[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:02]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. TODAY IS FEBRUARY THE 18TH.
IT IS NOW 6PM. IT IS NOW TIME FOR OUR BUDGET WORK SESSION.
SO WE'LL START WITH MRS. KNOTT. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? YOU. I'LL DO THE BOARD'S INVOCATION, AND THEN I'LL HAVE.
IT'LL BE FOLLOWED BY MR. WEBB TO DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING JUST TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO YET SEE ANOTHER DAY.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WATCH OVER EACH PERSON. KEEP THEM OUT OF HURT, HARM, AND DANGER.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ALSO ASK YOU THIS EVENING TO PROTECT ALL OF OUR FIRE, OUR POLICE, OUR EMS AND ALL THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY FOLKS AND ANYONE THAT HAS TO BE OUT IN THAT WEATHER IN THE MORNING. HEAVENLY FATHER, JUST KEEP AN EYE ON THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU'RE THERE TO PROTECT THEM.
HEAVENLY FATHER, LET US MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
WHICH IS RIGHT NOT ONLY FOR THE CITIZENS BUT FOR PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY.
WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN YOUR NAME THIS EVENING.
ALRIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. WEBB, FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. SO NEXT WE WOULD HAVE THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.
I'D LIKE TO GET A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA WITH ONE ADDITION AND THAT'S THE ADDITION OF A CLOSED SESSION THAT WE WOULD HAVE FOLLOWING AFTER OUR MEETING OR AFTER OUR LAST TOPIC TONIGHT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
SECOND. OKAY. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. PUGH AND SECOND, BY MR. COX THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THE AGENDA, WITH THE ONE UPDATE BEING THE CLOSED SESSION THAT WE'LL HAVE AT THE END BEFORE THE ADJOURNMENT. YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU'RE READY FOR THE QUESTION.
MRS KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
[B. WORK SESSION]
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE READY FOR OUR WORK SESSION.I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. STOKE, AND HE WILL HAVE THOSE NECESSARY TO CARRY ON.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. PRESENTING THE FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION FOR FY 26 TONIGHT IS MISS BETSY DREWRY, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. MR. STOKE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY OUT DISCUSSIONS ON OUR FIRST FY 2026 BUDGET WORK SESSION. IT IS A PRETTY LENGTHY POWERPOINT.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF TOPICS TOGETHER.
TO COVER THE AGENDA INDICATES A REVIEW OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
THIS POWERPOINT COVERS BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. SO I ALWAYS LIKE TO BEGIN THE DISCUSSION WITH A REVIEW OF OUR FUND BALANCE YOU SAW OR HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTS WHAT OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE WAS AT THE END OF LAST FISCAL YEAR, JUNE 30TH OF 2024. IT WAS JUST OVER $50.7 MILLION AND THAT REPRESENTED A 37.4% OF OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 EXPENDITURES AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2024 THE FUND BALANCE WAS 33.8 MILLION OVER THE 12.5% MINIMUM THRESHOLD PER POLICY AND 30.4 MILLION OVER THE 15% TARGET THAT WE'D LIKE TO MEET.
TO DATE YOU HAVE COMMITTED ALMOST 6.1 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE FOR A TYPICAL PURCHASE ORDER.
REAPPROPRIATIONS GRANTS AND DONATIONS THAT STRADDLE MULTIPLE FISCAL YEARS.
THERE WAS AN INSURANCE RECOVERY THAT WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY CARRIED FORWARD.
THE REPAIR OCCURRED IN THIS FISCAL YEAR. WE RECEIVED THE FUNDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND THE LARGEST COMMITMENT, OF COURSE, WAS THE 3.829 MILLION THAT YOU COMMITTED TO HELP PURCHASE $7 MILLION OF FIRE AND EMS APPARATUS.
[00:05:04]
THERE WAS ALSO A POLICE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE APPROVED ALONG WITH A TRACTOR FOR OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENT.AND WE COVERED OUR SOME OF OUR BOND ISSUANCE COSTS THAT EXCEEDED WHAT WE HAD INITIALLY ESTIMATED.
THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAS MADE A REQUEST TO HAVE REAPPROPRIATED THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE FUND BALANCE IN FY 2024 TO MAKE SOME CAPITAL PURCHASES. THAT AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THAT $2,082,000 APPROPRIATION IS ON YOUR AGENDA FOR NEXT TUESDAY. SO IF THAT INITIATIVE OR THAT REQUEST IS APPROVED, YOU WOULD HAVE 42.58 MILLION REMAINING, WHICH DOES REPRESENT 27.7% OF THIS FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGETED EXPENDITURES.
SO JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE MENTIONED WHAT THE BALANCE WOULD BE, THAT IS 19.5 MILLION, MORE THAN 15% OF YOUR CURRENT YEAR EXPENDITURES.
SO WE ARE NOT CLOSE TO THAT THRESHOLD. WE ARE FAR ABOVE THE REQUIRED THRESHOLD.
OKAY. SO I INCLUDED SOME INFORMATION THAT COMPARES OUR TAX RATES TO OUR NEIGHBORING LOCALITIES.
PRINCE GEORGE, OF COURSE, YOUR CURRENT REAL ESTATE TAX RATE IS $0.82.
WE ARE LOWER THAN CHESTERFIELD, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, DINWIDDIE, HOPEWELL AND PETERSBURG.
WE ARE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN SOME OF THE SMALLER LOCALITIES THAT SURROUND US SURREY, SUSSEX, CHARLES CITY AND POWHATAN. FOR A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, YOU ARE CURRENTLY AT 390.
WE ARE LOWER THAN DINWIDDIE, PETERSBURG, SURREY AND SUSSEX.
FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, FOR MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX.
WE ARE AT $1.50 AND ONLY CHESTERFIELD AND SURREY ARE LOWER THAN US, SO WE ARE CERTAINLY NEAR THE BOTTOM WITH OUR MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX RATE. MOST LOCALITIES BUDGET OR HAVE THE SAME RATE FOR REAL ESTATE.
FOR MOBILE HOMES. THERE ARE A FEW THAT DIFFER SLIGHTLY.
WE HAVE THAT $0.82. OUR HOTEL OR LODGING TAX IS 7% AND OF COURSE CHESTERFIELD, COLONIAL HEIGHTS. DINWIDDIE. HOPEWELL. PETERSBURG OR HIGHER.
MEALS TAX. WE ARE AT 4%. COLONIAL HEIGHTS IS AT SIX AND A HALF.
HOPEWELL IS AT SIX, WITH PETERSBURG AT 7 AND SURRY AT 6.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF LOCALITIES THAT DO NOT HAVE A MEALS TAX.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, POWHATAN, NORTH SUSSEX CURRENTLY HAVE A MEALS TAX.
YOUR BUDGETED REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUE TODAY IS 30.7 MILLION.
PERSONAL PROPERTY IS JUST OVER 12. MACHINERY AND TOOLS WAS ADOPTED AT 917.
BUT IF THE BOARD MIGHT RECALL, YOU AMENDED THE BUDGET BASED ON ACTUAL FY 24 COLLECTIONS TO ASSIST IN PAYING A REBATE TO AN INDUSTRIAL COMPANY WHO HAD DONE A LARGE EXPANSION.
MOBILE TAX. MOBILE HOME TAX IS BUDGETED AT 152,000, AND OUR LODGING TAX IS SPLIT BETWEEN THE GENERAL FUND AND THE TOURISM FUND. 340 IS IN THE GENERAL FUND. 850,000 IS IN THE TOURISM FUND, AND MEALS TAX IS ALL WITHIN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND AT $1.7 MILLION. SO WE'LL START BY LOOKING AT OUR REVENUE. SO OUR REAL ESTATE, OUR REASSESSMENT REMAINS ONGOING.
MR. STOKE AND I PARTICIPATED WITH A CALL WITH OUR INTERNAL STAFF AND VISION THIS MORNING AT NINE.
THE ESTIMATES FOR REVENUE PROJECTING ARE BEING FINE TUNED, AND WE HOPE TO HAVE SOME INFORMATION.
WE HAVE A FOLLOW UP MEETING THIS FRIDAY AND OF COURSE THERE'S REAL ESTATE TAX RATES APPLY TO NOT ONLY YOUR REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUES BUT ALSO MOBILE HOME AND PUBLIC SERVICE TAXES. WE DO HOPE TO PROVIDE THOSE ESTIMATES TO THE BOARD PRIOR TO YOUR NEXT BUDGET WORK SESSION, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 26TH, NEXT WEDNESDAY, AND DISCUSS AT THAT WORK SESSION ANY IMPACTS OF EQUALIZATION OR REVENUES THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION.
[00:10:09]
EITHER FULLY TO EQUALIZE OR IN PART AND WE WILL SEEK AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE THE TAX RATES IF POSSIBLE ON MARCH 13TH FOLLOWING THE SCHEDULED PRESENTATION OF YOUR BUDGET ON MARCH 11TH.AND WE DO THAT TO MEET THE NEWSPAPER'S TIMELINE REQUIREMENT FOR ADVERTISING THAT VERY SPECIFIC EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASE, AD. SO WE HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING EXPENDITURE INCREASES TO THE BOARD. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, BUT ON A HIGH LEVEL WE'RE LOOKING AT AN INCREASE IN HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COST OF MANDATED 3% PAY INCREASE FOR STATE SUPPORTED LOCAL POSITIONS, WHICH INCLUDE YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES THROUGH THE COMP BOARD FOR FUNDED STAFF AND THE COMP BOARD DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES REGISTRAR AND ELECTORAL BOARD MEMBERS, ALONG WITH RIVERSIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY.
AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A MUST DO AND WE WILL RECEIVE SOME INCREASED STATE FUNDING.
BUT THERE IS A LOCAL COMPONENT TO THAT. WE'VE COMMUNICATED TO YOU INFORMATION ABOUT PROVIDING A STEP INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND A CAREER DEVELOPMENT INCREASE FOR 16 POLICE OFFICERS.
WE'VE TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT PROVIDING A MARKET RAID FOR TEN NON PUBLIC SAFETY POSITIONS.
WE HAVE ALSO TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OR THE REALLY THE MUST DO FOR PROVIDING A SCALE INCREASE FOR SHERIFF DEPUTIES AND ATTORNEYS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO MEET COMP BOARD MINIMUM SALARIES.
WE HAVE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO PROVIDE A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT ON THE SCALE FOR POLICE AND FIRE AND NON PUBLIC SAFETY AT 3.5%. YOU'VE ALSO SEEN DEPARTMENT REQUESTS FOR NEW STAFF AND SOME RECLASSIFICATIONS.
SOME OF THOSE ARE STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVES.
SOME ARE DRIVEN BY WORKLOAD DEMANDS, POPULATION GROWTH, AND SOME ARE MORE OF A REGULATORY NEED TO REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH STATE STANDARDS. SO PROVIDING THE PRESENTATION THIS EVENING, WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING TO HAVE TO INCREASE FOR RIVERSIDE JAIL, CRATER YOUTH CARE COMMISSION.
MANY OF OUR OTHER REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS APPOMATTOX LIBRARY SYSTEM DISTRICT 19 COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD, AND A REQUEST MADE BY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE'LL ALSO GO OVER CHANGES TO DEBT COMMITMENTS PENDING THIS EVENING.
THERE IS A JOINT CHAIR. VICE CHAIR MEETING SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY EVENING.
THERE ARE ALSO SOME INCREASES IN COSTS FOR SOFTWARE, SOME CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS THAT WE MUST MEET.
ELECTRICAL SLIGHT INCREASE AND VEHICLE FUEL ACTUALLY HAS GONE DOWN.
THE ITEM. THERE ARE SOME ALSO SOME ITEMS THAT ARE DETERMINED AFTER WE DETERMINE THE VALUE OF A PENNY, HOW MUCH WE MUST DEVOTE FOR APPARATUS AND FIRE AND EMS EQUIPMENT AND THEN WE ARE AWAITING FINAL ACTIONS FROM THE STATE.
BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE HAVE MADE MENTION OF PROVIDING A ONE TIME BONUS FOR STATE SUPPORTED LOCAL POSITIONS, IN ADDITION TO THAT 3% RAISE. THEY DO DIFFER IN THE DATE FOR PROVIDING THE BONUS AND THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BONUS TO PROVIDE.
CURRENTLY THIS FISCAL YEAR, YOUR BUDGET IS 30,750,000.
THAT IS WHERE WE WOULD RECOMMEND THEY STAY. WE DO NOT TYPICALLY BUDGET ROLLBACK TAXES, BUT THAT JUST GIVES YOU SOME INFORMATION ON COLLECTIONS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. SO AGAIN WE AWAIT INFORMATION ON OUR REAL ESTATE TAXES.
[00:15:07]
WE ARE USING 2024 VALUES FOR 2026 PROJECTIONS RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE I AM MEETING WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE AND HER TEAM THIS FRIDAY TO TALK ABOUT THE TIMELINE AND THE STATUS OF PREPARATION OF THAT BOOK OR THOSE ASSESSMENTS.FOR RIGHT NOW, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE LEAVE THOSE AMOUNTS LEVEL UNTIL WE HAVE BETTER INFORMATION, BUT WE DO RECOMMEND INCREASING DELINQUENT PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE ESTIMATES BY 200,000.
WE WOULD ALSO RECOMMEND THAT YOU WE LEAVE THAT TAX RATE AT 390.
THE BOARD MAY RECALL IN APRIL OF 2022, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE WAS LOWERED FROM 4.25 TO 390 AND THE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE FEE WAS ELIMINATED. SO THIS PROVIDES SOME HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS. AGAIN, THOSE ARE BUDGETED AT 12,052,000.
THE CURRENT RATE IS 390 AND ANY ACTIONS TAKEN WHEN YOU SET THE TAX RATES, WHICH WE ARE HOPING TO ADOPT IN APRIL, AFFECTS THE BILLS THAT YOU SEND OUT THIS YEAR, WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM REAL ESTATE.
SO AGAIN, WE ARE RECOMMENDING INITIALLY THAT THE CURRENT COLLECTIONS REMAIN THE SAME AND THAT DELINQUENT TAXES CAN BE INCREASED. THIS PROVIDES SOME INFORMATION THAT I THINK I FURNISHED TO YOU IN SEPTEMBER.
YOU KNOW THAT PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX IS IN THE GREEN SHADING.
OUR MOTOR VEHICLE VALUES ACTUALLY WENT DOWN BY 1.5 MILLION BETWEEN APRIL OF 23 AND APRIL OF 24, WHERE WE HAD INCREASES IN THE ONLY AREA THAT WE HAD INCREASES WAS IN BUSINESS FURNITURE AND FIXTURES.
OUR AIRCRAFT, BOAT, MILITARY, DISCOUNTED VEHICLES, MOTOR VEHICLES AND VEHICLES FOR VOLUNTEERS ALL WENT DOWN. IT IS NOT MOTOR VEHICLES THAT ARE DRIVING INCREASED REVENUES.
THOSE VALUES ARE DROPPING, AS ARE THE TAXES FOR THOSE PARTICULAR CATEGORIES.
SO THE MAJORITY OF TAXPAYERS WHO HAD A VEHICLE, WHO HAD THE SAME VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 23 AND APRIL OF 24, PAID LOWER PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES. IN JUNE OF 24 THAN THEY DID IN JUNE OF 23.
THE ADOPTED BUDGET WAS 917,000. THE BOARD DID MAKE AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THAT TO 01,333,000.
ASSESSMENTS ARE BASED ON A MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX RETURN THAT IS DUE ON FEBRUARY 7TH.
BUT THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO FILE AN EXTENSION UNTIL MARCH 7TH.
WE DO NOT HAVE A GOOD ESTIMATE FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE YET.
BUT I WILL MENTION THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THE GROWTH PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY ONE BUSINESS OWNER.
THE DEPRECIATION OF THE OTHER EXISTING BUSINESS OWNERS OUTPACED THAT GROWTH.
SO WE ARE HAVING TO PAY A REBATE TO SOMEONE WHO IS EXPANDING, BUT WE ARE NOT REALIZING ENOUGH REVENUE TO PAY THAT REBATE BECAUSE WE HAD DEPRECIATION AND LOWER TAX COLLECTIONS FROM OTHER TAXPAYERS.
SO IF THERE IS AN INCREASE, IN ALL LIKELIHOOD WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A TRANSFER TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND TO PAY THAT REBATE FOR EXPANSION AND IT MAY BE LARGER THAN THE GROWTH IN MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX REVENUES.
MOBILE HOMES TAX. THIS HAS KIND OF BEEN A YO-YO.
IT'S NOT A LARGE REVENUE DRIVER. YOUR CURRENT YEAR ADOPTED BUDGET IS 152.
AND RIGHT NOW I'M RECOMMENDING THAT REMAIN THE SAME.
AGAIN, IT THAT IS BASED ON OUR REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE.
IF THE BOARD DOES CHANGE THE TAX RATE FOR REAL ESTATE, IT WON'T IMPACT THOSE COLLECTIONS UNTIL FY 26 AND THAT 152 IS PRETTY MUCH THE AVERAGE COLLECTED BETWEEN 21 AND 23.
PUBLIC SERVICE TAXES. YOUR CURRENT YEAR BUDGET IS 2,850,000.
[00:20:02]
I MENTIONED TO YOU IN JANUARY THAT THOSE REVENUE COLLECTIONS WERE SLUGGISH, THAT IT WAS LOWER THAN WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING AND I DID WORK WITH MISS ROUSEY AND HER TEAM LAST YEAR TO DEVELOP THOSE ESTIMATES AND LO AND BEHOLD, THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH ONE PUBLIC SERVICE ENTITIES ASSESSMENT, AND WE THINK THAT OUR ESTIMATE IS PROBABLY ACCURATE.IT'S JUST THE ASSESSMENT THAT ENTITY WAS USING TO PAY THE TAXES THAT WAS WRONG.
SO WE AWAIT INFORMATION FROM SCC. THEY ARE WORKING WITH THAT ENTITY TO MAKE THOSE CORRECTIONS.
SO AGAIN THAT IS BASED ON YOUR REAL PROPERTY TAX $0.82.
WE WILL HOPEFULLY KNOW MORE WHEN WE GET THOSE ASSESSMENTS AND THOSE PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS ARE YOUR ELECTRIC, GAS TELECOMMUNICATION AND WATER COMPANIES. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? NO, MA'AM. YEP. SO, BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE TAX.
THOSE TAXES ARE DUE ON MARCH 1ST. SO, BASED ON TRENDING, I AM PRELIMINARILY SUGGESTING THAT WE INCREASE THOSE REVENUES BY AND $300 MAY FINE TUNE THIS FOLLOWING THIS WEEK'S MEETING WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE, AND WE WILL CERTAINLY EXAMINE THOSE ACTUAL COLLECTIONS FOR THIS YEAR AFTER MARCH 1ST, AND POTENTIALLY ADJUST THE BUDGET PRIOR TO ADOPTION.
SO, AGAIN, LOOKING AT PRELIMINARILY INCREASING THOSE BY OVER 113,000.
CONSUMER UTILITY TAXES. ELECTRIC AND GAS TAX.
THERE IS NO INFORMATION THAT SUGGESTS THAT WE COULD INCREASE THOSE AT ALL.
OUR TAX, OUR BUDGETS HAVE REMAINED LEVEL FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND WE ACTUALLY HAD SOME SHORT, SOME SMALL SHORTFALLS LAST YEAR. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO REDUCE THOSE BASED ON TRENDING, BUT THERE IS NO SUGGESTION THAT WE COULD INCREASE THOSE.
WE ARE LOWER. WE ARE AT 92% OF WHERE WE WERE LAST JANUARY.
WE ARE COMPARABLE TO WHERE WE WERE IN JANUARY OF 2023, AND OUR ACTUAL COLLECTIONS WERE 04,618,000. SO AGAIN, PRELIMINARILY, I WOULD RECOMMEND LEAVING THE FY 26 SALES TAX FIGURE AT 4.6 MILLION TO MIRROR WHERE COLLECTIONS WERE IN 2023.
THIS JUST DEPICTS A SUMMARY OF THAT. IT SHOWS YOU A LITTLE MORE HISTORY.
INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS. AGAIN, OUR COLLECTIONS ARE HIGH.
INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH TODAY. COLLECTIONS AT JANUARY 31ST WERE 1,802,000.
I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE INCREASE THAT DRAMATICALLY BECAUSE OF THE VOLATILITY OF THE INTEREST RATES AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THOSE INTEREST RATES MAY DROP. THERE'S A LOT OF OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF ACTIVITY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL RIGHT NOW.
BUT I AM RECOMMENDING $100,000 INCREASE ON THOSE INVESTMENTS.
OUR INTEREST, AS YOU CAN SEE, IN FY 21 AND 22, WE SUSTAINED LOSSES OR IN 22, WE SUSTAINED A LOSS AND OUR INTEREST REVENUE BASED ON SOME INVESTMENTS THAT WE HAD IN THE VIRGINIA INVESTMENT POOL BOND FUND.
THERE'S ALSO A LARGER CASH BALANCE. WHEN YOUR FUND BALANCE IS HIGHER, YOU ARE EARNING MORE INTEREST.
SO AGAIN BEING CONSERVATIVE INCREASE THAT BY 100,000.
THIS IS A NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR FY 26. INTEREST ON BANK DEPOSITS.
WE CHANGED TO PREMISE BANK IN JANUARY AND ARE NOW EARNING INTEREST ON OUR MAIN BANK ACCOUNT.
[00:25:02]
TO DATE, AND FOR A PARTIAL MONTH IN DECEMBER, WE EARNED JUST OVER $14,590 IN JANUARY, ANOTHER 29. I'M PROJECTING THAT WE CAN ESTIMATE ABOUT 264,000 IN NEW REVENUE FROM INTEREST ON OUR MAIN BANK ACCOUNT.PERMIT FEES COLLECTED BY THE BUILDING OFFICIAL.
THOSE REVENUES DECREASED PRETTY DRAMATICALLY BETWEEN 23 AND 24.
WE ARE EXPECTING SOME LARGE COMMERCIAL GROWTH, BUT PROBABLY NOT UNTIL FY 27.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE BEING CONSERVATIVE WITH THIS BUT INCREASING IT SLIGHTLY.
PLANNING FEES A VERY SLIGHT INCREASE OF JUST $1,500.
AGAIN BETWEEN 23 AND 24, THOSE REVENUES DRIP DROPPED AND WE BUDGETED SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN FOR 25 AND ARE AT 46% IN DECEMBER. SO NO REAL OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THOSE.
AGAIN, MAYBE SOME LARGER COMMERCIAL PROJECTS IN FY 27.
SO JUST TO MENTION A FEW OTHER GENERAL FUND REVENUE SOURCES THAT HAVE A BALANCE OF OVER 20,000.
PENALTY AND PENALTIES FOR PROPERTY TAXES. ALL PROPERTY TAXES INCREASED BY 130,000.
BASED ON HISTORICAL INFORMATION. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS FOR DELINQUENCIES.
WE BELIEVE WE CAN INCREASE THAT BY 20. BANK STOCK TAX 32,000.
INCREASE FINES AND FORFEITURES $59,000. INCREASE IN HOUSE TRANSPORT FOR MS $30,000 INCREASE AND PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES, WHICH IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS PILT.
WE HAVE SOME FORESTRY PROPERTY AND WE DO RECEIVE A SMALL AMOUNT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
TRENDING INDICATES THAT WE CAN INCREASE THAT BY 2000.
BUT OF COURSE, THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF VOLATILITY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL RIGHT NOW.
COURT ADMINISTRATION COSTS FROM THE CLARK INCREASED BY 9000.
FARMERS MARKET WE NEED TO REDUCE BY 7000 FOR SOME ACCOUNTING CORRECTIONS.
MOBILE HOMES TITLING TAXES $20,000. INCREASE TAX ON AUTO RENTALS $5,000.
INCREASE WIRELESS POINT OF SERVICE PAYMENTS 13,000.
INCREASE AND OUR POLICE FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE HOUSE BILL 599.
ON WE CAN INCREASE THOSE BY 40 BASED ON OUR ACTUAL AWARD FOR FY 25, BUT THAT ENTIRE INCREASE WILL REMAIN IN THE PD WAGES. SO THAT IS BUDGET NEUTRAL. SO GRANT REVENUES.
I BELIEVE WE'VE COMMUNICATED TO THE BOARD THAT WE ARE GOING TO LOSE CONTINUATION FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER GRANTS AT MIDDLE ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SOUTH AND BEASLEY. WE DID RECEIVE A NEW NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRANT IN JULY OF 2024, AND WE WILL BE BUDGETING A CONTINUATION GRANT AT HARRISON.
SO THAT WILL BE A REDUCTION IN SRO GRANT FUNDING OF $125,000.
THERE WILL BE SOME DISCUSSION AT THIS WEEK'S JOINT SCHOOL BOARD.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. CHAIR. VICE CHAIR MEETING.
OPERATION CEASEFIRE. WE RECEIVED. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY GRANT IN 2023.
NO REAL IMPACT TO THE BUDGET. THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY DID RECEIVE TWO ADDITIONAL GRANTS.
AND WE ARE BUDGETING THE IMPACT OF THOSE GRANTS AND FY 26.
AND THOSE ARE REALLY BUDGET NEUTRAL AS WELL. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO RECEIVED FUNDING FROM DCJS TO. EMPLOY A NEW POLICE OFFICER AND THAT INCREASED REVENUE WILL BE BUDGETED IN FY 26 AND THAT POSITION WILL CONTINUE. VICTIM WITNESS.
[00:30:04]
WE DON'T KNOW THE AWARD WHEN WE ADOPT THE BUDGET AND THAT AWARD FOR FY 25 IS HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED BY ABOUT $7,100. THAT VICTIM WITNESS GRANT IS IN PART FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE AND THE FEDS AND AGAIN, I MAY MENTION THAT THERE IS SOME FEDERAL VOLATILITY OR FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME OUR RECOVERY COURT TREATMENT GRANT, WHICH IS A STATE GRANT, WE WILL BE LEAVING THAT AT 90,000 AND WE ALSO RECEIVE A LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING GRANT THAT HELPS US PAY PART OF THE SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR.SO COMPENSATION BOARD REVENUES ARE TYPICALLY NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL MAY 1ST.
PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES HAVE BEEN MADE. PULLING IN THAT MANDATED 3% INCREASE FOR FY 26.
THE GOVERNOR DID PROPOSE THAT, AND BOTH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE SUPPORTED THAT 3% INCREASE AND ACTUALLY MADE MENTION OF PROVIDING A ONE TIME BONUS IN FY 26 FOR THOSE POSITIONS FUNDED POSITIONS AS WELL.
IF YOU RECALL, THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY RECEIVED AN ADDED ASSISTANT COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY POSITION THAT WE AMENDED TO THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET SO THAT FUNDING WILL CONTINUE, BUT SO WILL THAT POSITION IN FY 26.
WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT RIGHT NOW.
THAT POSITION TURNED OVER AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OTHER TURNOVER IN THAT OFFICE.
SO THOSE ARE REVENUES MAY NEED TO BE ADJUSTED.
BUT ALL TOLD WE ARE EXPECTING THOSE REVENUES TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 146,000.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS DUE TO THAT ADDED POSITION IN THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THAT WILL BE BUDGETED FOR FY 26. SOCIAL SERVICES. THE AMOUNT OF FEDERAL AND STATE SOCIAL SERVICES REVENUE DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH THEY SPEND, QUITE FRANKLY.
IT IS REIMBURSEMENT BASED, AND WE ESTIMATE THAT ABOUT 65.9% OF MOST EXPENDITURES WITHIN DSS ADMIN BUDGET ARE STATE OR FEDERAL, AND THAT LOCAL IS ABOUT 34.1%.
TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE MANDATED, THE HEALTH INSURANCE ESTIMATE, THE 3% INCREASE FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES AND PROVIDING A GRADE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SPECIALISTS, THREE WOULD WARRANT OR GARNER ABOUT 82,000 MORE IN REVENUE.
THE CURRENT WELFARE ADMINISTRATION REVENUE IS 2.118 8 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, THE FINAL REVENUE ESTIMATES WILL BE IMPACTED ON THE OTHER CHOICES OR PRIORITIES THAT THE BOARD MAKES FOR OTHER PAY IMPROVEMENTS. ANY NEW POSITIONS THAT MISJUDGE REQUESTED THAT YOU END UP APPROVING AND WHETHER OR NOT SOCIAL SERVICES COMPLETES THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN AND FY 26, THAT REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE.
SO CSA CHILDREN'S SERVICES ACT. TOTAL EXPENDITURES ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT 2,559,000.
WHILE NON-EDUCATION RELATED SUCH AS FOSTER CARE ARE DECREASING BY THE SAME AMOUNT.
SO THERE IS NO CHANGE IN PROJECTED STATE REVENUES.
HOWEVER, THE SCHOOLS TYPICALLY TRANSFER TO US, THE LOCAL PART OF EDUCATION RELATED CSA SERVICES AT THE REQUEST OF A PRIOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. WE USED TO TAKE THAT OFF THE TOP OF THE LOCAL TRANSFER TO SCHOOLS, BUT A PREVIOUS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ASKED THAT WE GIVE THEM THE WHOLE THING AND THEN HAVE THEM TRANSFER BACK THE CSA LOCAL MATCH.
AND THAT WOULD INCREASE BY ABOUT 24,000. SO ANY QUESTIONS ON REVENUES BEFORE WE START THE ANY QUESTIONS. EXPENDITURES.
THIS IS A LOT TO DIGEST. SO PLEASE STOP ME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
GOTCHA. YEAH. SO THE EXPENDITURE REQUESTS, AS YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD, ARE A
[00:35:02]
LENGTHY AND A LOT, BUT WE ALL START TONIGHT WITH OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS, OUR REGIONAL CONTRACTS, OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS. THE REQUESTS THAT THOSE OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE MADE ARE JUST OVER 4.44 MILLION AND THE RECOMMENDED AWARDS ARE UNDER THREE, 4.4 MILLION, ABOUT 4.386.AND WOULD BE 181,000 MORE THAN THE CURRENT YEAR.
SEVERAL ARE CHOICES AND WILL REQUIRE MORE DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS.
BUT RIVERSIDE REGIONAL JAIL. THIS INCREASE IS ACTUALLY SMALLER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN MANY PAST YEARS, BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT ABOUT 44,600 MORE. BASED ON LEAVING THAT PER DIEM AT $52.
AND I HAVE A FEW MORE SLIDES LATER IN THE PRESENTATION THAT DRILL DOWN INTO THAT ESTIMATE.
CRATER YOUTH CARE COMMISSION. OUR CENSUS IS UP AND THEY HAVE MADE SOME CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND OUR INCREASE IS BIGGER THAN WHAT WE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO RIVERSIDE JAIL.
SO THAT PROJECTED INCREASE IS GOING FROM 399,000 TO 445,000.
OUR APPOMATTOX REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM HAS REQUESTED 21,000 MORE.
DISTRICT 19 HAS REQUESTED JUST UNDER 19,000 MORE.
AND THOSE ARE TYPICALLY PUT IN OUR MUST DO CATEGORY.
AND FOR FY 25, THEY'RE REQUESTING $8,000 MORE AND THIS WILL BE PUT ON YOUR CHOICES.
AND BASICALLY THAT IS TO FUND A PART OF A NEW ENVIRONMENTAL STATE EMPLOYEE FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HANDLE INCREASED VOLUME FOR PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, THE CITY OF HOPEWELL.
WE CURRENTLY SHARE A LAW INTERN. THE CITY OF HOPEWELL IS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THE SIXTH DISTRICT FOR THAT POSITION, AND WE WOULD NEED TO BUDGET 9000 MORE KEEPING THAT FUNDING ARRANGEMENT IN PLACE.
WE HAVE A MEETING WITH THE JUDGE THAT WE PLAN ON VIDEOING.
WHERE FOR A SECOND OPTION. HE HAS REQUESTED THAT POSITION BE CONVERTED FROM AN INTERN TO A STAFF ATTORNEY, AND THAT WE TAKE OVER THE FISCAL AGENT RESPONSIBILITY FROM HOPEWELL.
AND IN YOUR LIST OF POSITIONS, I HAVE INITIALLY PUT IN THERE AS A PLACEHOLDER THAT COST, WE WOULD BEAR ABOUT 45% OF THAT COST AND BILL HOPEWELL AND THE OTHER SIX DISTRICT LOCALITIES FOR THAT INCREASE.
SO THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SOME ORGANIZATION FUNDING REQUESTS MADE THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICES.
CRATER AREA AGENCY ON AGING. WE HAVE NOT PROVIDED FUNDING TO THEM.
IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. THEY HAVE MADE A REQUEST OF $12,000.
SO THAT WOULD BE A $12,000 INCREASE OVER WHAT IS BUDGETED THIS YEAR, WHICH IS ZERO.
MISS JUDGE HAS, I BELIEVE, BEEN NAMED TO THAT BOARD.
HOPEWELL PRINCE GEORGE HEALTHY FAMILIES HAS MADE A $10,000 REQUEST.
WE REACHED OUT TO THE PRINCE GEORGE FOOD BANK AND ASKED IF THEY WANTED TO SUBMIT A REQUEST, AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED. WE DID NOT RECEIVE A FUNDING REQUEST BY THE DEADLINE.
JAMES HOUSE, WE CURRENTLY PROVIDE 3500. THEY HAVE ASKED FOR 1500 MORE, AND WE DO NOT RECEIVE ANY FEDERAL OR STATE REIMBURSEMENT FOR THOSE CONTRIBUTION ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES BUDGET.
[00:40:07]
THEM MAKING A COUNTY CONTRIBUTION OR REQUEST TO RECEIVE A COUNTY CONTRIBUTION, AND WE DID NOT RECEIVE THE REQUEST.WE ALSO RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE CENTRAL VIRGINIA LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF $5,000.
SO WE ARE ALREADY PROVIDING I BELIEVE IT'S $7,500 FOR A CAMP COUNSELOR.
SO THIS JUST RECAPS AND SUMMARY THESE NEXT TWO SLIDES.
WHAT I JUST SHARED WITH YOU THE CRATER HEALTH DISTRICT, THE JAIL YOUTH CARE COMMISSION, CRATER YOUTH CARE COMMISSION, THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD, APPOMATTOX REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM, THE TRAINING ACADEMY FOR POLICE AND SHERIFF JAMES RIVER SOIL AND CONSERVATION, MADE A MINOR REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE OF $1,500.
OUR CENTRAL VIRGINIA WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY CONTRIBUTION WILL ACTUALLY GO DOWN BY ABOUT $265.
THE GREENSVILLE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT WE SHARE A CLERICAL SUPPORT STAFF WITH THE SIXTH DISTRICT.
GREENSVILLE IS THE FISCAL AGENT. WE ARE PROJECTING ABOUT A $544 INCREASE IN THAT.
THAT IS OPTION ONE. OTHER REQUESTS. SENIOR NAVIGATOR, WHICH IS IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES BUDGET, DID NOT CHANGE. I MENTIONED THE JAMES HOUSE, HOPEWELL, PRINCE GEORGE, HEALTHY FAMILIES, THE CRATER AREA AGENCY ON AGING COLONIAL HEIGHTS FOOD PANTRY. WE DID NOT RECEIVE A REQUEST FROM THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY FOOD BANK.
WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT THOSE ON YOUR CHOICE LIST.
SO TO DIVE A LITTLE MORE DEEPLY INTO THE RIVERSIDE JAIL.
OUR CENSUS IS SLIGHTLY UP AND HAS INCREASED IN FY 25.
WE DO RECEIVE AN ESTIMATE FROM THE JAIL. HOWEVER, WE LOOK AT IT INTERNALLY AND WE ARE ACTUALLY PLANNING TO BUDGET MORE THAN WHAT THE JAIL IS SUGGESTING. WE HAVE HAD TO COME TO THE BOARD IN PRIOR YEARS TO ASK FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION.
WHEN THE CENSUS HAS REALLY ESCALATED AND WE HAVE NOT HAD TO DO THAT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE PER DIEM IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT $52, AND THERE IS A RIVERSIDE JAIL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 20TH.
MR. STOKES PLANS ON ATTENDING THAT ON THURSDAY.
IF THEY HAVE IT LIVE OR VIRTUALLY. SO THIS JUST GIVES YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE BILLABLE DAYS BY MONTH ON A FISCAL YEAR BASIS AND WE ARE A LITTLE HIGHER THAN WHERE WE WERE THIS SAME TIME LAST YEAR.
AGAIN, THIS SHOWS YOU ALSO AT THE BOTTOM HOW THE PER DIEMS OF THE JAIL HAVE CHANGED AND FY 2018, THE PER DIEM WAS $40 AND IT HAS INCREMENTALLY INCREASED IN 2020.
IT WENT UP TO 43 IN 2021 TO 46. THERE WAS A MID-YEAR INCREASE DURING FY 22 FROM 46 TO 50.
IN 23 IT WENT UP TO 5150, AND AT 24 AND 25 IT WAS AT $52 AND THAT IS WHERE IT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN FOR FY 26. SO WE ARE ESTIMATING OUR BUDGET ON 3900 BILLABLE DAYS PER MONTH, WITH AN AVERAGE CENSUS OF ABOUT 130 IN THE PRISON.
SO THAT WOULD BE LET'S SEE. I DON'T HAVE THE FISCAL YEAR ON THERE, BUT IT WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF THE 46,600 GOING FROM 2,4492 TO 24,938. RIVERSIDE JAIL ACTUALLY SAID THAT WE COULD BUDGET 2,000,403. AND WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO BUDGET 90,000 MORE THAN THAT.
SO WE DON'T FACE THE RISK OF HAVING TO COME BACK AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY.
OKAY. FOR PERSONNEL, WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BENEFITS.
[00:45:05]
THERE IS NO EXPECTED RATE INCREASE FOR VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEM.WE HAVE OUR WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE WITH V CORPS AND NO RATE CHANGES ARE EXPECTED.
WE DID RECEIVE THAT IN WRITING BY EMAIL FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVE.
WE DO EXPECT TO SEE AN INCREASE IN OUR EXPERIENCE MODIFICATION FOR FY 26, BUT THE IMPACT IS EXPECTED TO BE MINOR, AND THERE WILL ALSO BE A SMALL INCREASE IN OUR LINE OF DUTY ACT INSURANCE THAT WE PAY FOR PAID AND VOLUNTEER AND AUXILIARY STAFF IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND FOR OUR SHERIFF AND DEPUTIES, HAZARDOUS DUTY EMPLOYEES, HEALTH INSURANCE. WE PROVIDED INFORMATION TO THE BOARD PREVIOUSLY TO INDICATE THAT WE THINK WE NEED TO BUDGET AN 11% INCREASE IN OUR HEALTH INSURANCE RATES, AND WE HAVE BUDGETED TO SHARE THAT WITH THE EMPLOYEE.
SO THE EMPLOYEE AND THE COUNTY WOULD SEE AN INCREASE FOR FY 26 AND THE ESTIMATED COST IS 377,000.
THE GENERAL FUND PART OF PART OF THAT IS ABOUT 309, WHEN WE CONSIDER THE INCREASE IN REVENUE ESTIMATES FROM SOCIAL SERVICES. CORRIE AND I DO HAVE A MEETING WITH OUR HEALTH INSURANCE CONSULTANT ON FRIDAY MORNING.
WE'RE HOPING THAT MAYBE THAT 11% MIGHT GO DOWN.
WE'RE NOT SURE. SO WE WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE BOARD WITH BETTER INFORMATION WHEN WE HAVE IT.
WE DID REALIZE THE SAVINGS AND OUR BASELINE COMPLEMENT OF EMPLOYEES.
AGAIN, THE STATE IS PROPOSING AND THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE SUPPORTING A MANDATORY 3% PAY INCREASE FOR STATE SUPPORTED LOCAL EMPLOYEES, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST.
WE ARE ALSO REQUESTING AS A MINIMAL INCREASE AT THE VERY MINIMUM, TO DO A STEP INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY AND NON PUBLIC SAFETY, TO BRING THEIR EXPERIENCE LEVEL TO JUNE 30TH OF 2025 AND TO PROVIDE A CAREER DEVELOPMENT INCREASE FOR 16 POLICE OFFICERS WHO MET THAT CAREER DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENT.
THE GENERAL FUND IMPACT IS ABOUT 537 EIGHT. THE COST IS 658,000.
LESS REVENUES THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE FROM THE STATE OF ABOUT 20,000 FROM SOCIAL SERVICES.
THAT COST DOES INCLUDE SCALE IMPROVEMENTS FOR ATTORNEYS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES TO MEET THE COMP BOARD SCALE MINIMUMS. ANOTHER 92,000 IS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE TEN POSITIONS WITH A MARKET SCALE INCREASE.
AN INCREASE IN THEIR GRADE TO BRING THEIR RANGE TO THE REGIONAL MARKET AVERAGE.
THE GENERAL FUND IMPACT AGAIN IS JUST OVER 92,000.
SO THE BASE COMPENSATION REQUEST IS 630,000. WE ARE REQUESTING, BASED ON PUBLIC SAFETY COMPARISONS AND STRUGGLES WE ARE HAVING TO FILL POSITIONS AND SOME SLIGHT, SOME BACKSLIDE ON OUR SCALE WITHIN THE REGIONAL MARKET.
5% COST OF LIVING, INCREASE ON THE SCALE TO FIREFIGHTER PAY RANGES, AND TO MAKE SOME STRUCTURAL RANGE IMPROVEMENTS FOR FIREFIGHTER MEDICS AND THE OFFICERS WITHIN FIRE AND EMS.
[00:50:06]
ALSO, WE ARE REQUESTING THE SAME FOR POLICE OFFICERS.THE COSTS OF DOING THAT IS 175 FOR FIRE AND 291 FIVE FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
WE ARE REQUESTING THE 3.5% MARKET SCALE ADJUSTMENT FOR NON PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES.
WE HAVE NOT ADJUSTED THE NON PUBLIC SAFETY SCALES SINCE JULY 1ST OF 2022.
WE ARE ALSO RECORDING IF WE ALL PROVIDED THAT 3.5% MARKET SCALE ADJUSTMENT FOR NON PUBLIC SAFETY, THOSE TEN EMPLOYEE OR TEN POSITIONS RECOMMENDED FOR MARKET REGRADE.
THE COST ALSO INCREASES FOR THOSE. SO ANOTHER 940,000 FOR THOSE ADDED PAY INCREASE INITIATIVES TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE REGIONAL MARKET AND TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT.
NONE OF THIS GETS US AT THE TOP, BUT IT GETS US CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE OF THE PACK.
WE WILL NOT BE AT THE TOP. WE WOULD BE IN THE MIDDLE OR CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE.
SO THERE ARE SOME EXPENDITURES THAT ARE DRIVEN BY THE VALUE OF A PENNY, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE YET.
OF COURSE, THE BOARD HAS DEVOTED TWO PENNIES OF THE REAL ESTATE TAX DOLLAR TO FIRE AN EMS APPARATUS INITIATIVES AND WE WILL HAVE A DEBT PAYMENT FOR THE NEWLY PURCHASED AND CURRENTLY BEING PURCHASED APPARATUS OF ABOUT 700,000.
TO DEVOTE TWO PENNIES TO APPARATUS AND THEN THE BOARD HAS DEVOTED A PENNY BY COUNTY CODE, SECTION 74 SIX TO FIRE AND EMS EQUIPMENT. WE HAVE ONE DEBT SERVICE OUTSTANDING FOR FIRE AND EMS EQUIPMENT OF ABOUT 85,000 FOR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS THAT WAS PURCHASED WITH SERIES 2022 BONDS.
SO THE SAME IS TRUE. WE WILL MAKE A TRANSFER TO THE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT FUND FOR THE VALUE OF A PENNY MINUS THAT $85,000 DEBT PAYMENT. WE NEED THE PENNY VALUE TO MAKE THOSE CALCULATIONS.
RCJA, WE MAKE A GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION TO RCJA.
WE HAVE. THAT IS A REGIONAL AGENCY THAT SERVES NOT ONLY PRINCE GEORGE, BUT HOPEWELL AND SURREY AND FROM PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES, OUR CONTRIBUTION IS EXPECTED TO GO DOWN SLIGHTLY.
VEHICLES AND BUSSES. WE ARE CURRENTLY CASH FUNDING, COUNTY VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PURCHASES, AND SCHOOL BUSSES FOR FY 25 AT AN AMOUNT OF 993,000.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING TO AT LEAST KEEP THAT CASH FUNDING IN PLACE FOR FY 26, BUT TO CONSIDER INFLATIONARY INCREASES IF THEY ARE POSSIBLE. SCHOOL BUSSES? WE ARE CONTRIBUTING $543,000 TO PURCHASE BUSSES IN FY 25. THE SCHOOL DIVISION DID REQUEST MORE, BUT ULTIMATELY THE BOARD WAS NOT ABLE TO APPROVE THAT $98,000 INCREASE AND PART OF THE REQUEST THEY'RE MAKING FOR CARRYOVER FUNDING THAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT WEEK.
IT'S IN BOARD DOCS NOW. IS TO BUY THREE BUSSES WITH THEIR CARRYOVER FUNDING TO GET AHEAD OF THAT SMOOTHED PURCHASING MODEL THAT THEY USE. SO AGAIN, WE ARE REQUESTING INITIALLY TO ATLEAST LEAVE THAT AT THE SAME AMOUNT SO THEY DON'T FALL BEHIND ON BUS REPLACEMENT PURCHASES AND THEN TO AT LEAST APPROVE 450,000 FOR REPLACEMENT COUNTY VEHICLES.
ALL THE VEHICLES THAT WE REPLACED IN FY 2025 WERE PUBLIC SAFETY.
COUPLE FOR FIRE, MOST FOR POLICE AND ONE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
[00:55:01]
POSSIBLY INCREASE THAT 450 TO AT LEAST 500. BECAUSE WE BECAUSE OF INFLATIONARY CONSIDERATIONS, VEHICLE COSTS HAVE GONE UP. SO IN FY 2026, WE WILL MAKE OUR FIRST GENERAL FUND PAYMENT TO L3 HARRIS FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO PROJECT, AND THAT PRICE TAG IS $559,000 TO PREPARE FOR THAT. WE DID INCLUDE SOME LARGER OR ONE TIME INITIATIVES OR THINGS THAT WE HOPED WERE ONE TIME INITIATIVES, SO THAT WE COULD SWAP THOSE OUT IN FY 26, AND THIS IS WHAT THAT LIST LOOKED LIKE.SOME OF THE THINGS, HOWEVER, ARE REALLY NOT ONE TIME.
THE ITEM AT THE VERY TOP WAS THE COMP PLAN UPDATE.
THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICING THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM THE BERKELEY GROUP TO DATE.
THEY ARE DOING A DIAGNOSTIC ON THOSE ORDINANCES, BUT NOT THE ACTUAL RECOMMENDED UPDATES.
SO THAT WILL COME IN FY 26 AND THAT FUNDING WILL NEED TO REMAIN.
SOME MONEY WAS SET ASIDE TO DO SOME IMPROVEMENTS FOR PARKS AND RECREATION.
SCOTT PARK PLAYGROUND AND TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE CENTRAL WELLNESS CENTER.
TURKEY TROT TRAIL AND THEN SOME ONE TIME INITIATIVES FOR THE IT DEPARTMENT.
THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE FOR GENERAL SERVICES AND A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES FOR PURCHASING FIREARMS, EQUIPMENT AND AND UPDATE TO THE EOC VIDEO CONFERENCING SYSTEM.
YOU KNOW, THOSE REQUESTS WERE ONE TIME IN NATURE.
HOWEVER, MOST INSTANCES IF YOU HAVE LISTENED TO BUDGET REQUESTS.
SO AGAIN, THINGS THAT WE HAD HOPED WERE ONE TIME SOME WE CAN REALIZE SOME SAVINGS, BUT NOT ALL.
WE ARE ACTUALLY SEEING COUNTY WIDE THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REDUCE OUR VEHICLE FUEL BY ABOUT 38,000.
WE ARE SEEING INFLATIONARY INCREASES IN OUR REPAIR AND JANITORIAL SUPPLIES.
OUR MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS, NET OF THAT WHOPPER TO L3 HARRIS, ARE ABOUT 71,000 AND SOME OF THIS IS DRIVEN BY THE STATE HELPING US PAY FOR OUR FIRE AND EMS PLATFORM CALLED ESO, THAT THEY WILL NOT BE HELPING US PAY IN FY 26, WE ARE ALSO SEEING INFLATIONARY INCREASES IN UNIFORMS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND OTHER OFFICES WHO HAVE UNIFORMS, TURNOUT GEAR, AND I AM STILL EVALUATING THOSE CHANGES AND REQUESTS FOR SUPPLIES, TRAINING SOFTWARE AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND WE'LL PROBABLY BE DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THIS WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND.
SOME OF THOSE REQUESTS ARE BASED ON INFLATION.
SOME ARE BASED ON REGULATORY CHANGES, LIKE OUR MEDICATION.
FOR FIRE AND EMS AMBULANCE, THE STATE IS NO LONGER ALLOWING US OR HOSPITAL ALLOWING HOSPITALS TO REPLENISH THOSE MEDICATIONS AND THEN SOME ARE SIMPLY BECAUSE THE STATE IS NO LONGER SUPPORTING CERTAIN COSTS THAT THEY DID PREVIOUSLY. SOME OF THOSE REQUESTS ARE ALSO TIED TO NEW STAFF, TO NEW POSITIONS.
SO I WANT TO SIFT ALL OF THOSE CHANGES OUT. SO DEPARTMENT STRATEGIC PLANS.
WE ARE ALL WE. AS I MENTIONED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WE ARE REQUESTING TO LEAVE THAT 100,000 IN PLACE AND THIS JUDGE HAS ALSO MADE A REQUEST TO HAVE THE PLAN DONE FOR HER DEPARTMENT. THAT WOULD BE STATE REIMBURSABLE AT ABOUT 66%.
[01:00:05]
BUT I KNOW, AS I'VE COMMUNICATED IN PAST YEARS, WE TRY TO CONTRIBUTE SOME MONIES TO DEBT RESERVES FOR WHEN WE DO HAVE CAPITAL SPENDING, WHEN OUR DEBT CAPACITY ALLOWS US TO FUND PROJECTS TO MITIGATE POSSIBLE TAX INCREASES. THIS YEAR, OUR COUNTY DEBT OBLIGATIONS ARE FOR FY 26.OUR COUNTY DEBT OBLIGATIONS WILL BE ABOUT 3.8 MILLION 132,000 LESS THAN THIS YEAR.
SCHOOL DEBT OBLIGATIONS ARE FALLING BY ABOUT 15,000 TO 2.7 MILLION.
SO THIS YEAR WE ARE CONTRIBUTING TO RESERVES.
$464,000. IF WE LEFT THE CONTRIBUTION THE SAME, WE WOULD CONTRIBUTE 611,000 TO RESERVES AND FY 26 AND THAT IS THE DROP IN THE DEBT PAYMENT.
BUT KEEPING OUR GENERAL FUND CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEBT FUND.
THE SAME AT THE END OF FY 24, WE ACTUALLY HAD 4.4 MILLION IN THE DEBT RESERVE IN THE DEBT FUND RESERVED FOR FUTURE PROJECTS, AND THAT WAS UP FROM 3.6 THE PRIOR YEAR.
I KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO PUT MORE INTO A DEBT FUND AND DEBT RESERVE.
WHEN YOU ARE MET WITH SO MANY OPERATING INCREASE REQUESTS.
THIS WAS YOUR CONTINGENCY. YOUR ADOPTED CONTINGENCY THIS YEAR WAS JUST UNDER 100,000 TO DATE.
YOU CAN YOU'VE ACTUALLY TRANSFERRED 59,000 TO PAY THE LOCAL MATCH FOR THE NEW SRO AT NORTH AND 369 FOR THE NEW ASSISTANT COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY.
THAT WAS FUNDED BY THE BY THE COMP BOARD. THAT WAS YOUR LOCAL PORTION FOR THAT POSITION.
SO YOUR CONTINGENCY TODAY REMAINS AT 40,000 AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO PUT IN THERE IN FY 26 WILL SIMPLY BE THE MATHEMATICAL FORMULA FROM OUR RESOURCES OVER WHATEVER EXPENDITURE COMMITMENTS ARE APPROVED.
SO NEW POSITIONS 44.5 NEW POSITIONS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR FY 26.
SO WITH YOUR CURRENT GRADE STRUCTURE, THAT PRICE TAG IS 4.2 MILLION.
IF THE COST OF LIVING SCALE ADJUSTMENTS WERE WERE TO BE APPROVED, IT WOULD BE 4.4 MILLION.
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN NINE GENERAL FUND POSITION RECLASS REQUESTS AT A PRICE TAG OF HUNDRED AND 50,000 USING TODAY'S SCALES AND 178,000 IF THOSE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS ARE APPROVED.
THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER 800,000. IF ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS WERE FUNDED.
SO THIS GIVES YOU A SUMMARY OF THE POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED.
HE COMMUNICATED AN INCREASE IN HIS CASELOAD. THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY HAS ASKED FOR A PART TIME REGULAR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SPECIALIST TO PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN VICTIM WITNESS CASES.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE COMPLIANCE HAS ASKED FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST TO HELP WITH THAT ONE PERSON THAT IS DOING ALL THAT WORK TODAY, AND POSSIBLY SOME CHANGES THAT ARE COMING DOWN FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PLANNING OFFICE HAS ASKED FOR A SENIOR PLANNER, WHICH I THINK WOULD BE DEVOTED TO A RURAL CONSERVATION, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY A COMMUNITY REQUEST AND TO HELP WITH WORKLOAD IN THAT OFFICE. THAT IS A SMALL TEAM. IT HAS REQUEST FOR A TECHNICAL SUPPORT MANAGER SIX BASICALLY A DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
THE GARAGE HAS ASKED FOR A COORDINATOR TO HANDLE INVENTORY OF PARTS AND SAFETY.
[01:05:01]
PART OF THEIR STRATEGIC PLAN TO OFFER IMPROVED SERVICES AND TO DEAL WITH THE ADDITIONAL GROUNDS MAINTENANCE AND GRASS CUTTING THAT THEY'VE REALIZED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED FOR A CAPTAIN. THREE POLICE OFFICERS AND A CIVILIAN RECORDS CLERK.
THIS WOULD PROVIDE IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY AND WOULD HELP WITH SOME ADMINISTRATIVE STRAIN THAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE UNDER AND WITH THE RECORDS CLERK AND THE CAPTAIN, THIS WOULD ALSO ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND THEIR NUMBER OF SERVICE AREAS. FIRE AND EMS HAS ASKED FOR THE MOST AND THEY'VE ASKED FOR A DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF, A FIRE MARSHAL, FIVE CAPTAINS, ONE FOR TRAINING, FOUR DEVOTED TO OPERATIONS, A LIEUTENANT, 15 FIRE MEDICS AND ONE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SPECIALIST. THREE. THAT OFFICE HAS ADMINISTRATIVE STRAIN TODAY WITH ONLY A CHIEF, TWO ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOLKS ONE OF THOSE WHICH DOES MEDICAL BILLING AND ONE LOGISTICS OFFICER. THEY, NOT ONLY HAVE THEIR CAREER FIREFIGHTERS, BUT I BELIEVE ABOUT 79 OR 80 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS. AND THEY ARE MANAGING ALL OF THOSE FOLKS.
ANIMAL SERVICES HAS ASKED FOR A MANAGER, ONE FOR OPERATIONS AND A KENNEL ATTENDANT.
WE HAVE HAD SOME REGULATORY ISSUES AT THE ANIMAL SERVICES UNIT AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND HIS MAJOR, I THINK ADDING THESE POSITIONS WOULD ASSIST IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THOSE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND DEALING WITH A DRASTIC INCREASE IN AND THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN IN. MISS JUDGE HAS ASKED FOR BENEFIT PROGRAMS MANAGER SIX, A BENEFIT PROGRAMS. SUPERVISOR AND TWO BENEFIT PROGRAM SPECIALISTS THREE HER PRIORITY, I BELIEVE, WAS THAT PROGRAM MANAGER. THERE IS A CURRENT SUPERVISOR THAT HAS A VERY HEAVY DIRECT NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS, A HIGH NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS.
WE MENTIONED TO YOU THAT THE JUDGE HAD ASKED FOR CONVERSION OF A LAW INTERN TO A STAFF ATTORNEY.
THAT WOULD BE A REGIONAL POSITION, AND OUR ESTIMATED IMPACT WOULD BE 45% OF THE CHANGE IN COST.
MORE INFORMATION WILL FOLLOW ON THAT. AND WE DID PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH A SUMMARY OF THESE POSITION DETAILS ON FEBRUARY 13TH. POSITION RECLASSIFICATIONS TO CONTINUE TO TALK.
THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY HAS ASKED TO RECLASSIFY TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO MAKE ONE OF THEM A LEGAL ASSISTANT, ONE OF THEM A LEGAL ASSISTANT TWO. ONE. THE ONE WOULD HAVE NO GRADE CHANGE.
THE LEGAL ASSISTANT TWO WOULD. SHE'S ALSO ASKED TO RECLASSIFY HER OFFICE MANAGER TO A MANAGER.
ONE TO BE A PLANNER THAT WOULD NOT HAVE A COST WITH NO GRADE CHANGE.
SHE HAS HAD NO SUCCESS IN FILLING THAT ADVERTISED PART TIME ATTORNEY WITH SOMEONE WITH THE NEEDED SKILLS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN HER OFFICE AND A TREMENDOUS WORKLOAD. THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER.
THE POLICE CHIEF HAS ASKED TO RECLASSIFY THAT MANAGER TO A DIRECTOR LEVEL.
IT DOES SERVE ALL OF PUBLIC SAFETY. FIRE AND EMS HAS ASKED TO RECLASSIFY ITS LOGISTICS OFFICER TO A CAPTAIN LEVEL, AND THE REGISTRAR HAS ASKED TO RECLASSIFY THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR TO A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS.
AND AGAIN, THE COST INFORMATION FOR THOSE CLASSES WAS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD ON FEBRUARY 23RD.
UTILITIES. ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT GENERAL FUND, I WILL MAKE MENTION HAS ASKED TO RECLASSIFY FOUR POSITIONS AND METER TECH, UTILITY WORKER ONE. WE OF COURSE HAVE MIGRATED TO AN AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEM, AND HE WOULD LIKE TO RECLASSIFY THAT
[01:10:08]
TECH TO BECOME A UTILITY WORKER INSPECTOR TO A MANAGER 4, FOR CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS, A UTILITY BILLING SPECIALIST, TWO TO A THREE AND A UTILITY WORKER, THREE TO A SENIOR UTILITY WORKER.[INAUDIBLE] . OKAY. SO SCHOOL REQUESTS. WE DO NOT HAVE THE SCHOOL DIVISIONS REQUEST.
AT THIS POINT. CURRENTLY, YOUR GENERAL FUND TRANSFER TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION IS 18,070,017.85 GOES TO THE OPERATING FUND AND ANOTHER 221,000 TO THEIR TEXTBOOK FUND.
THIS DOES EXCLUDE AMOUNTS THAT WE ARE PAYING FOR SCHOOL DEBT SERVICE THAT ARE 2.7 MILLION TODAY, AND ANOTHER 543,000 THAT WE PUT INTO THE COUNTYWIDE CAPITAL FUND FOR BUS PURCHASES.
WE DO SHARE WE HAVE A REVENUE SHARING CALCULATION WHERE WE SHARE THESE REVENUE SOURCES.
THE MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE HAS BEEN ELIMINATED.
SO IT'S REALLY FOUR SOURCES. OUR REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUE, OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX ALONG WITH THE STATE SUPPLEMENT THAT WE RECEIVE, LOCAL SALES TAX, CONSUMER UTILITIES TAXES. AND JUST TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND.
THAT CALCULATION OR THAT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2007 AT A BASELINE PERCENT OF 43.07% TO MAKE FUNDING PROVIDED TO SCHOOLS A LITTLE LESS ARBITRARY.
A SERIES OF CARVE OUTS HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME, BECAUSE CERTAIN TAX INCREASES OR EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASES WERE DEDICATED TO CERTAIN PUBLIC SAFETY OR FACILITY INITIATIVES, AND YOU CANNOT DEVOTE THE TAX INCREASE TO THOSE INITIATIVES AND SHARE THEM WITH SCHOOLS.
ALSO, SOME OF THOSE CARVE OUTS HAVE BEEN FOR FIRE APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT, OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES, AND THE NEW MIDDLE ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AGAIN, THE BASELINE PERCENTAGE, AS DETERMINED IN 2007, HAS BEEN ADJUSTED ANNUALLY USING A FIVE YEAR ROLLING AVERAGE OF STUDENT FALL ENROLLMENT TO COUNTY POPULATION, AND THAT METHOD HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE 2007.
SO 5000 INCREASE IN POPULATION AND A 53 STUDENT INCREASE.
SO THAT INCREMENTAL FIVE YEAR AVERAGE HAS DECLINED.
THE COUNTY POPULATION DID SPIKE WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE 2020 CENSUS.
WELDON COOPER'S ESTIMATES WERE PRETTY MUCH WAY OFF AND IN FACT, THEY ARE SHOWING A DROP BETWEEN JULY OF 23 AND JULY OF 24, WHICH JUST HIT THE STREET LATE JANUARY. SO THIS IS KIND OF WHAT THE PERCENT WOULD LOOK LIKE USING THAT FIVE YEAR ROLLING AVERAGE. WE WOULD THEIR PERCENT FOR THIS YEAR WAS 37.23%, WHICH IS NEAR THE BOTTOM.
IT WOULD FALL AGAIN FOR FY 26 USING THAT METHODOLOGY TO 36.03%.
AGAIN, THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT OUR POPULATION HAS INCREASED WHERE ESSENTIALLY.
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT HAS REMAINED FLAT. SO WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE CALCULATED TRANSFER WOULD BE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT PROJECTING AN INCREASE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY.
AND YOU THE BUDGETED LOCAL TRANSFER TO SCHOOL HAS DIFFERED FROM THE CALCULATION.
BUT IN LATER YEARS, THE COUNTY HAS CONTRIBUTED HIGHER AMOUNTS TO SCHOOLS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
[01:15:10]
SO, AGAIN WE NEED THAT REAL ESTATE TAX NUMBER.WE NEED TO FINE TUNE OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX NUMBER TO CALCULATE THOSE AMOUNTS FOR FY 26.
THE AMOUNTS NEAR THE BOTTOM THAT ARE IN THE SHADED OUTLINE, THOSE CARVE OUTS THAT WE HAVE MADE OVER TIME, AND THOSE DEVOTED THREE PENNIES THAT GO TO FIRE APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT ARE CARVED OUT, AND THOSE ARE ADJUSTED ANNUALLY BY THE VALUE OF YOUR PENNY.
SO WE CANNOT AGAIN COMPLETE THAT TRANSFER CALC UNTIL WE HAVE REAL ESTATE TAX ESTIMATES.
THEY REMAIN IN PROGRESS TODAY AND THEN THE BOARD ALSO NEEDS TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE TAX RATE BEFORE WE CAN FINALIZE THOSE REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND THE AMOUNT THAT IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE TO SHARE WITH THE SCHOOLS.
SO JUST TO START WRAPPING THINGS UP, THANK GOODNESS.
RECEIVE THOSE ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING AND I WILL TELL YOU, IT IS CHALLENGING FOR US TO KEEP MORALE UP WHEN STATE SUPPORTED POSITIONS RECEIVE A HIGHER INCREASE THAN COUNTY NON PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES AT LARGE.
LAST YEAR NONPUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE RECEIVED ABOUT A 1.5% INCREASE WHEN THEIR STATE SUPPORTED COUNTERPARTS RECEIVED AT LEAST 3% OF THEIR COMP BOARD FUNDED SALARY, OR 3% OF THEIR TOTAL SALARY.
HEALTH INSURANCE. OF COURSE, WE NEED TO ADEQUATELY FUND THAT.
WE HOPE TO FINE TUNE THAT ESTIMATE FOLLOWING OUR MEETING WITH MARK THREE, OUR CONSULTANT ON FRIDAY.
WE NEED TO MEET OUR REGIONAL CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS.
WE HAVE TO INCORPORATE INFLATIONARY INCREASES AND ABSORB OTHER DECREASES WHERE WE CAN AND WE DO HAVE DECREASES IN SOME AREAS THAT WE WILL CAPTURE TO HELP US OFFSET THOSE INCREASES AND THEN WE WILL BE ASKING YOU TO WEIGH IN ON MAKING THOSE CHOICES OR THOSE DECISION POINTS. THE TAX RATE AND ANY PARTIAL EQUALIZATION OR FULL EQUALIZATION.
THOSE OUTSIDE AGENCY REQUESTS THAT ARE CHOICES.
A STEP INCREASE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, AND ANY COST OF LIVING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO KEEP OUR SALARIES COMPETITIVE AND KEEP OUR TALENT AND ATTRACT NEW TALENT TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL REQUESTS TO THE EXTENT THEY'RE POSSIBLE AND AGAIN, SOME OF THOSE REQUESTS ARE MADE BY A SPIKE IN VOLUME OF SERVICES AND TO MEET REGULATIONS, WORKLOAD, DEMAND AND PROVIDING A BETTER SERVICE RESPONSE LIKE IN FIRE AND EMS. AND SOME RELATED ARE RELATED TO THE COUNTY'S STRATEGIC PLAN AND MAKING PROGRESS ON THOSE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.
HOPEFULLY BY THIS SUNDAY REVENUE ESTIMATES MAY STILL BE ONGOING.
WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE THOSE WRAPPED UP, POSSIBLY BY MONDAY.
IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR BOARD WORK SESSION NEXT WEDNESDAY WE WILL BE ASKING YOU TO FINALIZE THOSE PRIORITIES, IF POSSIBLE, AT THE FOLLOWING BUDGET WORK SESSION ON MARCH 4TH.
SO THAT MR. STOKE CAN PROVIDE THAT INTRODUCED FY 26 BUDGET ON MARCH 11TH.
SO THIS JUST RECAPS YOUR PRE-BUDGET WORK SESSION DATES.
IF WE NEED TO ADD A PRE BUDGET WORK SESSION, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO SO.
I KNOW THE REQUESTS ARE STAGGERING. A LOT TO DIGEST, A LOT TO CONSIDER A LOT TO CONTEMPLATE.
IF THAT DATE STICKS, WE WOULD LIKE, WE HAVE A SCHEDULED BUDGET WORK SESSION ON MARCH 13TH AND WHERE WE WOULD ASK AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE THE TAX RATE AND ANY EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASE FROM HIGHER ASSESSED VALUES.
[01:20:09]
MARCH 26TH IS ANOTHER BUDGET WORK SESSION IF NEEDED, APRIL 15TH AND THEN MAY 6TH.MARCH 11TH, MR. STOKES WILL PRESENT THE INTRODUCED BUDGET, GOD WILLING.
APRIL 22ND, WE WOULD HOLD OUR TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT THOSE TAX RATES.
ON MAY 13TH, WE WOULD HAVE OUR BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.
AND HOPEFULLY GIVE THE SCHOOL DIVISION A HEAD NOD ON WHAT THEIR LOCAL TRANSFER WOULD BE.
AND THEN MAY 27TH. ULTIMATELY, THE BOARD WOULD ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR FY 26.
ANY QUESTIONS? I DON'T HEAR ANY. THIS TIME I'M GOING TO SEND AN EMAIL. I'M GOING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH, AND THEN I'LL PROBABLY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AT THE NEXT MEETING.
OKAY. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
YES, MA'AM. ALL RIGHT. IT'S A LOT TO TAKE IN.
YES, SIR. IT REALLY IS. ALL RIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS.
YES. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WOULD BE OUR CLOSED SESSION.
[C. CLOSED SESSION]
I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR GOING INTO CLOSED SESSION.I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2-3711 (A)(1) FOR THE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF THE SALARIES AND COMPENSATION OF THREE SPECIFIC APPOINTEES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I NEED A SECOND, PLEASE. SECOND. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. PUGH, AND SECOND, BY MR. WEBB FOR US TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION BASED ON WHAT WAS STATED IN THE MOTION.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. READY FOR A QUESTION? MS. KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? WE'RE IN CLOSED SESSION. [INAUDIBLE]. THE BOARD HAS BEEN IN THE CLOSED SESSION, AND NOW WE ARE COMING OUT OF CLOSED SESSION. I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CERTIFY RECONVENE.
TO RECONVENE AND CERTIFY OUR CLOSED SESSION. MR. CHAIR, I MAKE A MOTION TO IN OPEN SESSION AND TO AND TO CERTIFY THAT ONLY THE MATTERS IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION MEETING WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED. SECOND. OKAY. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB AND SECOND, BY MR. PUGH FOR US TO RECONVENE AND TO CERTIFICATION OF OUR CLOSED SESSION.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. YOU'RE READY FOR THE QUESTION. MISS PUDLOW, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE, TIME, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION. SECOND. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. PUGH, AND SECOND, BY MR. COX THAT WE WOULD ADJOURN AT THIS TIME.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. READY FOR THE QUESTION.
MS. PUDLOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.