITH THE PROFESSIONALISM THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST, THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS, BARRING ANY COMMENTS FROM YOU. MA'AM?

>> THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]

>> IS THERE ANOTHER PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK MS. [INAUDIBLE]?

>> YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE DANA NEWCOMER.

>> PLEASE COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU WOULD HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK.

>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISORS AND MR. STOKE AND FELLOW CITIZENS.

MY NAME IS DANA NEWCOMER AND I SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER BOARD, AND I WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WORKFORCE ALLIANCE.

I AM JOINED BY OUR CEO, BECKY MCDONALD'S, AND THE LEAD OF OUR NEW STEWARDS COMMITTEE, JAMES CLEMENTS.

BOTH ARE RESIDENTS OF PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.

WE ARE HERE REPRESENTING THE BOARD AND MEMBERS TO CONGRATULATE

[00:50:02]

JEFF STOKE ON HIS PROMOTION TO COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR PROMPT ACTION AND ARE GEARED UP TO WORK [NOISE] WITH YOU.

MAY I TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE YOU A FEW UPDATES.

AFTER A CAREFUL SEARCH, WE'RE FULLY STAFFED ADDING ROSIE RILEY, VCU MARKETING GRAD, TO OUR TEAM.

PRINCE GEORGE RESIDENTS, JOLIE [INAUDIBLE] WILL BE FEATURED IN THE COOPERATIVE LIVING MAGAZINE, JULY ISSUE, CIRCULATION 585,000 HOMES.

THANKS TO JOLIE, WE HAVE A MONTHLY LIVE MUSIC EVENT THAT IS BRINGING FOLKS FROM ALL OVER VIRGINIA.

IT'S CALLED BLUEGRASS JAMBOREE.

NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR.

SOON PEOPLE IN VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, AND DELAWARE WILL KNOW ABOUT IT.

VIRGINIA TOURISM HAS CHOSEN OUR PANDEMIC DRIVING TOUR, THE 5 & DIME, AS A NEW OFFICIAL VIRGINIA TRAIL.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS, THIS TRIAL COULD BE LAUNCHED AS EARLY AS THIS YEAR.

NATIONAL BRAND, HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS ALREADY PUSHING 5 & DIME PRINCE GEORGE, VIRGINIA MERCHANDISE.

PERFECT EXAMPLE RIGHT HERE. SUPER EXCITED.

[LAUGHTER] WE'LL HOLD OUR FALL MIXER AT JORDAN POINT MARINA TO SHOWCASE KAYAK RENTALS AND SALES.

THE NEW OWNERS ARE ALSO INVESTING IN A NEW PUBLIC POLL AND DECK AND NUMEROUS EVENTS.

JORDAN POINT IS BECOMING A TOURISM DRAW.

WE NOMINATED SEVERAL FOLKS TO THE VIRGINIA RURAL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTES INAUGURAL CLASS AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF OUR NOMINEES FROM HOPEWELL, PRINCE GEORGE, AND CHARLES COUNTY ARE ACCEPTED.

THIS MONTH TO DATE, WE HAVE ASSISTED 170 VISITORS.

PEOPLE WERE STARTING TO TRAVEL AGAIN.

TWENTY FOUR OF THEM WERE PRINCE GEORGE RESIDENTS.

REGARDING FORT LEE, WE ATTEND AND BRIEF OVER A 100 LEADERS TO THE FORT LEE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL QUARTERLY GATHERINGS.

WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CIVILIAN AIDE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, MIKE FLANAGAN TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR THE MUSEUM ENCLAVE.

YOU HAVE A FULL AGENDA THIS EVENING.

ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. STOKE AND THE BOARD FOR KEEPING THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK?

PUT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK.

>> PLEASE COME FORWARD.

>> THERE'S WAY MAC GENTLEMEN.

MY NAME IS ROBERT S. CARLIN.

I RESIDE AT 10 THOUSAND HITCHCOCK ROAD, DISPUTANTA.

I SPEAK THIS EVENING TO INFORM THE BOARD WARD AND SEEK RELIEF FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION OF THE COUNTY ASSESSORS OFFICE AS IT RELATES TO LAND USE.

MY HITCHCOCK ROAD ADDRESS CONSISTS OF 180 ACRES LYING BETWEEN HITCHCOCK AND EASY STREETS, ON WHICH I'VE ACTIVELY FARMED AND MANAGED TIMBER FOR THE LAST 51 YEARS.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE FARM IS SURROUNDED BY EVER INCREASING RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

IN 2007, AS PART OF MY ESTATE PLANNING, I WENT TO CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE TO SUB-DIVIDE THE MAJORITY OF THE FARM INTO FIVE ACRE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PASTELS.

AFTER RECEIVING EXPLICIT INSURANCES [NOISE] FROM THE ASSESSORS OFFICE, THAT THE SUBDIVIDED PARCELS WOULD QUALIFY FOR CONTINUED LAND-USE TAXATION.

FURTHER, I WAS INFORMED THE AGGREGATION OF THE FORESTED LAND WOULD MEET THE REQUIRED MINIMUM 20 ACRE STANDARD.

ALL ODDS RE-SUBSEQUENTLY ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM AND HAD BEEN APPROVED FOR RENEWAL EVERY YEAR SINCE.

IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR I RECEIVED CERTIFIED MAIL, FROM MR. JASON COHEN, INFORMING ME THAT 17 OF MY FORESTED PARCELS WERE BEING REMOVED FROM THE LAND USE PROGRAM BECAUSE INDIVIDUALLY, THEY DID NOT MEET THE 20 ACRE MINIMUM.

FURTHER IT INFORMED ME THAT SUCH REMOVAL WOULD TRIGGER THE IMPOSITION OF ROLLBACK TAXES.

WHICH IN THIS CASE WOULD TOTAL APPROXIMATELY $40 THOUSAND AFTER THE ADDITION OF ACCRUED INTEREST.

UNDER THE TERMS OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, 58.1-3233, FORESTRY PARCELS OF LAND LESS THAN 20 BECAUSE CONTIGUOUS AND UNDER COMMON OWNERSHIP MAY BE AGGREGATED TO MEET THE ACREAGE AND MINIMUM, EXCEPT IF SUCH PARCELS ARE COMPONENTS OF A RECORDED SUBDIVISION.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS EXCESS AT THE TIME, CHOSE BY ERA OR DESIGN, TO DEACON FORM WITH THE APPLICABLE VIRGINIA CODE.

I'M AWARE OF THE LONG HILL LEGAL AXIOM THAT IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE.

[00:55:01]

BUT IN THIS CASE, IT IS REASONABLE TO ACCEPT THE INFORMATION AND ASSURANCE OF THE ACCOUNTY ASSESSOR AS VALID.

I'VE REALLY NOT RECEIVED COOPERATION FROM THE ASSESSORS OFFICE IN MY QUEST TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF OTHER LAND OWNERS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION.

I WAS INFORMED [NOISE] THE LAND-USE ROLES ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BEING AUDITED.

IT WOULD SEEM PRUDENT TO WITHHOLD ADVERSE ACTION UNTIL THE FULL AUDIT IS COMPLETED AND THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM DETERMINED.

THIS COURSE OF ACTION WOULD GIVE THE GOVERNING BODY AND OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SOLUTION.

INTERESTINGLY, I KNOW OF ONE OTHER LANDOWNER WHO HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE LAND USE DURING THIS CAMPAIGN.

YOU MAY KNOW HER, SHE'S GIL YOUNG WHO UNTIL HER RETIREMENT WAS A SENIOR APPRAISER IN THE ASSESSORS OFFICE.

OBVIOUSLY, SHE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY SPECIAL FAVORS.

IN SUMMATION, THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION WOULD BE FOR THE GOVERNING BODY TO GRANDFATHER ALL LAND USE PARTICIPANTS WHO COULD BE FINANCIALLY HARMED BY THE ASSESSORS EFFORTS TO BRING ALL LAND USE PARTICIPANTS INTO COMPLIANCE WITH STATE CODE.

ANY OTHER SOLUTION WOULD MOST LIKELY PROVE COSTLY TO THOSE WHO ENTERED THE PROGRAM IN GOOD FAITH, RELYING ON THE WORD OF THE ASSESSOR AND HIS EMPLOYEES.

I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU ATTACH MR. STOK AND MR. WITTEN, TO DEVELOP AN EQUITABLE SOLUTION.

I USED ALL FOUR MINUTES.

[LAUGHTER] ANY QUESTIONS?

>> THANK YOU, SIR, FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK? [NOISE]

>> REMIND THEM THEY CAN'T SPEAK ON ANYTHING THAT'S PUBLIC HEARING TODAY.

>> YOU MAY NOT SPEAK ON ANY ITEM RELATED TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I FORGOT TO SAY THAT.

>> LAYLA MEYER'S 8711 SECOND COURT DISPUTANTA 23842.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING

>> WE'VE LIVED IN THE COUNTY FOR 15 YEARS AND I FILED AN APPEAL OF ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE FOR THREE TIMES.

THE REASON WAS THAT I DIDN'T AGREE WITH THE VALUE.

ONE OF THE ISSUES WAS THAT THE PROPERTY DESCRIPTION WAS INACCURATE AND THE FACT KEPT REPEATING, IT WAS THE SAME FACT THREE TIMES.

APPARENTLY IT DIDN'T REGISTER WITH THE ASSESSORS OFFICE.

OVER THE 15 YEARS WE HAD TO DO IT THREE TIMES.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL STICK AFTER THE THIRD TIME.

BUT THE VALUE HAD TO BE ADJUSTED.

THESE PEOPLE ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES.

WHEN YOU SPEAK THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OBLIGATION OR RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR JOB, THEY ARE YOUR EMPLOYEES.

IF THEY DON'T GET THE APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONS OR STANDARDS FROM YOU, WHAT JOB YOU EXPECT THEM TO DO, WHAT QUALITY OF SERVICE YOU EXPECT THEM TO BRING TO THE CITIZENS, IT'S ON YOU BECAUSE YOU EMPLOY THEM.

INSTEAD, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU PUT BURDENS ON US AVERAGE CITIZENS TO TAKE TWO MONTHS OF OUR PERSONAL TIME, LOOK FOR DATA, RESEARCH, STUDY, PREPARE FORMS, TO MAKE AN ARTICULATE OPINION PRESENTED TO YOU HOPING THAT IT WON'T BE JUST DISREGARDED BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SAY THE RIGHT WORDS IN YOUR APPEAL FORM.

THE DATA THAT YOU HAVE TO COMB THROUGH, IT'S NOT AVAILABLE AND NOT EVEN EASILY UNDERSTOOD FOR AN AVERAGE CITIZEN.

THE BUSINESSES HAVE ABILITY TO DO THESE APPEALS MUCH EASIER AND THEY HAVE A 100 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE.

THEY HAVE STAFF TO DO THE JOB FOR THEM.

FOR 2021 ASSESSMENTS, THOSE RESIDENTIAL APPEALS THAT WERE FILED HAD A 65 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE.

MORE THAN THE HALF OF THOSE WHO APPEALED HAD A SUCCESS RATE OF PROVING THAT THEIR VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY WAS OVER ASSESSED.

THE VALUE OF THOSE OVER ASSESSED PROPERTIES WAS ON AVERAGE $30 THOUSAND.

IF YOU UNDERSTAND HOW AVERAGE WORKS, THAT MEANS SOMEBODY'S PROPERTY WAS OVER VALUED BY $40 THOUSAND, BECAUSE MINE WASN'T SO I CAN DO THE MATH.

THE AVERAGE CITIZEN OUT THERE WHO HAD THEIR PROPERTY OVER ASSESSED LAST YEAR, 30 THOUSAND, MAYBE $40 THOUSAND.

THAT MEANS THEY WERE OVER TAXED FOR ONE YEAR AT A RATE OF $260.

EVERY PENNY OF THEIR OVERTAX HAS TO BE PAID IN ORDER TO KEEP THE HOUSE.

TAXES ARE STUFFED.

IF I DON'T PAY TAX, I DON'T KEEP MY HOUSE.

YOU EMPLOY THESE PEOPLE.

YOU HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO TELL THEM WHAT STANDARD OF QUALITY YOU WANT THEM TO DELIVER TO US AS A CITIZENS.

THEY NEED TO SERVE US BETTER AND YOU NEED TO HIRE PEOPLE TO DO JOB BETTER AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FILE A TAX APPEAL THREE TIMES OVER THE SAME ISSUE OF PROPERTY DESCRIPTION.

IT'S ON YOU STILL. THANK YOU.

[NOISE] IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK?

[01:00:03]

DO WE HAVE ANYONE ON ZOOM TO SPEAK? [NOISE]

>> FOR ALL ZOOM PARTICIPANTS, WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR ELECTRONIC HAND AND THE REACTIONS SECTION NOW TO BE RECOGNIZED.

PHONE USERS MAY PRESS STAR NINE TO RAISE THEIR HANDS.

WE DO HAVE THREE HANDS. MADAM CHAIR.

>> THANK YOU. [NOISE].

>> MS. HOLMES.

YOU'RE NOW BEING ASKED TO UNMUTE.

[NOISE] OKAY, YOU'RE UNMUTED.

>> GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND BOARD MEMBERS OF LEILA HOMES, 4260 CEDAR CREEK LANE.

I WOULD LIKE TO JUST COMMENT ON THANKING [INAUDIBLE] FOR COMING OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OF CEDAR CREEK EAST AND FIXING SOME ROAD ISSUES.

THEY HAVE FIXED SOME OF THE POTHOLES ON MIDDLE ROAD, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR DOING THAT.

THEY CAME OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER.

I'M JUST MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPEEDING NOW ON MIDDLE ROAD.

I KNOW WE HAVE DOUBLE LANES AND PART IS 35 MILES PER HOUR, BUT IT'S A LOT OF SPEEDING AND I CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AT ONE TIME AND I UNDERSTAND MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES ARE GOING ON, SO HOPEFULLY, PEOPLE WILL PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THEIR 35 MILLIMETER SIDE.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.

>> MR. MITCHELL, YOU WERE NEXT.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

MR. YOUNG, YOU'RE UNMUTED, SIR.

>> THIS IS LARRY MITCHELL.

I LIVE AT 16200 ARWOOD ROAD ROAD IN DISPUTANA.

I HAVE NO WRITTEN COMMENTS TO GO BY, BUT I HAVE BASICALLY TWO TOPICS TO GO OVER REAL FAST.

SENIORS AND MILITARY VETERANS SAY THE BUDGET WORK FOR 2023 AND IT IS A BURDEN ON MANY OF US THAT ARE ON FIXED INCOME.

I SURELY HOPE THAT YOU LOOK AT THE RATES ON REAL PROPERTY AND OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY.

MY REAL ESTATE PROPERTY, THE [INAUDIBLE] NOTICE RAISED MY HOME TAXES $266.

SOON OUR TAX BILL FOR OUR VEHICLES WILL BE IN, SO I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BIG JUMP IN TAXES MYSELF.

BUT SENIORS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND GATHER THEIR TWO LAST FILINGS FOR THE IRS AND SEE WHAT THEIR INCOMES ARE FOR SOME PROTECTIONS AGAINST THE TAXES THAT ARE GOING UP EACH YEAR BY INFLATION.

THE SECOND TOPIC THAT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS, YOU SEE ON THE NEWS IN PETERSBURG, SOUTH CRATER ROAD, HOW CRIME IS INCREASING.

WE'VE HAD SEVEN SHOOTINGS, ONE OR TWO DIED RECENTLY OVER THE WEEKEND, AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT; FIRE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, I HOPE YOU'RE IN THE BACK OF HIS CAMERA, PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN YOUR OFFICERS GO TO THE CALL.

IT'S VERY DANGEROUS OUT THERE.

US CITIZENS KNOW IT, US SENIORS KNOW IT.

MY NEIGHBOR ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM AT THE FOOD LION IN PRINCE GEORGE.

SHE WAS FOLLOWED BY SOMEONE AND FOLLOWED HER OUT TO THE CAR AND ALMOST TOOK HER CAR.

SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL OUT THERE AND BE SAFE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU, MR. MITCHELL.

IS THERE SOMEONE ELSE TO SPEAK?

>> YES, MADAM CHAIR.

MR. STEEL HAS HIS HAND RAISED.

[NOISE] YOU ARE UNMUTED.

>> VERY GOOD. MADAM CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, GOOD EVENING.

MADAM CHAIRMAN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ECHO WHAT MS. LEILA WAS SAYING ABOUT OUR ASSESSMENT PROPERTY.

MY HOUSE WAS ASSESSED BY 33 PERCENT, WHICH IS AN OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF ASSESSMENT.

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, THE SLIDES AND THE WORKSHOP, THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.

I'M VERY THANKFUL AT LEAST THIS TIME YOU GUYS GOT A PLUS AND A PRO AND CON PRESENTATION.

IT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT AND TRY TO DO A BETTER JOB ON THE ASSESSMENT.

[01:05:01]

IT IS TIME-CONSUMING AND VERY COSTLY, AND NOW YOU NEED MORE THAN JUST LAWYERS TO HELP FIGURE OUT YOUR ASSESSMENTS.

THERE'S GOT TO BE AN EASIER WAY TO DO ASSESSMENTS IN THIS COUNTY AND WE ALL PAY FOR IT.

GRANTED, REALLY NOBODY BELIEVES THAT WE GO TO THE ASSESSORS OFFICE AND SAY, "HEY, LET'S RAISE ASSESSMENT SO COUNTY YOU CAN GET MORE TAXES", NOBODY BELIEVES THAT.

THE ISSUE IS THAT CITIZENS ARE CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE EVER-INCREASING REAL ESTATE VALUES IN THIS COUNTY AND ONE HAS TOO MUCH DIFFICULTY AND THEN TRYING TO JUSTIFY THAT AND, OF COURSE, YOU GET NO CAP FROM ACCOUNTING ON THAT.

BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, BY CODE, IT'S THE BURDEN IS ON THE CITIZEN TO PROVE THE COUNTY WRONG, AND THAT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO.

THAT'S NOT HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE RUNNING.

THIS BOARD, THIS ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE STEPPING IT UP AND HELPING THE CITIZENS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, NOT TO OVER-ASSESS AND THEN OVERTAX.

LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT AND WE HAVE A GOOD PRESENTATION.

THAT'S GOOD DISCUSSION FOR THE FUTURE, DO YOU WANT TO STAY INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL? GOOD WORK ON THAT JOB AND WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT.

THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU, MR. STEEL.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK?

>> NO, MA'AM. NO ONE HAS THEIR HAND RAISED.

>> THERE'S NO ONE ELSE TO SPEAK, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.

NOW I'LL ASK FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.

[ADOPTION OF AGENDA]

>> MADAM CHAIR, IF THERE'S NO ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA, I SO MOVE THAT THE AGENDA BE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.

>> I'LL SECOND IT.

>> THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> THANK YOU. THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.

NOW, I ASK FOR THE ORDER OF CONSENSUS TO BE ADOPTED.

[ORDER OF CONSENSUS]

>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE ORDER OF THIS CONSENSUS.

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> I'LL SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO PRESENTATIONS.

WE WILL NOW GO TO SUPERVISOR'S COMMENTS.

[SUPERVISORS’ COMMENTS]

I'LL START WITH MR. WEBB.

DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT, SIR?

>> NOTHING, MA'AM.

>> MR. BROWN?

>> NO, MA'AM. I THINK IT'S BEST I BE QUIET TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND]

>> MR. HUNTER?

>> I WILL FOLLOW MR. BROWN'S IDEA.

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR BEING GOOD CITIZENS.

PRINCE GEORGE HAS SOME GREAT FOLKS.

THANK YOU, AGAIN. NOW WE HAVE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S COMMENTS.

[COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S COMMENTS]

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR.

YOU HAVE MY REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU.

JUST A COUPLE OF FUTURE TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW CONGRESSMAN [INAUDIBLE] WILL BE HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE HERE IN THIS BOARDROOM ON MAY 3RD AT 1:30 PM.

IT'S FOR THE CEREMONIAL PRESENTATION OF $3.2 MILLION GRANT FOR THE ROUTE 10 WATERLINE EXTENSION PROJECT.

PASTOR CHRIS JENKINS, UNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, IS STARTING TO ORGANIZE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY FOR NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER ON MAY 5TH AT BOTH NOON AND 7:00 PM BY THE WATER FOUNTAINS OR CENTENNIAL PARK IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE.

THE PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN SESSION WILL BE HELD MAY 14TH, BEGINNING AT 8:00 AM AT THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER.

DUE TO THE STATE BUDGET NOT BEING COMPLETED, STAFF WILL BE RECOMMENDING THE MOVING OF THE MAY 3RD COUNTY BUDGET WORK SESSION TO EITHER MAY 17TH OR MAY 24TH TO REVIEW ANY FINAL STATE NUMBERS, AND I'LL HAVE MS. DREWRY DISCUSS THAT LATER ON TONIGHT.

WE RECEIVED WORD FROM CHIEF BEAMON TODAY THAT THE COUNTY PASSED THE STATE EMS INSPECTION WITH NO ISSUES.

MADAM CHAIR, THAT CONCLUDES MY COMMENTS FOR TONIGHT.

>> THANK YOU, MR. STOKE. NOW WE WILL GO TO OUR REPORTS.

[REPORTS (Part 1 of 2)]

WE HAVE A REPORT ON A COUNTY LEASING POLICY FROM MR. WHITMAN, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY.

>> MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STUART.

THIS IS AN UPDATE ON A REPORT THAT I GAVE IN FEBRUARY.

THE BOARD HAD REQUESTED INFORMATION REGARDING

[01:10:04]

THE UTILITY RATES THAT WERE CURRENTLY BEING PAID AT THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER.

THAT IS PROVIDED IN YOUR PACKET.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT PIECE OF PAPER, IT DOES SHOW THE UTILITIES THEY WERE PAID TO PRENTCH GEORGIA ELECTRIC IN JULY THROUGH JANUARY, AND TO PRENTCH GEORGE COUNTY FOR WATER AND SEWER FOR AUGUST AND DECEMBER.

IT ALSO SHOWS A YEAR-END PROJECTION ON THAT CHART.

WE'LL GO OVER WHICH ROOMS WE'RE DISCUSSING.

WE HAVE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.

ROOMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THIS BUILDING, THE COMMUNITY ROOM, BOARDROOM HERE IN THE COUNTY'S PLAYGROUND.

THE REYNOLDS ARE FREE AND BOARDROOM BREAK ROOM CAN ONLY BE RENTED DURING OFFICE HOURS, UNLESS IT'S A GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION.

YOU HAVE YOUR PARKS AT RACRONOS, DISPUTANTA COMMUNITY BUILDING, IS 25 PER HOUR.

OLD NORTH ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS FREE, AND THEN THE SCOTT BARGAIN TEMPLE PARK PAVILION, WHICH ARE FREE AND $80 FOR NON-RESIDENTS.

THEN YOU HAVE YOUR REYNOLDS THROUGH FIRE AND EMS AT THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER.

THERE'S TRAINING ROOMS THERE THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR RENT FOR FREE, AND THEY'RE USED BY THE FIRING EMS, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE, AND FOR CPR AND FIRST AID CLASSES.

THEN YOUR REYNOLDS, THEY REQUIRE BOARD APPROVAL UNDER A STATE, CARRIED IN THE ANNUAL LEASE, DOES REQUIRE BOARD APPROVAL.

THAT'D BE THE BATESVILLE SCHOOL, AND THEN THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IN THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER ON ANNUAL BASIS THAT CURRENTLY DO NOT PAY A FEE AND THEY'RE LISTED THERE.

[NOISE] WE TALKED TO THE LAST MEETING ABOUT THE SCHOOL BOARD AROUND OUTSIDE IS INCLUDED ONE SLIDE ABOUT HOW THEY DETERMINE THE REYNOLDS BASICALLY SCHOOL-RELATED GROUPS IN THE SCHOOL BOARD ARE GIVEN PRIORITY, AND APPLICATIONS BY OTHER GROUPS ARE FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVE BASIS.

OTHER THAN ACTIVITIES SPONSORED BY SCHOOL-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS OR SCHOOL GROUPS, NO MEETINGS ARE ALLOWED WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OR DESIGNITY.

THE ROOMS CAN'T BE RENTED FOR PROFIT-MAKING ACTIVITIES, WITHOUT THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVAL.

THE FEES THE SCHOOL BOARD CHARGES THEY DO CHARGE FOR OPERATION USES FEES, CUSTODIAL FEES, AND FOOD SERVICE FEES.

THEY REQUIRE OF ALL INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS EXCEPT FOR PTA'S, ADVISORY COMMITTEES, COMMUNITY COUNCILS, AND GROUPS CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING THE SCHOOLS.

THERE'S A CHART THAT SHOWS BASICALLY THE HOURLY RATE THEY CHARGE, THREE-HOUR MINIMUM.

IT DIFFERS BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE ROOM.

THEY ALSO CHARGE A CUSTODIAL FEE AND THE GROUND MAINTENANCE FEE.

WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE WAYS IF THE BOARD WANTED TO CHARGE FEES FOR COUNTY FACILITIES.

ONE OPTION IS TO CHARGE IT BASED ON A PRO-RATA UTILITY.

THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER, THE SECOND FLOOR HASN'T BEEN RENOVATED, SO THIS IS JUST ROOMS ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE IS 45,602.

THE PROJECTED YEAR AND [OVERLAPPING] THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS $42,621.30.

THE PROJECTED COUNTY UTILITY BILL IS $1,827.06 FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR.

BASICALLY, THE PRO-RATA ELECTRIC BILL IS $0.93 PER SQUARE FOOT, AND THE PRO-RATA UTILITY BOW AS $0.04 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR A TOTAL OF $0.97 PER SQUARE FOOT.

I GAVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.

ROOM 117 IS 530 SQUARE FEET AND $0.97 PER SQUARE FOOT.

THE ANNUAL FEE WOULD BE $514.10.

THE ROOM IS CURRENTLY VACANT, AND ROOM 107, WHICH IS USED BY THE ROTARY CLUB, IS 634 SQUARE FEET AND $0.97 PER SQUARE FOOT.

THE ANNUAL FEE WOULD BE $614.98.

OTHER OPTIONS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEE STRUCTURES, YOU COULD CHARGE A FLAT FEE, SUCH AS THE SCHOOLS DO BASED ON AN HOURLY OR ANNUAL BASIS, NO MATTER THE SIZE OF THE ROOM OR YOU COULD CHARGE A FLAT RATE BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE ROOM, WHETHER IT BE A CLASSROOM, THE GYM, THE CAFETERIA.

YOU COULD ALSO HAVE A PRO-RATA FEE BASED ON A MONTHLY OR DAILY BASIS, RATHER THAN JUST AN ANNUAL BASIS.

YOU COULD ALSO INCLUDE YOUR EDITORIAL SERVICES AS PART OF THE FEE STRUCTURE.

PMC DOES PROVIDE JANITORIAL SERVICES FOR THE COUNTY, AT THE FACILITY.

[01:15:02]

YOU COULD APPLY THIS TYPE OF FEE STRUCTURE TO OTHER COUNTY FACILITIES, IF IT WAS DESIRED.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT ORGANIZATIONS, AT THE BOARD, WANT TO CHARGE A FEE SHOULD THEY CHARGE? I JUST GAVE A FEW EXAMPLES OF ORGANIZATIONS WHERE YOU COULD CHOOSE TO NOT CHARGE A FEE.

THAT WOULD BE A GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, 501C3 ORGANIZATIONS, POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS, OR OTHER NON-PROFITS.

IF YOU DESIRE TO TAKE ANY ORGANIZATIONS OFF THAT LIST, THAT WILL BE FINE AS WELL.

AS LONG AS YOU GROUP IT INTO ORGANIZATIONS AND NOT BY THE SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION.

YOU COULD CHARGE A FEE FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OR BUSINESSES.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU'RE SEEKING BEFORE WE WORK ON DRAFTING A POLICY THAT CAN BE PRESENTED AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING?

>> QUESTIONS? MR. WEB.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE, AS USUAL.

FIRST, I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

NOTHING IS GOING DOWN THE WRONG ROAD OF ANY NAME.

THE SECOND THING THAT CONCERNS CONSIDER IS, I REALIZE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE ONES THAT GET BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

MY CONCERN IS, THE COST IS GOING TO GROW AND AS WE ADD SQUARE FOOTAGE, THE COST IS GOING TO GROW AS WELL.

YOU'RE ALREADY LOOKING ALMOST $43,000 A YEAR NOW.

I REALIZE MOST OF THAT, THE WELLNESS CENTER AND EVERYTHING, IS OPEN TO ALL THE COUNTY RESIDENTS.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT THAT MAY OR MAY NOT CHOOSE TO UTILIZE IT.

TRYING TO COME UP WITH THAT FAIR BALANCE, I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW WE GET THERE.

I THINK IT DESERVES SOME MORE DISCUSSION.

WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF IT GOING FORWARD.

NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF THE RENOVATIONS TO DO THE SECOND FLOOR, IF AND WHEN WE DECIDED TO DO THAT. THAT'S ALL I GOT.

>> I HAVE TO AGREE WITH, BASICALLY, WHAT MR. WEB SAID. HIS GENERAL COMMENTS.

I AGREE WITH IT.

>> MR. BRIAN.

>> NO COMMENT, MA'AM.

>> THANK YOU, MR. BRIAN.

>> OUR NEXT TOPIC IS PETERSBURG AREA REGIONAL TOURISM WITH JOANNE WILLIAMSON MARTHA BARDEN.

EXCUSE ME,WE HAVE TO PUT YOU ON HOLD FOR A MINUTE.

IT'S 7:30 AND IT'S TIME FOR OUR PUBLIC HEARING.

I'M SO SORRY.

[BACKGROUND] OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF COUNTY OF

[PUBLIC HEARINGS]

PUNCH GEORGE BY AMENDING REVISING WATER WASTEWATER CONNECTION FEES. MR. HALTON.

>> GOOD EVENING MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS THE BOARD, MR. STARK, MR. WITTEN.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADD PRIOR TO OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CUT TO EXPLAIN THE NEED FOR THE UTILITY RATE INCREASE.

I WANT TO START WITH REVIEWING REALLY BRIEFLY THE UTILITY RATES STUDY THAT WE DID BACK IN 2020.

THAT WAS THE EMPHASIS FOR THESE RATE INCREASES.

OF COURSE, WE HIRED GETTINGRATES.COM, WHICH IS CARL BROWN'S ORGANIZATION, WHO PROVIDED A REPORT THAT MADE IT MAJORITY THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE ARE PRESENTED A BOARD EARLIER THIS YEAR.

RATE SETTING OBVIOUSLY AT FIRST IS TO RECOVER COSTS.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE REVENUES TO MATCH THE EXPENDITURES THAT WE ARE ANTICIPATING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

JOB 1 OF THE UTILITY RATE IS TO PAY THE UTILITIES COST.

PROPER RAISED RATE SETTING IS ALSO ABOUT BUILDING ADEQUATE RESERVES.

WE CURRENTLY DO HAVE A DECENT RESERVE FUND BALANCE AND UTILITIES AND WE TRIED TO MAKE SURE TO BEGIN TO INCREASE THOSE NUMBERS EACH YEAR AS POSSIBLE AND WHEN NEEDED.

WE DO PULL FROM THE RESERVE FUNDS FOR EITHER PROJECTS OR TO OFFSET THE EXPENDITURES IN THE OPERATING BUDGET IF NECESSARY.

THE 2020 RATE ANALYSIS AND ANALYZE THE CURRENT AND PLANNED EXPENSES FOR OUR AND THIS AGAIN WAS PROJECTED TO BE USED FOR 2021. WE MISSED THOSE.

WE DID NOT DO AN INCREASE IN 2021, ONLY FOR THE 2022 FISCAL YEARS, SO WERE HERE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 23, WE DO HAVE SOME CHANGES BASED ON THIS AND ADDRESS THOSE AS WE GO ALONG.

BUT IT DID ADDRESS THE EXPECTED THAT THE CURRENT IMPLANT EXPENSES FOR UTILITY TO DETERMINE WHAT THOSE WATERS WHO ARE RAISED IN CONNECTION FEE SHOULD BE.

IN 2020, THEY DID RECOMMEND AN OVERALL REVENUE INCREASE OF 20,

[01:20:01]

JUST UNDER 25 PERCENT FOR THE WATER, AND JUST UNDER TWO PERCENT FOR THE SEWER.

OUR PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDED A 30 PERCENT INCREASE FOR WATER AND A THREE PERCENT FOR SEWER.

AGAIN, THAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE BASED ON 2020 NUMBERS, SO WE HAVE MADE SOME ADDITIONAL REQUESTS BASED ON JUST INFLATION THAT'S OCCURRED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

FINALLY, IN FUTURE YEARS, THE CARL BROWN DID RECOMMEND THAT WE ALSO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ANNUALLY, FIVE PERCENT ON THE WATER AND THREE PERCENT ON THE SEWER JUST TO MATCH INFLATION AND UPCOMING YEARS.

WHY UTILITY RATES INCREASE THIS YEAR, AGAIN, THE BIG DRIVER FOR THE OVERALL LEVEL RATE INCREASES AS OUR SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.

WHAT ARE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS? WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE AGING PUMPS, AGING PIPES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE BEST WATER QUALITY TO OUR CUSTOMERS AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN CONVEY SEWER AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES INTO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF OUTDATED FACILITIES THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND WE ALSO HAVE OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY THAT NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED.

FURTHERMORE, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PURCHASE SERVICES.

WE DO RELY ON OTHER FACILITIES TO EITHER TREAT OUR WASTEWATER OR THAT WE BUY OUR WATER FROM.

THAT'S AFFYMETRIX TRIPLE WATER AUTHORITY, THE SOUTH CENTRAL WASTEWATER AUTHORITY, AS WELL AS HOPEWELL.

YOU CAN SEE OUR PURCHASE SERVICES OVER THE YEARS HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND THAT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE WERE EITHER SENDING MORE WATER TO THE TREATMENT PLANTS OVER BUYING MORE WATER FROM THE ASYMMETRIC RIVER WATER AUTHORITY OR VIRGINIA AMERICAN.

AS THEIR RATES INCREASED HEART RATES NEED TO MATCH THOSE AS WELL, SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON FOR RATE INCREASES.

OUR RESERVE BALANCED PROJECTIONS.

AGAIN, THIS IS OUT OF OUR 2020 RATE ANALYSIS.

THAT'S JUST A CHART TO ANALYZE WHAT ARE RESERVES ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE OVER THE YEARS IF WE DO NOT HAVE ANY RATE INCREASES.

THIS IS WHAT'S AN ASSUMPTION BASED ON BREAKING UP OUR CURRENT RESERVES, WHICH WAS CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE ACCOUNT AND BREAKING IT INTO TWO DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS AND THEY JUST MASHED IT EQUALLY AROUND FIVE MILLION DOLLARS AT THE TIME.

THAT IS, YOU CAN SEE THE BLUE LINE IS SHOWING OUR RESERVES AS WE INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL RATE INCREASES YEAR AFTER YEAR AND THE RED LINE SHOWS IF WE DO NOTHING, MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT RATES, WHICH MEANS WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE UP REVENUES USING OUR RESERVE FUND BALANCES TO MATCH THE EXPENDITURES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR.

YOU WILL SEE THEY'RE OUR RESERVE FUNDS WOULD DROP PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.

KEEP IN MIND THAT DOES NOT ADDRESS USING OUR RESERVE FUND FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, WHICH WE ARE INCLUDING IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET.

A LOT OF THOSE NUMBERS WOULD ACTUALLY DROP WELL BELOW THIS ZERO IN THIS UPCOMING YEAR IF WE HAVE OUR BUDGET IS PASSED AS IT STANDS.

OUR CODE OF ORDINANCES ESTABLISHES THE FEES FOR NEW CUSTOMERS TO CONNECT TO THE PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER AS WELL AS THE USER CHARGES AND OUR BUDGET DOES INCLUDE INCREASES IN BOTH THE WATER AND SEWER AS I JUST LAID OUT AT 30 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE WATER AND A THREE PERCENT INCREASE IN THE SEWER AND I'LL GO THROUGH LINE-BY-LINE, WHAT THAT MEANS IN JUST A MINUTE.

THESE ARE THE SECTIONS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED TO BE CHANGED AND OBVIOUSLY, A PUBLIC HEARING MUST BE HELD TO AMEND THOSE APPLICABLE SECTIONS.

I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH THOSE REAL BRIEFLY SO THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND WHICH ONES ARE CHANGING.

AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR CONNECTION CHARGES FOR THE WATER IS FOR RESIDENTIAL, WHICH IS TYPICALLY YOUR FIVE AGENTS METER IS GOING TO CHANGE FROM 3,000- 4,000.

AGAIN THE WATER CONNECTION FEES ARE USED TO HELP PAY OFF OUR DEBT AND AS WELL AS FUND OUR FUTURE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT COST.

AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR CONSULTANT DID RECOMMEND THAT WE DID NOT CHANGE THE LARGER WATER METERS, CONNECTION FEES SO FROM ONE INCH DOWN TO SIX INCHES, THEY REMAIN CONSTANT.

BUT FOR EIGHT INCH, WE DO HAVE A SLIGHT INCREASE THERE MORE THAN SLIGHT INCREASE THERE.

THEN WE'VE ALSO ADDED A 10-INCH METER, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE ONE OF THE COUNTY CURRENTLY, WE WERE PREPARING FOR THAT NOW AND OUR CONSULTANTS SUGGESTED WE ADD THAT IN, SO WE DID.

OUR WATER USER CHARGES.

AGAIN, THESE ARE THE RATES.

THESE ARE THE ACTUALLY THE BASE WHAT WE CALL IT A FIXED MINIMUM CHARGE.

IS A BASE FEE FOR EVERY SINGLE MONTH OF USAGE.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS A PER MONTH CHARGE.

WE ACTUALLY BILL ON A BI-MONTHLY BASIS SO WE WOULD MULTIPLY THESE NUMBERS BY TWO.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD SEE ON THEIR BILL.

THE CONSULTANT DID RECOMMEND INCREASE IN THESE MINIMUM CHARGES.

IN THIS CHART REFLECTS THOSE CHANGES AGAIN, IT'S ALL BASED ON THE METER SIZE AS YOU CAN SEE THAT THE FIXED MINIMUM AMOUNT CHANGED ABOUT 23 PERCENT FOR WATER AND SEWER IS NOT REPRESENTED HERE, I'LL SHOW YOU THAT IS ON THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, BUT THOSE DIDN'T INCREASE 14 PERCENT [NOISE].

[01:25:03]

SOME OF THESE, AS YOU'LL SEE, THE LARGER METERS THEY WERE RECOMMENDED TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM CHARGE.

BASED ON THAT, WE DID MAKE SOME CHANGES TO OUR RATE BLOCKS, AS YOU SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, TO MAKE UP THOSE FUNDS THAT WOULD BE LOST, SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE HIS REVENUES [NOISE].

>> AS A METER SAYS INDICATED ON THE BILL?

>> IS GREAT QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TOO [LAUGHTER].

I DO BELIEVE IT IS INCLUDED ON THE BILL, BUT I HAVE TO VERIFY THAT.

>> HERE IS THE WATER USER CHARGES.

AGAIN, THIS IS THE RATE YOU PAY PER 1,000 GALLONS, AND IT'S ALSO BASED ON A RATE BLOCK.

WE HAVE THREE TIERS THAT OUR CUSTOMERS PAY.

THE MORE WATER YOU USE, YOU WOULD PAY A HIGHER RATE IN CERTAIN BLOCKS.

FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, THEY'RE CURRENTLY PAY IN 297 PER 1,000 GALLONS FOR THE FIRST 6,000, THEN FROM 6,000-20,000 GALLONS, THAT RATE INCREASES TO 372, AND THEN ANYTHING BEYOND 20,000 GALLONS, THEY ARE CURRENTLY PAYING 464.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE'RE INTENDING TO INCREASE THOSE TIERS TO 386 AND TO 483, AND TO 533.

THOSE FIRST TWO TIERS THAT ARE BEING CHANGED REPRESENT 30 PERCENT, THAT THE THIRD TIER REPRESENTS ABOUT A 19 PERCENT CHANGE SO WE DIDN'T INCREASE THAT ONE TO THE FULL 30 PERCENT.

AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE AS WE GO DOWN THIS CHART IS BASED ON METER SIZE.

THE LARGER THE METER YOU USE, THE MORE VOLUME OF WATER YOU GET PER TIER.

ONE THING WE DID CHANGE OR SOME CONFUSION FROM A LOT OF CUSTOMERS THAT THERE IS A WHAT'S CALLED A THREE-QUARTER INCH METERS REALLY IS NOT A THREE-QUARTER INCH METERS IS A FIVE-INCH METER THAT CAN ACCOMMODATE A THREE-QUARTER INCH CONNECTION.

WE ADDED THAT TO THE FIVE AGENTS SECTION.

THE WATER HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME, THE VOLUME OF WATER FOR EACH TIER AND THE COST HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME SO WE'RE JUST ELIMINATING A PIECE OF THIS CHART TO DECLARE FURTHER.

THEN YOU CAN SEE FOR THE ONE-INCH, WE ARE REDUCING THE VOLUME OF WATER THAT YOU RECEIVED BEFORE YOU GO TO THE NEXT TIER AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE FOR EACH OTHER METER SIZE.

AGAIN, WE HAD A REASON WHY REDUCING THOSE SINCE WE REDUCED THE MINIMUM FEE EVERY BI-MONTHLY FOR THE BI-MONTHLY CHARGE, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE UP THOSE REVENUES BY REDUCING THE VOLUME THAT YOU RECEIVE.

THEREFORE, THEY WERE JUMPED TO THAT NEXT YEAR A LITTLE BIT QUICKER.

THIS IS JUST THROUGH AN INCH AND A HALF, THIS NEXT PAGE ALSO SHOWS OR LOOKS LIKE FOR TWO-INCH ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE 10-INCH.

AGAIN, THE CONSUMPTION OR THE RATE BLOCKS, WILL BE THE SAME FOR SIX-INCH, EIGHT-INCH, AND 10-INCH, AND THEREFORE, WE JUST ELIMINATE THAT LAST BLOCK FOR AN EIGHT-INCH.

THE USER RATES ARE ALL THE SAME FOR ALL CUSTOMERS FOR EACH TIERS.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE PER METER.

ONLY THING THAT'S CHANGING IS THE RATE BLOCK ITSELF, THE VOLUME OF WATER YOU RECEIVE BEFORE YOU GO TO THE NEXT RATE.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE TWO SLIDES UNDER THERE WAS A LOT TO LOOK AT.

MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

THE CONNECTION CHARGES FOR SEWERS OR I DID WATER.

THESE DO CHANGE SUBSTANTIALLY AS WE'VE SEEN IN YEARS PAST.

WE'VE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS AND WE DO PROJECT SOME MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS AND THE NEAR FUTURE, SO THEREFORE, THE CONSULTANT IS RECOMMENDING AN INCREASE IN THOSE COSTS AND MAKE UP FOR THE DEBT SERVICE OR A CUP OF IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE NECESSARY SO WE HAVE REVENUES COMING INTO THE PAY THOSE OFF.

AS YOU CAN SEE, IF SOME OF THEM ARE DOUBLING, SOME OF THEM ARE VERY CLOSE TO TRIPLING AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ALSO ADDED A 10-INCH METER CONNECTION FEE AS WELL, LIKE WE DID IT ON THE WATER AS WELL.

THE FIXED MINIMUM CHARGE FOR WASTEWATER, AGAIN, ALSO CHANGED THROUGHOUT AND YOU CAN SEE THAT FOR THE ONE-INCH THROUGH THE SIX-INCH ACTUALLY HAS A REDUCTION X TO THE EIGHT-INCH HAS A REDUCTION AND THEN WE ALSO ADDED A 10-INCH BY FIXED MINIMUM CHARGE.

JUST TO POINT OUT, THERE IS A COMMODITY CHARGE THAT DOES NOT CHANGE.

THE RATE FOR WASTEWATER CONSUMPTION THAT'S GOING IS BASED ON YOUR METER CHARGE.

BASED ON YOUR METER USAGE WILL REMAIN CONSTANT.

IS CURRENTLY BUILT AT $8.83 PER 1,000 GALLONS, THAT WILL NOT CHANGE.

THERE ARE NO TIERS FOR WASTEWATER, SO YOU PAY THE SAME RATE NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU USE.

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS? WE DO THIS ANALYSIS ALMOST EVERY TIME WE DO A RATE ADJUSTMENT.

THE AVERAGE USAGE FOR A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER IS ABOUT 5,000 GALLONS PER MONTH.

SINCE WE BILL ON A BI-MONTHLY BASIS, WE DO THIS ANALYSIS BASED ON 10,000 GALLONS.

[01:30:02]

THE WATER BILL FOR RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER BASED ON THESE NEW RATES WILL GO FROM 5,182 TO APPROXIMATELY 6,592.

THEREFORE, AN INCREASE IN THE WATER BILL OF ABOUT $14.10 PER BILL.

AGAIN, FOR THE SEWER BILL, THEY WOULD SEE AN INCREASE OF ONLY $3.46 PER BILL.

AGAIN, THESE ARE AVERAGES.

THIS IS NOT AN ACTUAL INCREASE FOR EVERY RESIDENTIAL ACCOUNT.

AS IF THEY USE LESS WATER, THEY WOULD HAVE LESS OF AN INCREASE.

IF THEY USE MORE WATER, THEY HAVE MORE OF AN INCREASE.

THE TOTAL COMBINED WATER SEWER BILL FOR THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WILL INCREASE ABOUT $17.56 PER BILL.

[NOISE] THAT'S APPROXIMATE $105.36 PER YEAR.

WE ALSO ASKED THE CONSULTANTS TO LOOK AT THE UNMETERED SEWER RATES.

THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING OF A TOPIC IN THE PAST THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 307 ACCOUNTS THAT ARE UNMETERED, MEANING THEY HAVE EXISTING WELLS THAT THEY USE AND WE ONLY COLLECT THE WASTEWATER FROM THEM.

THOSE SEWER ACCOUNTS, THEY TYPICALLY USE MORE WATER SINCE THEY'RE NOT BEING BILLED FOR WATER AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WATER THEY USED.

THEY TEND TO USE MORE WATER.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY TYPE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE INDUSTRY STANDARD IS THAT THEY USE ABOUT 25 PERCENT MORE THAN YOUR TYPICAL METERED CUSTOMER.

OUR CURRENT FLAT RATE IS A BI-MONTHLY BILL, WHICH IS $107.48 FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME AND $94.17 FOR A MOBILE HOME.

BASED ON THESE INCREASES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR 10,000 GALLONS, IF WE WEREN'T BILLING JUST A FLAT RATE, IF WE WERE BILLING FOR THAT 10,000 GALLONS, THEY WILL RECEIVE A BILL OF $113.

THE STUDY AFTER IT WAS ALL DONE, THE CONSULTANT RECOMMENDED THAT IT WAS REASONABLE TO LEAVE IT AT $107.48, SO WE DID NOT CHANGE IT.

IT NEEDED AS OUR BUDGET MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADJUST THE FLAT RATE FEE.

AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, THE STAFF WILL RECOMMEND THE ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE COUNTY CODE.

AT THAT TIME, WE WILL REVISE THE WATER AND WASTEWATER CONNECTION FEES AS ADJUSTED AND THESE FEES WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST OF THIS YEAR.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THE PRESENTATION UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR IF YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> NO QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU, MR. HALTON.

I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ORDINANCE TO MAN THE CODE OF THE COUNTY OF PRINCE GEORGE VIRGINIA FOR THE WATER AND WASTEWATER CONNECTION PHASE.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE? PLEASE COME FORWARD.

SEEING NO ONE COMING FORWARD, I ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT ZOOM TO SEE IF ANYONE IS ANXIOUS TO SPEAK.

>> YES, MA'AM. FOR ALL ZOOM PARTICIPANTS, WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR P1.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE BOARD.

RAISE YOUR ELECTRONIC HAND AND THE REACTION SECTION NOW TO BE RECOGNIZED.

PHONE USERS MAY PRESS STAR NINE TO RAISE THEIR HANDS.

MADAM CHAIR, WE DO HAVE ONE SPEAKER.

>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

I'M WILLIAMS STEEL, [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY.

WELL, I HAVE NO DOG IN THIS FIGHT BECAUSE I'M ON A PRIVATE WATER AND SEWER.

I KNOW WHERE THIS BOARD IS LOOKING AT BEST THEY CAN AND SAY, HOW CAN WE CHARGE THE ENTIRE ACCOUNTING FOR THIS SERVICE.

I KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING GOING TO BE COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS BOARD UNDERSTANDS THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT USE THE WATER AND SEWER, DO NOT WANT TO USE THE WATER AND SEWER.

BE MINDFUL THAT IF THESE PRICES ARE GOING TO GO UP AS THE GENTLEMAN SUGGESTED, IT'S GOING TO COME OUT THAT, HEY, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SPREAD THIS BILL OVER THE WHITE COUNTY.

I HOPE YOU KEEP THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND AND DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

NOW, AS I STATED TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN THIS CAME UP, WHEN I WAS LIVING IN CEDAR CREEK, I OFFER THE SUGGESTION IS GET MORE CUSTOMERS, CUT THE CONNECTION FEE AND BRING UP THE WATER FEES FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE WATER SYSTEM.

WHY DISCOURAGE CUSTOMERS? I REFUSED TO JOIN THE WATER SEWER AND I WAS ONE THAT HAD THAT CHOICE BECAUSE THE CONNECTION FEE WAS SO HIGH.

IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR ME TO PAY A HIGHER MONTHLY BOT FOR WATER THAN IT IS A CONNECTION FEE.

PERHAPS AGAIN, MAYBE WE WANT TO START LISTENING AND SAYING, HEY,

[01:35:02]

IS THERE A WAY WE CAN ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMERS BY REDUCING THE CONNECTION FEE BUT RAISING UP THE USAGE FEE.

IT WOULD BE EASIER TO DO.

I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE.I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY TO GO ON THAT.

WELL, WHAT I AM HAPPY TO SAY THOUGH, IS MY SEWER AND WHAT I PAID TO FIX MY SEWER AND MAINTAIN MY SEWER SYSTEM AND WATER SYSTEM IS A LITTLE HIGHER [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY CHARGES BUT AT LEAST ARE CATCHING UP.

IT'S MAKING ME FEEL GOOD THAT I'M ON A WELL AND NOT ONLY COUNTY SYSTEMS. BUT ANYWAY, MADAM CHAIRMAN, JUST SOMETHING TO SPEAK TO THINK ABOUT TO TRY TO PROTECT THOSE OF US WHO DO NOT USE, WILL NOT USE, DON'T WANT TO USE THE COUNTY SYSTEM FROM BEING CHARGED.

I'M PUTTING IT ON RECORD NOW SO WE ALL BECOME AWARE WHEN THIS COMES UP IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

>> THANK YOU, MR. STEEL.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON ZOOM?

>> NO, MA'AM. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE HANDS RAISED.

>> ALL RIGHT. SINCE THERE'S NO ONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK, I CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND TURN IT BACK OVER TO MR. HALL TIM AND THE BOARD.

>> MADAM CHAIR, IF THERE'S NO OTHER FURTHER QUESTIONS, I WOULD SO MOVE THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE FOR THE SECTIONS THAT WERE LISTED IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> I'LL SECOND IT.

>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> [NOISE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

NEXT ITEM IS P2 PUBLIC HEARING RESOLUTION.

ESTABLISHMENT OF 2022, TAX, LEVIES, BUT TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY, MACHINERY AND TOOLS. MRS. DRURY

>> YES, MADAM CHAIRMAN. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. STOKE AND MR. WITTEN.

WAIT FOR THE POWERPOINT.

PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED AND THE TAX RATES AS RECOMMENDED WERE ADVERTISED AND THE APRIL 4TH EDITION OF THE PROGRESS INDEX.

THE COUNTIES INTRODUCED BUDGET PRESENTED ON MARCH 22ND BY MR. STOKE DID INCLUDE REDUCTIONS IN THE REAL PROPERTY, PERSONAL PROPERTY AND MOBILE HOME TAX RATES.

THERE WAS NO RECOMMENDED CHANGE AND THE MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX RATE.

AT A WORK SESSION, THE BOARD DID RECEIVE UPDATED ASSESSED VALUES AND TOOK ACTION TO FURTHER REDUCE THE RATES BEFORE THEY WERE ADVERTISED ON APRIL THE 4TH.

THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS MODIFIED ON MARCH 29TH IS 68.951 MILLION, AND THIS IS AN INCREASE OF $6,360,793 OVER THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.

THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET WHERE WE HELD LATER THIS EVENING AND THE FULL INTRODUCED BUDGET IS AVAILABLE ON THE COUNTY'S WEBSITE.

THE ADVERTISED RATES ARE 82 CENTS PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE FOR REAL ESTATE.

THAT IS FOUR CENTS LESS THAN THE CURRENT RATE OF 86 CENTS.

THE PERSONAL PROPERTY RATE ADVERTISED IS $3.90 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE.

THAT'S 35 CENTS LESS THAN THE CURRENT PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 425.

THE MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX RATE IS A $1.50, WHICH IS NO CHANGE FROM THE CURRENT RATE.

THE MOBILE HOME TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY RATE ADVERTISED IS 82 CENTS PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE, WHICH AGAIN IS FOUR CENTS LESS THAN THE CURRENT 86 CENTS RATE.

FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S AND JUST TO ANECDOTALLY MENTIONED, IF THE BOARD HAD CHOSEN TO ADVERTISE RATES AS THEY STAND TODAY, WE WOULD BE BUDGETING FOUR MILLION MORE IN GENERAL FUND REVENUE THAN WHAT IS BUDGETED.

THE ACTION REQUESTED TONIGHT, FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING, IS TO ADOPT OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE AS ADVERTISED AND THE MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX RATE.

BUT TO DELAY THE ADOPTION OF THE REAL PROPERTY AND MOBILE HOME TAX RATE UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE EFFECTIVE INCREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE FROM ASSESSED VALUE GROWTH WILL BE HEARD.

AGAIN, WE ARE REQUESTING ADOPTION OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS SO THAT THOSE BILLS CAN BE SENT AND DO BACK ON JUNE 24TH AS THE BOARD APPROVED AT A PRIOR MEETING.

[01:40:04]

BUT TO DELAY REAL PROPERTY AND MOBILE HOME.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE.

>> NO QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MRS. DRURY.

I NOW OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR P2, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 2022 TAX JUST FOR TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY, MACHINERY AND TOOLS.

IS THERE ANYONE TO SPEAK? GOOD EVENING. LEYLA MEYERS 8711, SECOND COURT, DISPUTANTA 23842.

LAST YEAR I WAS HERE WHEN YOU WERE SAYING WE'RE NOT DOING ANY TAX INCREASE RATE, AND I TOLD YOU THAT WAS NOT TRUE.

YOU WERE GOING TO INCREASE OUR TAX RATES, AND IT DID INCREASE BECAUSE THE MATH WORKS BETWEEN THE TWO NUMBERS, THE ASSESSORS' NUMBERS, AND THE TAX RATE NUMBERS, SO IT DID GO UP.

THIS YEAR, WE GOT OUR ASSESSMENT NOTICES AND THEY ARE ALREADY UP TO THE TUNE OF 15, 17, 20 PERCENT.

AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 20, 30, 40, 45,000 DOLLAR PER HOUSEHOLD INCREASE, AND NOW YOU ARE INCREASING THE TAX RATE.

IT'S A SHAME THAT THE VERBIAGE USES THE WORD REDUCE.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 75 CENTS PER 100 DOLLARS.

SEVEN CENTS IS A 10 PERCENT MORE THAN IT SHOULD BE PER 100 DOLLAR VALUE.

SO IS THE MATH OF AN INCREASED ASSESSMENT VALUES, AN INCREASE PER 100 DOLLAR RATE, YOU ARE INCREASING AN AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD PROPERTY TAX BY ANOTHER 250, 300, 400 DOLLARS PER HOUSEHOLD PER YEAR.

WE ARE ALL GOING TO LOSE A HOUSE IF WE DON'T PAY EVERY SINGLE PENNY TO THE PENNY OWED.

YOUR BUDGET IS INCREASING.

I KNOW THINGS ARE GETTING EXPENSIVE, BUT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT CUTTING COSTS AND YOU NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT SAYING THAT YOU ARE INCREASING PROPERTY RATE VALUE.

PROPERTY RATE IS SEVEN CENTS MORE THAN WHAT IT SHOULD BE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK? WOULD YOU PLEASE CHECK ON ZOOM TO SEE IF ANYONE WISHES TO SPEAK?

>> YES, MA'AM. GOOD EVENING AGAIN ZOOM PARTICIPANTS.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR P2.

YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IN THE REACTION SECTION NOW TO BE RECOGNIZED, PHONE USERS MAY PRESS STAR NINE TO RAISE THEIR HANDS.

WE DO HAVE TWO PERSONS.

MR. STEELE.

>> [NOISE] THANK YOU AGAIN, AND GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND PRINCE GEORGE COMMUNITY.

I TOO HAVE TO AGREE AGAIN WITH MS. LEYLA.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, BOARD, THIS IS A GREAT BAIT AND SWITCH, AND I'M GOING TO USE THAT TERM AGAIN.

YOU HAVE DONE A BAIT AND SWITCH.

YOU HAVE SAID HERE VERY ELOQUENTLY HOW YOU LOWERED THE TAX RATE, WHICH YOU HAVE IN FACT RAISED THE TAX BILL TO BE AGAIN, THE HIGHEST TAX BILL SINCE AT LEAST FY18.

NOW, AGAIN, ASSESSMENTS HAVE GONE UP, THAT'S NOT YOUR CONCERN, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT, BUT YOU DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE TO WHERE IT SHOULD BE AND IT SHOULD BE BACK DOWN TO 75 CENTS AS MS. LEYLA ELOQUENTLY STATED.

FOLKS, IT'S SPENDING.

YOU ARE SPENDING, SPENDING, SPENDING, AND THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSING THIS HIGHER TAX RATE THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD.

IT IS SAD THAT WE DON'T HAVE MORE CITIZENS UNDERSTANDING THIS.

WE ELECT YOU TO TRUST YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THE TAXPAYER, BUT AGAIN, AS YOU HAVE DONE, ALL OF YOU HAVE DONE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD IS INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF TAXES THAT THE TAXPAYER, ESPECIALLY THE SENIOR CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE ON LIMITED INCOME, YOU ARE RAISING THEIR TAX BILL AND FORCING THEM TO FORK OVER MORE MONEY SO YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOUR SPENDING SPREES, SO YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THE BUREAUCRATS, AND I WILL USE THAT TERM AGAIN, TAKE CARE OF THE BUREAUCRATS AND NOT THE TAXPAYER.

YOU'VE GOT TO CUT SPENDING.

THANKFULLY TONIGHT IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR STATE LEGISLATURE HASN'T DONE THEIR BUDGET, WE'LL GET TO BRING THIS UP AGAIN, SINCE WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE TONIGHT, JUST A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE, AND I'M ASSUMING THAT MEANS THE CAR TAX.

BUT THAT NEEDS TO CUT DOWN, AND IT CAN ONLY BE CUT IF YOU CUT SPENDING.

YOU'VE GOT TO QUIT THIS SPENDING SPREE.

I WOULD ONCE LIKE TO SEE THE BOARD SAY NO TO SOME KIND OF SPENDING THAT THE BUREAUCRATS WANT YOU TO DO.

AGAIN, I ASK THE BOARD,

[01:45:01]

I KNOW IT WON'T HAPPEN, YOUR MINDS ARE SET UP, YOU DON'T CHANGE YOUR MIND, BUT I SAID VOTE NO THAT YOU NEED TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE TO A MORE REASONABLE LEVEL AND REDUCE THE CAR TAX RATE DOWN TO A MORE REASONABLE LEVEL. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

>> THANK YOU, MR. STEELE.

DO WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER?

>> YES, MA'AM. MR. MITCHELL.

OKAY. YOU'RE UNMUTED.

>> MY NAME IS LARRY MITCHELL.

I LIVE AT 16200 ARWOOD ROAD IN DISPUTANTA.

THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX AT 39 IS A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH FOR ME.

I LIKE TO KNOW HOW OUR VEHICLES ARE ASSESSED FOR THE VALUES THAT THAT GET THE RATES ON.

AGAIN, I BELIEVE OUR TAX BILL FOR OUR VEHICLES ARE GOING TO COME IN AND I DREAD GOING TO THE MAILBOX AND OPENING THAT LETTER.

I LIKE TO RECONSIDER YOUR THINKING ABOUT LOWERING IT EVEN FURTHER FROM THE 3.90 DOLLARS PER 100 ON OUR VEHICLES.

WE'RE GETTING TAXED TOO MUCH AND THE SPENDING FOR OUR COUNTY IS A LITTLE BIT TOO HIGH.

MY PRIORITIES ARE SCHOOL, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TEACHERS ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME ON THE LOWER END OF THE SPECTRUM OF THEIR PAY SCALE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT RIGHT OUT OF SCHOOL ARE ALSO ON A LOW INCOME.

THESE TAXES ARE DRIVING PEOPLE OUT OF OUR COUNTY AND SENIORS ARE GETTING BEAT UP.

PLEASE CONSIDER LOWERING OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, MR. MITCHELL. [NOISE] IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK?

>> IF THERE'S NO ONE ELSE TO SPEAK, I CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND TURN THIS MATTER BACK OVER TO THE BOARD.

>> MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE SOMETHING I WANT TO SAY.

I THINK I'VE DONE PRETTY WELL TONIGHT BEING QUIET.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> BUT, JUST TRYING TO FIGURE THE RIGHT WAY TO SAY THIS.

[OVERLAPPING] I'M JUST GOING TO SPREAD IT OUT.

YOU KNOW IT REALLY BOTHERS ME WHEN PEOPLE [NOISE] SAY BECAUSE WE'RE ELECTED, YOU FEEL YOU CAN COME UP AND TALK TO US ANY KIND OF WAY, YOU CAN CALL US EVERYTHING BUT A CHILD OF GOD, BUT IT'S REALLY EASY TO SIT BACK AND BE A MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK.

THERE ARE SEVERAL MEMBERS IN THIS AUDIENCE THAT I RESPECT HIGHLY BECAUSE THEY'VE SAT HERE.

THEY KNOW HOW HARD THIS IS.

YOU CANNOT SIT HERE AND SAY YOU SUPPORT SCHOOLS, YOU SUPPORT FIRE, AND YOU SUPPORT POLICE, AND YOU WANT US TO TAKE THE RATE DOWN TO 75 CENTS.

THAT WOULD MEAN THE SCHOOL WOULD HAVE ONLY GOTTEN 200,000 DOLLARS THIS YEAR.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE TEACHERS RAISES? HOW ARE THEY GOING TO DO THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS? I SIT HERE, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS, IT'S NOT EASY.

WE HAVE A REAL BIG PICTURE THAT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT TO TRY TO MAKE THINGS WORK OUT AND STILL PROVIDE THINGS, AND THIS COUNTY STILL HAS TO MAKE SOME STRIDES FORWARD.

I GET IT.

I DON'T GET A DISCOUNT.

I PAY THE SAME TAX RATE EVERYBODY ELSE PAYS.

I JUST GOT MY TAX BILL AND MY HOUSE, WENT UP CONSIDERABLY.

MY MORTGAGE INSURANCE IS GOING TO INCREASE, I'M IN THE SAME BOAT WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

THERE'S NO SPECIAL BENEFIT FOR ME SITTING ON THIS BOARD MAKING THESE TOUGH DECISIONS.

BUT PLEASE GIVE ME A BREAK.

UNLESS YOU SIT HERE AND DO THIS JOB, IT IS UNFAIR TO CALL US NAMES.

IT'S JUST GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.

IF YOU DON'T DO IT IN HERE, YOU GET ON FACEBOOK AND DO IT.

IT HAS TO STOP.

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING, SET TIME UP TO COME IN AND TALK WITH US.

TAKE SOME REAL ACTION, BUT LET'S STOP DOING IT THE WAY THAT WE'RE DOING IT.

I'M NOT PROUD OF WHERE WE ARE.

THIS BOARD HAS MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO TRY TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE.

APPRAISALS WENT UP, IF WE DIDN'T REDUCE THE NUMBER, YOU WOULD BE PAYING EVEN MORE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY, REAL ESTATE, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT'S NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE, BUT WE CAN'T GO FROM 100 TO ZERO IN ONE YEAR.

AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, WE DON'T WANT TO DO THE YO-YO EFFECT.

WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE YOU TO 75 THIS YEAR AND TAKE YOU BACK TO 82 NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE HOUSE VALUES DROP.

I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S DISHEARTENING.

IT'S WHAT MAKES PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY NOT WANT TO STEP UP AND DO THIS JOB,

[01:50:03]

BECAUSE WE DON'T DESERVE TO TAKE THIS LEVEL OF CRITICISM THAT WE DO.

I'M VERY MUCH AN INPUT GUY, I WILL MEET WITH ANYBODY.

BUT TO CALL ME OUT OF MY NAME, CALL ME NAMES BECAUSE I'M ELECTED.

IF I TREATED ANY CITIZEN IN THIS COUNTY THE WAY THAT I'VE BEEN TREATED PERSONALLY, YOU'D BE STARTING A PETITION TO GET ME OFF THE BOARD BECAUSE I DISRESPECTED YOU.

MADAM CHAIR, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> THANK YOU, MR. BROWN.

ANY MORE COMMENTS?

>> NO, MA'AM. I THINK I'LL SAVE MINE.

DO WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS?

>> YES MA'AM.

>> I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO PASS THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED WITH THE 390 FOR TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY, 150 FOR MACHINE TOOLS TAX.

I THINK THE TAG IS THAT ON HERE TOO, THAT WE DROP OUT?

>> IT'S THE NEXT ONE.

>> IT'S ON THE NEXT.

>> SEPARATE ONE.

>> I WILL END MY MOTION THERE.

>> I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION, MA'AM.

>> PLEASE CALL THE ROLL MRS [INAUDIBLE].

>> THANK YOU [INAUDIBLE].THAT IS PASSED.

[NOISE] THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING IS P3, THE ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF THE COUNTY OF PRINCE GEORGE.

AMENDING AND REENACTING TO ELIMINATE THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE, EFFECTIVE FOR THE 2022 PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX YEAR, BUT TO CLARIFY THAT DELINQUENT VEHICLE FEES FROM PRIOR TAX YEARS SHALL STILL BE OWED. MR. WITTEN?

>> YES, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STOKE. THE COUNTY CODE CURRENTLY STATES THAT ANNUAL COUNTY LICENSE FEE SHALL BE PAYABLE ON FULL FOR ANY MOTOR VEHICLE, TRAILER, SEMI TRAILER, NORMALLY GARAGE IN THE COUNTY ON JANUARY 1ST OF EACH [NOISE] TAX TAXABLE YEAR.

THE VEHICLE LICENSE YEAR COMMENCES ON JANUARY 1ST, AND THE ANNUAL LICENSE FEE IS PAYABLE JUNE 5TH OF EACH YEAR.

THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE WOULD AMEND AND REENACT SECTION 7896, 7896.1, 7897, 7898, 7899, 78100, AND 78102 TO ELIMINATE THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE FOR ALL VEHICLES.

IT ALSO CLARIFY THAT DELINQUENT VEHICLE FEE FOR PRIOR TAX YEARS ARE STILL OWED, SO IT DOESN'T GET YOU OFF THE HOOK AND YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING THAT FEE.

THIS IS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE DECAL FEE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE NO LONGER HAVE THE DECALS ON THE CARS.

THEY'RE JUST REFERRED TO AS THE VEHICLE LICENSED FEE, BUT THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND WOULD APPLY TO THIS TAX YEAR, SO YOUR JUNE 5TH BILL, IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSES, WOULD NOT INCLUDE THE VEHICLE LICENSE FEE.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO HELP PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED.

>> ANY QUESTIONS.

>> NOT AT THIS TIME.

>> THANK YOU MR. WITTEN. I'LL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING [NOISE] AT THIS TIME.

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ORDINANCE, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

[NOISE]

>> HOW YOU ALL ARE DOING BOARD, PHILIP 4813 TAX ROAD. WOW.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> YOU'VE BEAT UP TONIGHT. WE ALL KNOW WHO SET OUT IN THE AUDIENCE.

YOU ALL HAD THE HARD DECISION TO MAKE THE CALLS, AND WE ALL KNOW YOU WANT TO SEE THE COUNTY MOVE FORWARD [NOISE].

ONLY RECOMMENDATION I WOULD HAVE IS HEARING SOME OF THE CITIZENS VIEWPOINTS, MAYBE SET UP A NOT HOTLINE, BUT ALMOST LIKE A NOT A TAX BREAK, BUT SOME FUNDING TO THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT, THAT THEY CAN APPLY.

THAT'D BE ALL I'D SAY.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ALL DO. KEEP YOUR HEADS UP.

>> WOULD YOU PLEASE SEE IF THERE'S ANYONE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE ON ZOOM?

>> YES, MA'AM MADAM CHAIR.

GOOD EVENING AGAIN ZOOM PARTICIPANTS, WELCOME TO P3.

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK.

PLEASE RAISE YOUR ELECTRONIC HAND IN THE REACTIONS SECTION NOW TO BE RECOGNIZED.

PHONE USERS, THEY PRESS STAR NINE.

WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER WHO HAS RAISED HIS HAND, MADAM CHAIR. MR. STEELE.

>> ONE MORE TIME. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, AND BOARD MEMBERS.

[01:55:02]

OBVIOUSLY, I'M A BIG YES FOR CUTTING ANY TYPE OF TAXES THAT'S THE CITIZENS HAVE TO PAY.

IT'S A SMALL FEE, BUT EVERY DOLLAR IS A DOLLAR NOT IN OUR BOOK.

[NOISE] THANK YOU FOR THIS.

WE NEED TO SEE MORE OF IT.

I WAS HOPING THAT ONE THE BOARD MEMBERS WOULD SAY TO THAT GENTLEMEN THAT WE DO GET TOGETHER.

MR. BROWN OUR ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM OUR DISTRICT DISPUTANA THAT WE MEET ONCE A MONTH ON ZOOM.

WE HAVE A GREAT DISCUSSION, BRING UP GOOD IDEA, SHARE GOOD IDEAS, SO THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR INFORMATION.

LATELY, WE'VE DISCUSSED THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATES, AND WE HAVE GREAT DISCUSSIONS, BUT WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED.

TO THE POINT MADAM CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU FOR CUTTING THIS FEE, IT SAVE A FEW DOLLARS FOR THE PEOPLE.

WE NEED TO GO FURTHER.

I DON'T WANT TO SIT ON OUR LAURELS WITH US.

WE NEED TO CUT MORE AND ONE LAST THING, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE LAST COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE IS, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S AGAINST TEACHERS GETTING PAY RAISES.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S AGAINST THE POLICE, WE'RE AGAINST THE OTHER WASTEFUL SPENDING THAT THIS COUNTY DOES.

THERE IS A LOT OF THAT STILL, WHICH IS CAUSING OUR TAX BILLS TO RAISE, SO AGAIN, MR. BROWN'S COMMENTS ARE WELL NOTED.

I APOLOGIZE MR. BROWN IF ANYBODY'S SAYING NAMES TO YOU.

I HAVEN'T HEARD IT TONIGHT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN IT ON ALL OUR GROUP, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT.

WE NEED TO MOVE THIS COUNTY FORWARD, BUT WE NEED TO START THINKING OF THE TAXPAYER.

PERHAPS IF WE DID START THINKING OF THE TAXPAYER FOR A CHANGE, MORE CITIZENS WOULD FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GET UP AND SPEAK TO THE BOARD.

BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WE COME UP TO THE BOARD AND GRANTED, IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE, UNFORTUNATELY, THE SAME PEOPLE OVER AND OVER, BUT CONSTANTLY WE GET SHUT DOWN.

IT'S LIKE WE'RE BEING IGNORED AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WE DO FEEL WE'RE BEING IGNORED BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF SPENDING THAT GOES ON, WHICH ENDS UP COSTING US MORE AND MORE MONEY.

PERHAPS THIS ISSUE, CUTTING THIS BILL IS A START.

MAYBE PEOPLE WILL SAY, "HEY, LOOK, THEY ARE TRYING TO CUT THE BILLS THAT WE PAY OUR TAX BILLS" AND MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD START AND IT WILL GET MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

THANK YOU AGAIN, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

>> THANK YOU, MR. STEELE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK?

>> THANK YOU. THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE TO SPEAK, I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND TURN IT BACK TO THE BOARD.

>> MADAM CHAIR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR MRS. DRURY PLEASE.

MRS. DRURY I UNDERSTAND THE AVERAGE CITIZEN SEES THIS AS $20 PER VEHICLE IS A SMALL THING.

WOULD YOU MIND TELLING ME, WELL I KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT WOULD YOU MIND FOR THE RECORDS TELL ME THE TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT IN REDUCTION THAT IS $20 REDUCTION IS GOING TO DEGENERATE.

>> YES, SIR. IT'S $1.1 MILLION OF REVENUE LOSS.

>> AND I MAKE NOTE OF THAT ONLY BECAUSE WE'VE SPOKEN BEFORE AND I CHOSE NOT TO DO IT TONIGHT.

A LOT OF THINGS ARE OUT OF CONTROL WOULD COST THE THINGS.

NEW CARS ARE UP ON AVERAGE, LAST THAT I SAW AND THAT COULD HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE THE INFLATION RATES STILL GOING UP.

IS AVERAGING THE BEST 17 PERCENT.

USED CARS ON THE OTHER HAND, ARE UP OVER 42 PERCENT.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE EVERYBODY TRYING TO BUY YOUR CARS BACK AND TRY AND TALK TO YOU INTO A GETTING INTO A NEW VEHICLE AND A NEW PAYMENT AND ALL OF THESE OTHER MESSAGE GOING ON.

THEN YOU GOT THE COMPUTER CHIP PROBLEM, THAT'S WHY YOU CAN'T GET A LOT OF NEW VEHICLES ON THE LOTS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME THINGS THAT JUST ARE OUT OF EVERYBODY'S CONTROL UNTIL WE GET SOME THINGS BACK UNDER CONTROL.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY AND IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS STATED.

>> DO I HAVE A SECOND.

>> YES I'LL SECOND, MADAM CHAIR.

>> THANK YOU. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

>> THANK YOU. NOW, WE'LL GO TO P4, PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE BUDGET AND THIS IS MRS. DRURY.

>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MADAM CHAIR, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. STOKE AND MR. WITTEN.

THE POWERPOINT IS A LITTLE BIT LENGTHY, BUT I WILL MOVE THROUGH IT VERY QUICKLY AS IT IS REVIEW FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND MOST OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING THESE MEETINGS.

MR. STOKE PROVIDED THE INTRODUCED BUDGET ON MARCH 22ND, AND THEN AGAIN, THE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED WAS JUST OVER 69 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND 160 ALL FUNDS.

SINCE THAT TIME, SOME ADJUSTMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.

THE BUDGET THAT WAS ADVERTISED FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS JUST UNDER 69 MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND AND JUST OVER 160 MILLION ALL FUNDS.

AGAIN, THE INTERIM REAL ESTATE ASSESSOR PROVIDED

[02:00:03]

A HIGHER ASSESSED VALUES ON MARCH 28TH AND YOU DID TAKE ACTION TO DROP THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE BY ANOTHER PENNY AND THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE BY ANOTHER NICKEL.

THIS IS JUST A PICTURE VIEW OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS ADVERTISED.

AGAIN, WITH 26.9 PERCENT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET BEING THEY TRANSFER TO THE SCHOOLS AND 37 PERCENT BEING SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES.

REAL PROPERTY TAXES COMPRISED JUST OVER 42 PERCENT OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, ANOTHER 18.8 PERCENT.

THESE ARE THE TAX RATES THAT WERE ADVERTISED, WHICH WE DISCUSSED DURING THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING.

WE WILL BE HAVING ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 10TH TO TALK ABOUT THE REAL ESTATE EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASE DUE TO THE GROWTH AND ASSESSED VALUES DESPITE THE DROP IN THE TAX RATE.

THE IMPACT OF LOWERING THE TAX RATE.

AGAIN, I MENTIONED ANECDOTALLY IN THE LAST PUBLIC HEARING, BUT WHEN WHEN WE ADD ALL OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER, IT'S JUST OVER $4 MILLION THAT WE WOULD BE BUDGETING IF WE LEFT OUR TAX RATES LEVEL.

THIS IS A PICTURE VIEW OF THE GROWTH IN REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUE, 2.886 MILLION OR 11 PERCENT AND AGAIN, THE ASSESSED VALUES HAVE INCREASED.

AGAIN, THERE'S LIMITED INVENTORY LOWERED INTEREST RATES, AND THERE HAS BEEN A SPIKE IN THE HOME PRICES.

THE ASSESSORS OFFICE IS REQUIRED TO APPRAISE VALUES ON MARKET VALUE.

PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, SIMILAR STORY.

THERE IS A $3.2 MILLION GROWTH AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

ASSESSED VALUES HAVE INCREASED.

AGAIN, INVENTORY SHORTAGES, SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND INFLATION, AND THE CHIP ISSUE THAT MR. WEBB JUST SPOKE OF, 35 CENT REDUCTION WAS ADVERTISED AND JUST APPROVED.

WE ARE ELIMINATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE FEE, 1.1 MILLION IN REVENUE THAT THE TAXPAYER WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY THIS COMING YEAR OR THIS CURRENT YEAR ACTUALLY, ON JUNE 24TH, THAT WAS JUST APPROVED BY THE BOARD.

THESE ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES AND REVENUE OTHER THAN THE REAL PROPERTY AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.

SALES TAXES PROJECTED TO GO UP AS THIS PUBLIC SERVICE TAX REVENUE.

OUR STATE AND FEDERAL REVENUE ON SOCIAL SERVICES IS EXPECTED TO GO UP, AS ARE THOSE ON THIS LIST.

DECLINES ARE EXPECTED AND INTEREST REVENUE BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUED DROP IN INTEREST RATES.

WE ARE ELIMINATING AN IN-HOUSE FEE THAT WAS BEING CHARGED FOR OUR GARAGE, REPAIRING OUR VEHICLES, THE LABOR CHARGES, ESSENTIALLY.

WE ARE ALSO GOING TO SEE REDUCTIONS IN THE STATE COMMUNICATION TAX AND MOBILE HOME TITLING TAXES.

ONE SAFER GRANT THAT REMAINED WILL BE ZERO NEXT YEAR.

AGAIN, OF COURSE, THE ELIMINATION OF THAT MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE FEE.

THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS ADVERTISED, THE KEY EXPENDITURES INCREASE TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE TRANSFER AS CALCULATED WITH THE TAX RATES THAT WERE ADVERTISED IS JUST OVER 18.5 MILLION AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 1.5 MILLION OVER THE CURRENT YEAR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION.

THE TOTAL SCHOOL BUDGET, AS IT WAS SUBMITTED TO US, IS JUST OVER 91.15 MILLION, WHICH IS ABOUT 17 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT YEAR ADOPTED BUDGET.

DETAILS ON THE SCHOOL BUDGET, OF COURSE, CAN BE OBTAINED FROM SCHOOL BOARD PERSONNEL.

THAT DOES INCLUDE ALL OF THEIR FUNDING SOURCES, STATE, FEDERAL, AND LOCAL.

THERE ARE ONE TIME STATE FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER.

IT DOES EXCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL CAPITAL TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO PURCHASE SCHOOL BUSES AND TRANSFER TO THE DEBT FUND TO MEET THE SCHOOL DEBT SERVICE OBLIGATIONS OF JUST OVER 2.8 MILLION.

OTHER INCREASES THAT ARE IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET REQUIRED MANDATED INQUIRIES TO RIVERSIDE REGIONAL JAIL INCREASE IN THE PER DIEM.

OUR CHILDREN'S SERVICES ACT EXPENDITURES ARE EXPECTED TO GO UP BY NEARLY 300,000.

OUR CONTRIBUTION TO RIVERSIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY, JUST OVER 69,000 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM, OVER $41,000 INCREASE, AND NEW CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE MADE TO THE HOPEWELL PRINCE GEORGE HEALTHY FAMILIES AND THE CRATER AREA AGENCY ON AGING, TOTALING 29,000.

[02:05:03]

WE ARE BUDGETING THE COST OF VEHICLE PURCHASES IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR INSTEAD OF BORROWING FOR THEM, PUBLIC SAFETY AND COUNTY VEHICLES, 450,000 AND SCHOOL BUSES, 437,000.

WE ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR INFLATIONARY INCREASES TO MOST BUSINESSES AND HOUSEHOLDS.

OUR FUEL FOR BOTH VEHICLES AND HEATING IS EXPECTED TO GO UP AND WE'RE REALIZING SOME INCREASES AND OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES.

WE ARE RECOMMENDING A PAY INCREASE FOR COUNTY STAFF, FIVE PERCENT SCALE ADJUSTMENT TO THE PAY RANGES TO STAY COMPETITIVE IN LIGHT OF STATE MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES AND INCREASES PROVIDED BY OUR NEIGHBORS AND GOVERNMENT PEERS.

WE ARE RECOMMENDING STEP PLACEMENT FOR NON-PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES TO ADDRESS COMPRESSION SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS APPROVED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THIS YEAR.

FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, THEY WILL RECEIVE OUR STEP INCREASE IN ADDITION TO THAT FIVE PERCENT SCALE ADJUSTMENT.

CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE THE HIGHER OF THE STEP PLACEMENT OR FIVE PERCENT ON THE COMP BOARD FUNDED SALARY FOR FUNDED POSITIONS.

STATE SUPPORTED SOCIAL SERVICES EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE THE HIGHER OF A FIVE PERCENT INCREASE OR THE STEP PLACEMENT INQUIRIES.

BUT 84.5 PERCENT OF THAT IS FUNDED BY THE REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.

RIVERSIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY ALSO STATE SUPPORTED WILL RECEIVE THE HIGHER OF THE STEP PLACEMENT OF FIVE PERCENT.

NEW PERSONNEL. THERE ARE FOUR AND A HALF RECOMMENDED NEW GENERAL FUND POSITIONS: ONE POLICE OFFICER, ONE PERSON IN THE IT DEPARTMENT, ONE VICTIM WITNESS ADVOCATE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY PART-TIME, AND THEN ONE AND A HALF POSITIONS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, AGAIN REIMBURSED AT 84.5 PERCENT.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME RECLASSIFICATIONS AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT INCREASE AS OUTLINED HERE.

THERE WAS ALSO A PRETTY HEFTY INCREASE IN OUR VRS RATE THAT IS REQUIRED EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION FOR RETIREMENT.

THE UTILITIES BUDGET. AGAIN, YOU JUST APPROVED A RATE INCREASE AND WATER AND SEWER.

THAT INCREASE RESULTS IN ABOUT $732,600 AND ADDITIONAL REVENUES.

MR. HALTON PROVIDED THE RESIDENTIAL IMPACT BY BILL, THIS IS JUST BY MONTH.

UTILITIES ALSO INCLUDES USING [NOISE] 6.2 MILLION IN CASH RESERVES FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

WE'RE ALSO RECOMMENDING THE USE OF SIX MILLION AND RPA FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CAPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL NUMBER FOR UTILITIES.

BUT WE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND ASK FOR THAT APPROPRIATION ONCE THE SECOND TRANCHE IS RECEIVED.

THE BUDGET FOR UTILITIES REFLECTS THE FIRST YEAR OF DEBT SERVICE FOR A NUMBER OF CAPITAL PROJECTS.

IT ADDS ONE PERMANENT PART TIME EMPLOYEE AND PROVIDES THE SIMILAR STEP PLACEMENT AND VRS INCREASES FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITY EMPLOYEES.

ONE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE IS INCLUDED AND PAYMENT FOR THE AMI METER PROGRAM THAT WAS RECENTLY APPROVED AS WELL AS MAINTAINING OUR ASSETS.

THE BOX AT THE BOTTOM SHOWS [NOISE] THE INCREASE BUT AGAIN, 6.2 MILLION OF THAT IS CASH RESERVES.

FIVE MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE OUTLINED HERE.

YOU'VE HEARD THOSE IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.

NEW WATER LINE APPOMATTOX RIVER, NEW TANK AND BOOSTER STATION IN TEMPLE AVENUE, NEW TANK AND BOOSTER IN ROUTE 156, A NEW SEWER LINE FROM THE SOUTH POINT BUSINESS PARK HEADING TOWARDS SOUTH CENTRAL WASTE, AND THEN A WATER LINE EXTENSION ON ROUTE 10 AS MENTIONED WITH FUNDING FROM CONGRESSMAN MCEACHIN.

DEBT SERVICE FUND, THERE WAS NO INCREASE IN THE DEBT SERVICE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR FY23.

THERE WERE ALSO NEW GENERAL FUNDS SUPPORTED CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR COMPLETION IN FY23 THAT WILL REQUIRE THE ISSUANCE OF DEBT.

OUR BOND RATING IS AT THE AA LEVEL.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, AGAIN, WE WILL RECEIVE BOTH TRENCHES 7.4 MILLION.

WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED HALF OF THAT AND AT LEAST SIX MILLION OF THIS WE ARE PROPOSING TO USE FOR UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

THE COUNTY WILL MAKE CAPITAL AND VEHICLE BUS PURCHASES USING AVAILABLE GENERAL FUND RESOURCES INSTEAD OF BORROWING AND CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE MADE TO

[02:10:05]

THE CIP FUND FOR YOUR ORDINANCES RELATED TO FIRING THE MS FOR BOTH APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT $0.3.

THE BOARD CAN CONSIDER USE OF FUND BALANCES FOR PROJECTS IN LIEU OF BORROWING.

THE OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS CONTAINED IN YOUR BUDGET INCLUDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE MEALS TAX.

THAT'S SLATED TO GO UP 184,000.

AGAIN, SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR THREE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES ARE PAID FROM THAT FUND AS WELL AS THE DEBT SERVICE FOR THE CROSS POINT AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO JOHN TOLLER AND RICHARD BLAINE COLLEGE.

[NOISE] LODGING TAX SUPPORTS THE TOURISM FUND AND WE MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTER BY COUNTING ORDINANCE AS WELL AS TO PART THE CHAMBER AND FOWLER.

THAT BUDGET WILL BE INCREASING BY JUST OVER 102,000 COMMITTED TO CORRECTIONS WHICH IS FUNDED BY A LARGE STATE GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PRINCE GEORGE SURIAN HOPEWELL.

THAT BUDGET WILL BE INCREASING BY ABOUT 46,000 AND ONE POSITION IS BEING ELIMINATED THAT IS CURRENTLY VACANT.

THERE IS NO INCREASE IN THE LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARD PROGRAM WHICH IS AN ANNUITY PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTEERS.

THERE'S NO INCREASE IN THE STORM WATER FUND WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY STORM WATER FEES.

THE ADULT EDUCATION BUDGET IS ACTUALLY DECREASING SLIGHTLY BASED ON THE BUDGET REQUEST THAT WAS SUBMITTED.

THE BUDGET AS ADVERTISED HAS JUST SEVERAL 160 MILLION TOTAL OF FUNDS.

THIS IS A 19 PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR ADOPTED BUDGET.

[NOISE] SCHOOL FUNDS REPRESENT ABOUT 52 PERCENT OF THAT CHANGE.

THE UTILITY FUND REPRESENTS ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF THAT $25 MILLION CHANGE AND THE GENERAL FUND AND THAT OF TRANSFERS REPRESENTS ABOUT 14.5 PERCENT OF THAT $25 MILLION CHANGE.

CHANGES SINCE THE MARCH 29TH WORK SESSION.

AGAIN, YOU DID RECEIVER HIGHER REAL ESTATE ASSESS VALUE.

I'VE OUTLINED THE CHANGES HERE.

YOU DROPPED THE REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATES.

WE ADJUSTED THE SCORE TRANSFER BASED ON THOSE CHANGES.

WE REMOVED ANY INCREASE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE THAT IS BEING BUDGETED AT LEVEL AMOUNTS AND WE UPDATED THE COMPLEMENT OF EMPLOYEES FOR THE YEARS OF SERVICE IN ALL FUNDS.

WE ALSO INCREASED THE CAPITAL TRANSFER FOR FIRE NMS APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT BECAUSE THE VALUE OF THE PENNY SLIGHTLY INCREASED.

SINCE THE BUDGET WAS INTRODUCED YOU ADOPTED A RESOLUTION ON MARCH 22ND TO EXTEND THE TAX TO DATE FROM JUNE 5TH TO JUNE 24TH.

YOU DID HAVE A BUDGET WORK SESSION ON THE 29TH WITH A NUMBER OF ACTIONS RELATED TO THE TAX RATE.

THEY WERE DROPPED SPECIFICALLY.

APRIL 26TH, PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT YOU'VE HEARD THE UTILITY RATE INCREASE THE TAX RATE, THE ELIMINATION OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE FEE AND NOW THE BUDGET.

WE'RE A MAKING A STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO CANCEL THE WORK SESSION SCHEDULE FROM MAY 3RD.

WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HAVE A GOOD STATE REVENUE NUMBERS BY THAT DATE.

ON MAY 10TH THERE WILL BE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE EFFECTIVE TAXING GRACE DUE TO INCREASE ASSESSED VALUES REAL PROPERTY.

WE ARE RECOMMENDING A SHIFT SESSION TO BE MAY 17TH AND POSSIBLE EVEN THE WORK SESSION OF YOUR REGULAR MAY 24TH MEETING JUST PRIOR TO ADOPTING THE BUDGET.

SO MAY 24TH IS WHEN WE'RE REQUESTING THAT YOU ADOPT THE FY23 BUDGET AND WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE REGULARLY SCHEDULE DATE OF MAY 10TH THAT WE WILL HAVE GOOD STATE NUMBERS.

AGAIN, FOLLOWING THIS PUBLIC HEARING YOU HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS TO ADOPT THE BUDGET.

I WILL MENTION HERE MAY 10TH WILL BE KEY DAY IF THE BOARD DOES ADOPT THE REAL ESTATE MOBILE HOME TAX RATES.

THE SCHOOL BOARD IS VERY URGENTLY COMMUNICATING TO US THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO RELEASE TEACHER CONTRACTS ON MAY 11TH.

WE USE THE REVENUE SHARING CALCULATION BASED ON A REAL PROPERTY AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATES AND WE DON'T FORESEE ANY CHANGES TO THE SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION EVEN FACT YOU ADOPT THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATES ON MAY 10TH.

FROM THE LOCAL I THINK IT WILL BE SAFE FOR THEM TO DO THAT.

OTHER CONSIDERATION, TO DATE THE BOARD HASN'T REALLY

[02:15:01]

PROVIDED ANY SPECIFIC CONSIDERATION OR COMMUNICATION ABOUT POSSIBLY WAIVING PENALTY IN INTEREST FOR TAXES THAT ARE DUE ON JUNE 24TH THROUGH AUGUST 31ST AS YOU HAVE IN THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS.

THERE ARE POTENTIALLY LARGE INCREASED PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR CERTAIN TAX PAYERS WHOSE VEHICLE VALUES HAVE RISEN DESPITE THAT DROP OF $0.35.

WHAT'S LEFT TO DO BEFORE WE ADOPT ON THE 24TH? WE'RE LOOKING TO FINE TUNE OUR REVENUES FROM THE COMPENSATION BOARD WHICH SUPPORTS OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH RECEIVES SOME HOUSE BILL 599 FUNDING IF THAT IS AVAILABLE.

WE WOULD NEED TO REVIEW AND UPDATE THE STATE MANDATED PAY INCREASES FOR THE STATE SUPPORTED POSITIONS IF IN FACT THEY DO APPROVE LESS THAN A FIVE PERCENT INCREASE.

WE WOULD NEED TO ADJUST OUR DEBT PAYMENT BASED ON OUR VERY RECENT CLOSING WHICH WAS CONDUCTED LAST MONTH.

THERE WILL BE NO OVERALL CHANGE IN THE DEBT FUND.

SCHOOL BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS, THEY ALSO NEED TO FINE TUNE THEIR BUDGET BASED ON GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTIONS AND MS. BARNES WITH THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAS INDICATED THAT I WILL PROBABLY HAVE THAT INFORMATION THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY OR SHE HOPES TO.

WE ALSO RECENTLY HAD AN AUDIT OF OUR VICTIM WITNESS GRANT, SO WE WILL PROBABLY STRUCTURALLY NEED TO CHANGE OR DIVIDE THAT CURRENT DEPARTMENT INTO THREE DEPARTMENTS.

ONE FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, STATE FUNDING, AND ONE FOR LOCAL FUNDING.

THERE WILL BE NO TOTAL DOLLAR CHANGE.

THEN WE WILL NEED TO UPTAKE OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES WITHIN THE GENERAL PROPERTIES BUDGET BASED ON OUR RECENTLY AWARDED JANITORIAL SERVICES CONTRACT, JUST OVER $20,000.

THAT'S A LOT. [LAUGHTER] THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADVERTISED AGAIN ON APRIL 4TH AND AGAIN THERE [NOISE] IS NO ACTION FOLLOWING THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

BUT IT IS CONDUCTED TO GIVE CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANY OF YOU MAY HAVE BEFORE WE OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

>> NO MA'AM. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION MADAM CHAIR IF I MAY.

MR. WITT, IT'S PROBABLY MORE DIRECTED AT YOU SIR.

AM I IN ORDER TO GIVE HER MY CONSENSUS ON THE ONE ITEM SHE MENTIONED IN HER POWERPOINT?

>> THE WAIVER OF PENALTY AND INTEREST?

>> YEAH.

>> OH, SURE. WE'LL START TO DO THE EMERGENCY ORDINANCE [OVERLAPPING]

>> I UNDERSTAND, BUT I WAS JUST SAVING HER FROM HAVING TO EMAIL ME TOMORROW.

I'M OKAY WITH IT MA'AM.

>> I AM TOO.

>> YOU HAVE AT LEAST THREE.

>> I CAN WORK ON DRAFTING THE WORK.

>> THAT'S FINE. I WAS JUST SEEING IF THAT WAS IN ORDER.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO [NOISE] KEEP HER FROM TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH ME TOMORROW.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> NO MA'AM.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> IT'S OKAY.

>>THANK YOU. [NOISE] I NOW OPEN UP THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? PLEASE COME FORWARD. [NOISE] NO ONE HERE WISHES TO SPEAK.

PLEASE CHECK ON ZOOM TO SEE IF WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK.

YES, MA'AM, WE DO.

MADAM CHAIR, AGAIN, WELCOME TO P4 PUBLIC HEARING AGAIN STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU'LL HAVE FOUR MINUTES TO SPEAK TO HAVE YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR HAND RAISED, BUT ANYONE ELSE CAN RAISE THEIR HAND IN THE REACTION SECTION TO BE RECOGNIZED.

MR. STEELE.

FOR THE FINAL TIME, MADAM CHAIRMAN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD GOOD EVENING.

MADAM CHAIRMAN, AS YOU KNOW, I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THE CITIZENS THAT AT LEAST IT SAID THROUGH MOST OF THE OR AT LEAST TRY TO OBSERVE AS MUCH OF BUDGET PROCESSES HERE AS THE COUNTING ALOUD.

AGAIN, I'M GOING TO SAY, A 10 PERCENT AND THE 19 PERCENT INCREASE IN BUDGET SPENDING IS OUTRAGEOUS.

NO BUDGET SHOULD BE INCREASED IN SUCH A HIGH RATE.

THE LARGEST INCREASE IN THIS BUDGET IS 37 PERCENT FOR PAY RACES AND THAT'S JUST INCREASE FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.

MOST CITIZENS IN YOUR COUNTY HERE IN OUR COUNTY HERE, WE DON'T GET ANY PAY RAISES, THOSE OF US ON FIXED INCOMES WE HAVE NOT SEEN A WRITTEN PAY RAISE IN YEARS AND TO GIVE

[02:20:01]

AT LEAST A FIVE PERCENT PAY RAISE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS STEP INCREASES THAT MAY BE HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THAT FIVE PERCENT.

WITH WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR SUCH A HIGH INCREASE IN PAY.

YOU KEEP SAYING YOU WANT TO MATCH THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES WHO MIGHT BE RAISING THEIR PAY.

AGAIN, THIS IS JUST AN EXCUSE FOR THIS BOARD TO SPEND, SPEND, SPEND.

IF MONEY IS THE ONLY REASON WHY EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING HERE IN PG THEN THEY NEED TO GET UP AND LEAVE AND GO WORK FOR THOSE OTHER COUNTIES OR GO INTO PRIVATE BUSINESS.

PG COUNTY IS A GREAT COUNTY TO LIVE.

IT'S A GREAT COUNTY TO WORK FOR.

I GIVE MY OLDEST CHILD, MAYBE MY SECOND OLDEST CHILD, IF I CAN GET A JOB WORKING FOR PG COUNTY.

MADAM CHAIRMAN, YOU KEEP SPEAKING ABOUT THE COST OF LIVING AND YOU HEARD MR. [INAUDIBLE] ALL THAT.

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE COST OF LIVING AFFECTS THE TAXPAYER.

THAT DOESN'T JUST BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING IS AFFECTING US, DOESN'T GIVE YOU ALL THE RIGHT TO RAISE YOUR COST OF LIVING, TO FORCE US THE TAXPAYER, TO KEEP PAYING MORE AND MORE AND MORE.

I GOT TO BE HONEST, MADAM CHAIRMAN, YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS YO-YO EFFECT.

I'M SORRY, BUT THAT AGAIN IS EXCUSE FOR THIS BOARD TO SPEND.

YOUR JOB IS NOT TO WORRY ABOUT YO-YO EFFECT YOUR JOB IS TO KEEP THE TAX COSTS IN THIS COUNTY AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

IF THAT MEANS DROPPING IT TO 75 CENTS WHERE IT SHOULD BE THAT'S FINE AND HAVING TO RAISE IT, FOLKS BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE TAXPAYER IS PRETTY SMART.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF THERE IS A GOOD REASON TO RAISE THE TAX, THE CITIZENS WILL BE BEHIND YOU.

QUITE USING THIS YO-YO EFFECT, YOU LOWER THE TAX RATES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

BECAUSE WHAT HAS HAPPENED BY USING THIS YO-YO EFFECT, IT GIVES YOU YOUR EXCUSE TO WASTE MONEY TO COST MORE, YOU MUST HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET AND IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KEEP THE BUDGET RATE THE SAME, OR YOU WANT TO KEEP THE BUDGET OF THE ATTACK TRADE AS HIGH AS THE PREVIOUS YEARS THAT GIVES YOU THE REASON TO WASTE MORE MONEY BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT THE YO-YO EFFECT.

HOW DO YOU AVOID YO-YO EFFECT? INCREASE SPENDING SO WE CAN KEEP THE BUDGET TOGETHER.

I REALLY WISH YOU GENTLEMEN WERE RELOOK AT THIS TERM YO-YO EFFECT.

THAT IS NOT A GOOD WAY THAT IS ABANDONING YOUR JOB, INCREASING THE STAFF AT THIS TIME.

NOT NECESSARILY THE STATE JUST REQUIRED OR JUST PASSED A LAW THAT RELIEVES THE COUNTY POLICE FROM PROVIDING SECURITY IN THE SCHOOL.

THAT'S WHAT FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE.

BUT YET THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS STILL WANTS TO INCREASE STAFFING, NOT NECESSARY. THAT IS A WASTE.

YES, MR. WEBB, AS I STATED, THE MADAM CHAIRMAN, FOR MR. WEBB, I STATED THAT THE 20-DOLLAR JOB IN THE CAR TAX IS A SMALL DECREASE.

YOU WANTED TO COUNTER THAT BY SHOWING US THAT, HEY, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY OVERALL, ONE MILLION.

WELL, MR. WEBB, MY ANSWER TO THAT IS ONE MILLION AND A 160 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET IS A SMALL AMOUNT.

MADAM CHAIRMAN, THE SPENDING IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING AND IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT NOW IS NOT THE TIME.

AGAIN, THE BOARD HAS IGNORED THE TAXPAYER, AND IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING ELSE AND INCREASE SPENDING, AND YOU'RE JUST RUNNING US OUT OF THE COUNTY.

WE CAN'T AFFORD IT ANYMORE.

SPENDING HAS TO CUT.

THAT'S WHAT ROW REDUCED THE TAX RATE.

WAY MUCH WASTE IN THIS BAG, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

WAY TOO MUCH WASTE AGAIN. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU, MR. STEELE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.

IS THERE ANOTHER PERSON? THAT WASN'T EVEN NECESSARY? IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN.

YES, MA'AM. MR. MITCHELL. YOU'RE UNMUTED.

MADAM CHAIRMAN, SUPERVISORS, COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS, [INAUDIBLE] MITCHELL FROM 1600 ARWOOD ROAD AND [INAUDIBLE], IN FRONT OF ME, I HAVE INTRODUCED ANNUAL PHYSICAL PLAN FOR YOUR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2023.

ANTICIPATED REVENUES.

I CAN SEE WHERE IT'S COMING FROM SOURCES, LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, OTHERS, AND IT ACCUMULATES TO A 160 MILLION BUS CHANGE.

MS. DRURY SHOWED A SLIDE THAT'S AN INQUIRY, SO 19.07 PERCENT RAISED FROM THE FY22.

I BELIEVE OUR INFLATION RATE IS 8.5 PERCENT AND THAT'S A BIG INCREASE.

THE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE AND THERE'S A LOT OF LINE ITEMS HERE.

OF COURSE, WHAT WE GOT COMING IN IS GOING RIGHT BACK OUT AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING HOW EACH OF THESE LINE ITEMS AREN'T GETTING FUNDED.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

WE HAD A MEETING WHERE CHIEF RAY HAD A PERSON TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT BEING INSTALLED AND IT WAS A DELAY AND IT COULD COST US,

[02:25:03]

TAXPAYERS, MORE MONEY.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT OR IS IT GOING TO INCREASE OR STAY THE SAME WITH THE DIFFICULTIES INSTALLING THAT THE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT? AGAIN, MR. RAY DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB ON HIS BUDGET AND SHE DOES IT EVERY YEAR.

THE NUMBERS COME OUT.

EXCELLENT. IT DOES GOOD MATH.

I REALLY COMMEND MR. RAY ON THIS WORK.

THANK YOU BOARD THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[NOISE] THANK YOU. MR. MITCHELL, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE TO SPEAK? NO, MA'AM. NO.

I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND TURN THIS MATTER BACK OVER TO THE BOARD.

MADAM CHAIR, CAN I JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT IT'S REAL QUICK IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE.

I JUST REALLY WANTED TO SPEAK FOR A MINUTE ON THE FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE'RE GETTING, THE 3.2 MILLION.

A LOT OF YOU MAY NOT REALIZE THAT WHEN THAT PROCESS CAME DOWN, THERE WERE OVER 100 LOCALITIES THAT APPLIED FOR THIS FEDERAL FUNDING.

EACH CONGRESSMAN WAS ALLOWED TO BRING FORTH 10 PROJECTS AND THEN IT WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT EACH CONGRESSMAN'S 10 PROJECTS WOULD GET FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I CAN TELL YOU WORKING WITH CONGRESSMAN MCHUGH OFFICE, PRINCE GEORGE WAS SELECTED, IN FACT, I THINK WAS ALL 10 OF HIS SELECTED.

I'M NOT SURE, BUT I DO KNOW THAT PRINCE GEORGE AND PETERSBURG, WE RECEIVED THE LARGEST AMOUNT THAT WAS GIVEN OUT AS PART OF THIS FEDERAL FUNDING.

WE WERE 3.2 AND I THINK PETERSBURG WAS JUST A HAIR ABOVE US.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT GOES INTO ALL OF THAT AND WE WERE BLESSED, I THINK OUT OF A 100 PEOPLE THAT APPLIED FIRST FOR HIM TO PICK US AS ONE OF THE 10 PROJECTS TO TAKE FORWARD FOR FEDERAL FUNDING, AND TO FIGHT FOR US AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WHERE WE ENDED UP WITH THIS MONEY AND WE HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES COMING UP THIS YEAR FOR MORE FUNDING, HOPEFULLY WORKING WITH HIS OFFICE.

I JUST WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WE KNOW BECAUSE WE'RE IN IT EVERY DAY.

WELL SAID, MR. BROWN.

MR. [OVERLAPPING], HOLTON THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DID WITH PUTTING TOGETHER THE INFORMATION FOR US TO PRESENT. THANK YOU.

THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

OUR NEXT ITEM IS ORIGINAL TOURISM.

[REPORTS (Part 2 of 2)]

THANK YOU FOR BEING SO PATIENT.

IT IS OUR PLEASURE.

THE FIRST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING I EVER WENT TO I DON'T EVEN THINK I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

[LAUGHTER] I'M HAPPY IT'S A NICE PLACE TO BE AND I LOVE TO BE WITH YOU ALL AND I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU FOR A WHILE.

IT'S MY PLEASURE AND I'M ALSO EXCITED [NOISE] THAT PETERSBURG AREA REGIONAL TOURISM CHAIRMAN IS CAROL BOWMAN FROM PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY AND SHE'S HERE TONIGHT, AND ONE OF OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, STACY ENGLISH IS HERE.

IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO CHAT WITH YOU JUST A LITTLE BIT.

SOMETHING TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD HERE A LITTLE.

[LAUGHTER] HOW ABOUT THAT? WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT LOVE.

[NOISE] LOVE HAPPENS IN THE BEST PART OF VIRGINIA.

TONIGHT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU JUST NOT MANY WORDS.

I'D RATHER SHARE WITH YOU PICTURES.

AS YOU KNOW, PART PRODUCES PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS AND I HAVE TWO VIDEOS TONIGHT.

I'D LIKE TO START WITH ONE ABOUT ONE OF YOUR TOURISM ASSETS THAT WE'VE BEEN VERY EXCITED TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD.

I WANT YOU TO SEE IT IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T, AND DO ANYTHING.

GREAT.

>> [MUSIC] TRADE TIME IS AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PART.

IT'S A SERIES OF JUNGLE BRIDGES, AS WELL AS ZIP LINES THAT YOU NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE CANOPY OF THE FOREST.

I JUST LOVE THE IDEA OF GETTING OUTSIDE AND ENJOYING NATURE.

I'M HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO TRY TO GET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE OUTSIDE.

WE'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT, THE KIDS ARE LIVING ON THESE DEVICES AND THEY'RE MISSING JUST AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT AND GET SOME EXERCISE, AND SEE NATURE.

ANOTHER FANTASTIC THING ABOUT AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PART IS THAT IT IS TREMENDOUS EXERCISE.

[02:30:01]

THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS THAT YOU DON'T REALIZE YOU'RE GETTING EXERCISE, YOU'RE HAVING FUN, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY YOU WAKE UP, YOU'RE GOING, OH MY GOSH, WHY AM I [INAUDIBLE]? IT IS A GREAT WAY TO GET EXERCISE WITHOUT FEELING LIKE YOU'RE ON A TREADMILL.

IN FACT, I'VE BEEN QUOTED IN THE PAST, SO SAYING THAT THE LONGEST MILE OUT OF A RUN WAS ON A TREADMILL.

THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO GET THAT EXERCISE, AND HAVE FUN [MUSIC]

>> THIS WAS PART OF OUR WANDER LOVE CAMPAIGN AND THAT WAS IN CONJUNCTION WITH VIRGINIA TOURISM, WHO WAS AT THE TIME USING WANDER LOVE AND WE'D LIKE TO COMPLEMENT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

WE FEEL LIKE THAT THAT REALLY HELPS FURTHER CAUSE.

PART'S BEEN AROUND SINCE 2007.

IT STARTED AT OUR PDC TABLE AT THE SUGGESTION OF A COMMISSIONER FROM PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, ACTUALLY.

I'M NOT SHOWING YOU THE POWERPOINT, EMMA.

WE HAVE A VISION AND A MISSION AND A GOAL, BUT IN FACT, IT'S BRINGING MORE PEOPLE, STAYING LONGER AND SPENDING MONEY.

THAT MAY SOUND NOT ALL POSITIVE, BUT IT IS BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU MONEY TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO MAKE THIS A COUNTY THAT PEOPLE WILL WANT TO LIVE IN.

THE WORLD HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

PEOPLE WANT TO WORK WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE.

YEARS AGO, I THINK PEOPLE WENT TO LIVE WHERE THEY COULD FIND WORK.

NOW THEY GO AND FIND A PLACE TO LIVE AND THEN THEY WORRY ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO WORK, BECAUSE QUALITY OF LIFE HAS BECOME, IF YOU TALK TO EMPLOYERS SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN MAYBE IT WAS 30 YEARS AGO, 50 YEARS AGO.

WHEN YOU'RE MAKING INVESTMENTS IN THE THINGS THAT I GET TO PROMOTE, TO BRING PEOPLE HERE, YOU'RE ALSO MAKING INVESTMENTS IN THINGS THAT GIVE YOU A STRONGER QUALITY OF LIFE.

[NOISE] PEOPLE WANT TO BE OR YOUR CITIZENS ARE ENJOYING IT JUST AS MUCH AS VISITORS, BUT THOSE VISITORS ARE BRINGING DOLLARS AND THEY AREN'T COSTING YOU MUCH.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE DO OUR MARKETING AS MOST PEOPLE DO TREMENDOUS AMOUNT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE DO A LOT OF FACEBOOK, WE DO SOME OF THE OTHERS, BUT WE DO A LOT OF FACEBOOK, AND AS YOU KNOW, WE DO SOME TELEVISION AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

YOU'LL SEE THE CAR SHOW AT RICHARD BLAND.

JOANNE WILLIAMS, OUR MEDIA ADVISOR, IS SHARING WITH YOU INFORMATION NOT ONLY ABOUT THE GREAT EVENTS, BUT ALSO HOW MANY PEOPLE REACTED TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WE WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE.

THIS WILL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THINGS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST YEAR IN TERMS OF REACH THE FORT LEE MUSEUMS HAVE GOTTEN RECENTLY US ARMY WOMEN'S MUSEUM IN PARTICULAR HAS GOTTEN A SIGNIFICANT RESPONSE.

TREE TIME ALWAYS GETS GOOD REACTION.

THE CAR SHOW IS HUGE AND HOLY MACKEREL.

WE HAVE SOMEONE ON OUR BOARD WHO IS A FOOD BLOGGER AND HAS BEEN A RESTAURANT TOUR.

SHE VISITS NEW RESTAURANTS WHEN THEY OPEN AND SHE TELLS THEIR STORIES.

WE'RE HAPPY, TO PROMOTE DINING WHENEVER WE CAN.

YOU WILL SEE HERE AGAIN THE WORLD SERIES.

I FOUND MY PIN THIS MORNING AND I WAS EXCITED TO WEAR IT, BECAUSE I HAD PROBABLY THE BEST TIME OF ANYBODY WORKING IN THE BOOTH AT THE WORLD SERIES.

IT WAS WONDERFUL AND WE WERE HAPPY, TO HELP.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR PART AND APPRECIATE BEING INVITED.

YOU ALSO WILL REMEMBER THAT WE DID A CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN SHOP LOCAL, AND THAT FEATURED THE WONDERFUL SHOP OVER IN THE HERITAGE CENTER.

WE PROVIDED SOME DATA HERE FOR YOU AS WELL, MOSTLY NEW VISITORS, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO GET NEW VISITORS TO OUR WEBSITE.

TO CONSTANTLY BE EXPANDING OUR REACH TO THE VERY LIMITS THAT WE POSSIBLY CAN.

WE ALSO HAVE A VISITOR CARD WHICH YOU ARE AWARE OF.

WE WILL BE UPDATING THAT THIS YEAR, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE LARGE PAY AD OF MAPS THERE ARE 100 OF THEM IN A PAY AD IN THERE AT ALL THE HOTELS.

WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN,

[02:35:01]

THEY CAN VISUALLY SEE HOW EASY IT IS WITH A HIGHWAY NETWORK WITH WHICH WE'RE BLESSED TO MOVE ALL OVER THIS REGION AND HAVE A GREAT TIME AND FIND LOVE ALL OVER THE AREA.

I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A LONG MEETING, SO I'M GOING TO STOP TALKING AND I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO SEE ONE OTHER VIDEO.

THIS VIDEO IS UNDER OUR NEWER CAMPAIGN, WHICH ES, SHARE FOR WHAT YOU LOVE.

WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS REGION WHO THROUGH THEIR BUSINESS OR THROUGH THEIR MUSEUM OR THEIR RESTAURANT, OR SHARING WHAT THEY LOVE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

THAT AGAIN IS TO VIRGINIA TOURISM THEME, AND SHALL WE HAVE A MAGNIFICENT STORY ABOUT LUCA AND MORELIA AND THE PEOPLE THEY ARE SHARING WHAT THEY LOVE.

[MUSIC]

>> THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR ME IS, I CAME HERE NOT KNOWING HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH, I WANTED TO WORK HARD.

MY DREAM WAS TO OWN MY OWN RESTAURANT ONE DAY.

[MUSIC] MY NAME LUIS PEDRAZA AND I'M THE OWNER OF MORELIA MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND LUCCA ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

I STARTED AS A DISHWASHER AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD.

I MET MY WIFE AT DINWIDDIE HIGH SCHOOL.

MY PARENTS SAID, ''NO, YOU'RE TOO YOUNG BUT WE CHOOSE TO GO FORTH.'' THE OPPORTUNITY CAME WHERE WE SAID, ''I THINK WE CAN DO IT.'' WE GAVE EVERYTHING WE HAD.

I HAD A GOOD TIME, BAD TIME BUT WE ALWAYS STICK TOGETHER.

[MUSIC] MY WIFE IS RUNNING MORELIA MEXICAN RESTAURANT WITH MY DAUGHTER, SAMANTHA AND MY SON IS HELPING ME RUN IN LUCCA'S [MUSIC] AS A FAMILY, WE HAVE A GOOD TIME.

THEY ARE LEARNING A LOT OF NEW STUFF AND I WANT THEM TO CONTINUE.

HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE THEY CAN TAKE OVER AND THEY CAN DO THE SAME THING OR MAYBE BETTER THAN WHAT I'M DOING.

I'M TRAINING THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL ONE DAY, HELP PEOPLE.

ALSO I'LL TELL THEM DON'T FORGET WHERE THEY COME FROM.

[MUSIC] THE COMMUNITY IS PART OF MY FAMILY TOO BECAUSE WHEN IT NEEDS SOMEBODY TO STEP UP AND SAY, WE ARE HERE TO HELP.

MY TWO RESTAURANTS ARE HERE TO PROVIDE MEALS, ANYTHING THEY NEED.

WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE MORE OFTEN, THEY ARE PART OF MY RESTAURANT TOO AND THEY'RE PART OF MY FAMILY.

COOK AND LOVE TO ME IT'S THE SAME.

EVERYTHING YOU DO, NOT JUST ON COOKING, EVEN ON LIFE, YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH YOUR HEART.

YOU GOT TO REACH TO YOUR DREAM AND AMERICA WILL GIVE IT TO YOU BUT YOU GOT TO WORK FOR IT. [MUSIC]

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE SHARING WHAT THEY LOVE ALL OVER THIS REGION.

IT IS JUST SUCH A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO EVEN HAVE A ROLE IN IT.

I LOVE IT MYSELF AND I ENJOY SO MUCH HELPING TO GROW OUR REGION BECAUSE I GREW UP HERE.

IT'S MY HOME. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I'D BE GLAD TO TRY TO ANSWER.

>> WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR HER, VERY NICE.

>> I DON'T A QUESTION BUT JUST ONE COMMENT ON LUIS.

BACK DURING THE PANDEMIC HIS RESTAURANT WAS EVERY THURSDAY, THEY WERE FIXING OVER 400 MEALS AND JUST HANDING THEM OUT FOR FREE TO PEOPLE EVERY WEEK.

THAT LITTLE PARTY HE HAD THERE, VERY TOUCHING BECAUSE HE DOES BELIEVE IN GIVING IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> HE DOES.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHEN WE PUT THAT OUT THERE PEOPLE FEEL THEM.

IT'S JUST SUCH A PRIVILEGE AND SO EXCITING AND SO FUN EVERY DAY.

>> GENUINE ONE.

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU FOR GIVE ME A LITTLE TIME.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL, AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO.

>> AND YOUR BOARD MEMBERS.

[LAUGHTER] YES.

>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS VERY NICE. NOW I'M HUNGRY.

[LAUGHTER] NOW WE HAVE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR MR. HALTON.

>> THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THANK YOU MR. WITTEN AND MR. STOKE. YES, WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK SOME FUNDING FROM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

THEY ADMINISTER THE DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND.

I GET THAT IT'S SPELLED INCORRECTLY IN THIS DOCUMENT.

DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND.

IT DOES PROVIDE LOW-INTEREST LOANS FOR STATE APPROVED PROJECTS THAT DEMONSTRATE BENEFIT TO THE DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON APRIL 1ST TO DISCUSS SEVERAL PROJECTS AND SEE IF THEY WERE ELIGIBLE.

THOSE PROJECTS DO INCLUDE SEVERAL OF THEM ARE IN OUR BUDGET.

THOSE ARE THE TEMPLE AVENUE TANK AND BOOSTER STATION,

[02:40:02]

THERE ARE 156 TANK AND BOOSTER STATION, THE 24-INCH WATERLINE THAT'S UNDERNEATH THAT, WE'RE TRYING TO PUT UNDERNEATH THE MAX RIVER AS WELL AS ENLARGING OUR 16-INCH LINE WITHIN COLONIAL HEIGHTS TO A 24-INCH LINE.

IN THAT LINE WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO GET EXTENDED SOME PART OF THAT INTO THE COUNTY AS WELL SO THAT WHEN WE DO BUILD THOSE TANK AND BOOSTER STATION WE WILL HAVE A 24-INCH LINE ALL THE WAY TO THAT LOCATION.

SOME OTHER PROJECTS THAT THE VDH WAS INTERESTED IN WERE SOME PROJECT THAT WOULD HELP TAKE SOME WELLS OFFLINE.

THAT INCLUDED A PROJECT TO EXTEND A WATERLINE TO THE RIVER'S EDGE COMMUNITY.

THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE TWO WELLS OFFLINE.

THAT'S ALSO AN APPLICATION WE'RE WORKING ON AS WELL AS THE PRINCE GEORGE WOODS COMMUNITY WELL SYSTEM, WHICH ONLY SERVES ABOUT 14, 15 FOLKS BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD TAKE THAT WELL OFFLINE BY ALLOWING AND EXTEND THE CENTRAL SYSTEM TO THOSE LOCATIONS.

FINALLY, THE LAST APPLICATION WE'LL BE MAKING IS FOR ASSISTANCE TO IDENTIFY OR LEAD SERVICE LINES HERE IN THE COUNTY.

ACTUAL REQUIREMENT IS GOING TO BE A MANDATE IN THE YEARS TO COME FOR US TO IDENTIFY AND ACTUALLY REPLACE A GOOD PORTION OF THOSE LEAD SERVICE LINES SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE TO DO THAT AS WELL.

FURTHER CLARIFICATION WITH VDH THERE MAY ALSO BE FUNDING NOT ONLY FROM THIS DWS OR F FUND BUT ALSO FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

IT'S NOT JUST POSSIBLY LOANS THAT THEY COULD ACTUALLY PROVIDE A GRANT AS WELL.

THERE IS SOME OPPORTUNITY THERE.

I DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THE BOARD AWARE THAT IF WE ARE AWARDED JUST THESE PROJECTS FOR ELIMINATING THE WELLS, WHICH ARE EXTENDED CENTRAL SYSTEM TO THOSE, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE ACTION ON THOSE AS WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE TO SERVE THOSE COMMUNITIES.

OUR PUSH IS GOING TO BE FOR THE LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON AND THE EMPHASIS TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WE WANT TO EXTEND TO THOSE WELL SYSTEMS BUT TO BE ABLE TO DO SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THE LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS DONE FIRST.

IF IT IS JUST A LOAN, OBVIOUSLY, THERE WOULD BE NO MATCH REQUIREMENTS.

I'M TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION WHETHER OR NOT IF THEY DO USE THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW FUNDS FOR THESE PROJECTS, WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE A MATCH REQUIREMENT.

AS I UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW, THERE WOULD NOT BE A MATCH REQUIREMENT BUT I'M LOOKING FOR CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

IF IT IS A LOAN THERE IS SOME POSSIBILITY FOR PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS [NOISE] IF WE DO SERVE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND BASED ON OUR APPLICATION SO FAR, WE DO NOT LOOK ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE TYPE OF FORGIVENESS.

THERE IS STILL SOME CHANCES THAT WE COULD GET SOME PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS INTERNALLY TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ON MAY 6TH.

WE ARE ABOUT 99 PERCENT THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS.

NOW, IF THE BOARD APPROVES WE SUBMIT THESE, WE'LL GET THESE SUBMITTED RATHER QUICKLY.

WE WOULD EXPECT TO GET OFFER LETTERS FROM VDH EITHER IN LATE JULY OR EARLY AUGUST.

OBVIOUSLY, IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, AS MS. DRURY POINTED OUT, MANY OF THESE PROJECTS ARE IN THE BUDGET AND THIS WOULD HELP KEEP OUR RESERVE FUND INTACT A LITTLE BIT LONGER ANYWAYS OR REFOCUS THOSE FUNDS ON OTHER PROJECTS.

IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM NOW.

>> NO QUESTIONS.

>> I'D SAY WE GO FORWARD.

>> I'M SORRY. I'LL SAY WE GO FORWARD AS WELL.

>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS REPORT.

>> THANK YOU MR. [INAUDIBLE].

>> THANKS SO MUCH. [NOISE]

>> THANK YOU, MR. HALTOM.

NEXT WE HAVE ANOTHER REPORT FROM BETSY DREWRY, QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT.

WE'RE BUSY TONIGHT.

YES, FAM. GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

THE BOARD DID RECEIVE THIS [NOISE] SO I'M GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THIS VERY QUICKLY AND DEFERENCE TO THE LENGTHY AGENDA.

REVENUES ARE GOOD.

WE ARE ON TARGET.

ON MARCH [NOISE] 31ST, WE WERE AT NEARLY 52 PERCENT OF [NOISE] THE GENERAL FUND AS COMPARED TO JUST OVER 52 PERCENT THE PRIOR TWO YEARS.

THERE ARE NO ALARM BELLS GOING OFF WITH ANY PARTICULAR REVENUE SOURCE.

REAL PROPERTY [NOISE] COLLECTIONS TO DATE ARE STRONG AS OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

[NOISE] WE HAVE COMMITTED SOME OF OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE.

THE BOARD RECENTLY TOOK SOME ACTION ON APRIL 12TH THAT IS NOT THERE FOR OUR CONVENIENCE CENTER 2, BUT WE STILL [NOISE] RETAIN A STRONG FUND BALANCE.

[NOISE] JUST SOME NOTEWORTHY ITEMS. OUR REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUES 53.4 PERCENT IS A GOOD INDICATOR THAT WE WILL MEET OUR TARGET.

THE SECOND HALF AGAIN WILL BE DUE ON JUNE 24TH, AND I JUST RECEIVED A CONSENSUS FROM THREE OF YOU TO

[02:45:02]

DELAY PENALTY ON INTEREST THROUGH AUGUST 31ST.

I THINK WE WILL MEET AND POSSIBLY EXCEED OUR REVENUE TARGET AS THE SAME IS TRUE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.

THOSE WILL BE DUE ON JUNE 24TH AS WELL.

SALES TAX REVENUES ARE ON TARGET.

WE WILL MEET OR EXCEED OUR BUDGET TARGET OF $3.8 MILLION.

GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES.

AGAIN, ARE VERY SIMILARLY ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS TO WHERE WE WERE IN THE PRIOR TWO FISCAL YEARS AT THIS TIME, 72 PERCENT.

OUR UTILITIES OPERATIONS ARE VERY STRONG.

WE ARE RUNNING AN OPERATING INCOME OF JUST OVER $603,000.

TOTAL NET NON-OPERATING INCOME IS JUST OVER $1.7 MILLION AND OUR CHANGE IN NET POSITION IS $2.4 MILLION [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] ON COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR.

BRIEFLY, CAPITAL PROJECTS, OF COURSE, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO PROJECT REMAINS ONGOING.

TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION THAT MR. MITCHELL ASKED, NO, THERE WILL BE NO ADDITIONAL MONEY FROM THE TAXPAYER FOR THIS PROJECT.

THE COMPLETE AMOUNT HAS BEEN BORROWED AND RIGHT NOW ON THE OVERAGE THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH YOU IS COMING FROM THAT PROJECT CONTINGENCY.

MR. HALTOM ALSO HAS THE ROUTE 156 AND FOOD LION WATER SYSTEM UPGRADES ONGOING.

OUR COUNTY GARAGE RENOVATION IS ONGOING, SLOW TO START WHILE OUR CONTRACT AWAITS FOR THE STEEL.

[NOISE] OUR SCHOOL PROJECTS, THOSE THAT ARE SHADED AND THE LIGHTER COLOR HERE, THE SCHOOL BOARD HAD A VERY SMALL BALANCE REMAINING IN A COUPLE OF LINE ITEMS, ELECTRICAL UPGRADES, AND WALTON'S HVAC THAT THEY ARE MAKING A REQUEST TO TRANSFER TO THE JEJ MOORE WATER INTRUSION PROJECT NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST.

THE TOURISM FUND, WE HAVE ACTUALLY ALREADY EXCEEDED OUR LODGING TAX REVENUE ESTIMATES OR THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.

WE ARE AT 102 PERCENT AS OF MARCH 31ST.

WE WILL [NOISE] BUILD A FUND RESERVE OR GROW THE FUND BALANCE IN THAT PARTICULAR FUND THIS YEAR.

[NOISE] ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE ARE AT 59 PERCENT OF COLLECTIONS.

THE MEALS TAX LINE ITEM THE ONE AT THE VERY TOP, WE'RE ACTUALLY AT 76 PERCENT OF COLLECTIONS COMPARED TO 68 PERCENT LAST YEAR.

OUR COLLECTIONS ARE STRONG AND WE WILL MEET AND EXCEED THE MEALS TAX.

WE ACCRUE TWO MONTHS WORTH OF REVENUE BACK ON THAT PARTICULAR TAX.

EXPENDITURES ARE ALSO ON TARGET AT 55 PERCENT AND WE ACTUALLY ARE RUNNING A SURPLUS OF REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31ST.

PROFFERS, NO CHANGE SINCE THE LAST QUARTERLY REPORT.

THE BOARD ALWAYS HAS THE OPTION TO USE THOSE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

THE AMOUNT IS FAIRLY SMALL.

OUR REDFLEX, AGAIN, OUR COLLECTIONS ARE DOWN.

WE'VE ONLY COLLECTED ABOUT $817 AT MARCH 31ST [NOISE] COMPARED TO $8,882 LAST YEAR.

HEALTH INSURANCE FUND.

AGAIN, THE BALANCE AT MARCH 31ST IS $1.92 MILLION.

THERE WAS A MORE DETAILED REPORT IN YOUR PACKET THAT SHOWS THE COUNTY SCHOOL SPLIT.

BUT WE HAVE SEEN A DROP IN THIS LARGELY BECAUSE OF VERY HEAVY SCHOOL CLAIMS AND CLAIMS ARE EXCEEDING THEIR PREMIUM CONTRIBUTIONS.

THEY ARE AWARE OF THAT AND WE WILL BE SEPARATING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE NEXT FISCAL YEAR [NOISE] AND THEY WILL ACTUALLY MAKE THEIR FINAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMBINED HEALTH FUND IN MAY.

WE'RE A MONTH PREPAID ON OUR INSURANCES, WHICH MEANS WHAT COMES OUT OF MAY PAYCHECKS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS WE MAKE AS THE EMPLOYER ACTUALLY FUNDS THE MONTH OF JUNE.

CLAIMS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HIT FOR MONTHS BECAUSE THERE IS A LAG IN PROCESSING MEDICAL CLAIMS. THEY ARE AWARE THAT ANY DEFICIT THAT THEY INCUR WILL PROBABLY NEED TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THEIR CARRY OVER REQUEST IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS.

THE COUNTY SCHOOL SPLIT IS $1.7 MILLION AND $212,000 FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

JUST TO PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR ARPA AND CARES FUNDING.

THE ARPA INITIAL REPORTING FOR TRANCHE 1, WHICH IS DUE APRIL 30TH, WAS ACTUALLY SUBMITTED YESTERDAY ON THE 25TH.

WE ALSO HAD TO SUBMIT A REPORT FOR

[02:50:01]

MUNICIPAL RELIEF FUNDING THAT MR. HALTOM'S OFFICE RECEIVED.

THAT REPORT WAS SUBMITTED ON APRIL 13TH.

OUR CARES, WE HAD TO SUBMIT OUR PRETTY HEFTY AMOUNT OF DATA, AND LAURIE ROBERTS IN MY OFFICE GETS A GOLD STAR FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS AND GETTING THAT DONE AND WORKING WITH FRANK AND HIS TEAM.

THIS IS JUST A REMINDER OF THE [NOISE] INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO DATE.

AGAIN, THE LARGEST PART WE ARE REQUESTING FOR USE FOR UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE WILL PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH A SEPARATE REPORT ONCE THE CITIZEN CAR TAX RELIEF REBATE IS COMPLETE.

I BELIEVE MS. LANE JUST SUBMITTED THE FINAL BATCH TODAY, WHICH WILL CUT THOSE CHECKS THIS WEEK.

LOOKING AHEAD, WE'RE CERTAINLY MONITORING ON A BUDGET TO ACTUAL OUR SPENDING AND OUR REVENUES.

WE'VE COMMUNICATED OUR PURCHASE ORDER CUT-OFF DATE OF MAY 13TH TO OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND STAFF.

THE AUDITORS ARE COMING JULY 18TH THROUGH THE 22ND.

THAT DATE HAS BEEN SET.

OUR BUDGET FINALIZATION IS UNDERWAY AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR OUR REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO OUR CHILDREN'S SERVICES ACT AND OUR JAIL EXPENDITURES.

WE DO ANTICIPATE A DEFICIT, PARTICULARLY IN THE JAIL SPENDING.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

QUESTIONS? NO, MA'AM.

NO.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE

[ORDER OF BUSINESS]

SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE A GRANT. MS. GEORGE.

HELLO. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR AND FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STOKE AND MR. WITTEN.

DSS IS BEGINNING TO PLAN THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT.

I STAND BEFORE YOU TO REQUEST PERMISSION TO APPLY FOR A GRANT THROUGH JOHN RANDOLPH FOUNDATION.

THE GRANT IS A COMMUNITY GRANT, IS ONLY A $1000.

LAST YEAR WE WERE AWARDED $1500.

I HOPE THAT THAT WILL BE THE SAME.

WE ALSO ARE LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH OTHER COUNTY AGENCIES WHO'S ALSO WORKING IN THE AREA OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENTS SUCH AS DESTINATION CHURCH AS WELL.

ONCE I RECEIVE THE MONEY, THE ONLY REQUIREMENT THAT I HAVE IS TO COMPLETE A REPORT TO SAY HOW WE USED THE FUNDS AND SUBMIT THAT BY THE DEADLINE.

THERE IS, OF COURSE, NO LOCAL MATCH FOR THIS GRANT.

VERY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS? NO, MA'AM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DO I HAVE A RESOLUTION? WE DO HAVE A RESOLUTION AND I ALSO MOVE THAT WE PASS THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED UNLESS THERE'S QUESTIONS.

NO. THEN I'LL SECOND.

SECOND.

THANK YOU. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE MR. HALTOM NEXT, HE HAS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN COUNTY AND VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

>> THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR. MEMBERS BOARD AGAIN, THANK YOU.

AS YOU ARE AWARE, THERE ARE SOME PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE INTERSECTION OF BULL HILL ROAD AND COURTHOUSE ROAD THAT THERE'LL BE INSTALLING TWO ROUNDABOUTS RIGHT ADJACENT TO EACH OTHER AND IT'S BECOME KNOWN TO THE COUNTY AS THE DOG BONE INTERSECTION, JUST BASED ON THE CONFIGURATION THAT IT RESEMBLES.

IF YOU HEAR THAT THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION OR ANY OTHER TIME IS THE DOG BONE YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT NOW REFERS TO BUT THIS PROJECT IS A VDOT PROJECT AND IT WILL REQUIRE SOME SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COUNTY WATER AND SEWER FACILITIES.

VDOT HAS DONE THE PREPARATION OF PLANS WITH THEIR NEW STONE WATER REQUIREMENTS TO CONVEY THE STORM WATER OFF THIS INTERSECTION.

THOSE STORM WATER IS GOING TO CONFLICT WITH OUR WATER AND SEWERS, SO THEY ARE REQUIRED TO RELOCATE OUR WATER AND SEWER.

WE HAVE REVIEWED THOSE PLANS INTERNALLY IN THIS OFFICE.

WE'VE ACCEPTED THOSE ADJUSTMENTS.

VDOT HAS AGREED TO PAY 100 PERCENT OF THE COST FOR ALL THESE ADJUSTMENTS AND THEREFORE, THEY ARE REQUESTING THIS AGREEMENT TO GO AHEAD AND START PROCURING CONSTRUCTION SERVICES ENGINEERING IS ALL BEEN DONE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS INTERSECTION AND AGREEMENT, ESSENTIALLY DEFINES THAT THEY ARE 100 PERCENT RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

[02:55:01]

OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL BE INVOLVED IN SOME DEGREES AS FAR AS INSPECTIONS OR COUNTY STAFF WILL BE ON HAND WHILE THE CONSTRUCTION IS TAKING PLACE TO MAKE SURE THE INSTALLATION MEET OUR REQUIREMENTS.

THIS IS JUST A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THAT AGREEMENT BETWEEN VDOT AND COUNTY TO ADJUST IT AND FOR THEM TO TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COST.

>> QUESTIONS.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION MADAM CHAIR.

NOT NECESSARILY AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION.

WHEN VDOT IS GETTING READY TO START THIS OR DO THIS WORK, DO YOU THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE LONG TERMS OF OUTAGES FOR THE RESIDENCE? I'M ASSUMING THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A HUGE EFFECT BECAUSE MOST OF OUR SEWER GOES UP COURTHOUSE TO GET TO THAT PUMP STATION THAT THEN TAKES IT TO PETERSBURG.

I'M JUST ASKING, WHAT YOU MAY KNOW ALREADY ABOUT THAT, NOT THAT IT AFFECTS WHAT YOU'RE ARE ASKING.

>> THE REQUIREMENT IS THEY TYPICALLY WOULD HAVE TO INSTALL THE NEW FACILITIES FIRST.

>> BEFORE, THEY WOULD TAKE THE EXISTING ONES OFFLINE, AND THEY WOULD MAKE THE CONNECTION THAT HAVE IT ALL SANITIZERS SHOULD BE A VERY SMALL DELAY OR OUTAGE.

WE'RE TALKING HOURS NOT DAYS.

>> NO, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.

JUST IN CASE ANYONE SHOULD ASK US AT LEAST WE HAVE SOME ROUGH IDEA. THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. HALTOM? IF NOT, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR RESOLUTION.

>> I MOVED.

>> I'LL SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. NOW, MR. HALTOM YOU DON'T GET TO LEAVE.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER RESOLUTION.

CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES.

>> YES, MA'AM. WE DID ADVERTISE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS ON JANUARY 11TH TO SOLICIT ENGINEERING SERVICES TO EVALUATE DESIGN AND DO THE PERMITTING IN CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION FOR THE TEMPORARY AVENUE TANK IN BOOSTER STATION.

THE CLOSING FOR THE PROPOSERS WAS FEBRUARY 9TH, WE RECEIVED NINE PROPOSALS FROM QUANTIFIED ENGINEERING FIRMS. THIS PROPOSAL WAS EVALUATED BY A COMMITTEE OF STAFF MEMBER OF COUNTY STAFF.

BASED ON THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN THE RFP, WE SELECTED FOUR OR THOSE ENGINEERING FIRMS TO INTERVIEW.

AFTER THOSE INTERVIEWS WERE COMPLETED, THE COMMITTEE HAS SELECTED WW ASSOCIATES TO DO THIS DESIGN.

THAT SCORE IN CHARGE, IF IT'S NOT IN YOUR PACKET, I WILL GET THAT TO YOU IF IT WAS NOT INCLUDED UP.

I MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN TO ADD THAT IN THERE.

BUT THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED A PROPOSAL FROM WW ASSOCIATES TO PERFORM THIS TASK FOR $435,000.

AN APPROPRIATION IS REQUIRED TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE SERVICES.

WE WERE RECOMMENDING 435,000 BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE UTILITY RESERVE FUND, THE FUND BALANCE, TO COVER THE COST OF THIS TASK.

WE DO RECOMMEND AN AWARD OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE EVALUATION DESIGN PERMITTING CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION OF WATER STORAGE TANK AND PUMP STATION TO WW FOR $435,000 AND THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FROM THE RESERVE FUND TO COVER THE COSTS.

>> ANY QUESTIONS?

MR. HALTOM, IS THIS ONE NOT TO EXCEED?

>> NO MA'AM, I'M SORRY.

>> TYPICALLY YES. THIS IS A FLAT RATE THAT THEY WOULD EXPECT FOR THE ENTIRE SERVICES.

THERE'LL ALWAYS BE OPPORTUNITIES IF CONDITIONS DO CHANGE FOR CHANGE ORDERS, BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

>> SORRY, I JUST NEED TO ASK. LITTLE GUNSHOT.

>> GOOD REASON.

>> YES.

>> NO, YOU GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> I LIKE THE MOTION TO PASSES THIS RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.

>> I HAVE A SECOND. THANK YOU.

CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

>> THANK YOU. NOW, MR. HALTOM, ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU.

TAINA VSMP PERMIT.

>> YES, MA'AM. THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR THE CONGRESSMAN MCKEACHING PROJECT.

IF I COULD GIVE YOU JUST A BRIEF UPDATE BEFORE I MOVE INTO THIS, THAT PROJECT WE'VE ALREADY AWARDED THE DESIGN OF THAT PROJECT TO WW ASSOCIATES AND THEY'VE ALREADY DONE THE ALIGNMENT WORK, THE SURVEY WORK'S BEEN COMPLETED.

THEY'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED PLANS TO VDOT AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

WE RECEIVE COMMENTS BACK AND AIRING OUR RESPONSES NOW TO SUBMIT THOSE PLANS AGAIN.

THE WETLAND DELINEATION IS NOW DONE AND WE'RE JUST GETTING

[03:00:04]

READY TO LOOK FOR OUR FINAL APPROVALS HERE IN VERY SHORT ORDER.

THIS IS GOING TO SUPPORT THAT PROJECT THAT WE HAD WRITTEN ORIGINALLY, HAD SUBMITTED A WAIVER TO DEQ TO AVOID THE VSMP PERMIT.

TYPICALLY FOR LINEAR UTILITY PROJECTS IN THE PAST, THESE TYPE OF PERMITS WERE NOT REQUIRED.

DEQ OVER LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BEEN REQUIRING THESE.

WE DID ASK FOR A WAIVER REQUEST AND THEN THE WAIVER REQUEST WAS DENIED PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE WILL BE CUTTING DOWN SOME TREES AND THEN WE'LL CHANGE THE STORM WATER REQUIREMENTS AND THE NATURE OF THE FLOW OUT THERE.

THEREFORE, WE DID REQUEST PROPOSED FROM WW TO PREPARE THE VIRGINIA STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PLAN TO MEET THE DEQ REQUIREMENTS AND OBTAIN THAT NECESSARILY PERMIT.

THEY WILL BE COMPLETING THIS AND BASED ON OUR ANNUAL ENGINEERING SERVICES CONTRACT.

THEY HAVE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL FOR $25,000 TO COMPLETE THIS TASK.

WE DO RECOMMEND THE AWARD OF THE PLAN PREPARATION TO WW FOR $25,000.

[NOISE]

>> WHAT WAS THAT FIGURE, $25,000?

>> TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

>> THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> NO QUESTIONS. MADAM CHAIR, IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS, I WOULD SO MOVE THAT WE WOULD AWARD THIS PREPARATION OF PLANS CONTRACT TO WW ASSOCIATES FOR THE AMOUNT OF $25,000.

>> THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND?

>> I SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE A DEED OF DEDICATION RIGHT AWAY. MR. WHITTEN.

>> DECIDED TO STRETCH MY LEGS.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STOKE, NANCY FILLINGAIN OWNS 100.8 ACRES OF LAND, A MIDDLE ROAD DESCRIBED AS TAX PAPER NUMBER 2300A00-014-0.

THE COUNTY IS IMPROVING MIDDLE ROAD AS PART OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROJECT, AND THE WORK DID REQUIRE 0.323 ACRES OF PROPERTY FOR THE RIDE AWAY.

MS. FILLINGAIN, HER SPOUSE PASSED AWAY, AND SHE WAS WAITING UNTIL THE STATE WAS SETTLED UNTIL SHE GETS SIGNED THE DEDICATION RIGHT AWAY.

THE COUNTY WAS REQUIRED TO FILE A QUICK TAKE CERTIFICATE APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS AGO, BUT SHE DID SELL THE STATE AND SHE DID SIGN THE DEDICATION RIGHT AWAY, SO NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO PROCEED WITH CONDEMNATION.

ATTACHED IN YOUR PACKET IS A COPY OF THE SIGNED DEED OF DEDICATION RIGHT AWAY BETWEEN FILLINGAIN AND THE COUNTY OF PRINCE GEORGE.

SO WE ARE REQUESTING A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE DEED OF DEDICATION RIGHT AWAY.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

>> NO? DO I HAVE A MOTION?

>> MADAM, EVERYONE IS ON BOARD.

MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE THAT WE AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO SIGN THE DEED OF DEDICATION, OF THE RIDE WAY.

>> THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND. [NOISE]

>> CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?

>> THANK YOU. MR. WHITTEN.

THE NEXT ITEM IS A RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE SCHOOL NUTRITION FUNDS, $570,000.

>> MRS. NAMARY. GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

THE SCHOOL DIVISION FORWARDED A REQUEST THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD CONSIDERED AND APPROVED LAST NIGHT, TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL EXPECTED FEDERAL SCHOOL NUTRITION FUNDS TO THE FY 22 CURRENT YEAR BUDGET.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDED FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT TO FEED ALL CHILDREN REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, THEIR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH STATUS SO THEY'RE RECEIVING ADDITIONAL FEDERAL MONIES AND THEY'RE ALSO EXPERIENCING INCREASES IN THE COSTS TO OPERATE FROM SUPPLIES AND OTHER COSTS.

THEY'VE ASKED THAT THEIR BUDGET BE INCREASED BY $570,000 WITH FEDERAL FUNDING BEING THE SOURCE OF REVENUES.

THERE IS NO COUNTY IMPACT.

[03:05:04]

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS?

>> NO QUESTIONS ON THAT MOTION.

>> ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> THE NEXT RESOLUTION IS A BUDGET TRANSFER FROM A CAPITAL PROJECT FUND.

>> YES, MA'AM. AGAIN, THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAS MADE A REQUEST TO TRANSFER TWO VERY SMALL AMOUNTS THAT WERE REMAINING IN TWO CAPITAL PROJECTS, THAT TOTAL $2,280.64 TO THE JJ MOORE WATER INTRUSION PROJECT.

THOSE OTHER TWO PROJECTS, THE ELECTRICAL UPGRADES, AND THE WALTON H PARK HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY LEFT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE FOR THAT WATER INTRUSION PROJECT.

>> MADAM CHAIR, IF THERE'S NO QUESTIONS I SO MOVE THAT WE WOULD TRANSFER THE $2,280.64 OVER TO THE BUDGET LINE FOR THE WATER INTRUSION FOR JJ MOORE.

>> NO MA'AM.

>> HAVE A SECOND? I'M SORRY.

>> HAVE A SECOND.

>> SECONDED BY MR. HUNTER.

PLEASE CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.

>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM IS A RESOLUTION TO SET A PERCENTAGE OF TAX RELIEF FOR THE 2022 TAX YEAR AT A LEVEL THAT IS ANTICIPATED TO EXHAUST PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF. MR. WHITTEN.

>> YES, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MR. STOKE, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FACT, REQUIRES THE COUNTY TO TAKE AFFIRMATIVE STEPS TO IMPLEMENT AND PROVIDE FOR THE CAPITATION AND ALLOCATION OF RELIEF FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.

THE COUNTY RECEIVES AN ANNUAL APPROPRIATION OF A FIXED SUM TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PROVISION OF TAX RELIEF TO OWNERS OF QUANTIFYING PERSONAL USE VEHICLES.

STAMP RECOMMENDS THE APPROVAL OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FROM THE FOLLOWING MANNER.

THIS IS A DATA THAT WAS PROVIDED BY LINDSAY LINUS IN THE COMMISSION'S REVENUES OFFICE.

PERSONAL USE VEHICLES VALUED AT 1,000 OR LESS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A 100 PERCENT TAX RELIEF, PERSONAL USE VEHICLES VALUED AT $1,001 TO $20,000 WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR 32 PERCENT TAX RELIEF, AND PERSONAL USE VEHICLES VALUED AT $20,001 OR MORE WOULD ONLY RECEIVE 32 PERCENT TAX RELIEF ON THE FIRST $20,000 OF VALUE.

ALL THE VEHICLES WHICH DO NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF QUALIFYING VEHICLES, WHICH WOULD BE BUSINESS USE VEHICLES, PHARMACIES VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX RELIEF.

THERE IS A RESOLUTION INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET AND THAT DOES STATE THE TAX RELIEF AMOUNTS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR LINDSAY LINUS HERE AS WELL.

>> DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> MADAM CHAIR, I MOVE WE APPROVE AS PRESENTED.

>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION?

>> DO YOU HAVE A SECOND?

>> I'LL SECOND.