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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 27, 2008 Work Session243 A Worksession of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors was held on Wednesday, February 27, 2007, at 6:00 P.M., in the Board of Supervisors' Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia. PRESENT Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Vice-Chairman Gene E. Fisher; Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.; Gary W. Dove; Bill M. Ewing; Philip A. Lemieux, and Gary A. Lofton. OTHF,RS PRESENT John R. Riley, Jr., County Administrator; Jay E. Tibbs, Deputy County Administrator; Cheryl B. Shiffler, Finance Director; Sharon Kibler, Assistant to the Finance Director; Jennifer Place, Budget Analyst; C. William Orndoff, Jr., Treasurer; Ellen E. Murphy, Commissioner of the Revenue; Finance Committee members Stephen Swiger and Richie Wilkins, III; Patricia Taylor, Superintendent of Schools; Al Orndorff, Assistant Superintendent for Administration; and Kristen Anderson, Assistant Director of Finance for Frederick County Public Schools. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Shickle called the Worksession to order. Finance Director Shiffler advised that Commissioner of the Revenue F,llen Murphy had concluded that the proposed revenue figure for next year was under budgeted. Commissioner Murphy advised that expected revenue for FY 2009 would $1.3 million higher. Finance Director Shiffler reviewed the pending State funding issues, which could off-set the gains in revenue. She advised that the proposed budget does not reflect the possible changes in State funding. The Constitutional offices are looking at the following reductions in Compensation Board funding: - Commonwealth's Attorney = $21,870 - Sheriff sDepartment = $132,320 - Commissioner of the Revenue = $12,042 - Treasurer's Office = $11,275 She went onto say the County could be looking at a loss of $68,317 in Wine and ABC profits along with a reduction in excess fees of the Clerk. Other possible areas of short-fall could be the Personal Minute Book Number 33 Board of Supervisors Budget Worksession of 02/27/08 244 Property Tax Relief Act and interest income. She then asked Superintendent Taylor to address the impact of school funding. Superintendent Taylor advised the school system was looking at receiving about $3.4 million under the House budget for school operations. Administrator Riley added that "we" do not know when the State budget process will end. I Ie added that if the Board set the direction this evening staff could come back in one week and let them know what could and could not be done. Finance Director Shiffler advised that the budget scenario figures have not been updated because the numbers are always changing. Administrator Riley briefly reviewed his priority funding sheet and additional cuts. He stated the Volunteer Incentive Program had been reduced to $186,000 from $300,000 and) Northwestern Community Service Board and Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging requests had been reduced by half. He then suggested the Board consider Scenario E, which was a $0.05 cent tax increase and $6.5 million in fund balance funding. He went on to say that he suggested this because ~ of the unknowns such as K-12 funding, Compensation Board funding, and interest rate adjustments. He stated the budget was still a work in progress and that scenario E would give the Board the ~ greatest amount of flexibility going into the budget adoption of April 9th, because the advertised rate could always go down, but it could not go up without another public hearing. He concluded bye saying that this year we have to focus on the revenue side instead of expenditures in order to meet the budget. Supervisor Lofton asked if scenario E included a pay raise for employees. Administrator Riley responded no. Supervisor DeHaven stated that Administrator Riley's suggestion was the safe and prudent) way to proceed today and that the Board could continue to work on the budget. He went on to say) there were still some tough decisions to be made, but this seemed to be a prudent approach. Supervisor Ewing stated that he found it difficult to advertise a tax rate that he could support. He went on to say that he would find it difficult to support any tax increase and the Board would just have to "bite the bullet". Supervisor Ewing moved to advertise scenario B, which was no tax increase and $6.5 Minute Book Number 33 Board of Supervisors Budget Worksession of (12/Z7/OS 245 in fund balance. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Lemieux. Supervisor DeHaven stated there were too many "ifs" in this budget and scenario B offered no contingency or play room. He then moved to amend the original motion to advertise scenario B and use an additional $2.2 million in fund balance (a total of $8.7 in fund balance funding). "I'he motion was seconded by Supervisor Lofton. The above motion was approved by the following recorded vote: Richard C. Shickle Aye Gene E. Fisher Aye Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. Aye Gary W. Dove Aye Bill M. Ewing Aye Philip A. Lemieux Aye Gary A. Lofton Aye The amended motion was then approved by the following recorded vote: Richard C. Shickle Aye Gene E. Fisher Aye Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. Aye Gary W. Dove Aye Bill M. Ewing Aye Philip A. Lemieux Aye Gary A. Lofton Aye ADJOURN UPON A MOTION BY SUPERVISOR EWING, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR DOVE, THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFOKE THIS BOARD, THIS MEETING IS HEREBY ADJOURNED. (6:33 P.M.) 9y o Q.~ . Richard C. Shickle o . Ri ey, Jr. Chairman, Board of Supervisors Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minutes Prepared By: ~./~ "~ ~ f ~~f., Jay . T' bs Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minute Book Number 33 Board of Supervisors Budget Worksession of 02/27/08