Loading...
2008-03-10 Minutes BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MINUTES March 10, 2008 ~.i Supervisors in Attendance: Mr. Arthur S. Warren, Chairman Mr. Daniel A. Gecker, Vice Chrm. Ms. Dorothy Jaeckle Mr. James "Jim" Holland Ms. Marleen K. Durfee Mr. James J. L. Stegmaier County Administrator School Board Members in Attendance: Ms. Dianne Pettitt Mr. Marshall Trammell Jr. Mr. David Wyman Mr. Omarh Rajah Ms. Patricia Carpenter 1. DINNER Staff in Attendance: Ms. Janice Blakley, Clerk to the Board Mr. Allan Carmody, Dir., Budget and Management Ms. Marilyn Cole, Asst. County Administrator Mr. Barry Condrey, Chief Information Officer Mr. William W. Davenport, Commonwealth's Attorney Mr. Will Davis, Dir., Economic Development Colonel Thierry Dupuis, Police Department Mr. Robert Eanes, Asst. to the County Administrator William E. Johnson, Deputy County Administrator for Management Services Mr. Donald Kappel, Dir., Public Affairs Mr. Rob Key, Director, General Services Ms. Kathy Kitchen, Asst. Superintendent of Schools for Business and Finance Mr. Steven L. Micas, County Attorney Sheriff Dennis Proffitt, Sheriff's Department Mr. M. D. Stith, Jr., Deputy County Admin., Community Development Mr. Scott Zaremba, Asst. Dir., Human Resource Management Members of the Board of Supervisors had dinner with School Board members in Room 502 of the Lane B. Ramsey Administration Building prior to the meeting. II Mr. Warren called the regularly scheduled meeting to order at 6:16 p.m. INVOCATION Mr. Holland gave the invocation. 08-151 03/10/08 AMERICA PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF Mr. Davenport led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. 2. WORK SESSIONS 2.B. SCHOOL BOARD Dr. Newsome presented an overview of budget highlights from the School Board's approved FY2009-FY2010 financial plan. He first reviewed the school system's Design for Excellence Goals and accomplishments. He discussed the challenges the schools face relative to narrowing achievement gaps; globalization; social changes; teacher recruitment and retention; and supporting growth. He reviewed FY2009 and FY2010 revenue; increase in revenue per student; efficiency and effectiveness of operations; and the FY2009 operating budget, including major investments, teacher salary investment and unfunded initiatives. In response to Ms. Durfee's questions, Dr. Newsome stated the list of unfunded initiatives are determined by the School Board's Budget Advisory Committee, which holds several public engagement sessions throughout the year. He suggested having a resource officer responsible for several schools would reduce their effectiveness due to their absences from the school buildings. He stated the School Board has researched several avenues for the resource officers. Discussion ensued relative to the number of vacancies currently in the Police Department and filling resource officer positions. In response to Ms. Jaeckle's question, Dr. Newsome explained how the increase in efficiencies in the school system is affected by the increase of available funds. Mr. Gecker requested additional information from Dr. Newsome on changes in the Capital Improvement Program relating to schools. He expressed concerns about building new schools and taking funds away from renovating existing facilities. In response to Mr. Holland's question, Dr. Newsome stated the compensation and benefits packages offered help with recruiting and retention of new teachers, but in the future the school system will have to look into increasing salaries. Mr. Warren thanked Dr. Newsome for the professionalism of the presentation. 2.C. CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS 2.C.2. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY Mr. Davenport provided a brief history of the Commonwealth Attorney's Office. He provided details of attorney and support staffing in his office; Exile Grant; additional funding requests, a locality comparison on judges between 08-152 i~ 03/10/08 ~..I ~I ~..I Henrico and Chesterfield Counties; and accomplishments of his office. In response to Ms. Durfee's question, Mr. Davenport stated Henrico does have a slightly heavier docket than Chesterfield. In response to Mr. Holland's question, Mr. Davenport stated he was unaware of any grants through Homeland Security that would be available to local prosecuting offices. He further stated his staff carefully analyze all of the grants that come through his office. Ms. Jaeckle expressed appreciation to the Commonwealth Attorney's office for scrutinizing grants and their requirements. Mr. Davenport stated funds from forfeitures have helped purchase computers and phone systems in his office. Mr. Warren thanked Mr. Davenport for his presentation. 2.C.1. SHERIFF Sheriff Proffitt presented an overview of the Sheriff's proposed FY2009 budget. He provided details of partnerships and programs in the areas of Office of Security Management; Child Support Enforcement program; enhanced public safety partnerships; inmate workforces; transportation cooperative; illegal immigration; increased grant activity; law enforcement accreditation; and mental health. He further provided details of new and future initiatives to include gang investigations; inmate treatment programs; jail accreditation; human resources; and a court security unit. He discussed the details of the challenges and funding concerns of the Sheriff's office. Mr. Warren thanked Sheriff Proffitt for the thorough presentation. 2.A. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S FY2009-FY2010 PROPOSED OVERALL BUDGET Mr. Carmody presented a summary of the County Administrator's proposed FY2009 overall budget. He discussed budget objectives and provided details of key factors to finding the right balance, which include a dramatic decline in revenue growth, a continued increase in demand, and new facilities. He provided details of various components of the proposed budget that support the county's strategic goals. He stated the FY2009 proposed budget totals approximately $1.3 billion, which includes an increase of $126.6 million from FY2008. He reviewed FY2009 proposed budget tax rates, which includes a $0.97 real estate tax rate. He provided details regarding tax relief for the elderly and disabled. He reviewed FY2009 revenues; FY2009 general fund expenditures; FY2008 versus FY2009 general fund expenditures; percentage of increase in demand for services from FY2002 to FY2007; FY2004 to FY2008 general fund expense drivers; contributors to general fund growth; uses of new money; and the State Budget. He then reviewed new positions. 08-153 03/10/08 In response to Ms. Jaeckle's questions, Mr. Carmody explained if the dollar amount was raised for elderly tax relief, then the amount of people eligible to apply would increase, which would make the total amount of funds for the program greater. In response to Ms. Jaeckle's request Mr. Carmody stated he would provide further details relating to the number of food stamp recipients to the Board. He further stated audits have been performed on fleet services to find any cost savings available relating to fuel costs. In response to Ms. Durfee's question, Mr. Carmody stated he will provide the Board with information regarding a comparison with other localities relating to use of resource officers. Mr. Holland thanked Mr. Carmody for the presentation and stated the county needs to increase its business base. Mr. Gecker stated the county needs to look further into consolidating functions of departments to generate savings. He suggested saving some funds for the future or reallocation of funds to assist with retention of employees. In response to Ms. Durfee's questions, Mr. Carmody stated seven of the positions requested for Mental Health/Social Services are to staff a group home, and the funds come from restricted revenues. He further stated the Budget Department has reviewed the vacancies throughout the departments to minimize the number of new positions. Mr. Warren thanked Mr. Carmody for the thorough presentation. 3. ADJOURNMENT On motion of Ms. Durfee, seconded by Mr. Holland, the Board adjourned at 7:58 p.m. until March 12, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. Ayes: Warren, Gecker, Jaeckle, Holland and Durfee. Nays: None. i~ i~ I~ mes teg ier ounty Administrator Arthur S. Warren Chairman 08-154 03/10/08