Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 24, 2003 Budget Public Hearing 50:5 A Public Hearing on the proposed General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2004, was held on March 24, 2003, at Sherando High School, Stephens City, Virginia, at 7:00 P.M. PRESENT Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Vice Chairman W. Harrington Smith, Jr.; Robert M. Sager; Margaret B. Douglas; Sidney A. Reyes; Gina A. Forrester; and Lynda J. Tyler. STAFF Administrator John R. Riley, Jr.; Deputy Clerk Carol T. Bayliss; Finance Director Cheryl Shiffler; and Budget Analyst Jennifer Place. INVOCATION The invocation was delivered by Supervisor Sager. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ADOPTION OF AGENDA Upon motion made by Supervisor Smith, seconded by Supervisor Sager, the agenda was adopted, as presented, by the following recorded vote: Richard C. Shickle - Aye W. Harrington Smith, Jr. - Aye Robert M. Sager - Aye Margaret B. Douglas - Aye Sidney A. Reyes - Aye Lynda J. Tyler - Aye Gina A. Forrester - Aye REOUEST FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT RE: RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR THE FY2001 LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE PURCHASE OF A VEHICLE TO BE USED IN THE DRUG PROGRAM - APPROVED Upon motion made by Supervisor Forrester, seconded by Supervisor Sager, approval is hereby granted for the use of block grant funds for the expenditure of $11 ,654 to be used for the purchase of a vehicle to be used in the drug program. The above motion was approved by the following recorded vote: Richard C. Shickle - Aye W. Harrington Smith, Jr. - Aye Robert M. Sager - Aye Margaret B. Douglas - Aye Sidney A. Reyes - Aye Lynda J. Tyler - Aye Gina A. Forrester - Aye ADMINISTRATOR RILEY PRESENTED PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2003-2004 Minute Book Number 28 Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing of 03/24/03 506 BUDGET Administrator Riley using a power point presentation, advised of how the funds are spent as well as where the funding comes from. This was done by way of a pie chart. PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET The following citizens appeared before the Board to express their thoughts on the proposed budget: Shawn Bianco, Opequon District, President POP, Bass Hoover School, is in favor of a tax increase of 18 cents. Does not want to see teacher aides at Gainesboro School done away with. Kav Moffett. Gainesboro District, is in favor of 18 cent tax increase, feels this needs to be implemented. ROl!er Laudermilk, Shawnee District, opposed to any tax increase, has not been convinced a tax increase is necessary. Feels there is a great deal of waste within the system. Board members need to do what they were elected to do. Mary Combs, Gainesboro District, job security is needed for the teacher aides. Feels the taxes in Frederick County are low. Asked the Board not to do this to the children. Harrv Smith. Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, advised the Board of the revenue generated from the businesses within the community, and the importance of continuing to attract new businesses to the area. Nancy Friend, Gainesboro District, Vice President of Gainesboro PTO. Feels 18 cent tax increase should be approved. Does not want to see Gainesboro School closed. David Cottrell, Red Bud District, favors 18 cent tax increase. Elizabeth Cain, Gainesboro District, supports the school budget as presented to the Board and the tax increase of 18 cents. Asked the Board not to increase county population and decrease school budget. Marl!aret Webster, Gainesboro District, supports the 18-cent tax increase. Cheryl Connolly, Gainesboro District, addressed the closing of Gainesboro School. She does not feel closing the schools is the answer to the problem. Darlene Jones, Gainesboro District, asked Board not to close Gainesboro School and do not get rid of the teacher aides. The Board needs to look to the future and consider our children. Minute Book Number 28 Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing of 03/24/03 507 Steve Jones, Gainesboro District, fully supports keeping Gainesboro School open. Josh Folb, Opequon District, feels the County has great teachers and he supports those teachers, and the bus drivers as he feels they are all important. The 18-cent tax increase would mean an extra 22.50 per month and 74 cents per day in ones budget. By supporting this tax increase we can keep the best in Frederick County. Michelle Parlett, Gainesboro District, her son attends Gainesboro School, wants the school kept open. Donnie Fortner, Gainesboro District, concerned about the closing of Gainesboro School. Looks at those that attend this school more as family and not just a school. Larry Dick, Gainesboro District, supports the budget with the 18-cent tax increase. Does not want Gainesboro School closed. He has been a resident of Frederick County for forty-two years. He fully supports the school budget. Stuart Wolk, Chairman, School Board, fully supports full funding ofthe budget. He feels the budget has to be funded. He advised this is not blackmail, it is to continue excellence, and excellence comes at a price. Michael Albril!ht, Gainesboro District, thanked Chairman Shickle for the job he is doing and hoped he would seek reelection. He feels the school system is a monopoly and not a business. He feels the County should consider cutting back on salaries and privatizing some schools. Feels there should be a moratorium on all County offices and schools. Hans Nydam, Gainesboro District, referred to a petition of those not in favor of a tax increase. He advised of the low growth areas in the County. He further advised of those citizens within the County living on fixed incomes. He feels some schools can be downsized and belts need to be tightened. Salaries need to be earned and tax increase should be no more than 10 cents. Rich Rav. Gainesboro District, feels everyone needs to step out of their boxes and find new ways. He addressed the cost to maintain services. Feels education is top priority. Do not close Gainesboro School and eliminate aides. Feels the way the school board budget is prepared needs to be reevaluated. William Meyer, Shawnee District, addressed the 18-cent tax increase to a 30% salary increase. He asked who in this audience gets a 30% increase. Asked why not a five cent increase. Minute Book Number 28 Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing of 03/24/03 508 No tax increase last year to 18 cent this year, this is not good. Velda Spencer, Red Bud District, endorses the 18-cent tax increase, as she does not feel we can do with less. She wants to make sure that Millbrook High School is opened. Polly Hoover. Gainesboro District, county school bus driver, feels increase is needed for teachers and aides. She also wants to know where the funds earmarked from the State Lottery for schools is going. When the lottery went into effect, it was stated that a certain percentage oftheses funds would be going to education within the state, where are these funds? Donnie Gladden, Opequon District, knows there will be a tax increase. He feels the users, living in the County, should pay. Has a school tax ever been considered? He referred to the services provided by Fire and Rescue and asked if a service charge has ever been considered for this service? He feels Gainesboro School should be kept open. Judy Younl!, Shawnee District, President ofPTO at Armel School, asked to have budget fully funded, and all teacher aid positions. Gary Lofton, Back Creek District, referred to what Don Butler of the County Finance Committee had said about County School Budget. He is not convinced if County School Budget is not fully funded it will mean the closing of Gainesboro school, or cutting aid positions. He feels fiscal management is needed. Elizabeth Grannis, Red Bud District, feels budget should be fully funded. He referred to the accreditation of the County Schools. Feels the County needs to invest in their children. Ruth Smith, Gainesboro District, was speaking for a friend that has a student at Gainesboro School; however, was unable to attend tonight's hearing. Everyone attending Gainesboro School knows everyone else. Does not want to see this school closed. Chad Massey, Red Bud District, feels it is a terrible time to be raising taxes. Is not in favor of closing Gainesboro Schools, feel cuts need to be made elsewhere. Pat Grosso, Red Bud District, President Frederick County Teachers Association. Feels those that follow behind us need the opportunity to get a model education. Projected 250 new students for next year. Asked the Board to fully fund the budget as presented. Kristi Wubbe, Opequon District, works as Special Aid at Bass Hoover School. Does not feel aides should be losing their jobs, approximately forty. Asked the Board not to compromise, and Minute Book Number 28 Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing of 03/24/03 509 to look toward tomorrow. Karen Jarrell, Gainesboro District, has two children attending Gainesboro Elementary. Asked the Board not to close the school. Phil Hood. Red Bud District, advised that he feels it is the Boards' responsibility to fund the 18-cent tax increase. He asked the Board to make difficult decisions now, for the future will hold more. Harold Strosnider, Opequon District, has been a resident of the County for sixty-seven years. He asked the Board to consider a tax deferment for older citizens of the County. Lynn Methenv, Opequon District, her first Board meeting. Feels full funding is needed. Asked the Board not to be willing to stand still or go backwards. Bill Dean, Stonewall District, Superintendent of Schools, resident of Stonewall District. Advised that this has been a very unusual budget year. 73% of this budget is for the opening of Millbrook High School. Twenty seven percent is for additional buses and technology. He feels the community has a shared responsibility to educate the children of the County. Anl!ie Hodson, Gainesboro District, wants Gainesboro School to remain open. She asked the Board to find a way. Joan Blv, Opequon District, endorses the tax increase. She feels the County has an excellent school system. David Witt, Opequon District, President of Aylor PTO, advised what he feels the schools have achieved and what his three children has learned while attending these schools. He supports the budget and wants to see Gainesboro School remain open. David Burl!ess, Stonewall District, favors funding schools. Does not feel the tax increase is a balance. He feels economic development is necessary, but not residential development. Susan Horton, Back Creek District, her twin daughters attended Sherando High School. She is here for future students of the County school system. She feels full funding is needed and necessary for the schools. Christine Lippy, Shawnee District, has lived in three other states before moving to Frederick County. She is overwhelmed with the school system the County has. Sam Lehman, Back Creek District, addressed what is budgeted each year for economic Minute Book Number 28 Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing of 03/24/03 510 development and referred to the revenue brought to the County each year by these companies. Rebecca Watts, Gainesboro District, feels the 18-cent tax increase is justified. She feels the Board needs to "court" more industry and businesses to come to the County. Shannon Brannon, Stonewall District, Stonewall Elementary PTO, asked that 18-cent tax increase be approved. She feels we owe our children the best possible education. Linda Jenkins. Stonewall District, County school bus driver. Does not support the budget as presented. Does not agree with tutors being hired for students in order to get better scores on SOL's. Carla Reese, Back Creek District, feels developers need to pay their fair share. Is in favor of tax increase. Donald W. Luttrell, Opequon District, feels that blackmail is working well, and bigger is not always better. He feels Gainesboro School is an example of that. He referred to the property bought by the school board that is landlocked. He feels the Board brought this current situation on themselves. Pat Gochenour, Red Bud District, member ofthe County Planning Commission. She feels the Board should be looking at instruction and not construction... Sharon Boyd, Gainesboro District, referred to the possible closing of Gainesboro School. Further referred to the statement made by Supervisor Reyes, in the newspaper, concerning the building of approximately 1,000 homes in the Summit and what this would be doing to the school population. She further advised this development would be without proffers due to the fact this property was originally developed in the seventies. She did advise that she felt there are no easy answers to this budget. Hone Brimm, Shenandoah County resident, does pay taxes here and has taught in school system for twenty- five years. Addressed the budget and the teacher aides and stated that she felt this is the most effective part of the budget. Sam Lehman, Back Creek District, speaking for the second time. He addressed the closing of the Gainesboro School. There being no further speakers to address the Board of Supervisors concerning the Proposed General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2004, the public hearing was closed. Minute Book Number 28 Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing of 03/24/03 511 UPON MOTION MADE BY SUPERVISOR SAGER, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR FORRESTER, THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADJOURNED. (TIME:9:23 P.M.) ~Q.-9 C~L~ Richard C. Shickle Chairman, Board of Supervisors Minutes Prepared By: It."L T ~~( /.",j Carol T. Bayliss Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minute Book Number 28 Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing of 03/24/03