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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 28, 2005 Budget Public Hearing 422 A Public Hearing on the proposed General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2006, was held on Monday, March 28, 2005, at Millbrook High School, Winchester, Virginia, at 7:00 P.M. 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. STAFF Administrator John R. Riley, Jr.; Deputy Clerk Jay E. Tibbs; Attorney Lawrence R. Ambrogi; Finance Director Cheryl B. Shiffler; and Budget Analyst Jennifer Place. INVOCATION A moment of silence was observed. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Vice-Chairman Dove led the Pledge of Allegiance. ADOPTION OF AGENDA - APPROVED Upon a motion made by Supervisor Tyler, seconded by Supervisor Van Osten, the agenda was adopted as presented by the following recorded votc: Richard C. Shickle Aye Gary W. Dove Aye Bill M. Ewing Aye Gene E. Fisher Aye Gina A. Forrester Aye Lynda J. Tyler Aye Barbara E. Van Osten Aye PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2005-2006 BUDGET County Administrator John R. Riley, Jf. presented the proposed budget. The total proposed budget is $203,005,546, which represents a total increase of 12.4% or $22.4 million. Of this proposed budget, Education accounts for 66%, Public Safety/Jail - 13%, Landfill - 5%, Social Services - 3%, Administration - 3%, Parks - 2%, Public Works -2%, and all other - 6%. The following areas received more than $1 million in additional funding: School Funds - $14.3 million; Landfill - $3 million; and Public Safety/Jail - $2.2 million. He reviewed staffing increases for Schools, Sheriff, and Fire & Rescue, as compared to population increases. He concluded by Minute Book Number 30 Board of Supervisors Fiscal Year 2005-2006 Budget Public Hearing - 03/28/05 423 addressing discrepancies in information presented by the Frederick County Public Schools Council regarding the proposed tax increase and what the proposed school budget would flmd. Chairman Shicklc convcned the budget public hearing. The following citizens appeared before the Board to comment on the proposed budget: Joseph Torp, Shawnee District, spoke in favor of full funding for the schools as the proposed $0.55 tax rate would not allow the schools to function at existing levels. Keith Howard, Opequon District, spoke in favor offull funding for the schools and asked the Board to raise the tax rate in order to pay not only for the schools, but for other services as well. He stated that his children were affected by under funding the schools. Kitty Hockman-Nicholas, Back Creek District and Chairman of the Winchester-Frederick County Convention and Visitors Bureau, asked the Board for their partnership and to fund the full $192,000 amount for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Holly Price, Gainesboro District, spoke on behalf of the Convention and Visitors Burcau and urged the Board to fully fund their request. Pat Embrey, Stonewall District, spoke on behalf ofthe Convention and Visitors Bureau and urged the Board to fully fund their request. Elizabeth McClung, Executive Director of Belle Grove Plantation, spoke in favor offull funding for the Convention and Visitors Bureau in the amount of$192,000. Leonard Kremer, Handley Regional Library Board, urged the Board to increase funding for the regional library. He stated that the demand for services has increased, but the amount of funding has remained the same. Richard Barbieri, Opequon District, spoke in favor of full funding for the schools. He urged the Board to raise taxes in order to fund education and to also modify the tax relief system to assist those older residents burdened by higher taxes. John Strause, Back Creek District and teacher at James Wood Middlc School, spoke in favor of more funding for the schools, beyond what had been proposed in scenario M. He urged the Board to do what was necessary to keep the schools leading and first rate. Teasha Burrow, Red Bud District, urged the Board to fully fund the schools or at least approve the funding under the $0.55 tax rate. She stated that cutting the school budget was not a Minute Book Number 30 Board of Supervisors Fiscal Year 2005-2006 Budget Public Hearing - 03/28/05 424 school board problem, but a community problem. Robert Duffin, Red Bud District, urged the Board to fully fund the schools. He stated that he was pleased with the education provided by the County schools, but they must remain competitive. Bob Seale, Back Creek District, spoke against the proposed 10% tax increase. He addressed the growing school budget and was concerned by the 115% increase in spending relative to the 24% student growth. He stated that he wanted quality education, but wanted spending to be thrifty. Amber Alexander, Stonewall District, spoke in favor oHull funding for schools. Teresa Settle, Shawnee District, urged the Board to consider the school's needs and budget needs when considering a funding allocation. Kristi Wubbe, Opequon District, urged the Board to support the $0.55 tax rate because anything less would be inadequate to fund the schools. John Utz, Back Creek District, spoke against the proposed $0.55 tax rate because his taxes would double. He stated that the school budget has "a lot of fluff in it" and urged the Board to return to categorical funding for the schools. Barbara Salyer, Stonewall District, stated that the school budget situation would not be solved by this proposed tax increase because the problems are being caused by growth. Betty Journell, Red Bud District, appeared before the Board on behalf of the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging. She thanked the Board for the additional funding last year. She stated that there were areas to the west and north that they cannot currently serve, but that was a goal for the near future. She requested a funding allocation in the amount of$47,350. Bea Apperson, Opequon District, stated that she was 90 years old and attended the Senior Citizens Center as often as she could. She asked the Board to approve the requested increase in funding for the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging. Billy Schlag, Jr., Opcquon District, spoke in favor of increased funding for the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging. Helen McDonald, Opequon District, spoke in favor of increased funding for the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging. Pat Mathias, City of Winchester and Bus Drive for Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging, Minute Book Number 30 Board of Supervisors Fiscal Ycar 2005-2006 Budget Public Heariug - 03/28105 425 requested the Board increase funding for the agency this year. Jack Turner, City of Winchester and employee of the Frederick County Senior Center, urged the Board to increase funding for the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging this year. Helen Cockerell, Executive Director of the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging, thanked the Board for last year's funding and requested additional funding this year, which would allow new programs to be started. John Whitfield, City of Staunton and Executive Director of Blue Ridge Legal Services, requested the Board fund his agency's request for $3,727 to serve the residents of Frederick County. He stated that Frederick County is one of the top six users of this service, but does not fund the operations. Donna Hogan, City of Winchester and Criminal Justice Coordinator for the Shelter for Abused Women, spoke in support of Blue Ridge Legal Services' request for $3,727. Nancy Glickman, Managing Attorney for the Winchester Office of Blue Ridge Legal Services, spoke in favor ofthe agency's funding request. Ben Waterman, Frederick County Schools Council, requested full funding for the schools. He asked the Board to "keep the great thing we have going." Jason Burns, Clarke County and representing Frederick County Professional Fire Fighters' Association, requested that the Board reinstate the 22 staff positions that were cut from the budget. He stated that current staff is not enough to handle existing call volume. He went on to say that the lack of staffing could result in increased injuries and loss of property. Don DeHaven, Back Creek District, spoke against the proposed tax increase. He was concerned senior citizens would not be able to afford to stay in their homes. He stated that he supported education but wanted the children to be able to afford a house in this county as well. Brad Blase, Gainesboro District, spoke in favor offull funding for the schools. He believed the proposed tax rate of $0.55 was fair, but he would be willing to pay more in taxes to support the schools. Chad Massey, Red Bud District, expressed concern about the school's "reckless abandon with tax payers money". He stated that the schools must be held accountable for their budget and he was against the proposed budget. Minute Book Number 30 Board of Supervisors Fiscal Year 2005-2006 Budget Public Hearing - 03/28/05 426 Matt Krueger, Red Bud District, spoke in support offull funding for the schools and a tax increase in this instance. Pat Grosso, Red Bud District and President ofthe Frederick County Education Association, supported full funding for schools. She urged the Board to support the teacher salary increases and requested that the Board fund at the $0.55 tax rate. Bill Dean, Stonewall District and Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, spoke in support of the school budget. He understood that the Board could not fund the schools at the $6.2 million increase requested, without another public hearing. Hc requested that the Board support the $0.55 tax rate with the school funding increase of $3.8 million. He concluded by saying that he would be willing to be taxed to support the funding of education. Edward E. Hillyard, III, Red Bud District, stated that he applauded every agency here tonight. He stated that all are experiencing an increased demand for services, but the Board is unwilling to fund the requests. He stated that the Board causes the need for the funding increases because of the approved development. He asked the Board to fund what they build. He concluded by saying that the $0.55 tax rate was negligent. Matthew Mintschenko, Stonewall District, spoke in support of the Fire & Rescue Association request for increased career staff. He stated that he respected cutting costs, but he also wanted a high level of service. Hans Nydam, Gainesboro, spoke against the proposed tax increase. He stated that the Board and Administrator Riley had "cut the fat" out of the county departments and it was time to cut the fat from the schools. He concluded by saying that he wanted at zero tax increase. Will Moore, Stonewall District, spoke against the proposed 10% tax increase. He stated that he could support a 5% increase, but not 10%. He also thanked the Board for their questions and justifications on the budget. Nick Lauderdale, Gainesboro District, stated that the proposcd $0.55 tax rate would result in a 40% tax increase for him. He did not see this tax as excessive and he was supportive of the positions for Fire & Rescue. He asked that the Board fund the schools, but look at improved services for those with children. Jim Shepley, Red Bud District, spokc in support of fulling funding for the schools. He Minute Book Number 30 Board of Supervisors Fiscal Year 2005-2006 Budget Public Hearing - 03/28105 427 stated that he would like to see the $0.55 tax rate approved. Larry VanHoose, Opequon District and Chairman of the Frederick County Public School Board, spoke in support of funding the school's request at the fullest extent possible. John LaManna, Shawnee District and Vice-Chairman of the Frederick County Public School Board, spoke in support of the school budget request. He stated that the budget was "bare bones" and he hoped the schools received a minimum $3.8 million. Gary Lofton, Back Creek District, spoke against the proposed tax increase. He asked the Board to keep the county residents and those on fixed income in mind. He asked the school board to abandon the paradigm of schools and funding and look at a new paradigm for education. He concluded by saying that he would like to see the tax rate set at $0.525 or less. Phil Hood, Red Bud District, asked the Board to fully fund the 10% budget increase and urged the Board to shift the tax burden from senior citizens to those with children that need educated. Daria Barrett, Stonewall District, expressed concern for Frederick County Public Schools. He urged the Board to fund education at a high level and to support the school budget. Rebecca Watts, Stonewall District, asked the Board to fully fund the school budget proposal. Rebecca Arnett, Stonewall District, requested the Board fully fund the school budget. She stated that the budget had been underfunded for the last six years and the County must supply the cmployccs with competitive salaries and benefits. Dana Francis, Gainesboro District, supports full funding for the school budget. She expressed concern over the low teachers' salaries. Elaine Kurtz, Stonewall District, supported full funding for the school budget. Al White, Jr., Gainesboro District, spoke in favor of full funding for the school budget. Ross Halbersma, Opequon District, challenged the Board to think ofthe future and support full funding for the school budget. Steve Kerr, Executive Director ofthe Northern Shenandoah Valley Regional Commission, requested full funding for the Regional Commission's local request. He stated that the County was not paying its assessed rate and that it was an issue of fairness, as the othcr jurisdictions are paying, Minute Book Number 30 Board of Supervisors Fiscal Year 2005-2006 Budget Public Hearing - 03/28/05 428 1_____ but Frederick County is not. Rachel Brockey, Back Creek District, spoke in support ofthe $0.55 tax rate and, ifpossible, full funding for the schools. Kenneth Burcham, Stonewall District, spoke against the proposed tax increase and stated there was a lot of waste in the school budget. There being no further public comments, Chairman Shickle closed the public hearing. ADJOURN UPON A MOTION MADE BY SUPERVISOR EWING, SECONDED BY SUPERVISOR VAN OSTEN, THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THIS BOARD, THIS MEETING IS HEREBY ADJOURNED. (9:51 P.M.) \R-.-Q-2 C-~L<.....J Richard C. Shickle Chairman, Board of Supervisors aM11r Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minutes Prepared By: (h if P '---(. t7~,\ ~bs Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors Minute Book Number 30 Board of Supervisors Fiscal Year 2005-2006 Budget Public Hearing - 03/28/05