[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:10]
THE FIRST THING WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA IS ROLL CALL, PLEASE.[ORDER OF BUSINESS]
WELCOME, MISS TERRY BOURNE.IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD, PLEASE.
YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TO US ABOUT SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION? THAT'S CORRECT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN HUNTER.
BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEMBERS, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR STOKE AND INTERIM COUNTY ATTORNEY ERARD.
I HOPE I GOT THAT RIGHT. YOU DONE? GOOD MOUTHFUL. YEP.
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME COME AND SPEAK TODAY.
I'M A SENIOR REAL ESTATE APPRAISER WITH THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE.
I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST A RESOLUTION TO RECOMMEND KEVIN WINFREY AND ERIC CRAWFORD TO THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION AS ALTERNATE MEMBERS FOR THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION ON APRIL 4TH, 2023, AT THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION, THREE OF THE FIVE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MEMBERS BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THEIR CHAIR THAT THEY BELIEVED THAT THEY HAD A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH ONE OF THE APPELLANTS WHO WOULD BE COMING TO APPEAL THEIR ASSESSMENT.
AND THEY HAVE RECUSED THEMSELVES FROM BEING ABLE TO HEAR THAT APPEAL.
WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND AND OR SUGGEST THAT TWO ALTERNATE MEMBERS BE RECOMMENDED TO THE CIRCUIT COURT.
THAT WAY THERE WILL BE A QUORUM AND ONE IN RESERVE.
AND IF TWO OF THE OTHER MEMBERS FOR ANY REASON AT ALL HAD TO RECUSE THEMSELVES OR WERE UNAVAILABLE TO MAKE IT, WE HAVE VETTED SEVERAL CANDIDATES AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL AGREE WITH US THAT THEY ARE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND TO BE ABLE TO ADD TO THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
HE'S ALSO A FORMER HOPEWELL CITY ASSESSOR, AND KEVIN ALSO IS A REAL ESTATE APPRAISER.
THE OTHER PERSON IS ERIC CRAWFORD, WHO'S A VICE PRESIDENT AND CREDIT PORTFOLIO OFFICER WITH THE BANK OF SOUTHSIDE.
THEY BOTH HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS AREA AND VERY MUCH EXCELLENT BACKGROUND IN REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL AND EVEN ASSESSMENT WORK. THEY ARE ALSO SCHEDULED TO WILL BE SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE THEIR TRAINING IN ADVANCE OF WHEN WE START THESE APPEALS IN EARLY JUNE.
SO WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TO TEE THAT UP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND THEY'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.
IF YOU ALL ARE IN AGREEMENT AND ARE WILLING TO RECOMMEND THESE FOLKS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE.
THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT AFTERNOON.
THAT WAS THE ORDER OF BUSINESS.
THE NEXT THING IS TO WORK SESSION.
[WORK SESSION]
FIRST THING WE HAVE IS DR.PENNYCUFF ON THE SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSION.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH VERY GOOD. THERE WE GO.
IT'S A SHORT PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
AND MS. DREWRY IS PULLING IT UP FOR US.
[00:05:01]
SHE'S GOT OUR PART UP.THE SKINNY BUDGET, AS YOU ARE ALL I'M SURE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, WAS APPROVED AS A STOPGAP MEASURE BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN FEBRUARY. AND REVISIONS IN VIRGINIA'S BUDGET ARE NOT EXPECTED NOW UNTIL LATE JUNE.
THE FOR PRINCE GEORGE THIS RESULTS IN A REDUCTION OF AN ADDITIONAL $1,323,337, IN ADDITION TO THE 1.8 THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY REQUESTED FROM THE COUNTY. SO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SENT OUT THE CALCULATION TOOLS AND SAID DON'T EXPECT IT TO CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDS, PROBABLY LATE JUNE.
SO BECAUSE WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE WITH CONTRACTS TO SECURE OUR TEACHERS, WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AND BE READY TO TAKE OUR NEXT STEPS RIGHT AWAY.
SO ADJUSTMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET TO THE SKINNY BUDGET FOR US.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY MARKET ADJUSTMENTS IN THERE AND THE RETENTION BONUS IS NOW OUT.
WE HAVE ALSO REDUCED THE SALARY INCREASE FROM 6% TO 5% AND WE HAVE TAKEN OUT ALL THAT WE CAN TO GET TO THE SKINNIEST BUDGET THAT WE CAN GET TO.
SO WE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP THAT WE WANTED TO ADDRESS.
ONE WAS OUR CONTINGENCY FUND, AND I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT THIS IS USED FOR EMERGENCIES AND UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OCCUR IN THE MARKET. WE THEN USE WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE THREE YEAR AVERAGES TO BUILD THE CHANGES INTO OUR BUDGET, BUT BECAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE A MARKET INCREASE ONE YEAR AND THEN IT COMES BACK DOWN INTO A MORE NORMAL RANGE THE NEXT YEAR, WE DON'T JUST BUILD IT IN RIGHT AWAY.
SO I HAVE THESE TWO YEARS LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR'S INFORMATION FOR YOU.
LAST YEAR OUR CONTINGENCY BUDGET WAS $1,075,031 AND WE WERE ABLE TO RETURN $762,340.67 TO THE COUNTY AND CARRYOVER.
THOSE FUNDS WERE USED TO PAY THE REMAINDER OF THE ROAD AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE OWED FOR MIDDLE ROAD AND FOR THE FUNDS THAT WERE OWED FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE THAT WERE CARRYOVERS FROM WHERE WE MOVED TO THE LOCAL CHOICE.
SO IN FY 23 THIS YEAR, WE HAVE $1,091,000 IN THAT BUDGET AND IT HAS BEEN USED FOR UTILITY AND FUEL COSTS THIS YEAR. SO I HAVE PUT THE END OF YEAR PROJECTION THAT WAS DONE AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.
AS OF FEBRUARY, THAT WAS RUN AT THE END OF MARCH.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR HEATING WAS $532,000 OVER ELECTRICITY WAS $753,000 OVER FOR A DIFFERENCE OF $1,264,986.
WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO STAY THAT HIGH.
BUT THE CONTINGENCY IS PROMISED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO COUNT ON THAT FOR NEXT YEAR.
BUT WE'RE NOT READY TO BUILD IT INTO THE BUDGET YET.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE CONTINGENCY HAS DONE FOR US.
IT'S PREVENTED US FROM HAVING TO COME TO YOU FOR EMERGENCIES.
WE'VE HAD THE ABILITY TO MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS, THE ADDITIONAL $150,000 BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FILL ALL OF OUR TEACHING POSITIONS WE'VE USED.
SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE MADE OUR CLASS SIZES LARGER AND WE'VE PUT OUR SUBSTITUTE TEACHER ON THE GRADE TO SUPPORT THE WHOLE GRADE SO WE COULD USE IT AS A STANDARD OF QUALITY MEASURE TO MEET THE STANDARD OF QUALITY.
BUT WE GAVE EVERY CHILD THAT WE COULD, A LICENSED TEACHER.
SO THAT'S HOW WE HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THAT.
BUT WE CAN'T USE THAT ATTRITION MONEY BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO HIRE THE TEACHERS.
SO WE CAN'T USE THE DIFFERENCE AND THE LESS EXPENSIVE SUBSTITUTE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE TEACHERS HIRED SO THAT EVERY CHILD HAS A LICENSED TEACHER AND A CLASS SIZE THAT IS THAT ALLOWS FOR LEARNING.
SOME OF OUR CLASS SIZES ARE 28 STUDENTS.
THAT'S A LOT OF LITTLE BODIES IN A WELL AT FIFTH GRADE.
EVEN THEIR BODIES ARE GETTING BIGGER.
SO I KNOW YOU ARE WELL AWARE OF THAT.
ANOTHER QUESTION THAT WE GOT WAS HOW HAVE WE BEEN ABLE TO DO THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO? WE WERE ABLE TO GET $9 MILLION IN COVID FUNDING, AND I THINK YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT IN 2018, BEFORE MRS. WILLIAMS RETIRED.
[00:10:03]
SO DURING THAT TIME, THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAD FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR.WE HAD ROOFS THAT WERE LEAKING.
YOU MAY REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD THE PRESS OUT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL AND WE HAD TO STAY CLOSED WHILE WE GOT THE AIR CONDITIONING FIXED AND WE HAD TO BRING IN TEMPORARY COOLING UNITS TO GET SCHOOL STARTED AGAIN.
AND THAT WAS MORE TYPICAL THAN NOT AT THE TIME.
AND WE DID THAT SO THAT WE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS THE WORST OF THE WORST BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT WE WOULD NEED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU TO GET THEM ON THE CIP LIST BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY.
WE HAD OUR HVAC THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
SO THAT LIST SHOWS YOU EVERYTHING WE GOT WITH THAT $9 MILLION.
THE ONES AT THE BOTTOM ARE STILL IN PROCESS OF BEING DONE.
THEY ALL HAVE TO BE FINISHED AND CLOSED OUT BY 2024.
WE HAVE HVAC WORK GOING ON RIGHT NOW AT SOUTH THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO THE SUMMER.
WE HAVE HVAC WORK GOING ON AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE SUMMER AND WE ALSO INTEND TO USE OUR ONE TIME CONSTRUCTION FUNDS PAIRED WITH WHAT'S LEFT TO DO HARRISON.
SO THAT WILL CLOSE US OUT IN WHAT WE HAD.
SO THE WAY THAT I SEE THAT AS EQUIVALENT, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE FAMILY THAT HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN AND DURING THE TIME OF COVID, THERE WAS FREE LUNCH FOR EVERYONE AND THERE WAS EVEN A STIPEND OF 2 OR $300 THAT WAS SENT TO EACH FAMILY PER CHILD.
AND THEN WE HAD TO START CHARGING FOR LUNCH AGAIN AND THOSE FUNDS WENT AWAY.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY ANYMORE.
SO WE GOT EVERYTHING WE COULD WHILE THE GETTING WAS GOOD.
SO WE HAVE FIXED EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD FIX AND THAT IS HOW WE PAID FOR THE TURF FIELD.
SO YOU'LL SEE THAT ON THE LIST.
THE COST FOR THIS IS $2,742,180.
PRINCE GEORGE SCHOOLS WILL LOSE FUNDS IF WE PROVIDE LESS THAN THAT 5% INCREASE.
WE HAVE $1,096,499 TO PUT TOWARDS THAT.
THE DIFFERENCE IS $1,645,681 THAT WE NEED TO GIVE THAT 5% INCREASE.
I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL EXTREMELY AWARE THAT WE'RE IN A NATIONAL TEACHER SHORTAGE AND I.
I DIDN'T PUT THAT INFORMATION BACK UP AGAIN, BUT I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DISCUSSION ABOUT A 7% INCREASE AND A 5% INCREASE.
SO WHAT'S HAPPENING ARE SOME OF THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS WHO ARE IN A BETTER PLACE FUNDING WISE WITH THEIR COUNTIES ARE ALREADY MOVING TO THE 7% BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE OUTCOMES THAT COULD COME OUT OF THE LATE JUNE.
SO WE HAVE TAKEN EVERYTHING OUT OF OUR BUDGET.
SO FOR US IT IS A SKINNY BUDGET.
SO TONIGHT, WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER AND WE KNOW YOU CAN'T GIVE US AN ANSWER TONIGHT.
WE KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT IT.
WE HAVEN'T, I'VE SHARED WITH THE PRINCIPALS TODAY AND I'LL SHARE WITH THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WHAT THE UPDATED, REVISED, SKINNY BUDGET LOOKS LIKE FOR US. BUT THEY'RE WORRIED THAT THEIR TEACHERS ARE GOING TO LEAVE.
AND SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO, WE APPRECIATE.
BUT IN ORDER TO GIVE THE FIVE, WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN CUT.
WE HAVE GIVEN UP ALL OUR POSITIONS.
WE HAVE NO MARKET ADJUSTMENTS IN THERE.
WE HAVE, WE'VE GONE FROM A 6% TO A 5%.
[00:15:04]
I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT TO YOU IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.WE DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT TELLING YOU OR SHARING WITH YOU.
WE'RE AS OPEN BOOK AS WE CAN BE.
SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I CAN'T ANSWER, I'VE GOT MRS. BARNES HERE. I'VE GOT MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD HERE.
AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK UP, WE'LL GET IT FOR YOU.
BUT IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, OF COURSE WE CAN CONTACT YOU LATER.
BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT'S A BURNING QUESTION AT THIS POINT FROM ANY BOARD MEMBER? NOT FROM ME. IF NOT, WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO CONSIDER THESE THE PROJECTION THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO US AND TALK ABOUT IT AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT YOU.
AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE WANT TO BE GOOD PARTNERS.
THANK YOU. VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO CAME IN SUPPORT AS WELL.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT, WE HAVE MS. DREWRY FOR THE CRATER YOUTH CARE COMMISSION.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIRMAN HUNTER.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE YOU ON THE BUDGET AND MAKE YOU AWARE OF SOME CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE BUDGET WAS INTRODUCED. THE CRATER YOUTH CARE COMMISSION AMOUNT THAT WAS INCLUDED IN OUR INTRODUCED BUDGET WAS BASED ON A REQUEST THAT THEY MADE BACK IN JANUARY.
SO THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A MUST DO AND WE WOULD TAKE THAT FROM OUR INTRODUCED CONTINGENCY.
SO AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THESE ITEMS, WE WILL BE SEEKING YOUR CONSENSUS TO GO AHEAD AND INCORPORATE THESE INTO THE BUDGET THAT WE ARE PREPARING FOR YOU TO HEAR AT YOUR PUBLIC HEARING AND AT THE MEETING FOLLOWING THAT TO ADOPT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT OR ANY OBJECTIONS TO US, INCLUDING THAT MINOR INCREASE? IT'S VERY, VERY MINOR AMOUNT.
$147, I THINK WE CAN HANDLE IT.
SO NEXT ON THE AGENDA, CHAIRMAN HUNTER IS AN UPDATE ON SOME LOCAL TAX REVENUE PROJECTIONS.
I'M GOING TO START WITH OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
MS. ROUSEY, MS. LANE AND THEIR STAFF HAVE COMPLETED THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR THAT WE ARE IN.
AND IT COMPARES IT TO THE FINAL BOOK THAT WAS APPROVED IN MAY OF 2022.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MAJORITY OF THE TAX CALCULATIONS ARE SMALLER THAN THOSE AMOUNTS CALCULATED IN MAY OF 2022, MOTOR VEHICLE VALUES, WHICH IS THE LARGEST PORTION OF OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, IS DOWN BY 11%.
THERE ARE MORE RECORDS, AS YOU CAN SEE AT THE VERY BOTTOM WITH A NUMBER OF RECORDS.
THERE ARE MORE ITEMS BEING ASSESSED.
HOWEVER, THE VALUE OF VEHICLES OR THE TAX, THE VALUE OF VEHICLES AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE TAX BOTH CALCULATED AT $3.90 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE IS DOWN BY 11%.
SO I DID WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.
WHEN WE ADD ALL THOSE NUMBERS TOGETHER AND DEDUCT THE STATE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE, IT HAS BEEN THAT 3.6 MILLION FOR THE LAST HOWEVER MANY YEARS THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED THAT.
WHEN GOVERNOR GILMORE WAS IN OFFICE, WE COME UP TO 12,054,000 AND OUR CALCULATED TAX AND PERSONAL PROPERTY, OUR CURRENT YEAR BUDGET AND OUR INTRODUCED FY 24 BUDGET SITS AT 12,052,000 AND WE RECOMMEND LEAVING IT AT THAT LEVEL BECAUSE WE ALSO RECEIVE SOME ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUES DUE TO PRORATION.
AS THE MONTHS GO BY WHEN PEOPLE SELL OR PURCHASE NEW VEHICLES, THE THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE RECEIVES A WEEKLY FILE FROM THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND THEY WILL ASSESS A TAXPAYER WHO HAS PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE, A PRORATED TAX.
AND AT TIMES, IF THEY SELL THE VEHICLE, THEY WILL REFUND THE TAXPAYER FOR A PRORATED REFUND AS WELL.
[00:20:07]
SO AGAIN, JUST TO RECAP, MOTOR VEHICLE VALUES ARE 11% LOWER.THAT MEANS THE MAJORITY OF OUR CITIZENS, IF THEY WERE OWNED AND TAXED THAT VEHICLE LAST SPRING AND THEY OWN THE SAME VEHICLE THIS YEAR, THEY WILL PAY LESS IN PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX FOR FOR THIS COMING MAY BILLING.
AS YOU RECALL, PRIOR TO ADOPTING YOUR FY 23 BUDGET, THE TAX RATE WAS LOWERED FROM $4.25 TO $3.90, AND THE LICENSE FEE WAS ELIMINATED.
THE INTRODUCED FY 24 BUDGET WE LEFT PROJECTIONS LEVEL DID NOT CHANGE THEM AT ALL AND THERE IS NO RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE OUR REVENUE ESTIMATES AT THIS POINT. IF IN FACT YOU DO ADOPT THAT $3.90 CENT RATE AS IT'S BEEN ADVERTISED.
THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY THAT SHOWS SOME HISTORICAL INFORMATION.
YOU KNOW, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX BOTH CURRENT AND DELINQUENT COLLECTIONS BUDGET TO ACTUALS AGAIN WE WE DO RECOMMEND LEAVING IT WHERE IT SITS TODAY. WE DID REDUCE OUR DELINQUENT TAX REVENUE PROJECTIONS BASED ON PRIOR YEAR TREND.
BUT THOSE COLLECTIONS ARE COMING IN FAIRLY WELL THIS YEAR.
CAN I ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX BEFORE WE MOVE INTO PUBLIC SERVICE TAX REVENUE? I THINK WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT.
THIS IS ALSO A REPEAT FOR YOU.
WE BRING THIS TO YOU AT YOUR LAST BUDGET WORK SESSION.
PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS, THOSE ARE OUR ELECTRIC, GAS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND WATER COMPANIES.
AND PRIOR TO RECEIVING THOSE VALUES FROM THE SERVICE TAXATION DIVISION, WE HAD ESTIMATED 2.3 MILLION AS OUR REVENUE AMOUNT, LEAVING THE TAX RATE AT $0.82.
THAT TAX IS COLLECTED BASED ON OUR APPROVED REAL ESTATE TAX RATE.
IN MARCH, FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION OF THE BUDGET, THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE RECEIVED UPDATED VALUATION INFORMATION ON A LARGE SOLAR PROPERTY THAT IS VALUED AT OVER $48 MILLION, WHICH WOULD GARNER US AN ADDITIONAL $396,000 IN PUBLIC SERVICE TAX REVENUE.
SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU THAT WE INCREASE THE AMOUNT FROM 2.3 MILLION TO 2,696,000.
AND SO SO WITH THAT INCREASE IN REVENUE, OF COURSE, COMES A DECISION THAT THE BOARD CAN MAKE.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE AN INFINITE NUMBER OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU.
YOU COULD DO NOTHING AND PUT IT IN CONTINGENCY.
YOU COULD PROVIDE THAT ENTIRE AMOUNT TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND OF COURSE, NEXT AND MR. STOKE'S PRIORITY OR RECOMMENDED PRIORITY LISTING WAS TO FUND POLICE OFFICERS.
WE'VE PROVIDED COST INFORMATION FOR YOUR INFORMATION HERE.
NEW OFFICER COSTS 86,235 WITH CAR AND EQUIPMENT.
THAT ADDS ANOTHER $63,000 TO TOTAL OVER 149.
BUT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.
ANY AND AGAIN, ANY OTHER INITIATIVE COULD BE FUNDED WITH THIS 396.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR YOUR DIRECTION THIS EVENING, BUT WE DO ASK THAT YOU PROVIDE YOUR FEEDBACK TO MR. STOKE, IF POSSIBLE, BY NEXT TUESDAY, SO THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE YOUR WISHES INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING INFORMATION THAT WE'LL BE PRESENTING ON MAY 9TH BEFORE THE MEETING NEXT TUESDAY OR AFTER.
AND MR. STOKE AND I CAN DISCUSS THE BEST WAY TO GET THAT FROM YOU.
HE MAY SEND YOU AN EMAIL AND AND JUST ASK TO RECEIVE YOUR FEEDBACK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? OKAY. NO, BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST.
[00:25:10]
AND I THINK THE 396 WOULD REALLY GO FORWARD IN HELPING THE ENTIRE COUNTY, OUR VISITORS AND TO OUR COUNTY, THE BUSINESSES, OUR CONSTITUENTS, AND EVEN HELP THE SCHOOLS, FOR THAT MATTER, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET TO THE POINT AND YOU ALL SEE THE AMOUNT OF THE CALL RATIOS THAT THEY DEAL WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHICH LEADS TO MORE AND MORE INVESTIGATIONS THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH.AND BEING SHORT 11 OFFICERS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE MONEY WELL SPENT AND POSSIBLY SECURE.
AND THAT'S JUST THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT CERTAINLY MAKE THAT MR. STOKE AWARE OF THAT.
AND IN CASE IT GOES ANY FURTHER.
SO YOU WOULD YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THAT'S MY OPINION.
OKAY. I WANTED TO PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION BASED ON THE LACK OF A STATE BUDGET.
PENNYCUFF HAS ALREADY ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT WE.
WE WON'T RECEIVE ANY BUDGET AMENDMENTS ON THE BUDGET THAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED UNTIL LATE JUNE.
AND THAT'S IT WAS PHRASED AS POSSIBLY OUR STRONG STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS TO LOWER WHAT WE'VE INCLUDED AS A 7% STATE SUPPORTED INCREASE ON FUNDED POSITIONS DOWN TO A FIVE, WHICH IS WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN APPROVED, AND THE BIENNIAL BUDGET FOR JULY 1 OF 23.
THIS WOULD REDUCE BOTH STATE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR SOCIAL SERVICES FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND THEIR BOARD FUNDED POSITIONS THROUGH THE COMP BOARD, OUR REGISTRAR AND WOULD IMPACT RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY IF A LARGER 7% PAY INCREASE IS APPROVED LATER.
WE CAN CERTAINLY BRING BACK AN ADJUSTMENT TO YOU TO MAKE, AS IN THE FORM OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
BUT AGAIN, WE RECOMMEND THIS BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO INDICATE TO STAFF MEMBERS THAT THEY WOULD BE RECEIVING A 7% INCREASE IF IN FACT THE STATE ONLY APPROVES A FIVE, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO REDUCE IT.
OR IT COULD BE FACED WITH HAVING TO REDUCE IT WITH THE LACK OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT THAT INCREASE, IT WOULD BE EASIER TO ADD IT THAN IT WOULD BE TO TAKE IT AWAY. SO AGAIN, THIS IS THE IMPACT TO THE STATE OFFICES.
EXCEPT FOR RCJA, THIS SHOWS YOU THAT EXPENDITURES WOULD CHANGE FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES, SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE REGISTRAR.
BY 74,000 THEY WOULD BE REDUCED.
REVENUE ALSO WOULD BE REDUCED BY OVER 50,000.
SO THE NET CHANGE TO OUR CONTINGENCY WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF 24,209.
AND OF COURSE, THE OPPOSITE WOULD BE TRUE IF IN FACT A 7% INCREASE IS ULTIMATELY APPROVED.
SO WE WOULD RECOMMEND LEAVING THAT IN CONTINGENCY IN THE EVENT THAT A HIGHER INCREASE IS APPROVED.
RIVERSIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY.
THEIR TOTAL BUDGET WOULD GO FROM 1,235,051 DOWN TO $1,215,587. THE LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR HOPEWELL AND SURRY WOULD ALSO BE REDUCED.
IF YOU AGREE TO TO MOVE IT FROM 7 TO 5%, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO PREPARE THEM FOR BOTH EVENTUALITIES IF IN FACT THE 7% IS INCREASED.
WE'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY PROVIDED THEM WITH A POWERPOINT THAT GIVES THEM THE NUMBER AT A HIGHER 7%.
SO. SO WE WILL BE COMMUNICATING WITH THEM.
SO JUST TO RECAP FOR THOSE CHANGES, FROM A 7% TO A FIVE, EXPENDITURES WOULD DROP BY 83,766, AND CONVERSELY, REVENUES WOULD FALL BY 50,214.
SO YOUR CONTINGENCY WOULD BE INCREASED BY 33,552.
[00:30:11]
MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR.AND IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT THIS BOARD CAN CONTROL OR MRS. DREWRY OR THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR SIX YEARS, AND I WOULD BET YOU OUT OF THE SIX YEARS, FOUR YEARS WE'VE DEALT WITH EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH TODAY, AND THAT'S THE SCHOOL DIVISION BUSTING THEIR BUTT TO PUT A BUDGET TOGETHER.
WE DO THE SAME AND PUT A BUDGET AND OTHER LOCALITIES.
WE NEED THEM TO DO WHAT THEY'RE BROUGHT TO RICHMOND TO DO.
AND THAT IS SUPPORT THE LOCALITIES HERE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, SIT DOWN, WORK OUT A BUDGET SO THAT WE ALL KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BECAUSE IT'S VERY UNFAIR THAT WE ALL WORK SO HARD AND WE GET NEAR THE END.
AND IT COULD BE THE LAST WEEK OF JUNE BEFORE WE TRULY KNOW.
WHAT TO MAKE AS THE FINAL BUDGET VERSUS WHAT WE APPROVED.
SO AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT.
NOT ANYTHING ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM CAN DO ABOUT IT.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE STATE THE WAY IT'S GOING WITH THE LACK OF DECIDED BUDGETS FOR THE LOCALITIES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH. THAT'S A FACT.
LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S HAPPENED YEAR AFTER YEAR.
IT'S GETTING WORSE, RULE RATHER THAN THE EXCEPTION.
OKAY. WOULD YOU ALL LIKE TO TO WEIGH IN ON WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH MAKING THIS CHANGE IN THE ABSENCE OF A STATE BUDGET? WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TO DO IT PRETTY MUCH.
WE'VE GOT TO GO IN A DIRECTION AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION I THINK WE SHOULD GO.
IT'S THE ONLY KNOWN DIRECTION RIGHT NOW.
IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE IF THEY COME BACK AND CHANGE IT, THEN IT'S MANDATED.
SO, YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A SMART MOVE.
OKAY, WE WILL INCORPORATE THOSE CHANGES.
SO JUST TO DO A TOTAL RECAP OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS EVENING, ABSENT THAT PUBLIC SERVICE TAX REVENUE INCREASE WITH THE CRATER YOUTH CARE COMMISSION, VERY MINOR INCREASE AND THE CHANGING THE STATE SUPPORTED INCREASE FROM A 7% TO A 5%, THE NET IMPACT ON THE ON GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES IS A REDUCTION OF 83,006 19.
THE NET REDUCTION IN REVENUES IS 50,214, WHICH WOULD SHIFT AN ADDITIONAL THREE 33,405 TO YOUR CONTINGENCY. YOUR CONTINGENCY WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED WAS $150,748.
SO THE REVISED AMOUNT WOULD BE $184,153, WHICH WILL LOSE ALL OF THAT.
WE WOULD WE WOULD LOSE THE 33.
YES, SIR. AND JUST TO RECAP WHAT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED, IT WAS INTRODUCED AT 72,374 569, WHICH WAS A $3.4 MILLION INCREASE OVER THE ADOPTED BUDGET THIS YEAR, OR 4.96. THE REVISIONS THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED TONIGHT WOULD BRING THE BUDGET TO $72,720,355, WHICH IS A $3.768 MILLION INCREASE OVER THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET OR 5.47.
AND TO QUANTIFY THOSE CHANGES, IT IS THE INCREASE IN REVENUE ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE END AND THE REDUCTION IN STATE FUNDING FOR THE COMP BOARD, SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE REGISTRAR TO COME UP WITH THAT $345,000 CHANGE.
ARE THERE ANY ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE GENERAL FUND CHANGES? ALL RIGHT. SO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO DISCUSS A CHANGE IN THE UTILITY BUDGET.
THE INTRODUCED UTILITIES BUDGET INCLUDED YEAR ONE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS TOTALING JUST OVER $1.8 MILLION FOR A YEAR.
[00:35:01]
BLACKWATER REGIONAL INTERCEPTOR AND SEWER FACILITIES AND THE NEW THREE MGD PUMP STATION AND FORCE MAIN DESIGN WORK FOR THESE PROJECTS IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND WILL CONTINUE ESSENTIALLY FOR THE ENTIRETY OF FISCAL YEAR 20 FOR THOSE LARGE PROJECTS, TAKE A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME TO DESIGN MR. HALTOM IS BEHIND ME.IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THAT.
AND HONESTLY, IT'S ESTIMATED IN TALKING WITH MR. HALTOM AND RACHEL AND HIS OFFICE, WE ESTIMATE ISSUING THE INVITATION FOR BIDS IN JUNE OF JULY OF 2024.
SO THERE WILL BE NO DEBT PAYMENTS FOR THESE PROJECTS IN FY 24.
SO WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS TO MOVE THAT BUDGETED YEAR ONE PAYMENT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES TO COVER DESIGN WORK FOR SOME LARGER PLANNED UTILITIES PROJECTS THAT MR. HALTOM IS SEEKING GRANT FUNDING TO RECEIVE THAT ARE PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND OR TO MEET 20% LOCAL MATCH REQUIREMENT.
IF SOME OF THOSE FEDERAL EARMARK FUNDING AMOUNTS ARE RECEIVED.
MR. HALTOM BRIEFED YOU ON HIS APPLICATION AT YOUR LAST AT YOUR MEETING LAST WEEK.
RATHER THAN USING CASH RESERVES AND USING ANY DEBT ISSUANCE FOR DESIGN WORK.
SO WE'RE, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING A CHANGE IN THE UTILITIES BUDGET, JUST A SHIFT IN EXPENDITURES TO TAKE THAT THAT PROJECTED DEBT PAYMENT AND MOVE IT TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING AND OR SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
CORRECT? IF IT WAS DONE SOONER, CORRECT? SO AGAIN, IF THE BOARD IS AGREEABLE TO THAT, AGAIN, WE WOULD USE THAT SAME MONEY TO DO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR WHICH WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A FUNDING SOURCE OTHER THAN POSSIBLE GRANT MONEY AND OR TO MEET LOCAL MATCH OBLIGATIONS FOR ANY OF THOSE EARMARKED PROJECTS THAT MR. HALTOM APPLIED FOR.
AND OF COURSE, IF WE GET THE GRANT MONEY, IT'LL BE REPLACED AT THAT POINT.
RIGHT. AND AGAIN, THIS IS PUBLIC UTILITY FUNDING.
IT CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY GENERAL FUND PURPOSE.
SO AGAIN, IT HAS TO STAY WITHIN THE UTILITY UTILITY FUND.
SO IF THE BOARD IS AGREEABLE TO THAT, MR. HALTOM AND I WILL WORK TOGETHER TO DETERMINE WHAT ADJUSTMENTS NEED TO BE.
EVERYBODY'S GOOD. YEAH, I'M FINE.
SO SO AGAIN, JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S THE NEXT STEPS ARE AND WHAT'S COMING UP, WE WOULD AGAIN SEEK INPUT FROM THE BOARD AND FEEDBACK ON THAT 396,000 IN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE TAX REVENUE.
YOU DO HAVE A SCHEDULED WORK SESSION ON MAY 2ND FOR MORE BUDGET DISCUSSION IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT.
WE KNOW WE WON'T HAVE ANY UPDATES FROM THE STATE, BUT SO IT IS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO CANCEL UNLESS THE BOARD FEELS COMPELLED TO COME BACK AND TALK THROUGH ANY OTHER.
DOES ANYBODY FEEL LIKE WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE THAT? NO, SIR. NO, SIR.
WE'RE IN ACCORD WITH CANCELING THAT MAY 2ND.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CANCEL THAT MEETING? SO MOVED. SECOND.
IF WE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD.
WE HAVE TWO MEETINGS, I GUESS, ABOUT MAY 9TH.
YEAH, WE HAVE, YEAH, WE HAVE A WORK SESSION ON NINTH.
SO THE LAST THING ON THIS SLIDE IS THAT FINANCE AND HR ARE REQUESTING A CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSION REGARDING THE SALARY FOR THE THREE BOARD EMPLOYEES AT THE END OF YOUR MAY 9TH MEETING.
OF COURSE, ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS IS CURRENTLY PERMANENTLY VACANT, BUT WE INDICATED TO YOU THAT WE WOULD COME BACK TO YOU TO GET YOUR FINAL CONSENSUS ON ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH THOSE EMPLOYEES.
OKAY. SO THAT'LL BE AFTER THE MEETING.
[00:40:01]
IT WILL CERTAINLY.WE DON'T WANT TO BE PRESUMPTUOUS.
AND THEN WE WOULD ASK FOR A CLOSED SESSION AT THE END OF THAT MEETING.
DO WE NEED ANY ACTION ON THAT? OKAY. OKAY.
AND JUST TO RECAP, ALL OF OUR BUDGET WORK, ANYTHING THAT'S IN BLUE IS DONE.
ANYTHING THAT'S IN BLACK OR RED IS UPCOMING.
YOU HAVE HAD TWO WORK SESSIONS, INCLUDING TONIGHT YOU DID CANCEL YOUR MARCH 30TH WORK SESSION AND YOU JUST TOOK ACTION TO CANCEL THE MAY 2ND WORK SESSION ON APRIL 25TH, WHICH IS NEXT TUESDAY.
AND THEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ON THE TAX RATES FOLLOWED BY THE ADOPTION OF YOUR FY 24 AND CALENDAR YEAR 23 TAX RATES.
ON MAY 9TH, IT IS YOUR BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING AND WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC INFORMATION TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION ON THE LOCAL TRANSFER THAT EVENING AND THEN MAY 23RD AS SCHEDULED FOR BUDGET ADOPTION.
AFTER THAT, IN JUNE, WE WILL APPROPRIATE THE FY 24 BUDGET.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS THAT? NO, WE'VE GOT IT CLEARED AT FINAL SUMMED UP TO WHAT WE HAVE LEFT IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN TILL APRIL THE 25TH AT 5:00.
SO MOVED. APRIL 25TH AT 7 P.M.
WE HAVE NO CLOSED SESSION OR WORK SESSION ON THE 25TH.
SO MOVED, DO WE HAVE A SECOND.
SECOND. MRS. WAYMACK SECONDED.
ANY DISCUSSION? NO, SIR. NO DISCUSSION.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.