February 28 2018 Budget Work Session with Finance Committee MInutesr•�•sE�r]
MINUTES
Frederick County Board of Supervisors
Budget Work Session
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
6:00 p.m.
Board Room, 107 North Dent Street, Winchester, 'VA
ATTENDEES
Board of Supervisors: Chairman Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.; Vice -Chairman
Gary A. Lofton; Blaine P. Dunn; Judith McCann -Slaughter; J. Douglas McCarthy;
Robert W. Wells and Shannon G. Trout were present. Staff present: Kris C. Tierney, County
Administrator; C. William Orndoff, Jr., Treasurer; Jay E. Tibbs, Deputy County Administrator;
Roderick B. Williams, County Attorney; Ellen Murphy, Commissioner of the Revenue;
Cheryl B. Shiffler, Finance Director; Jennifer Place, Budget Analyst; Sharon Kibler, Assistant
Finance Director; and Ann W. Phillips, Deputy Clerk to the Board of Supervisors.
Finance Committee Members present: Jeffrey Boppe; Angela Rudolph
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman DeHaven called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
DISCUSSION
Budget Scenarios
Mr. Tierney explained the revised budget scenario spreadsheet highlighting the
differences between the two proposed scenarios.
Supervisor Trout said the need for funding for additional deputy positions is concerning
with recent public safety issues around the country. She said she has discussed the issue with
Sheriff Millholland and noted the increase in call volume. Vice Chairman Lofton questioned the
call volume number saying that elective services such as security checks for businesses should
not take a deputy away from a real call for help. He inquired whether Board members would
support an increase in the aircraft tax and proposed raising the tax from one cent to 50 cents.
The Board members were open to such an increase. Finance Committee member Jeff Boppe
questioned where the proposed airplane tax rate falls in comparison to other localities.
Commissioner of the Revenue Ellen Murphy said the airport's biggest competitor is Leesburg
which currently has no tax.
Vice Chairman Lofton proposed that inspection fees administered by the Fire Marshal be
instituted. He said such fees for annually inspecting local businesses could raise between
Minute Book Number 43
Board of Supervisors Budget Work Session with Finance Committee of 02/28/18
County of Frederick, Virginia
MA
$150,000 and $180,000. Mr. Tierney said the issue had been discussed previously and there was
not much interest, but it could be studied again.
Supervisor Dunn said there are two competing groups of citizens on either side of the tax
increase question. He said he would like to approach the state legislature about increasing the
County meals tax rate and providing more tax relief for the elderly. He said he is not in favor of
a .03 cent tax increase.
In response to Supervisor McCarthy's question about budgeting without appropriating
funds, Ms. Shiffler said that the entire budget amount must be appropriated, but the Board could
ask staff to hold certain funds until more information is gathered.
Chairman DeHaven said the last thing he wants to see is a tax increase, but an increase is
necessary to meet funding needs.
Vice Chairman Lofton said he does not want to see any tax increase.
Supervisor Trout said she is concerned about the lack of funding for needs, and a 3 cent
increase now would be better than a 6 or 8 cent increase next year.
Supervisor McCarthy said he is not convinced the needs are real and that staff is not
incentivized to spend money wisely. He said he does not think staff are wise stewards of the
funds.
Supervisor Slaughter said she wants to see 12 firefighters added to upstaff the stations
requested. She added that huge strides have been made in increasing revenues.
Supervisor Wells said he has wrestled with the issue and feels a tax increase is necessary
either this year or next year.
Ms. Shiffler discussed the changes in the debt service schedule provided by the schools.
Mr. Tierney said the County has limited sources of revenue including fees and taxes and
is always looking for economic development. Regarding expenses, he said the only way to get a
reduction in expenses is to cut either people or programs.
Finance Committee member Angela Rudolph cautioned the Board against using the fund
balance for operating funds saying it is not sustainable. She compared it borrowing from your
own savings account, adding that a small tax increase would be better than no tax increase.
Minute Book Number 43
Board of supervisors Budget Work. Session with Finance Committee of 02128/18
County of Frederick, Virginia
268
By consensus, the Board agreed to have the Finance Director advertise a proposed budget
based upon scenario H with a one cent real estate tax increase, an airplane tax rate of 50 cents,
and the use of $2.5 million from fund balance.
By consensus, the Board decided against the $1.4 million transfer from debt service
which had been requested by the School Board.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
Charles S. DeHaven, Jr.
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
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Cle , Board upervisors
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Minutes Prepared By:
Ann W. Phillips
Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minute Book Number 43
Board of Supervisors Budget Work Session with Finance Committee of 02/28/18
County of Frederick, Virginia