December 21 2016 Minutes of Work Session with Finance Com.•
A Budget Work Session of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors and Finance
Committee was held on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at 8:45 A.M., in the Board of
Supervisors' Meeting Room, 107 North Kent Street, Winchester, Virginia..
PRESENT
Chairman Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.; Vice- Chairman Gene E. Fisher; Blaine P. Dunn;
Bill M. Ewing; Gary A. Lofton; Judith McCann - Slaughter; and Robert W. Wells.
OTHERS PRESENT
Finance Committee member Angela Rudolph; County Administrator Brenda G. Garton,
Deputy County Administrator for Community Development Kris C. Tierney, Deputy County
Administrator for Human Services Jay E. Tibbs, Commissioner of the Revenue Ellen Murphy,
Treasurer C. William C3rndoff, Jr., Finance Director Cheryl B. Shiffler, Budget Analyst
Jennifer Place, County Attorney Rod Williams, IT Director Scott Varner, and Handley Library
Director Jahn Huddy.
CALF 'X'O ORDER
Chairman DeHaven called the work session to order.
The first item on the agenda was a discussion with the Conunissioner of the Revenue
regarding the reassessment. Commissioner Murphy noted real estate assessments were up
8.47 %, which equated to an additional $4.3 million in revenue should the tax rate be kept the
same.
Finance Director Shiffler . reviewed the proposed budget calendar with the Board and
Finance Committee. It was noted that the budget work session with the school board had been
moved from January 25, 2017 to February 8, 2017. Finance Director Shiffler reviewed the
advertisement requirements if the Board chose to keep the tax rate the same with the advertising
deadline being February 1, 2017.
The Board discussed the reassessment advertisement.
Chairman DeHaven stated that. rolling the rate back to revenue neutral would be a
mistake and suggested scheduling a public hearing to certify the reassessment at the current tax
rate of $0.60/$100.
Supervisor Wells agreed with Chairman DeHaven.
Vice - Chairman Fisher agreed as well.
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County ofF�ederick, Virginia
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Supervisor Ewing stated he was good with advertising the current rate because the rate
could be rolled back after the hearing, but not increased.
ad.
Supervisor Dunn stated he was not in favor of going above $0.60.
Supervisor Lofton stated he did not have a preference regarding the advertisement,
Chairman DeHaven stated it was the consensus of the Board to move forward with the
Finance Director Shiffler stated she would amend the budget calendar to remove the
reassessment piece.
The Board then reviewed the budget summary information to include capital and position
requests.
Finance Director Shiffler advised the budget summary information included a $750,000
operational contingency fund, no capital contingency, and $1.5 million for a salary increase for
employees, which equated to 3 %.
system.
The Board and Finance Committee discussed the capital project priorities for the school
Supervisor Dunn asked about the $7.5 million for the Armel additions.
Supervisor Wells thought the Board should take a look at that request.
Supervisor Slaughter thought there were still a lot of unanswered questions with that
project. She went onto say the proposed addition cost $800 per square foot.
Vice�Chairman Fisher expressed frustration with the schools because they did not seem
to be listening and they did not get it. He stated "don't bring us a Taj Mahal." He felt. they
should look at the designs of Evendale and Armel. He concluded by saying there was also a
need to look at the 57 -43 revenue split.
Supervisor Wells stated he understands Vice - Chairman Fisher's frustration, but he did
feel there were some needs that needed to be addressed.
Chairman DeHaven stated he shared the frustration, but noted the Board did not get to tell
the School Board how to spend their money.
Supervisor Ewing echoed Chairman DeHaven's remarks. He went on to say that the
Board could tell them how much money they get.
Chairman DeHaven stated the Board was completely committed to open channels of
communication.
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Board of Supervisors Work Session witk Finance Committee of 12 /21 /lb
County of Frederick, Virginia
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Supervisor Lofion stated he was not prepared to vote to give any money until he saw the
plans for the schools.
Chairman DeHaven stated if the Board had questions they wanted answered they should
send them to administration where they would be compiled into a document and recirculated to
the Board. Once finalized the comments would be shared with the school board.
Supervisor Wells suggested a work session between the two boards,
Administrator Garton stated if a work session was held it should be on a night other than
a Board meeting night. She also stated the schools should give the Board the information in
advance of the work session.
Following this discussion, Finance Director Shiffler asked the Board how they preferred
to receive their budget information (i.e. electronically or paper /notebooks }. The consensus was
to do both paper and electronic.
Finance Director Shiffler advised the next budget. work session would look at revenue
growth and she would work on possible scenarios.
There being no further discussion, the work session was adjourned at 9:45 a.m.
,�
Charles S. DeHaven, Jw,
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
-���
rends G. Garton
Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minutes Prepared By: �j,� �, �,�
Jay E � Tihi�s
Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minute Book Number 42
Board of Supervisors Work Session with Finance Committee of 12(2111.6
County of Frederick, virginia