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February 17, 1993 Special Meeting 212 A Special Meeting of the Frederick County Board of Super- visors was held on February 17, 1993, 1:00 P.M., in the Board of supervisors Meeting Room, Frederick county Courthouse, Loudoun Street Mall, Winchester, Virginia. P~~qENT: Richard G. Dick, Chairman; W. Harrington Smith, Jr., vice-Chairman; Beverly J. Sherwood; and Charles W. Orndoff, Sr. ABSENT: James L. Longerbeam and Robert M. Sager. STAFF PRESENT: John R. Riley, Jr., County Administrator; Stephen F. Owen, Assistant County Administrator; Barbara Ratcliff, Finance Director; and Cheryl Shiffler, Assistant Finance Director. ou. TO ORDER The Chairman called the meeting to order. Mr. Riley explained that after the School Board and Board of Supervisors met last week in a worksession he has been working with the budget in an effort to arrive at a balanced figure. He further explained that at this point the county is on the negative side with approximately 11.4 million dollars. In an effort to reduce this amount he is suggesting that the following be considered: (a) School Board reductions in the amount of $3,279,008. These reductions would include $1,100,000 from the requested salary increase by the School Board, leaving approximately $1,198,000 available for raises in the school system. (b) Reducing the 105 new positions requested by the board, by a total of $1.8 million. (c) Miscellaneous reductions in the School Board's budget at $379,008. He further stated that he was confident the revenue re- ceived from the Commonwealth by the county will be approximate- ly half a million dollars in new money through recordation taxes that was authorized by the General Assembly in 1989 to come back to localities. A minimum authorization of a 2% raise for teachers in the school system. 213 He further stated that he would also recommend that the School Board be asked to carry forward from its 92-93 budget a half million dollars in order to try and meet the balance budget directives as set out by the Board of Supervisors. He explained that combining this with the use of approxi- mately 3.2 million dollars in fund balance this would bring the figure down to approximately 3.9 million dollars on the negative side. Mr. smith asked about the reductions of the school salary increases, if the board was talking about administrators and the teachers or are we just speaking of teachers. Mr. Riley replied that he would assume that the priority in the School Board budget for next year would be increases for teachers, that is the message that he received during the worksession, and he felt that is the direction this board is trying to go. Mr. Dick explained that whatever is left over would be spread out among the system. Mr. Riley stated that is correct. Mr. Riley referred to the mid year adjustment $262,000 that the school system had in surplus state funds and the adjustments made at that time by the superintendent. He explained that Mr. Malcolm did a lot to try and bring into line the support staff salaries, clerical and those areas within the school system. Mr. Dick asked if the new positions were included for the opening of Sherando High School. Mr. Riley replied that is correct, as the School Board indicated during the worksession, that eleven total positions were needed in order to open Sherando High School and James Wood Middle School. Mr. Riley stated that he was recommending that a total of twenty-one new positions be considered, with the remainder of the funding going toward associated positions needed to open the two schools. Mr. Orndoff stated that he had some questions on the remaining 3.988 million.. 214 Mr. Riley explained that the staff still has some work to do on this figure, and he thought perhaps the board could meet next week in order to finalize this number. Mr. Riley outlined some of the areas that he thought some additional funds could be picked up in order that this figure could be reduced. Mr. Dick asked when the county would have a definite figure from Richmond. Mr. Riley replied that by February 28, we should have a real good indication as to where we stand. Mrs. Sherwood stated that she knows this has been a diffi- cult task working with, personally what she feels was an inflat- ed school board budget, quite frankly, and knowing where the cuts should be made and where they should not be made. She asked Mr. Riley where he came up with the twenty-one teacher positions. Mr. Riley explained that he looked at the $1,800,000 cut and the remaining revenue that was left in that line item to fund positions. Looked at the average cost per position and then looked at the minimum requirement to open the two schools. Mr. smith stated that he felt the board needed to be very careful in not allowing the fund balance to be reduced any lower, as he feels the present level of $5,000,000 is really as low as it should go, and really should not be this low. Mr. Riley stated that is correct. Mr. Dick stated that he too was concerned about this, and that this has to be the bare minimum as far as how low this balance can go. Mr. Dick further stated that it is his understanding that the teachers salaries are to be set at 5%, as this board has always been concerned about the county teachers salaries being compatible with surrounding jurisdictions, and this is a step forward. Mr. Orndoff asked if this meant 5% plus steps. Mr. nick replied no, our directive is 5% period. 215 Upon motion made by W. Harrington Smith, Jr., seconded by Charles W. orndoff, Sr., the above budget figures as outlined by Mr. Riley and agreed upon by the Board of Supervisors, will be forwarded to Mr. Tom Malcolm, superintendent of Schools, for his information and action by the School Board. The above motion was passed by the following recorded vote: Richard G. Dick - Aye W. Harrington smith, Jr. - Aye Beverly J. Sherwood - Aye Charles W. Orndoff, Sr. - Aye BOARD TO HAVE BUDGET WORKSESSION PRIOR TO REGULAR BOARD MEETING ON FEBRUARY 24. 1993. Following board discussion it was decided that the board would meet at 6:00 P.M. on February 24, 1993, prior to the regular board meeting for further discussion on the budget. UPON MOTION MADE BY CHARLES W. ORNDOFF, SR., SECONDED BY W. HARRINGTON SMITH, JR., THERE BEING NO l'"UK"rJ1JU< BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THIS BOARD, THE MEETING IS HEREBY ADJOURNED. 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