HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 19, 2005 Budget Work Session
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A Worksession of the Frederiek County Board of Supervisors was held on Wednesday,
January 19, 2005, at 8:40 A.M., in the Board of Supervisors' Meeting Room, County Administration
Building, 107 North Kent Street, Winehester, Virginia.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Chairman Riehard C. Shiekle; Viee-Chairman Gary W. Dove; Bill M. Ewing; Gene E.
Fisher; Gina A. Forrester; Lynda J. Tyler; and Barbara E. Van Osten.
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Riehie Wilkins; Ron Hottle; and Gary Lofton.
STAFF PRESENT
Administrator John R. Riley, Jr.; Assistant Administrator Kris C. Tierney; Treasurer C.
William Orndoff, Jr.; Commissioner of the Revenue Ellen Murphy; Deputy Clerk Jay E. Tibbs;
Finanee Direetor Cheryl B. Shiffler; and Budget Analyst Jennifer Plaee.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Shiekle ealled the budget work session to order.
Administrator Riley reviewed the order of presentations for the morning.
SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD
Soeial Serviees Direetor Gwen Monroe appeared before the Board on behalf of her
department's budget. She distributed a budget information paeket. Direetor Monroe introdueed the
members of the Soeial Serviees Board, who were present for the work session: Judith Morris,
Kristen Goff, Riehard Crane, Linda Smith, Pamela Kennedy, and Phillip Roby. She then introdueed
the members ofthe Management Team who were present: Sheila Almond, Administrative Manger;
Eileen Martelli, Soeial Work Supervisor - Foster Care and Adoptions; and Sharon Stanfield,
Eligibility Supervisor. Direetor Monroe reviewed the department organization and programs:
Eligibility Unit - benefits (e.g. food stamps, medieaid, TANF) and Serviees Unit (e.g. Child Adult
Proteetive Serviees). She explained that her department was a loeally admin istered, State supervised
ageney, whieh meant they were required to meet all of the State and federal regulations governing
her department. Director Monroe advised that her budget was a two-part budget eonsisting of a
public assistanee portion and an administrative portion. Direetor Monroe advised that her
department administered a total budget of $25,932,l04, with a loeal share of $2,547,323. She
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concluded by reviewing the issues facing her department in FY 2006:
Increased financial reimbursement from State and Federal sources.
Automation issues, including equipment replacement.
Increased administrative support specifically for service programs and sufficient to eover
increases in benefit programs.
Performance management.
Leadership training and succession planning.
Planning for staff changes due to retirement over the next four years of 37.5% of
eligibility staff.
Anticipated continued increases in Food Stamp, TANF and Medicaid caseloads.
Impact of the Prescription Drug Program and the lawsuit regarding EPSDT services for
children.
Fraud prevention and overpayments with the downsizing of the Fraud Unit.
Prevention Services for Child Protective Services (CPS)/Foster Care: shift in focus for
Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) from residential treatment to community-based
treatment and prevention services.
Impact of the State's Program Improvement Plan for Child Welfare Serviees. Required
inereases in visits to ehildren and families.
Increases in volume and complexity of Adult Serviees and Adult Proteetive Services
cases.
Serviees to Latino Community.
A vailable/ Affordable/ Adeq uate Housing.
Dick Crane assured the Board that the elients who eome forward for these services need them
and he hoped the Board would fully fund Social Services' budget.
Phillip Roby informed the Board that he was impressed with Soeial Services' staff and
employees and he implored the Board to fund the request for a budget increase in order to keep good
employees. He also asked the Board to help spear head the affordable housing.
Director Monroe concluded by thanking the Board for moving her agency into the County
Office Complex and for providing them with such nice work space.
Supervisor Tyler asked about the consequences for not maintaining timely documentation.
Director Monroe responded that thus far there have been no financial consequences;
however, they do receive a phone call.
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Vice-Chairman Dove asked ifthe department's state funding allocation would change based
on the outcome of the State's performance evaluation.
Director Monroe responded that it may.
Treasurer Orndoff asked how many new employees were included in this proposed budget.
Director Monroe responded two, I - foster care and I - adult service worker.
Treasurer Orndoff asked about thc percentage of salary increase included in the budget.
Director Monroe responded that a 4.5% salary adjustment was included in order to make the
salaries more compatible with Winchestcr Social Services along with a 3% cost ofliving adjustment
for a total of7.5%.
Chairman Shickle asked ifthe Social Services Department administered any local programs.
Director Monroe responded no.
Chairman Shickle askcd what would happen if localities did not fund what was requested.
Director Monroe responded that staff would have to look at areas to be cut.
Chairman Shickle asked if federal and state dollars could be lost if the local share was not
received.
Director Monroc rcspondcd ycs.
Administrator Riley advised that the department's budget did increase locally, but it was
funded as requested, with the exception of a new vehicle.
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Eric Lawrence, Director of Planning and Development, appeared before the Board on behalf
of his department's budget. He advised that the proposed FY 2006 budget was $1,009,718;
however, the budget being presented is $910,000, less capital items. He stated that 81 % of his
budget was personnel services ($777,147), which included staff and the Planning Commission, 7%
was purchasing, 7% was other office (agenda preparation, postage, etc.), and less than 3% was
capital (furniture). With regard to revenue, Director Lawrence advised that development review fees
covered 52% of his department's costs and he estimated this would increase to 80% based on the
new development fee schedule. Other areas ofrcvenuc included publication sales and reimbursable
grants. He concluded by saying that his department supports short and long range planning; zoning
enforcement, and public assistance. Director Lawrence went on to say that, compared to the current
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year's budget, the proposed budget is reduced 12%. Some requests that were not funded included
a replacement vehicle and a transportation planner. With regard to the BZA, this budget stayed the
same as last year.
Supervisor Ewing asked about the percentage of increase including capital.
Director Lawrence responded that there was a 3-4% decrease.
Chairman Shickle asked if there was a way to optimize the Northern Shcnandoah Valley
Regional Commission.
Director Lawrence respondcd that the Commission has hired a transportation planner to work
with the MPO and he asked if this person would be available to assist his department. He was told
that the individual would not have enough time to assist the County.
WINCHESTER REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Administrator Riley advised that the strategy for this agency was to fund the operational
portion of the budget, but fund the capital budget on an as needed basis.
Director Renny Manuel appeared before the Board on behalf ofthis budget. She advised that
the proposed operating budget was $1,727,840, which was approximately $350,000 over last year's.
She stated that the Authority was requesting a $50,000 reduction in local funding from Winchester
and Frederick County, as the increased revenue from fuel sales, etc. helped to reduce the local costs.
She went on to say that the bulk of the budgct increase is to fund the purchase of fuel. Director
Manuel advised that capital projects would only be undertaken if there were federal and state funds
available. She concluded by saying that no salary increases had been proposed per the instructions
of the Finance Director.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS
Administrator Riley advised that the Public Works and Public Safety Committees would be
looking at the addition ofthe communications center and dispatch to those agencies locating in the
proposed public safety building.
Robin Gattshall, Administrative Assistant, appeared before the Board on behalf of this
budget. She reviewed the current budget totaling $899,753.71, the proposed budget of
$1,426,775.58, and projected revenue of$646,441. 78. She advised that projected revenue is down
10% due to the increased use of cell phones, which are not subj ect to the E-911 tax. She advised
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that her department was requesting three additional public safety telecommunications officers. She
reviewed the capital requests which had been cut from the original request. These items included
computers, laser printers, CAD monitors, emergency medical dispatch licensed software, a new
phone system, and a video surveillance system.
Supervisor Van Osten asked about the additional GIS duties, which were need by this
department.
Sheriff Williamson stated that Assistant Gattshall would handle the GIS duties in addition
to her regular responsibilities.
Administrator Riley advised that he had assigned the GIS technician in Planning to help
resolve these issues.
Chairman Shickle asked about the over $30,000 increase in expenditures. He asked what
someone preparing these figures know that history does not tell the reader.
Sheriff Williamson responded that the department previously had a maintenance agreement
with Motorola, which expired; therefore, there is no preventative maintenance program for some of
the equipment.
Supervisor Ewing asked about the increase in travel.
Sheriff Williamson responded that the increase was for the cost of training the new
dispatcher positions. He advised that this amount was previously paid out of the Sheriff's budget,
but was transferred to Public Safety.
Sheriff Williamson advised the Board that if Public Safety gets a new phone system then his
department would need one as well because the systems must be compatible.
With regard to an E-911 tariff for cell phones, Firc and Rescue Director Gary DuBrueler
advised that he was trying to find out about legislation that enabled Winchester to charge a $4.00
tariff on cell phones.
NORTHWESTERN REGIONAL JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER
Superintendent Robert Hurt appeared before the Board on behalf of this budget. He
reviewed the proposed budget for FY 2006 totaling $2,146,782, which was in increase of$56,271
or 0.02%. He advised that Frederick County's local share, based on three year averages, increased
from 17.63% in FY 2005 to 22.76% for FY 2006. Superintendent Hurt advised that these increases
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were based on the facility running at capacity due to the use ofthe post-dispositional program and
because the community is growing. He stated that his facility does not have the population issues
facing the jail. He advised that the $56,271 increase was caused by a reduction in State funding and
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an Illcrease III usage.
Supervisor Ewing asked about the % of salary increase proposed.
Superintendent Hurt responded 3-4%.
The Board reviewed the information requested from staff at its last work session.
Administrator Riley advised that he hoped to bring this process to closure on February 2nd
or February 9th.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING WAS ADJOURNED
AT 11 :45 A.M.
....
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J . Riley r.
Clerk, Board of Supervisors
\I t) Q...~Q ~
Richard C. Shickle
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
Minutes Prepared By: Ch 1; [. r U
Ja~s
Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors
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