03-30-1983 MinutesBOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MINUTES
March 30, 1983
Supervisors in Attendance:
Mr. J. Roya].l Robertson, Chairman
Mr. R. Garland Dodd, Vice Chairman
Mr. C. L. Rookman
~. Harry G. Daniel
Mrs. Joan Girone
Staff in Attendance:
Mr. Steve Micas, County
Attorney
Mr. Robertson called the meeting to order at the Courthouse at
7:00 p.m. (EST).
Mr. Daniel gave the invocation.
Mr. Robertson stated the purpose of the meeting was to hold
public hearings regarding the budget, the tax levy and the use of
revenue sharing funds for 1983-84.
Mr. Bookman stated his appreciation for the cooperation and
assistance from the Board and citizens of the County for the past
year.
Mr. Hedrick gave a summary of the 1983/84 budget preparation and
plans for the coming year .[or the CountV. (A copy of which is
filed with the papers of this t.~oard.)
Mr. Robertson stated the public hearing for the 1983-84 budget
was now open for public comment.
Ms. Sarah Marable was present to speak on behalf of the public
library system. She stated that the proposed library budget is
described as being educational and recreational sources but they
are are also much more, especially during economic times such as
these. She referred to children's story hours which can help
private nursery care and the use of the library's newspapers and
other sources by job seekers. She stated that she did not fee].
the library should receive more than its fair share but that the
current level of services be maintaJ.ned. She stated that the
library system is the only area in which the level of service is
proposed to be decreased--15% in hours. She stated that the
libraries not be shown any special attention but not be treated
less fairly than every other service.
Mr. Steve Perkins, President of the Walthall Civic Association,
was present and stated they do not have a library. He stated
that they were allowed to use the Regional Library free in
Nopewell but now are being charged. He stated the closest
library is in Chester and they cart use the Appomattox Regional
I,ibrary but it is an inconvenience and it would be nice to have a
library in the neiqhborhoo~ where children could spend some time.
Mr. Dodd stated that the Appomattox Reqional Library is not
supposed to be charging for its use and asked that Mr. Perkins
contact Mr. Elmer Hodge for additional information. He added he
had tried to obtair~ a library for the Enon area in the last bond
issue b~,lt this w~s not '~uccessful.
Mr. Perkins stated that be did not underntand the deficit
spending of the Airport. He stated the County was funding a
deficit of $].00,000 and he felt the users of the Aiport should
pay for this cost as it is mainly for recreational use. He
stated with the 1-95 extension approved, Byrd Airport will be
more accessible to the residents in the County.
Mr. Perkins stated that he read where the water system
pays its own way but in the budget he sees where it is being
deficit financed by $800,000. He g~ave instances when people are
being charged exorbitant amounts for water installation in order
for the system to be self-sustaininq. Mr. Hedrick stated the
water and sewer systems are sel£-sustaining and not subsidized by
the general fund in any way.
Mr. John R. Smith state<] that he felt the library system was very
important, more to those people who were not here than were. He
stated that perhaps the saaffing pattern at the library should be
considered rather than reducing the hours. He stated that he
would like to know how service levels are arrived at, how the
County determines that services levels from previous years are
good, etc. He inquired why bus drivers were allowed to drive
their buses to and from their homes. He inquired if goverament
is doing what it should be in the County. He inquired if
government were infringing on those things that are the
responsibility of the private sector. He stated he felt some of
the County's personnel and/or offices should be doing those
things that are required an~ are beneficial to the citizens. He
stated he sees lights at the tennis courts in Midlothian left on
at night when no one is playing and inquired about meter boxes.
He stated he was also opposed to teaching people to square dance.
Mr. Marioln E. Johnson was present and stated he thought the name
of the Chesterfield County "Nursing Home" should be changed.
Mr. Ronnie Small, Vice President of the Chesterfield Youth
Basketball League, stated that his group is composed of 31
athletic associations, 81 basketball teams, 70 cheerleading
squads with 1,500 bo~?s and girls 9-15 years old with 500 adults.
He stated their league was s~onsored by the Parks and Recreation
Dept. by furnishing the gyms, the custodians and monitors for the
league. He stated this past year there were approximately !00
adults volunteering their t~me which amounts to about $6,600 in
services. He stated that they were organized in 1976 w~th 6
associations and todaV there are 13 and they have received an
additional application to join this year. He stated that last
year each team was allowed 2 practices per week but the new
budget has been cut by $10,000 which would mean a loss of
one-third o~ their gym time which would allow one practice a week
which is impossible to develop a team. He stated the only
alternative they have is to ask the School Board to have the
custodian serve also a~ a monitor which he felt could be
accomplished. He stated thev supported the original budget
submitted by the Parks and Recreation Department for their league
as this would help create a~trong morale and healthy citizens in
Chesterfield.
Mr. Ralph Motes stated th~{t he was a member of the Board of
Directors of the Basketball League. He stated that he had the
opportunity to partic~pate in the elementary school cuts and
practices for basketball. He stated one school had 86 young men
and the other 115, 7th and ~th graders of which only 15 yoking men
could be on a team and the rest came to their league. He stated
if this were cut by one-third, one-third of those would not get
an opportunity to play. He stated they would appreciate any
consideration given to allow the program to continue as it has.
Ms. Linda Vess, President of the Chesterfield Education
Association, stated that as in her letter to the Board of March
23, 1983, the teachers in the County were pleased by the action
of the Superintendent and School Board for the budget which meets
the needs for the schools and included funds for a 9.7% increase
for teachers. She stated they felt this was their commitment to
maintaining an excellent school system. She stated they were
disturbed by the Supervisors that the Board would not fund the
additional $700,000 that was needed. She stated that in making
the final budg.ct decisions that the following be considered:
That the Genera]. Assembly addressed the problem of teachers'
salaries in that it has become a national shame that the
al:ate and local governments must help solve. She stated
that Virginia lags far behind the national average and the
pay is one of the lop, est in the southeast and last year it
was the lowest.
2. That Chesterfield teachers rank be]ow the state average.
Chesterfield teachers, excluding the beginning step and top
step, earn tile lowest salary in the Richmond Metro area.
She inquired if Chesterfield %~ere not an average community?
She stated that Chesterfield parents, citizens and students would
not be satisfied with a school system with an average ranking.
She stated Mr. Hedrick reported in the Metro Chamber Action
report that the County is in excellent financial condition. She
stated in the event this J s true and because of what the General
Assembly strongly requested, how can the Board do anything but
carry out their recormmendation. She stated if -the Board truly
feels there really is not enough money this year to increase the
salaries of teachers by 9.7%~ she suggested that since a majority
of the Board feels the School Board budget contains necessary
funds for this raise, that the the Board designate funds for
specific categories. She stated th~s could ]De done without
jeopardizing instruc~.iona] procj'i~.ama for students and, it is the
Board's responsibility-to mandate these funds to the
instructional category. She stated she felt the School Board
membezs would be gr~teful ~or ideas where the budget could be
trimmed. She stated that the CEA also supports a management
study of the School System which the Board has also supported in
the past. She stated this way the Board£~, could assess the true
financial needs o~ the County. She stated that. the CEA feels
this study whatever its ~.esu]ts, would not absolve the Board from
funding a su~ficienh school budget based on needs of the school
system. She hopes that a commitment to an excellent school
system will be made by both Boards in the future.
Mrs. Elsie Elmore, representing the League of Women Voters, was
present. She stated that in reviewing the budget, the League
found the format to be clear and ~nformative. She stated that
they are not sing]e-issue oriented but are required to look at
the entire budget and put ever]zthinq ~nto perspective. She
stated that the budget was a basic hold the line budget but they
are interested in twc facets:
Will a finite sum of revenue ~.~eall¥' supply very necessary new
projects at little cost to existing services; and
What are the priorities at this time ~n history ~.n th~s
economic climate.
She introduced Mrs. Pat Szabo, also with the League. Mrs. Szabo
took the following c~tegories and expanded on the League's
position.
With regard to Social Se.~'vices, th~ League urged the Board to
provide the projected needed local dollars in this year of
increased public need even iJ~ State funding is reduced and
supported the cen'~or for human services.
With regard to the jUvenile Justice system, the League requested
that the Community Diversion Incentive Program be continued
whether or not the State picks up the cost.
With regard to Community Develof~ment, tl~e League suggested the
adoption of Deve].opment Services Guidelines so that citizens may
have secure expectations from the planning process.
With regard to the Registrar's Office, registration in libraries
and other public places should be provided.
With regard to parks, emphasized their support of parks and open
spaces.
With regard to sanitation, requested the County to continue
investigating solutions to waste disposal.
With regard to Schools, encouraged the Board to place education
needs into the context of all service needs in this economically
transitional period. She stated they have concerns about the
positive and negative relationships between budget and actual
expenditures by broad categories.
She stated the ].eaque has no position but would like to mention
the Mental Health-Mental Retardation Department and its support
of cooperative programs in interest of economy. With regard to
the libraries they inquired if the hold the line budget has
caused some dislocation in order to accommodate new needs.
Mrs. Elmore stated they had looked at all. revenues for funding
for the County which indicates that a comparatively large funding
from the state and federal governments is received and was
exceeded only by three of the other ninety-five counties. She
stated that some of their findinqs indicate that the County is
moving increasingly towards reimbursement by fees although the
last audit showed deficits in fee collections, that taxes are the
most reliable source of reven~e but a limited source, that the
league supports 'transportation improvements believing that herein
lies the answer to a proper mix of tax revenues and that
exemptions from property tax should be kept at a minimum and
confined to those truely in need. She stated that should a rise
in the rates for general property taxes be considered in the
future, that equity be a guiding principle, that they support a
study of the best means of preserving open space in an urban
county while maintaining a balance o~ taxes. (A copy of the
League's full presentation is filed with the papers of this
Board.)
There was no one else present who wished to discuss the budget.
Mr. Robertson declared the public hearing closed.
Mr. Robertson stated the public hearing regrading the tax rate
was now open.
Mr. Steve Perkins stated that he was concerned about the increase
in taxes and the confusing way it was advertised with regard to
tax rate and the reassessment of property. Mr. Micas explained
that the form of the ad is mandated by the State General Assembly
which is confusing, but it basica!]y says that we expect
assessments to go up and new growth to result in increased
revenues and then we have to advertise that as a tax increase
even though the $.98 rate will remain the same. He stated the
assessor has no choice regardi~]g the re~ssessment of property as
required by the Constitution of Virqinia to annually review the
market data and uniformly assess the property on market value.
Mr. Daniel stated that the 3% rate is an average as some may have
more or less of an increa~e.
No one else was present to discuss the tax rate.
closed the public hearing.
Mr. Robertson
83-168
w
Mr. Robertson stated the public hearing regarding the use of
revenue sharing funds was now open.
Mr. John Smith inquired about the amount of funding to be
received and what the proposed use was. Mr. Hedrick stated the
County would receive $1,787,900 this year with $35,900 from the
current budget for a tof~al of $1,823~900. He stated it was
proposed that $].,562,000 be transferred to the School system witt
$261,000 being used as matchinq funds for Highway improvements.
Mr. Smith stated he was concerned whether the County was to match
funds for t-iighway Dept. Mr. Iledrick stated the reason we
transferred to schools is because we can place revenue sharing
funds in any place ]n the County operation with some rare
exception. He stat.ed we do that because the formula utilized by
the federal government to de'termine how much revenue sharing
funds you receive, favor tge utilization of those funds toward
education and by transferring it to 'the school system, it is
calculated into the formula and as a result we will get an
additional amount of revenue sharing more than we would have
received had we used it in the General Fund.
Mr. Ronnie Gray was present and expressed his concern for the
lack of public bransportation for disabled citizens. He stated
he recognized ~the need for roads and schools but felt the
handicapped needed ways to get to work, etc. and that this type
of transportation is expensive and most handicapped are on
limited income. He requested that the Board keep this need in
mind for the future and he will try to get some information to
them on how they can help the handicapped.
There was no one else present to address this matter.
Mr. Robertson declared the public hearing closed.
It was generally agreed that the Board be polled to determine a
date for a work session on the budget.
On motion of Mr. Daniel, seconded by Mr. Dodd, the Board
adjourned at 8:25 p~m. until 9:00 a.m. on March 31, 1983 at whic~
time the Board would be meeting with Senator Paul Trible.
Vote: Unanimous
Rich-a/rd/ ?J. He'rick
County Administrator
~C ~'~ i~an Roberts~ ~
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