February 26, 2019 Budget Work Session and Closed Session Minutes200
MINUTES
Frederick County Board of Supervisors
Budget Work Session and Closed Session
Tuesday, February 28.201S
4:OOp.m,
Board Meeting Room, 107 Noah Kent Street, Winchester, VA
ATTENDEES
Board of Supervisors: Chairman Charles S, DeHaven, Jr.; Vice Chairman Gary A. Lofton;
Blaine P.Dunn; Judith MoCann-SlauhtecJ.Douglas McCarthy; Shannon G.Trout and Robert NL
Wells were present. Staff present: Kris C Tiomoy, County Administrator; O. William Dmdoff, Jr'
Treasurer; Ellen Murphy, Commissioner ofthe Revenue; Jay E�Tibbs, Deputy CoontyAdminiotrator�
Roderick 8.Williams, County Attorney; Cheryl B. Shiffler.Finance Director; Jennifer Place, Budget
Analyst; Sharon Kihler, Assistant Finance Director; Michael Namimno, Human Roouumen Director;
Scott Varner, IT Director; Mike Ruddy, Planning Department 0nmtoc Koren Vao hio. Public
Information Officer; Lonny MiUhoUomj. Sheriff, and Ann Ni PhiUipm, Deputy Clerk to the Board of
Supervisors.
Finance Committee Members present: Jeffrey Boppeand Angela Rudolph
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman DeHmmncalled the meeting toorder at4:00pm.
AIRPORT BUDGET DISCUSSION
Nick Sabo, Executive Director of the Winchester Regional Airport Authority, provided
information on tax rate options and requested that the Board reduce the tax rate on aircraft weighing
under 20,ONJpounds from $O,50 per *1DOufassessed vm|uato $001 per s100ofassessed value.
Meand Winchester Regional Airport Authority Chairman Gene Fisher said the lower tax rate would
unburden the airport and assist Inon-going marketing efforts, adding that the Authority's goal iotobo
financially self-supporting, The Board and Mr. Sabo discussed the proposal, and Mr. Sabo offered to
provide the Board with a recent economic study and funding models for similar Virginia airports that
are self-sufficient,
TOURISM BUDGE r Dla-QUSSION
Justin Kerns, Executive Director of the Winchester -Frederick County Visitom{enter/Toudsm
Office, provided information nncurrent marketing efforts at the Visitors Center, Harequested the
Board consider revising the current Memorandum of Understanding with the City ofWinchester to
change the funding mechanism for the Visitors Center. He proposed a 1% increase in the transient
occupancy tax rate toassist with marketing efforts, Hanoted itwould generate enough funding that
no General Fund monies would be needed to fund the Visitors Center/Tourism Office.
Minute Book * �
SCENARIO DISCUSSION AND BUDGET CALENDAR REVIEW
Mr. Tierney discussed three budget scenarios noting that all incorporated the use of the
reassessment windfall. He noted that he had prioritized the requested new employee positions,
adding that all of the requests were reasonable and necessary. He reviewed the upcoming budget
meetings,
Byconsensus, the Board directed staff tocontinue preparing budget scenarios keeping the
real estate tax rate at the current *O.01 per $18Oofassessed value.
The Board discussed the airplane tax question rained by Mr. Sabo. Them was general
consensus from the Board that the rate could be reduced while also approaching the state
legislature about revising the aircraft categories to allow more equitable taxing,The Board
requested information on the expected loss of revenue should the airplane tax be lowered.
CLOSED SESSION
At 5:25 p.mi., Vice Chairman Lofton moved that the Board of Supervisors convene in closed
session pursuant toSection 2.2-3711A(1)for discussion regarding the performance ofaspecific
pub|icomployeo,Supervisor Trout seconded the motion which carried onmvoice vote,
/#6:32 p.m. the Board momhom being assembled within the designated meeting place in
the presence of members of the public and the media desiring to uttend, the meeting was
reconvened on motion of Vice Chairman Lo#nn, aovnndmd by Supervisor Wells. Vine Chairman
Lofton moved that the Board of 8opomioom of Frederick County certify that, to the best of each
member'o knowledge, (i) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting
requirements byVirginia law were discussed inthe closed meeting to which this certification applies,
and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the o|000d
meeting were heard, discussed, or considered by the Board, Supervisor Dunn seconded the motion
Blaine
ADJOURNi
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:34p.m,
Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. Kri
Chairman, Board ofSupervisors C|*d'`B68Yd-af-Supom|sos
Minutes Prepared By: All f
Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minute Book 44