[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
GOOD EVENING. TODAY IS MARCH THE 4TH OF 2025.
WE ARE HERE TONIGHT AT 6 P.M. FOR OUR BUDGET WORK SESSION.
I'M NOW CALLING THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND MRS. ERARD. YOU'RE UP FIRST. THANK YOU. MR. COX HAS REQUESTED TO PARTICIPATE ELECTRONICALLY BECAUSE OF A MEDICAL ISSUE, AND HE IS GOING TO BE PARTICIPATING FROM HIS HOME HERE IN PRINCE GEORGE.
MR. COX, CAN YOU HEAR US? YES, MA'AM. OKAY. AND IS THERE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE MR. COX TO PARTICIPATE ELECTRONICALLY FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECOND, TO ALLOW MR. COX TO ATTEND VIRTUALLY. I NEED A ROLL CALL ON THAT, PLEASE.
WE HAVE THAT TAKEN CARE OF. WE'LL START WITH OUR ROLL CALL FOR ATTENDANCE.
NEXT WE HAVE ON IS TO DO OUR INVOCATION. I'LL DO THE BOARD'S INVOCATION, AND WE'LL HAVE MR. WEBB, IF HE WOULD DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING JUST SIMPLY TO SAY THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US TO SEE YET ANOTHER DAY.
ANOTHER DAY THAT YOU START EACH AND EVERY DAY TO LEAD US THROUGH, TO GUIDE AND DIRECT US.
HEAVENLY FATHER, LET IT BE OR FIND PEACE IN PEOPLE'S HEART TO KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT AN EASY TASK, AND WE TRY TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR ALL THE CITIZENS AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOL DIVISION, AND EACH AND EVERY AREA. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ALSO ASK YOU THIS EVENING TO WRAP YOUR LOVING ARMS OF PROTECTION AROUND OUR FIRE, EMS, OUR POLICE, ALL OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES, OUR SCHOOL DIVISION, ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.
WE ASK ALL THIS IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. AMEN.
THANK YOU, MISTER WEBB. BOARD MEMBERS IN FRONT OF YOU NOW.
WE WILL HAVE THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT'S WORK SESSION OR WORK BUDGET WORKSHOP.
I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO OUR ADOPTION. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. PUGH AND SECOND, BY MRS. WAYMACK TO ADOPT THE AGENDA AS SO STATED AND PRESENTED.
YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, MISS KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MOTION CARRIED. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW GOING INTO THE WORK SESSION OF THIS BUDGET WORKSHOP,
[B. WORK SESSION]
AND WE ARE GOING TO TURN EVERYTHING OVER TO OUR FABULOUS FINANCE DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MISS DREWRY. GOOD EVENING, MR. CHAIRMAN AND BOARD MEMBERS, MR. STOKE. MISS ERARD AND ALL ASSEMBLED. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO NAVIGATE THROUGH ANOTHER BUDGET WORK SESSION FOR THE FY 2026 BUDGET. AS MR. BROWN INDICATED IN HIS PRAYER, THIS IS NOT AN EASY TASK AND IN PARTICULAR FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO DETERMINE HOW TO MEET THE REQUESTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE WITHIN THE OPERATING RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.WE'LL WAIT FOR THE POWERPOINT TO COME UP.
SO FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS TO REVIEW OUR NON-GENERAL FUND BUDGETS.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME FOCUSING ON OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET, BECAUSE THAT IS THE BUDGET WHERE OUR TAX DOLLARS GO TO WORK, SO TO SPEAK. SO WE DID WANT TO PROVIDE SOME FOCUS THIS EVENING ON OUR OTHER FUNDS, OUR SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, OUR PUBLIC UTILITY CAPITAL AND DEBT. SO THE FIRST SLIDE TALKS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.
AS THE BOARD IS AWARE AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.
[00:05:03]
OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND IS FUNDED TYPICALLY EXCLUSIVELY BY MEALS TAX REVENUE.THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF MEALS TAX REVENUE IS DEPOSITED WITHIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND FOR FY 2026, THERE WILL BE A GENERAL FUND TRANSFER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED TO MEET A MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX REBATE FOR ONE LARGE INDUSTRY WHO HAS UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION.
THAT BUDGET COVERS THE SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES.
THAT DEBT WILL BE ONGOING UNTIL AUGUST OF 2030.
THE MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX REBATE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE INTEREST WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE INTRODUCED BUDGET IS $632, AND WILL BE SUPPORTED IN PART BY A PORTION OF OUR INCREASE IN MEALS TAX REVENUE WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND FOR FY 26. THIS WILL INCLUDE CONTRIBUTIONS TO JOHN TYLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE, NOW KNOWN AS BRIGHT POINT.
WE NEED TO MAKE THAT UPDATE RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE.
IT WILL FUND A STEP INCREASE FOR THOSE FOUR EMPLOYEES AND A COST OF LIVING SCALE INCREASE IF THE BOARD APPROVES THAT A HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE OF ABOUT 11%, WHICH WILL BE SHARED WITH THE COUNTY AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND THE MARKET RECLASSIFICATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM SPECIALIST, WHICH WAS FOUND TO BE BELOW MARKET IN THE SALARY STUDY THAT MISS HURT ENGAGED IN FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET. AGAIN, I MENTIONED THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
OUR MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX REVENUE IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY ABOUT 223,000 AND 183,650 IS NEEDED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND TO SUPPORT THAT $632,000.
MACHINE AND TOOLS REBATE NEW FOR FY 26 WILL BE CONSIDERATION TO MAKE A TRANSFER TO THE PETERSBURG AREA TRANSIT. THE BOARD RECEIVED A PRESENTATION SEVERAL MEETINGS AGO WHERE THAT INITIATIVE WAS DISCUSSED.
AND THAT AMOUNT, IF APPROVED IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, WILL BE $26,400.
LODGING TAX SUPPORTS OUR TOURISM FUND. A PORTION OF OUR LODGING TAX GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THE MAX PERCENT IS 2% FOR GENERAL FUND. THE REMAINING 5% REMAINS WITHIN THE LODGING TAX OR THE TOURISM SPECIAL REVENUE FUND. THAT FUND SUPPORTS A 7.5% CONTRIBUTION TO THE PRINCE GEORGE REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTER.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO PETERSBURG, TO PART TO THE HOPEWELL PRINCE GEORGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TO FOLAR.
THE STEP INCREASE IN COLA, IF APPROVED, ALONG WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE OR THE PORTION THAT RELATES TO THOSE THREE FULL TIME EMPLOYEES, IS INCLUDED HERE. INCLUDED IS ENOUGH FUNDING TO MAKE A TRANSFER TO PAMPLIN PARK.
THAT DINWIDDIE PARK MADE A REQUEST. THE BOARD DID RECEIVE INFORMATION ON THEIR REQUEST, WHICH WOULD ALLOW RESIDENTS OF PRINCE GEORGE TO ATTEND PAMPLIN PARK AT NO COST. THAT THAT INITIATIVE IS $38,700.
THIS PROVIDES INFORMATION ON ALL OF THE TRANSFERS TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND AND THE TOURISM FUND SUPPORT. THE ITEMS SHADED IN PURPLE TO THE RIGHT.
FUND 213 ARE YOUR TOURISM FUND. AND AGAIN, THAT IS THE REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTER.
THE HOPEWELL PRINCE GEORGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, FRIENDS OF THE LOWER APPOMATTOX RIVER, ALSO KNOWN AS FOLAR, PETERSBURG AREA REGIONAL TOURISM, PART, BRIGHT POINT AND RICHARD BLAND CONTRIBUTIONS LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY I'M SORRY. THAT'S THAT IS ACTUALLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
[00:10:02]
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE CIVIL WAR. SOLDIER FOR $38,700.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS CONTRIBUTIONS TO RICHARD BLAND, VIRGINIA GATEWAY REGION, LONGWOOD UNIVERSITY SMALL DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS COOPERATIVE, BRIGHT POINT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THE CRATER REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD, CRATER PDC AND AGAIN NEW FOR THIS YEAR WOULD BE A CONTRIBUTION TO PETERSBURG AREA TRANSIT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT EITHER ONE OF THOSE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AND EITHER ONE OF THESE TWO NEW TRANSFERS. MR. JABARI IS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND MR. STOKE AND I ARE AVAILABLE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON WHETHER OR NOT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO FUND THOSE TWO INITIATIVES, WE CAN CERTAINLY SEEK IT AT AN UPCOMING WORK SESSION FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCED BUDGET.
THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS WILL NOT CHANGE THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THOSE TWO FUNDS, BUT WILL JUST BE A TRANSFER FROM CONTINGENCY TO THOSE CONTRIBUTION LINE ITEMS WITHIN THOSE FUNDS.
ANY QUESTIONS? FEEDBACK? QUICK QUESTION, SO IF WE WANTED TO POSSIBLY DO A SOCCER FIELD OR A BASEBALL FIELD, AS LONG AS IT WAS USED FOR TOURISM, WE COULD TAKE IT OUT OF THIS FUND, CORRECT? YES, SIR. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I DON'T HAVE ANY AT THIS TIME. MR. COX, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, SIR. ALL RIGHT.
OUR LOW SAP FUND, WHICH IS OUR ANNUITY PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTEERS, ADULT EDUCATION AND OUR SPECIAL WELFARE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. IS THE RIVERSIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY THAT SERVES NOT ONLY PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, BUT SERVES SURREY AND HOPEWELL AS WELL. THAT AGENCY PROVIDES PRETRIAL, AND PROBATION SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS AND DEFENDANTS, AND THE GOAL IS TO KEEP THOSE FOLKS FROM BEING INCARCERATED.
IT IS A COST AVOIDANCE FOR THOSE SERVICES THAT AGENCY IS SUPPORTED BY A LARGE GRANT FROM THE STATE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PRINCE GEORGE, HOPEWELL AND SURREY. THOSE LOCAL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE BASED ON A ROLLING AVERAGE OF CLIENTS WITHIN EACH OF THE THREE SERVED LOCALITIES. THERE IS ALSO A SMALL AMOUNT OF SUPERVISION FEES THAT ARE COLLECTED FROM THE CLIENTS FOR THAT AGENCY. SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR 11 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES ARE INCLUDED IN THAT BUDGET.
THE STATE MANDATES SOMETIMES A PERCENTAGE PAY INCREASE FOR STATE SUPPORTED LOCAL EMPLOYEES, AND THIS AGENCY FALLS IN THAT GROUP. THE STATE HAS MANDATED A 3% PAY INCREASE, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST.
SO WE WOULD PROVIDE THE HIGHER OF THE 3% STATE INCREASE OR APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT ON THAT INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE STEP. WITH ANY COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT ON THE SCALE THAT THE BOARD MAY APPROVE.
THE INCREASE IN THE GRANT IS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT $15,000, ABOUT A $3,000 INCREASE IN SUPERVISION FEES, AND WE WOULD END UP WITH A LOWER CONTRIBUTION FOR FY 2026, SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS THAT WAS SERVED IN THE LAST ROLLING AVERAGE CYCLE. HOPEWELL CYCLED UP, ALL TOLD LOOKING AT ABOUT A $34,607 INCREASE IN THAT BUDGET FOR INTRODUCTION, OUR LENGTH OF SERVICE AWARDS PROGRAM, THAT IS THE STATE NAME FOR THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM.
IT IS BASICALLY AN ANNUITY PROGRAM THAT THE COUNTY ENGAGED IN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO FOR AN ANNUITY FOR QUALIFYING VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER MEDICS ONCE THEY LEAVE SERVICE AND REACH A CERTAIN AGE, SO THAT CONTRIBUTION IS NOT EXPECTED TO INCREASE.
THAT FUND HAS BEEN ENJOYING SOME INTEREST EARNINGS ON INVESTMENTS, SO WE DO NOT THINK AN INCREASE IS NECESSARY TO ADEQUATELY FUND THE PROGRAM. ADULT EDUCATION, THAT IS THE REGIONAL DISTRICT 19 SPACE THAT IS
[00:15:07]
A REGIONAL ADULT ED. AND THE SCHOOL DIVISION ACTUALLY SERVES AS FISCAL AGENT FOR THE ADULT ED BODY.WE BASED THE FY 26 BUDGET ON THE FY 25 AMENDED BUDGET.
IT IS USUALLY A NUMBER OF MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR BEFORE THE ADULT ED PROGRAM DETERMINES ITS FINAL STATE FUNDING, AND WE BRING AN AMENDMENT TO YOU, TYPICALLY DURING THE BUDGET YEAR, TO EITHER INCREASE OR DECREASE THEIR BUDGET BASED ON THEIR FINAL APPROVED FUNDING.
THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS A SPECIAL WELFARE FUND, WHICH IS A SEPARATE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND FOR FUNDS TAKEN INTO SOCIAL SERVICES THAT ARE NOT ALLOCATED THROUGH STATE, FEDERAL OR LOCAL APPROPRIATION, AND THAT BUDGET IS TYPICALLY $15,000. NO CHANGE IS EXPECTED FOR FY 26.
SO CAPITAL PROJECTS AND DEBT SERVICE. RIGHT NOW, OUR DEBT FUND, I AM SHOWING IT WITH JUST A REDUCTION TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FULLY REPAID STORMWATER DEBT.
THAT REDUCTION IS PRETTY MUCH PREDICATED ON THE ELIMINATION OF THE STORMWATER FEE.
THE FINAL PAYMENT FOR THE ASSOCIATED STORMWATER DEBT THAT WAS MADE EARLIER IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THE NET REDUCTION WILL BE ANYWHERE FROM $441,950, UP TO OVER A MILLION.
IF THE BOARD CHOOSES NOT TO SEND ANY CONTRIBUTION TO DEBT RESERVES AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND. THIS IS A CASH FUNDED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND WITHIN THE COUNTY'S ADOPTED BUDGET, AND IT HAS ESTABLISHED TO PURCHASE COUNTY VEHICLE REPLACEMENT SCHOOL BUS REPLACEMENT BUSSES.
74-4 AND 74-6. SO WE HAVE SHOWN THE CAPITAL AMOUNTS FOR BOTH SCHOOL BUSSES AND COUNTY VEHICLES AT THE SAME AMOUNTS THEY ARE TODAY IN THIS SLIDE.
AND THERE WILL BE A TRANSFER FOR FIRE AND EMS APPARATUS OF 140,155.
THERE IS ALSO A TRANSFER FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE CAPITAL FUND FOR FIRE AND EMS EQUIPMENT, WHICH WILL BE $335,000 FOR FY 26. AND AGAIN, THAT COUPLED WITH THE DEBT PAYMENT FOR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS THAT WAS BORROWED A FEW YEARS BACK EQUATES TO ONE PENNY.
SO AGAIN, THE SCHOOL DIVISION HAS ASKED FOR AN INCREASE OF 81,846 BECAUSE THE PRICE OF BUSSES HAS INCREASED AND THAT IS THE AMOUNT NEEDED TO PURCHASE FOUR BUSSES. AND COUNTY STAFF HAS ASKED FOR AN INCREASE OF 50,000 FOR THE COUNTY VEHICLE REPLACEMENT.
THOSE VEHICLES AND THOSE RELATED BILLS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY HAVE INCREASED IN AMOUNT AS WELL.
NOW WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE UTILITIES AND STORMWATER FUND.
SO, STORMWATER FUND WILL ESSENTIALLY BE ELIMINATED FOR FY 2026.
THERE WILL BE NO ADOPTED BUDGET AMOUNT FOR 2026 AND THOSE SERIES 2019 BOND PROCEEDS.
THEIR APPROPRIATION DOES NOT LAPSE, SO THOSE WILL ROLL FORWARD AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
WE MAY HAVE TO ASK THE BOARD TO APPROPRIATE SOME FUND BALANCE WITHIN THE STORMWATER FUND FROM PRIOR YEAR FEE COLLECTIONS THAT EXCEEDED EXPENDITURES TO COMPLETE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED.
ONE IN PARTICULAR, THE CEDAR CREEK, REACH TWO AND REACH FIVE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS PROJECTS.
I BELIEVE MR. HALTOM IS AND MISS PUDLO AND MR.
[00:20:01]
STOKE ARE WORKING THROUGH WITH MISS ERARD SOME CHALLENGES FIRST WITH DEQ AND NOW WITH THE ARMY CORPS FOR THAT PROJECT. UTILITIES. MR. HALTOM IS IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT I WILL DO MY BEST TO GO THROUGH HIS PROPOSAL. THE BOARD DID RECEIVE HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR FY 2026.WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR STAFF REQUESTS, THE UTILITIES BUDGET IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY $463,661, OR 3.2%, FOR FY 2026. THAT BUDGET SUPPORTS BOTH THE OPERATIONS OF THE PUBLIC UTILITY AND CAPITAL MAINTENANCE. THERE ARE 17 FULL TIME POSITIONS, AND AT THIS POINT WE HAVE INCLUDED THE MOST EXPENSIVE SCENARIO, IF YOU WILL, A STEP INCREASE FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES, A 3.5% COLA ADJUSTMENT ON THE SCALES RECLASSIFICATIONS THAT WERE REQUESTED BY MR. HALTOM FOR FOUR OF HIS EMPLOYEES, ALONG WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE.
THEY ALSO HAVE INCLUDED IN THEIR CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST TO REPLACE A BACKHOE AND TO PURCHASE A VALVE MAINTENANCE TRAILER THAT DOES NOT RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN THE BUDGET.
THEY ROTATE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENTS ANNUALLY. SO, HE, MR. HALTOM DID REQUEST AN INCREASE IN THE WATER AND SEWER RATES, ALONG WITH SOME ADJUSTMENTS OR INCREASES TO THE MINIMUM USER FEE AND RECONNECTION FEES. SO WE WILL DISCUSS IN FUTURE SLIDES WHAT THAT IMPACT LOOKS LIKE.
THAT RESULTS IN AN INCREASE IN REVENUE OF ABOUT $122,000.
REQUESTED IS A 1% INCREASE IN THE SEWER RATE.
WHICH RESULTS IN ABOUT 120,000, IN INCREASED REVENUES.
AND THERE IS ALSO AN INCREASE IN MINIMUM CHARGES PROPOSED, WHICH VARIES DEPENDING ON THE METER SIZE.
AND AGAIN, THESE RATE ADJUSTMENTS ARE NECESSARY TO COVER OPERATING INFLATIONARY INCREASES, TO PURCHASE THE NEEDED EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES AND TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING ASSETS WITHIN UTILITIES AND EMPLOYEE COSTS.
SO, I MAY BUTCHER THIS. SO, MR. HALTOM CERTAINLY IS THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, BUT THIS IS WHAT THE CHART PROPOSED CHART LOOKS LIKE. HE IS ASKING OR REQUESTING A 5% INCREASE IN THE RESIDENTIAL WATER AND SEWER MINIMUM CHARGES FROM 1231 TO 1293 FOR WATER FOR BOTH A 5/8 INCH AND A THREE QUARTER INCH 14.85 1485 TO 1559 FOR SEWER FOR THE SAME SIZE METER, AND THEN FOR LARGER COMMERCIAL 20 TO 45% INCREASE IN THOSE MINIMUM CHARGES.
MORE ALONG FOR SEWER THAN FOR WATER.
NEXT, THIS PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE BLOCK RATE REQUEST CHARGES FOR WATER CONSUMPTION. AND AGAIN, THESE ARE BASED ON METER SIZE.
IT SHOWS YOU THE CURRENT CHARGE PER 1000 GALLONS AND THE REQUESTED CHARGE FOR 1000 GALLONS.
AND THOSE INCREASES. AGAIN, ARE VARY DEPENDING ON THE METER SIZE.
SO, CONNECTION CHARGES. IT'S ASKING FOR A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE CONNECTION CHARGES $400 FOR WATER FOR 5/8 AND THREE QUARTER INCH. $200, IN SEWER CONNECTION FEES FOR 5/8 AND THREE QUARTER, AND THEN LARGER INCREASES FOR THOSE LARGER METER SIZES.
AND HE HAS OUTLINED THE RESIDENTIAL HOME INCREASE TO BE ABOUT $600 FOR THAT COMBINED SERVICE,
[00:25:04]
THAT COMBINED CONNECTION FEE. SO THE IMPACT TO THE TYPICAL BIMONTHLY 10,000 GALLON USER WOULD BE WHAT'S OUTLINED HERE? WHICH IS ABOUT $5.08 PER BIMONTHLY BILLING CYCLE, OR ABOUT $30 PER YEAR.OKAY. AND THAT'S THE FLAT RATE SEWER INCREASE.
IT'S ABOUT $1.50 PER BILL OR $9 PER YEAR. THANK YOU, FRANK.
SO BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS AGAIN FOR THE PERSONNEL WITHIN THAT THE 17 EMPLOYEES STEP INCREASE, COST OF LIVING SCALE ADJUSTMENT. IF FUNDED, OUR RECLASSIFICATIONS FOR FOUR EMPLOYEES, AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, WE HAVE MOVED TO AN AUTOMATED METER READING SYSTEM.
SO, HE WOULD LIKE TO RECLASSIFY THE METER TECHNICIAN TO A UTILITY WORKER ONE, UTILITY BILLING SPECIALIST TWO, TO A THREE, A UTILITY WORKER, THREE, TO A SENIOR UTILITY WORKER AND THE UTILITIES INSPECTOR TO BE A MANAGER IV FOR CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS, AND THAT IS NECESSARY FOR ENHANCED SUPERVISION FROM THAT INDIVIDUAL.
ALSO INCLUDED IS THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE AND THAT EQUIPMENT THAT WE MENTIONED.
SO, WE'RE HAPPY TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM BOARD MEMBERS EITHER TONIGHT OR BY EMAIL.
BUT WE WILL BRING THE AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED RATE AND CONNECTION FEE INCREASES TO THE BOARD ON MARCH 25TH, FOLLOWING MR. STOKES PRESENTATION OF THE INTRODUCED BUDGET ON THE 11TH AND THE REQUESTED PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THOSE INCREASES WOULD BE APRIL 22ND, THE SAME DATE AS THE TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME OR MR. HALTOM? ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. COX? NO, SIR. NOT AT THIS TIME.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOOD, MS. DREWRY.
ALL RIGHT. SO GO BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND. AGAIN, WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROVIDE A TRANSPARENT BUDGET PROCESS. THE SPREADSHEET WAS OUT THERE WITH ALL THE DETAILS POSTED FOLLOWING OUR LAST BUDGET WORK SESSION.
WE DO HEAR AND RECOGNIZE PUBLIC CONCERNS AND CERTAINLY HAVE TAKEN MEASURES THAT LIMIT, RESTRICT, AND CAREFULLY REVIEW PURCHASES FOR THOSE ITEMS THAT MIGHT TRIGGER PUBLIC CONCERN.
WE DO PURCHASE OUR POST RATHER ON OUR WEBSITE A CHECK REGISTER FOR COUNTY PURCHASES THROUGH OPENGOV, WHICH IS A TRANSPARENCY PLATFORM. WE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE.
STAFF DOES FOLLOW GSA LIMITS FOR FOOD WHEN THEY ARE TRAVELING, AND IF THERE ARE EXCESSES, THEY ARE PAID BACK. THERE IS A CAREFUL SUPERVISORY REVIEW AND FINANCE REVIEW OF ALL P-CARD PURCHASES.
WE KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING LOCALITIES AND SCHOOL DIVISIONS HAVE BEEN IN THE PAPER IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS OR MONTHS RELATED TO PURCHASE CARD TRANSACTIONS, AND WE CERTAINLY TAKE EVERY MEASURE TO AVOID BAD PRESS.
AND WE WANT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT.
AND THEN WE UPDATED THE MACHINE AND TOOLS TAX ON THE 26.
WE COVERED THE MUST DO'S, WHICH INCLUDE OUR REGIONAL OPERATIONS, OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO LIKE THE JO CRATER YOUTH CARE, OUR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, OUR PROJECTED INCREASES AND OR DECREASES IN UTILITIES, FUEL, SUPPLIES, COMMUNICATIONS AND POSTAGE. ANY INFLATIONARY INCREASES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING, TRAINING INCREASES TO MEET STRATEGIC GOALS, STEP INCREASES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND COVER DATED 3% INCREASE FOR STATE SUPPORTED LOCAL
[00:30:04]
EMPLOYEES. THAT DOES COME WITH SOME INCREASED REVENUE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES FROM DCJS AND FROM THE VIRGINIA COMPENSATION BOARD, AND A SMALL AMOUNT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS.THERE WERE INCLUDED IN THAT THREE REGRADES FOR TEN EMPLOYEES THAT WERE BELOW THE REGIONAL AVERAGE.
WE ALSO EXAMINED OUR OVERTIME PRETTY CAREFULLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BUDGETING ADEQUATELY FOR THE OVERTIME THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING, PARTICULARLY WITHIN PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE PROVIDED THE BOARD WITH A LISTING OF CHOICES, WHICH INCLUDED THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE.
WE PROVIDED THE BOARD WITH INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER TO CONTRIBUTE THE FULL AMOUNT OR DROP THE DEBT PAYMENT, RESERVE OPTIONS ON SCHOOL FUNDING, ADDITIONAL PAY INCREASE OPTIONS ABOVE THAT STEP INCREASE, WHICH IS ABOUT 1.5%. THE STEP IS THAT IS ALL NONPUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES RECEIVED FOR FY 25.
BY AND LARGE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING AND HAVE REQUESTED A MARKET SCALE ADJUSTMENT FOR POLICE AND FIRE OF 5% AND 3.5% FOR NONPUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF POSITION RECLASSIFICATIONS REQUESTED BY DEPARTMENT HEADS ABOVE AND APART FROM THOSE EMPLOYEES OR THOSE POSITIONS, RATHER THAT MISHEARD FOUND WERE IN NEED OF A GRADE INCREASE BECAUSE WE ARE LOWER THAN THE MARKET AVERAGE.
THERE WERE A GREAT MANY NEW POSITION REQUESTS.
AND THE BOARD, AS WE WERE EVALUATING THOSE REQUESTS, DID REMOVE THE COST OF VEHICLES.
WHEN A VEHICLE IS REQUIRED FOR THOSE POSITIONS.
AND DETERMINED THAT WE WOULD FUND THOSE OUTSIDE.
OF THE OPERATING BUDGET. THERE WERE ALSO SEVERAL REQUESTS FOR EQUIPMENT.
SUPPLIES, SERVICES AND CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WERE NEW.
SO JUST TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AND WE WANTED TO OUTLINE POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO OUR COUNTY AND SCHOOL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT MEDICAID AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND OF COURSE, OUR SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SERVICES TO OUR CITIZENS FOR MEDICAID, AS WELL AS A LOT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. WE RECEIVE OVER 4.35 MILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL WELFARE ADMINISTRATION.
THERE IS A LOCAL REQUIREMENT, AND CERTAINLY ANY CHANGES IN THE FEDERAL LANDSCAPE COULD CERTAINLY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY AND THE SERVICES THAT MISS JUDGE AND HER TEAM ARE PROVIDING. WE HAVE LIMITED INFORMATION AT THIS TIME, BUT WE ARE FORGING AHEAD WITH BUSINESS AS USUAL.
WELL, THE SCHOOL DIVISION RECEIVES FEDERAL IMPACT AID FUNDING AND AN ADDITIONAL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SUPPLEMENT, AND THEY BOTH TOTAL NEARLY $5 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S ADOPTED SCHOOL BUDGET.
THAT FUNDING IS PROVIDED BECAUSE WE CANNOT TAX FORT GREG ADAMS. IT IS EXEMPT FEDERAL PROPERTY. SO THAT IS FEDERAL MONEY IN LIEU OF LOCAL TAXES.
SO WE DO NOT RECEIVE REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUE FOR FAMILIES WHO RESIDE ON THE FORT.
AND THOSE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR ANY EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE.
AND CERTAINLY A LOSS OF THAT FUNDING WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE SCHOOLS.
AND AGAIN, THERE IS NO LOCAL TAXATION FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO RESIDE ON THE FORT.
BUT UNTIL WE KNOW MORE, WE ONLY KNOW WHAT WE KNOW.
[00:35:01]
WE ALSO RECEIVE FEDERAL FLOW THROUGH FUNDING OF 1.3 MILLION.THAT'S THE AMOUNT ADOPTED IN THIS YEAR SCHOOL BUDGET.
THOSE FUNDS ARE A PARTIALLY. WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT UNFUNDED MANDATES.
WELL, THIS IS A PARTIALLY FUNDED FEDERAL MANDATE.
AND THAT FUNDING SUPPORTS THOSE FEDERAL CLASS SIZE MANDATES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS.
ANOTHER BIG ONE IS TITLE ONE FUNDING. THOSE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT SUPPORT FEDERAL MANDATES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THE AT RISK STUDENT POPULATION. AND THOSE FUNDS ARE TYPICALLY USED TO PAY READING SPECIALISTS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS.
SO AGAIN, THOSE LOSSES WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
THE TOP ONE COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF ED AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FEDERAL FUNDS.
WE PROVIDED THIS SLIDE AT YOUR LAST WORK SESSION.
I'M PROVIDING IT AGAIN WITH A FEW NOTES AT THE BOTTOM.
AGAIN, THIS PROVIDES THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, THE SQUARE MILES, OUR POPULATION.
ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT POPULATION STATISTICS AND THE NUMBER OF FULL TIME EMPLOYEES.
OUR EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTS. JUST TO BE FAIR, IT'S VERY CHALLENGING TO HAVE APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISONS BECAUSE EVERY LOCALITY IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. BUT OUR NUMBERS INCLUDE 11 REGIONAL EMPLOYEES THAT SERVE NOT ONLY PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, BUT SURRY AND HOPEWELL. OUR CGA, OUR ONE RECOVERY COURT COORDINATOR THAT DOES THE SAME, AND THEN A REGIONAL COURT ADMINISTRATOR THAT SERVES THE ENTIRE SIXTH DISTRICT. WE HAVE A PUBLIC UTILITY.
PROBABLY NOT EVERY ONE OF THESE LOCALITIES HAS A PUBLIC UTILITY.
THE CITIES PROBABLY HAVE A PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
BUT THOSE 17 PUBLIC UTILITY WORKERS FOR PRINCE GEORGE ARE INCLUDED IN OUR 305 EMPLOYEE COUNT, AS ARE THOSE REGIONAL EMPLOYEES. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION THAT IT IS CHALLENGING TO PROVIDE APPLES TO APPLES.
AND CERTAINLY THE CITIES HAVE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND CERTAINLY PROBABLY ALL PAID FIRE AND EMS. MS. DREWRY. AND ADD TO THAT. MS. DREWRY, THAT'S A GOOD POINT, BECAUSE THE CITIES ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THEIR OWN STREETS, CORRECT? THEIR PUBLIC WATER WORKS, SEWER SYSTEMS, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
CORRECT. AND IT IS DIFFICULT SOMETIMES TO SEE EXACTLY HOW MANY EMPLOYEES, BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE PUTS OUT A POSITION CONTROL CHART THAT HAS THAT INFORMATION BY DEPARTMENT. IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE BENEFICIAL TO DRILL DOWN TO THE EXTENT WE CAN, TO DETERMINE A MORE APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
CORRECT. OKAY. OKAY. WE'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT. AND THIS WAS JUST A REGIONAL COMPARISON FOR FIRE AND EMS. AGAIN, WE JUST PROVIDED THIS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE BOARD ABOUT WHAT OUR REGIONAL JURISDICTIONS HAVE IN PLACE. SO WE PROVIDED THIS LAST TIME, AND THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ON WHETHER THE TAX RATES FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND MOBILE HOME COULD BE DIFFERENT THAN REAL ESTATE, PUBLIC SERVICE.
THEY MUST BE THE SAME. AND I BELIEVE IT DEPENDS ON HOW MOBILE HOMES ARE ASSESSED.
THAT'S THE SHORT ANSWER. MR. ERARD, I BELIEVE, BUT MOST LOCALITIES HAVE THE SAME RATE FOR MOBILE HOMES AS THEY DO FOR REAL ESTATE BECAUSE THOSE ARE CONSIDERED RESIDENT OR DOMICILES. SO WE OUR COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO GET BETTER INFORMATION. WE THINK THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S POSTED ON SOME LOCALITIES WEBSITES MIGHT BE OUT OF DATE,
[00:40:04]
OR THAT WHEN MY STAFF PERSON THAT PUT THIS TOGETHER FOR ME MADE CALLS, SHE MIGHT NOT HAVE GOTTEN A HOLD OF THE RIGHT PERSON.CHARLES CITY SAID THEY WERE 69 FOR BOTH, AND HOPEWELL PROVIDED A NUMBER THAT IS NOT EITHER ONE OF THOSE NUMBERS THAT THAT IS IN THIS CHART. WE ARE WE ARE JUST NOT SURE. BUT THIS IS A COMPARISON.
AND JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT FOR REAL ESTATE WE ARE LOWER THAN CHESTERFIELD, COLONIAL HEIGHTS, DINWIDDIE, HOPEWELL AND PETERSBURG. PERSONAL PROPERTY.
WE ARE LOWER THAN DINWIDDIE, PETERSBURG, SURREY AND SUSSEX AND MACHINERY AND TOOLS TAX.
WE ARE LOWER THAN ALL OTHER JURISDICTIONS ON THIS SLIDE, EXCEPT FOR CHESTERFIELD AND SURREY COUNTY.
YOU DID THAT IN JANUARY. YOU INCREASED YOUR 100% EXEMPTION THRESHOLDS TO BE 0 TO 40,000.
YOUR 50% EXEMPTION THRESHOLDS WERE INCREASED TO BE BETWEEN 40 AND 55,000, AND YOU INCREASED YOUR NET WORTH THRESHOLD FROM 120 TO 130. THOSE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE ANNUALLY TO THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE.
MOBILE HOMES IS DUE FEBRUARY 15TH. REAL ESTATE IS DUE AUGUST 1ST.
SO THE MOBILE HOME IMPACT WILL AFFECT US THIS JUNE AND THE REAL ESTATE WILL BE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
THOSE BILLS DUE DECEMBER 5TH AND JUNE 5TH. SO, I WANTED TO PROVIDE THIS SLIDE FOR PUBLIC VIEW. WE DO, IN ADDITION TO OUR ELDERLY, PROVIDE TAX RELIEF FOR DISABLED VETERANS.
AND THAT NUMBER HAS GROWN WITH LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO ALLOW A MORE ROBUST RELIEF TO DISABLED VETERANS. BUT THAT NUMBER HAS GROWN FROM 297,000 TO OVER 1.9 MILLION IN THIS FISCAL YEAR.
THAT IS THE AMOUNT OF RELIEF FOR REAL PROPERTY BEING PROVIDED TO DISABLED VETERANS, AND 114,000 WAS PROVIDED TO RESIDENTS OVER THE AGE OF 65 WHO MET THOSE CRITERIA.
WE DO THINK THAT NUMBER WILL UPTICK FOR FY 2026.
SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE FAIRLY QUICKLY TOO.
THESE WERE COVERED AT YOUR LAST WORK SESSION.
THERE WAS NO REASSESSMENT LAST YEAR FOR THE FISCAL YEAR WE ARE IN TODAY.
SO OUR RESIDENTS PAID THE SAME REAL ESTATE TAX THIS YEAR THAT THEY PAID LAST FISCAL YEAR, UNLESS THEY CHANGED PROPERTY AND MADE IMPROVEMENTS, ETC.. OUR REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENTS REASSESSMENTS FOR THIS FISCAL UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR ARE NEAR COMPLETION, AND WE EXPECT THOSE NOTICES TO BE MAILED SOON.
THE VISION CONSULTANT AND THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE PROVIDED US WITH ESTIMATES TO USE FOR BUDGETING PURPOSES, AND THOSE HIGHER ASSESSED VALUES WILL APPLY TO BILLS FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
THOSE BILLS DO DECEMBER 5TH, 2025 AND JUNE 5TH, 2026, NOT THOSE DO.
AND A FEW MONTHS THIS COMING JUNE, THE REAL ESTATE TAX AGAIN APPLIES NOT ONLY TO YOUR REAL PROPERTY, BUT TO MOBILE HOMES AND PUBLIC SERVICE TAXES.
WE DID SEEK INPUT FROM THE BOARD. AND WE'LL DISCUSS TONIGHT THE CONSENSUS OF THE TAX RATE TO INCLUDE IN THE FY 2026 REAL ESTATE TAX REVENUE NUMBER AS AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO MEET BUDGET REQUESTS.
STAFF WILL SEEK AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE THE TAX RATES AND ANY EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASE FROM NOT EQUALIZING AT YOUR BUDGET WORK SESSION ON THE 13TH, TWO NIGHTS AFTER THE INTRODUCED BUDGET PRESENTATION ON THE 11TH.
THE VALUE OF THE PENNY DID INCREASE FROM 372,000 THIS YEAR TO 420,000 FOR FY 2026, AN INCREASE OF $48,000. THIS IS THE SAME SLIDE I SHARED WITH YOU LAST WEEK THAT JUST PROVIDES THE AMOUNT OF INCREASE FROM NEW PARCELS, NEW CONSTRUCTION, DISCOVERY OF 19.2 MILLION, AND A MARKET OR REASSESSMENT INCREASE OF OVER 502 MILLION.
[00:45:06]
12, 12.5%. THE EQUALIZATION RATE IS $0.73, $0.09 LOWER THAN YOUR CURRENT RATE OF 82. THE AMOUNT OF INCREASED REVENUE IF THE BOARD DID NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE TAX RATE, IS 4.2 MILLION FOR REAL PROPERTY. THE ANY REDUCTION TO YOUR TAX RATE AFFECTS, AGAIN, REAL ESTATE, MOBILE HOME AND PUBLIC SERVICE.AND THIS SLIDE PRESENTS YOU WITH THE REVENUE INCREASE AT EACH RESPECTIVE TAX RATE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO RECAP THE SCHOOL REQUEST. AGAIN THIS INFORMATION WAS SHARED WITH YOU LAST WEEK.
SO THE MOU OR REVENUE SHARING CALCULATION HAS BEEN ADJUSTED BASED ON SCHOOL ENROLLMENT COMPARED TO COUNTY POPULATION SINCE IT WAS INTRODUCED IN 2007.
AND THIS YEAR IT AGAIN WOULD REDUCE IF THAT METHODOLOGY IS FOLLOWED FROM 37.23% TO 36.03. THE CURRENT YEAR FUNDING THAT IS PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION TOTALS $18,070,928.
IT WAS BASED ON THAT REVENUE SHARING CALCULATION FORMULA.
THE SUPERINTENDENT PRESENTED HIS BUDGET REQUEST ON FEBRUARY 24TH AND REQUESTED $13.37 MILLION INCREASE IN LOCAL FUNDING, ALL FOR THE OPERATING FUND, WHICH TOTALED $21,440,964, WITH THE SAME AMOUNT FOR THE TEXTBOOK FUND, TWO 2967 AND ANOTHER 21.2 MILLION FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS, IN ADDITION TO THE LOCAL TRANSFER FOR OPERATIONS AND TEXTBOOKS, AND ADDITIONAL $543,374 IS BEING PROVIDED THIS YEAR FOR SCHOOL BUS REPLACEMENTS AND ANOTHER 2.759 MILLION IS PAID IN SCHOOL DEBT SERVICE. THIS RECAPS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REQUEST A 5% INCREASE, 2.7% INCREASE IN THE EMPLOYER HEALTH INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.
SOME ADDITIONAL POSITIONS. ENGLISH LEARNER TEACHERS.
SCHOOL RESOURCE. OUR SCHOOL. I GUESS AT SCHOOL.
SECURITY OFFICERS. KINDERGARTEN PARAPROFESSIONALS.
INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL.
A SCHOOL COUNSELOR, WHICH IS SHIFTING FROM THE GRANT FUND TO THEIR OPERATING FUND.
A SHIFT IN CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR TEACHING VACANCIES.
A BEHAVIOR SUPPORT SPECIALIST TO LEARNING SPECIALIST.
SOME SPECIAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTIONAL AIDE OR PARAPROFESSIONALS.
EARLY CHILDHOOD. SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AND A CLERICAL SUPPORT FOR MIDDLE ROAD ELEMENTARY.
THIS RECAPS THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THE OPERATING FUND THEY'RE ANTICIPATING IN THIS VERSION OF THE BUDGET, A $1.9 MILLION INCREASE FROM THE STATE.
I BELIEVE THEY ARE HOPEFUL TO GET A BIGGER INCREASE IN STATE FUNDING WHEN THE GOVERNOR SIGNS OFF.
HOPEFULLY HE WILL SIGN OFF ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S APPROVED BUDGET.
MAYBE TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 1.8 MILLION MORE IN STATE FUNDING.
AND THAT IS THE COUNTY TRANSFER REQUEST FOR AN INCREASE OF FIVE POINT OR 3.37 MILLION.
THIS PROVIDES INFORMATION ON HOW THE FUNDING IS EXPENDED BETWEEN SALARY AND BENEFITS, OPERATING COSTS AND CAPITAL COSTS. AND SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY CATEGORY.
[00:50:04]
WE MENTIONED TO YOU LAST TIME THAT THE CHAIR VICE CHAIR MEETING THE SCHOOL BOARD EXPRESSED CONCERNS WITH THE CONTINUED DECLINE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF SHARED REVENUE.MAKING THAT ADJUSTMENT ANNUALLY FOR SCHOOL ENROLLMENT COMPARED TO POPULATION.
AND WE DID PROVIDE THREE CHOICES TO YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS TO FOLLOW THE CURRENT CALCULATION TO FREEZE THE PERCENT WHERE IT IS TODAY, OR TO PROVIDE A 40% 40% OF THE REVENUE GROWTH IN THOSE SHARED SOURCES.
REAL ESTATE TAX WAS THE ONLY SHARED SOURCE THAT IS PROJECTED TO GROW FOR FY 2026.
PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, STATE SALES TAX AND CONSUMER UTILITY TAXES ARE RESPECTED.
SO WE KNEW THIS IS A NEW ITEM THAT WAS DISCUSSED WITH BOARD MEMBERS.
AND IT'S AN ADDITIONAL CHOICE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR SPREADSHEET FOR REVIEW.
THE BOARD DID RECEIVE SOME INFORMATION WHEN MISS HART AND I DID OUR COMPENSATION PRESENTATION THAT SHOWED BOARD OF SUPERVISOR PAY AND A COMPARISON TO SURROUNDING LOCALITIES, AND WE DRILLED FURTHER DOWN OUR MISS HURT DRILLED FURTHER DOWN INTO SIMILARLY SIZED NEIGHBORING LOCALITIES. AND CURRENTLY OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAIR IS 59% BELOW THE AVERAGE OF OUR SIMILARLY SIZED LOCALITIES, AND THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE 52% BELOW THAT AVERAGE.
SO WE SOUGHT SOME ADVICE FROM MISS ERARD ON HOW TO HOW THE BOARD WOULD GO ABOUT PROVIDING A PAY INCREASE AND BOARD COMPENSATION SHOULD THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO. THIS IS THE COMPARISON THAT WAS SHARED WITH THE BOARD, AND YOU ARE AT ROCK BOTTOM.
7200 IS WHAT IS ANNUALLY PAID TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR.
CHAIRMAN. 6000 IS WHAT IS PAID TO THE REST OF THE FOUR BOARD MEMBERS.
THE NEXT LOWEST ON THIS LISTING IS 11 OR 10,000 IN COLONIAL HEIGHTS, AND 11,000 FOR THE CHAIR.
THE AVERAGE OF THOSE THAT ARE SHADED IN YELLOW IS AT THE BOTTOM 12,190 FOR THE CHAIR, 11,005 11 FOR THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. COST INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE BOARD.
AND IF THE BOARD DID APPROVE THIS INCREASE THROUGH LEGAL MEANS THAT THAT INCREASE WOULD TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, AND THE FISCAL IMPACT FOR FY 2026 WOULD BE JUST UNDER $15,000.
THIS IS THE PROCESS UNDER THAT CODE OF VIRGINIA SECTION.
YOU COULD WRAP THIS INTO THE BUDGET ADOPTION SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.
AND AGAIN, THAT WOULD TAKE EFFECT IF IT WAS APPROVED IN THE FY 2026 BUDGET BY JULY 1ST.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE INTO THE SPREADSHEET.
THIS IS THE SAME SLIDE PROVIDED LAST TIME WITH UPCOMING DATES.
WELL, LET ME JUST ASK MR. COX, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THE SPREADSHEET? NO, SIR. OKAY. ANY BOARD MEMBERS UP HERE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'M GOOD. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOOD. MR. DREWRY. ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I APOLOGIZE. I REALIZE THIS IS DIFFICULT TO SEE, BUT WE STARTED WITH THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE AND SOUGHT BOARD INPUT ON THE AMOUNT TO SET THE REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE BETWEEN $0.82 AND $0.73, AND TO MEET TO MEET THE FUNDING REQUEST. AND I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE TO.
[00:55:01]
SO THE TAX RATE AFTER CAREFUL EVALUATION AND CONSIDERATION THE BOARD WEIGHED IN ON THE AMOUNT TO DROP THE TAX RATE FOR FY 2026 AND MR. BROWN, MRS. WAYMACK AND MR. WEBB. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION ARE NOT RECOMMENDING OR DID NOT WEIGH IN TO REDUCE THE TAX RATE BELOW $0.82. MR. COX AND MR. PUGH PUT A TWO CENT REDUCTION AS THEIR PRIORITY OR THEIR, THEIR CHOICE IN EVALUATING OUR RESOURCES AND REQUESTS.SCROLLING DOWN EACH OF THE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS INDICATED TO MEET OPERATING NEEDS TO NOT MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO DEBT RESERVES FOR FY 2026. SO THE AMOUNT AVAILABLE TO REDUCE THAT CONTRIBUTION TO ZERO IS $611,686. THE NEXT DECISION POINT WAS SCHOOL FUNDING. AND WE DID PRESENT THE BOARD WITH THE THREE OPTIONS AND THE IMPACTS AT EACH OF THOSE TAX RATES, AND EACH BOARD MEMBER WEIGHED IN WITH A DIFFERENT DOLLAR AMOUNT WITH CONSIDERATION TO THE TAX RATE. MR. BROWN, MRS. WAYMACK AND MR. WEBB INDICATED AN INCREASE OF $1.2 MILLION TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION, AND MR. COX AND MR. PUGH, $750,000 TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION. AND I BELIEVE SOME OF THAT WAS COUPLED WITH FUNDING OF POLICE OFFICERS BY MR. COX AND MR. PUGH. SO THE CONSENSUS WOULD BE 1.2 MILLION TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION, BASED ON THE FEEDBACK I HAVE RECEIVED TO DATE, ELIMINATION OF ANY CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEBT RESERVE AND TO KEEP THE TAX RATE AT $0.82, THAT IS THE CURRENT BOARD CONSENSUS.
SCROLLING DOWN TO THE REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL MARKET AND COST OF LIVING.
EACH OF THE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY MADE PROVIDING A 5% MARKET INCREASE TO POLICE AND FIRE A PRIORITY. ADDITIONALLY, EACH OF THE FIVE MADE PROVIDING THAT 3.5% SCALE ADJUSTMENT FOR NON PUBLIC SAFETY A PRIORITY. FOR THE POSITION RECLASSIFICATIONS THAT WERE REQUESTED WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND. MISTER BROWN, MRS. WAYMACK AND MR. WEBB VOTED TO MAKE THOSE A PRIORITY. THERE WERE TWO WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, ONE WITHIN THE PLANNING OFFICE, A RECLASSIFICATION OF A PART TIME REGULAR ATTORNEY TO FULL TIME IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, TO RECLASSIFY OUR IC MANAGER TO A DIRECTOR, TO RECLASSIFY OUR CURRENT FIRE AND EMS LOGISTICS OFFICER, TO BE A CAPTAIN FOR SUPPORT SERVICES, AND TO RECLASSIFY OUR DEPUTY REGISTRAR TO A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ELECTIONS. SO AGAIN, THREE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO MAKE ALL OF THOSE RECLASSIFICATIONS A PRIORITY. AND THEN NEW POSITIONS. SO.
THE SHERIFF REQUESTED TWO AND A HALF ADDITIONAL DEPUTIES TO BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO MAKE THOSE PRIORITIES. THE OTHER THREE DID NOT SCORE THOSE.
THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY REQUESTED A PART TIME REGULAR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SPECIALIST TO.
ONLY ONE BOARD MEMBER SCORED THOSE THAT AS A PRIORITY.
MRS. WAYMACK. THREE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM SPECIALIST AND SENIOR PLANNER PRIORITIES. OUR IT POSITION. OUR GARAGE POSITION.
[01:00:03]
THE RECREATION SENIOR GROUNDS MAINTENANCE WORKER AND THE RECREATION COORDINATOR ONE WERE NOT FUNDED OR SCORED BY ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO BE AFFORDED THIS YEAR.TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO FUND THE POLICE CAPTAIN AND THREE POLICE OFFICERS.
THE OTHER THREE DID NOT. BUT THERE WAS DISCUSSION ON THE SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER.
PERHAPS THREE OF THOSE SSO'S BEING ALLOWED TO BE ARMED.
AND THEN PERHAPS CHIEF EARLEY BEING ABLE TO BRING THREE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS BACK TO OPERATIONS AND PATROL THESE CIVILIANS RECORDS. CLARK WAS NOT SCORED.
HOWEVER, IN TALKING WITH MR. BROWN AND MR. WEBB THEY INDICATED THAT IF MORE HOUSE BILL 599 STATE REVENUE WAS RECEIVED, THEY WOULD CONSIDER USING THOSE INCREASED FUNDS ALONG WITH A REDUCTION IN PART TIME FUNDS, THAT IS, IN THE BUDGET AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET TO CONVERT THAT PART TIME POSITION TO FULL TIME.
SO THAT WAS A DISCUSSION. THEN THREE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO FUND THE DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF. THREE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO FUND THE TRAINING.
CAPTAIN WITHIN FIRE. AND THREE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO FUND EIGHT ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTER MEDICS.
THE OTHER TWO MEMBERS SCORED TO FUND SIX AND SEVEN ADDITIONAL, RESPECTIVELY.
THREE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO FUND THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SPECIALIST.
THREE. WE DID ELIMINATE AGAIN ANY VEHICLES ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OF THESE POSITIONS AND THE FURNITURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ADMIN SUPPORT TO FUND OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
ONLY ONE BOARD MEMBER SCORED THE MANAGER ONE AT THE ANIMAL SERVICES UNIT.
ALL FIVE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO FUND THE KENNEL ATTENDANT.
THREE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT PROGRAM MANAGER.
SIX WHILE NO BOARD MEMBERS SCORED THE TWO ADDITIONAL BENEFIT PROGRAM SPECIALISTS.
THREE OR THE BENEFIT PROGRAM SUPERVISOR. ALL FIVE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO CONVERT THE SIXTH CIRCUIT LAW CLERK TO A STAFF ATTORNEY AND ASSUME FISCAL AGENT RESPONSIBILITIES FROM HOPEWELL.
HOWEVER, THIS WOULD REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM ALL SIXTH CIRCUIT LOCALITIES.
ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS ON POSITIONS? LET ME START WITH MR. COX, SINCE HE'S VIRTUALLY VIRTUAL.
ANY DISCUSSION OR ANY QUESTIONS, MR. COX, ON WHAT MR. GRAY HAS PRESENTED SO FAR? NOT SO FAR. OKAY, I'LL GO TO MY RIGHT, MR. PUGH. I THINK SOME OF THE POSITIONS AND WE CAN GO LIST BY LIST IF YOU WANT.
I BELIEVE THAT AS FAR AS A COUPLE OF THEM, I THINK THEY CAN WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR TO BE FUNDED.
I THINK THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITY TO POSSIBLY DO SOME CREATIVE THINKING, TO TRY TO POSSIBLY WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE DEPARTMENT WORK WITH VOLUNTEERS AND CAREER STAFF TO FEEL LIKE A TRAINING POSITION, AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN FUND IT. I THINK WE'RE TOO EARLY.
AND A DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF IN THIS COUNTY PERSONALLY.
IF YOU SCROLL DOWN SOME MORE. SURE. AND I THINK, I THINK IF, IF THE BOARD DECIDES TO FUND SOME OF THESE POSITIONS, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DESCRIPTION TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING OUR BANG FOR OUR BUCK.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE SHOULD REQUIRE CERTAIN THINGS.
WHETHER THEY'RE ALS, PARAMEDIC, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT.
OKAY. MR. WEBB. ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS? NOTHING AT THIS TIME.
[01:05:05]
AND MISS WAYMACK. I HAVE NOTHING AT THIS TIME.YES, SIR. YES, SIR. SO, SO BY CONSENSUS, THE POSITIONS AGAIN THAT ARE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET THAT MR. STOKE INTRODUCES NEXT WEEK. WILL BE THE ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST IN CDCC, THE SENIOR PLANNER AND THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THE DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF.
THE TRAINING CAPTAIN. EIGHT FIREFIGHTER MEDICS.
ONE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SPECIALIST, THREE WITHIN FIRE AND EMS, A KENNEL ATTENDANT, ONE SOCIAL SERVICES BENEFIT PROGRAM MANAGER SIX. AND WE WILL AGAIN, WE HAVE ASKED FOR WEIGH IN FROM THE OTHER SIXTH CIRCUIT LOCALITIES ON BEHALF OF JUDGE TOMKO, AND EXPECT A RESPONSE BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS MONTH.
ALSO, FUNDING FOR THE RECLASSIFICATION OF THE PART TIME REGULAR COUNTY ATTORNEY TO FULL TIME.
RESULTS IN A 0.5 FTE INCREASE.
SO FOR THE. MR. CHAIR? YES, SIR. GO AHEAD, MR. WEBB. I'M SORRY. MS. DREWRY YES, SIR. YOU'VE TOLD US BEFORE.
JUST A SIDEBAR. THE ONE FOR THE LAW CLERK. THAT'S BASICALLY JUST $2,400 INCREASE COMPARED TO THE WHAT IS SHOWN FOR THE TOTAL. AND IT ENDS UP BEING ABOUT $5373.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY HOPEWELL FOR THE LAW CLERK.
THAT'S AN EXPENSE REDUCTION. AND WE WOULD BILL THE SIXTH CIRCUIT LOCALITIES FOR A PORTION THEIR PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THAT POSITION AND ANY POSITION IN SOCIAL SERVICES, EXCUSE ME, SOCIAL SERVICES IS SPLIT.
CORRECT. 66, 34 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? YES, SIR.
THAT THE NET CHANGE FOR THAT BENEFIT PROGRAM MANAGER SIX IS 50 $43,793. OKAY. BECAUSE WE WOULD GET INCREASED REVENUE.
OKAY. SO MOVING ON DOWN FROM POSITIONS TO CONTINGENCY.
THIS ESSENTIALLY IS WHAT WAS LEFT FOR EACH OF THE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS AFTER THEY SCORED.
PRIORITIES. AND CERTAINLY IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE ANY REQUESTS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
THE SCHOOL DIVISION REQUESTED ANOTHER 81,000 FOR BUSSES TO PURCHASE FOUR BUSSES.
NO, NO BOARD MEMBERS SCORED IN AS THAT THREE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED THE INCREASE FOR COUNTY VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS OF 50,000. ALL FIVE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO HAVE A SECOND CLEAN COMMUNITY DAY AT A COST OF 35,000.
THREE OF THE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO COMPLETE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES STRATEGIC PLAN, AT A NET COST OF ABOUT $29,536. AND REALLY, THE ONLY OTHER ITEM FROM THIS LENGTHY LIST THAT WAS SCORED AND A NUMBER OF EQUIPMENT FOR OUR EMS EQUIPMENT WAS REQUESTED. ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR TURNOUT GEAR.
PERHAPS ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SCHOOLS FOR SCHOOL SECURITY PERSONNEL.
BUT NO OTHER ITEMS WERE SCORED. TWO OF THE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS SCORED TO PROVIDE AN INCREASE TO BOARD OF SUPERVISOR PAY. AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT OUR HR DIRECTOR DID SOME RESEARCH TODAY.
HER FILES ONLY GO BACK TO 1996, AND THE PAY WAS THE SAME IN 1996 AS IT IS TODAY.
SO IT HAS NOT INCREASED IN THREE DECADES. SO JUST SAYING THAT OUT LOUD.
I DON'T THINK ANYONE I'M AWARE OF IT. YEP. SO OKAY, SO SO WITH THE WITH THE CONSENSUS OF THE BOARD ON ON ALL OF THIS SCORING, THE CONTINGENCY WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND WOULD TOTAL $196,940 AND IS CERTAINLY AVAILABLE FOR OTHER INITIATIVES ON THIS LIST.
[01:10:07]
SHOULD THE SHOULD THE BOARD CHOOSE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT PRIOR TO ADOPTION OR TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TONIGHT? SO GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD, MR. WEBB. I'LL MAKE MY STATEMENT AFTER.GO AHEAD. THAT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOVE THE 150 WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
AND WE WENT WE BLEW THROUGH OVER A THIRD OF IT WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT. AND THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS.
THE WHOLE THING WITH THE CONSENSUS ON THIS SPREADSHEET IS TO GIVE US A STARTING POINT.
IT'S TO GIVE US A STARTING POINT FOR MR. STOKE TO PUT TOGETHER THE BUDGET TO PRESENT.
ONCE HE PRESENTS THAT BUDGET, THOUGH, WE WILL HAVE OTHER BUDGET WORK SESSIONS WHERE WE CAN ENTERTAIN, YOU KNOW, OTHER POSSIBILITIES. IF YOU KNOW ENOUGH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE IN FAVOR.
AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE DOING THAT OVER THE WEEKS AND A MONTH OR SO AFTER THIS BUDGET IS INTRODUCED ON, ON MARCH THE 11TH. BUT THIS IS JUST TO GIVE US THAT STARTING POINT SOME COMMON GROUND.
ON THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BUDGET TEAM, AND ALL OF THE DIRECTORS STARTED BY PRESENTING TO THE BUDGET TEAM, IN FACT, MISS KNOTT AND MYSELF HAD TO ACTUALLY DO OUR PRESENTATION FOR THE BOARD'S BUDGET.
THOSE BUDGET SESSIONS WERE RECORDED, AND THEY WERE SENT TO EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT THEY COULD REVIEW, WHICH THEY'RE REALLY GOOD. I MEAN, IT GIVES US A FIRSTHAND PEEK, A PEEK INTO THE THEIR PRESENTATION ON THEIR NEEDS, THEIR WANTS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS. ONCE WE GO THROUGH THAT, THEN ONCE MS. DREWRY PRESENTED THE INFORMATION LAST WEEK, WE HAD NO MORE THAN TWO BOARD MEMBERS COULD MEET WITH HER AT ANY ONE TIME.
SO THERE WAS TWO SETS OF TWO PEOPLE MEETING AND ONE SET OF ONE PERSON MEETING WITH MISS DREWRY TO GO OVER ALL OF OUR INDIVIDUAL CHOICES OR OPTIONS. AND THEN SHE PUT THAT SPREADSHEET TOGETHER.
THE SPREADSHEET WAS NOT EVEN REVEALED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS UNTIL AROUND 1:00 TODAY.
AND THAT WAS JUST FOR PROTECTION NOT TO HAVE ANY OF THIS, TO GET OUT AND HIT THE STREET.
SO, IT'S A VERY TRANSPARENT PROCESS. AND AGAIN, ONCE WE COME THROUGH THIS TONIGHT, THIS WILL BE THE INPUT INTO MR. STOKE PUTTING TOGETHER HIS BUDGET TO INTRODUCE ON THE 11TH.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'LL HAVE A SERIES OF BUDGET WORK SESSIONS TO TRY TO WORK THROUGH WHATEVER.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT THIS TIME. OKAY. OKAY.
YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE MUST DO'S. WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT MUST DO'S.
YEAH. AND THAT'S A KEY. WHEN WE STARTED INTO THIS AND YOU LOOK AT THE TAX RATE, I MEAN JUST TO DO ALL OF THE MUST DO'S, THE TAX RATE WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEWHERE AROUND $0.75, AND THAT WAS JUST TO HANDLE THE MUST DO'S.
AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NO POSITIONS, NOTHING OF THE OTHER CHOICES THAT WE HAD.
SO I KNOW WHEN I STARTED MY SHEET, I WAS IN THE RED BEFORE I EVEN GOT A FOURTH OF THE WAY DOWN.
SO IT'S A VERY CHALLENGING PROCESS. AND I THINK SOME OF THE BIGGEST IMPACT IS THAT WE HELD THE TAX ASSESSMENTS AT THE SAME AS THEY WERE THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, WHICH KEPT US PRETTY FLAT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHER DECISIONS COMING ALONG, WHETHER WE DO THE TAX RATE, WHETHER WE DO TAX ASSESSMENTS EVERY YEAR, EVERY OTHER YEAR WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSIONS COMING AS TO DO WE KEEP THE TAX ASSESSMENT PROCESS IN-HOUSE WITH OUR OWN STAFF, OR DO WE THIRD PARTY THIS OUT? JUST BE AWARE, THOUGH, THAT IF WE DO EVERY OTHER YEAR, EVERY FOUR YEARS, EVERY FIVE YEARS, THINGS ARE SMOOTH FOR THAT 1 OR 2 OR 4 OR 5 YEARS, BUT THEY CAN DRASTICALLY GO UP,
[01:15:06]
POTENTIALLY BASED ON THE LENGTH OF TIME IN BETWEEN THE ASSESSMENTS.AND AS YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY HAD A PRACTICE BEFORE TO DO ASSESSMENTS YEARLY, AND THAT WAS TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT ON OUR CITIZENS SO THAT YOU DIDN'T HIT THAT SPIKE BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, A BIG GAP IN THE ASSESSMENTS.
THIS ONE HERE WAS THE MOST COMPLEX ONE I'VE EVER TRIED TO FIGURE OUT.
AND I'M LIKE MR. WEBB, MR. BROWN, I STARTED TO BACK INTO.
IT DIDN'T WORK. I WAS I WAS IN A RED BY THE TIME I GOT UP AND FIGURED OUT WHERE I WAS AT.
BIG TIME. LIKE YOU SAID MS. ERARD, I WAS UNDERWATER.
THAT'S RIGHT. BUT ANYWAY. YEAH. MR. COX, YOU.
LEARNING CURVE. MR. COX, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NO, SIR. OKAY. MR. PUGH, I WANT TO JUST BE ABOUT MYSELF.
THAT WAY THE CITIZENS CAN GET WHAT THEY WANT AND GET SOME SERVICE DONE, SO.
MISS WAYMACK? NO, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY HOW DIFFICULT THIS IS.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST YEAR WE DID THIS. I WANTED TO GIVE EVERYBODY EVERYTHING THEY WANTED.
WELL, OF COURSE, I WAS OUT OF MONEY IN A SHORT TIME, SO IT'S JUST VERY DIFFICULT.
WE'D LIKE FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED, BUT IT CAN'T BE DONE.
THANK YOU. AS MISS DREWRY STATED EARLIER THIS WAS TOUGH FOR US BECAUSE WE HEARD THE NEEDS OUT THERE.
YOU KNOW, MAKING, YOU KNOW, THE REQUEST FOR FIRE AND EMS, I THINK WAS 20 SOME POSITIONS, 23 AND WE'RE FUNDING EIGHT. AND THE NUMBER THAT WE CAME UP WITH WAS DUE TO POTENTIALLY PUTTING TWO PEOPLE, ADDITIONAL PEOPLE IN FOUR STATIONS TO GIVE FLEXIBILITY. WE HAVE A SITUATION TODAY WHERE WE HAVE CALLS COMING IN AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY UNITS, AND WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY TO HELP US WITH THESE CALLS.
SO AGAIN, WE'VE HEARD IT FROM THE CITIZENS. WE'VE HEARD IT THROUGH VARIOUS, YOU KNOW, MECHANISMS, WHETHER IT WAS IN PERSON, PHONE CALLS, FACEBOOK, TWITTER, I DON'T DO TWITTER, BUT TWITTER, WE'VE HEARD IT. AND WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO BE FAIR TO THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
AND WE UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS AND WE'RE IT'S A TOUGH BALANCING ACT.
IT IS. THIS IS NOT THE FUN PART OF THIS JOB, TRUST ME.
SO SORRY I'M GETTING OFF THAT SOAPBOX, MS. DREWRY.
THAT ALL YOU HAVE FOR US? THAT IS ALL I HAVE, MR. CHAIRMAN. AND MR. STOKE AND I HAVE OUR ORDERS.
AND WE WILL PUT TOGETHER THE BUDGET FOR NEXT WEEK'S MEETING.
OKAY. MR. STOKE, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO, SIR.
OKAY. WELL, BOARD MEMBERS, WE'VE COMPLETED THIS PROCESS FOR TO GET THE BUDGET STARTED.
SO MOVED. SECOND. IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED BY MR. WEBB. AND IT'S BEEN SECONDED BY MR. PUGH THAT WE WOULD ADJOURN AT THIS TIME.
MISS KNOTT, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MEETING ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.