HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 15, 2005 Budget Work Session
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A Worksession of the Fredcrick County Board of Supervisors was held on Wednesday,
February 15, 2005, at 12:00 P.M., in the Board of Supervisors' Meeting Room, County
Administration Building, 107 North Kent Strcct, Winchcstcr, Virginia.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Chairman Richard C. Shickle; Vice-Chairman Gary W. Dove; Bill M. Ewing; Gene E.
Fisher; Gina A. Forrester; Lynda 1. Tyler; and Barbara E. Van Osten.
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Ron Hottle; and Gary Lofton.
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT
Richie Wilkins.
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;
Finance Director Cheryl B. Shiffler; and Budget Analyst Jennifer Place.
OTHERS PRESENT
Dr. William C. Dean, Superintendent, Al Orndorff, Superintendent for Administration; Patty
Taylor, Superintendent for Instruction; and Lisa Frye, Finance Director.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Shickle called the budget worksession to order.
Administrator Riley advised that staff was looking for a tax rate to advertise for the
reassessment, which will carry over to the budget. He encouraged the Board to be on the high side
in order to provide more flexibility. He then reviewed the population figurcs for thc County as
compiled by the Weldon Cooper Center. He stated that Frederick County is growing at 1.5 times
the State average rather than twice the State average as has bccn reported. He then asked Director
Shiffler to review the proposed budget scenarios.
Director Shiffler reviewed thc following budget scenarios:
Scenario A
Scenario B
Scenario C
Scenario D
Scenario E
$0.50 tax ratc = Revenue neutral
$0.525 tax rate = 5% increase
$0.55 tax rate = 10% increasc
$0.57 tax rate = 14% increase
$0.59 tax rate = 18% increase
Minute Book Number 30
Board of Supervisors Budget Worksession with Finance Committee on 02/15/05
349'
Forrester Scenarios
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Scenario 3
Scenario 4
$0.565 tax rate & 80% full funding level for schools = 13% increase
$0.57 tax rate & 85% full funding level for schools = 14% increase
$0.57 tax rate & 90% full funding level for schools = 14% increase
$0.57 tax rate & 95% full funding level for schools = 15% increase
Supervisor Forrester asked about the percent of salary increase in the County portion ofthe
budget.
Director Shifflerresponded that scenarios A-E were based on 7% Cost of Living Adjustment,
but Scenarios 1-4 were based on 4%.
Chairman Shickle polled the Board to see if a majority consensus could be reached on a rate
to advertise:
Barbara E. Van Osten
Lynda J. Tyler
Gary W. Dove
Gina A. Forrester
Bill M. Ewing
Gene E. Fisher
Richard C. Shickle
$0.57
$0.57
$0.525
$0.57
$0.525
$0.55
$0.525
Supervisor Tyler stated that the Board owed a fair shake to the students and parents to fund
education. She went on to say that if the Board advertises a rate that produces less than full funding
then they are excluding citizens from the democratic process.
Supervisor Van Osten stated that a low rate would cut out a large portion ofthe population.
Supervisor Fisher stated that he had calculated some actual assessed values at $0.55 and the
increased tax rate goes well beyond 10%. He went on to say that he was not willing to go higher,
but he would drop down. He stated that he was trying to look for compromise at $0.55; otherwise
he would compromise at $0.525 to get a majority consensus.
Supervisor Tyler stated that a new school had to be opened and these were costs associated
with growth.
Supervisor Van Osten stated that she did not see a problem with setting a high rate for the
purposes of advertising and receiving public comment.
Supervisor Tyler asked where the County was going to get the money to fund the new middle
school.
Supervisor Ewing responded that it would require belt tightening on both ends.
Supervisor Van Osten stated that there would have to be belt tightening even if the Board
Minute Book Number 30
Board of Supervisors Budget Work,e,sion with Finance Committee on 02/15/05
35
started at $0.57.
Supervisor Forrester stated that she felt like the Board was making the School the bad guy.
She went on to say that the schools are an integral part of the county's well being and it was the
Board's responsibility to give the School Board the funding to take care of its students.
Chairman Shickle stated that he did not see the School as a bad guy, but he saw the tax
payers as the good guy and he was concerned about the taxpayers' ability to pay.
Supervisor Van Osten stated that if the Board goes with $0.57 then it would allow people
to give input.
Supervisor Fisher stated that he would go with $0.525 since he did not get the compromise
he had hoped for.
Supervisor Van Osten stated that she would be willing to drop to $0.55, but she was not
happy about it.
Atter further discussion, Supervisors Tyler and Forrester agreed to drop to $0.55.
The Board consensus was a $0.55 rate. The breakdown was as follows:
Richard C. Shickle
Gary W. Dove
Bill M. Ewing
Gene E. Fisher
Gina A. Forrester
Lynda J. Tyler
Barbara E. Van Osten
$0.525
$0.525
$0.525
$0.55
$0.55
$0.55
$0.55
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE WORKSESSION WAS
ADJOURNED AT 12:55 P.M.
^
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Richard C. Shickle
Chairman, Board of Supervisors
~ cI<#-
John R. Riley, Jr
Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minutes Prepared By: ~~ f ~ '---1 ~
Jay. bs
Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minute Book Number 30
Board of Supervisors Bndget Worksession with Finance Committee on 02/15/05