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04-04-1984 MinutesBOARD OF SUPERVISORS MINUTES April 4, 1984 Supervisors in Attendance: Mr. Harry G. Daniel, Chairman Mr. G. H. Applegate, Vice Chairman Mr. R. Garland Dodd Mrs. Joan Girone Mr. Jesse J. Mayes Mr. Richard L. Hedrick County Administrator Staff in Attendance: Mr. Lane Ramsey, Dir. of Budget and Accounting Mr. Jeffrey Mincks, Asst. County Attorney The Board met at the Airport Restaurant for dinner at 5:00 p.m. (EST). The Board recessed to travel to the Courthouse. Reconvening: Mr. Daniel called the meeting to order at the Courthouse at 7:00 p.m. (EST). 1. INVOCATION Mr. Dodd gave the invocation. Mr. Daniel stated there was a sheet at the podium to sign for anyone who wished to address the Board regarding the advertised public hearings on the proposed 1984-85 budget, the tax rate and the use of revenue sharing funds. He reviewed the procedures to be followed for the meeting. Mr. Ramsey read the County Administrator's budget message which included the highlights of the proposed budget, the priorities, the financial impact, the services, the proposed tax rates, the use of revenue sharing funds, etc., a copy of which is included in the proposed 1984-85 budget document. 2. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 1984-85 BUDGET Mr. Daniel stated this date and time had been scheduled for a public hearing to discuss the proposed 1984-85 budget. Ms. Fran Givens was present and stated she was concerned about the County's number one resource and its most important product--its young people. She stated she felt the County may be coasting along on its past accomplishments and failing to make a sound school system better. She stated the School Budget was a broad and thorough product. She stated she was a patron and P.T.A. board member in an elementary school and middle school in the County and she was very concerned. She stated the School Budget addresses many needs too long overlooked in the County and she supported the full funding of the School Budget as presented. She stated the County could not afford to play games with education. Ms. Bonnie Anderson, President of Harrowgate P.T.A., stated she had two children in school and education is a priority of parents and should be of the government as well. She stated teachers' salaries should reach and maintain an attractive leve~ if we are to achieve excellence in education. She stated if this means additional taxes then it is everyone's responsibility. 84-185 Ms. Pat Szabo, President of the League of Women Voters, and Ms. Gail Schweikert, a member of the League of Women Voters, were present and read a prepared statement. She stated the League congratulated the County Administration on its conservativeness while striving to maintain the present tax rate for the proposed financial plan. She stated critics of the plan represent constituencies for specific programs or services but the League must review the entire plan and address issues that can no longer be delayed. She stated they take no position about the tax rates and total revenues that undergird the budget but made the following points: The projected total for allocation has been appropriated to best advantage. More will be needed in several program areas and that need will dramatically affect future budgets. New sources of revenue will be required and tax equity must be a first consideration. Ms. Szabo stated service levels should be maintained and expanded in education, human services, community development, road and transportation requirements, capital improvements program, libraries, recreational facilities, fire and police protection, refuse collection, water quality and a reasonable fund balance should be maintained for the desirable bond rating. She also reviewed the League's review of the County's taxes and revenue. (A copy of the statement prepared by the League of Women Voters is filed with the papers of this Board.) Ms. Sandra Lawson, President of the Providence Middle School P.T.A., stated she represented the P.T.A. and expressed concern that more money be made available to the schools and that the proposed School Budget be fully funded. She stated they are concerned about: Teachers' salaries which they feel are too low and causing teachers to leave the profession and the need to keep them, School buses which have not been addreSsed adequately in the past, Maintenance in many of the buildings needs to be addressed, and e Textbooks, library books and instructional supplies have been underbudgeted in recent years and increases are necessary. She stated the achievements of the students are outstanding and should continue and the County is the envy of other areas in the state and nation. She stated these advances have been made although the percentage of tax dollars going to education has decreased and the County spends less per pupil than Henrico or Richmond. She stated many people feel strongly about the school system and are willing to pay for quality education, including higher teachers' salaries as well as other items addressed in the budget. She stated the proposed School Budget is realistic and requested the Board support fully the proposed School Budget. Ms. Linda Vess, President of the Chesterfield Education Association, stated that the marketplace is what is cutting off the supply of quality teachers, that there has been a 57% decline in the number of teacher graduates from Virginia colleges, that freshmen planning careers in teaching have fallen from 21.7% in 1966 to 4.7% in 1982, that teachers are being recruited from other states, that major studies have stated that salaries of all teachers must be increased substantially which would encourage a larger number of talented people to consider teaching as a career 84-186 and keep those who are teaching now, etc. She stated the proposed budget by the School Board begins to address the needs of schools such as repairing roofs, replacing outdated school buses, lowering pupil-teacher ratios, purchasing an adequate supply of library books, additional supplies for textbooks and instructional materials and advancing teachers' and principals' salaries. She stated even with this budget the County will lag behind the local area, the state and the nation. She stated the Board has continually assured the school system of its intentions but that something always comes up and the system was told to wait. She stated that roads are an issue in the County but the School System does not have to compete for those funds because the County has enough resources for both. She requested that the Board not reduce the quality of education in Chesterfield. Mr. Peter Ward, representing the Chesterfield Citizens for the Retarded, was present and requested people in the audience who were concerned for this issue to stand. Approximately 14 people were present. He stated they supported the Mental Health/Mental Retardation Budget as submitted. He addressed the need for expansion of services and outlined statistics indicating those who are on a waiting list and the time frame scheduled for entering the workshop, students from Bird High School and preschool children who will try to get into the workshop, etc. He stated without continuing help after school, tax dollars would be wasted. He stated the budget just begins to address the need. He stated the increasing population will increase the number of mentally retarded as well as the cut backs in state institutions which will bring back the people to the area. He stated although they support the budget they support the further development of the workshop, etc. in an effort to place qualified citizens with jobs in the open market. He stated they are also concerned about transportation for the retarded once they have obtained a job. He stated the ultimate goal is to have the retarded citizens live an independent and normal life as is possible. He stated their organization is in its infancy and they have not collected the necessary data but they would like to meet with the Board in the future to discuss this matter and their concerns with regard to residential services and day services. Mr. Daniel stated it was 7:30 p.m., the advertised time for the public hearing on the proposed tax rate. He stated the hearing on the budget will continue and the hearing on the tax rate will follow immediately but it had to be announced in accordance with legal requirements. Mr. John Easter, Chairman of the School Budget Committee of the Chesterfield County Council of P.T.A.'s, stated support of the School Board budget. He stated they feel the budget is thorough because it would provide money for teachers' salaries, additional teaching positions, buses, maintenance, textbooks, library books, and school supplies. He stated they felt this broad allocation of money is essential to the continued well-being of the School System. He reviewed the average per pupil expenditure on operations in the state, stated in the past revenues protected teachers' salaries but that allowed other areas not to receive necessary funding, that the County Administrator's budget is inadequate for the needs for such things as the school libraries, the instructional supplies, the number of children in each class, the teachers' salaries, the condition of school buses and maintenance of school buildings. He stated the additional money allocated to the School System represents only 46% of the increased expenditures for the entire County. He stated the County Administrator's budget would significantly alter the emphasis placed on education. He stated they realize the needs of the County are increasing as well and asked the Board to consider raising revenues through a tax measure. He stated the County Council of P.T.A.'s conducted a survey of which 79% of 84-187 those responding indicated they would support a tax increase to provide additional funds for education. He stated this shows they realize a need and a willingness to pay for that funding. He requested on behalf of the Council of P.T.A.'s that every effort be made to provided additional funding for the schools. (A copy of the entire statement is filed with the papers of this Board.) Mr. Ronnie Gray, stated he was present on behalf of Mr. Lee Hambright. He read a letter from Mr. Hambright, a paralyzed veteran, indicating his desire and the need in the County for para-transit to enable the disabled to feel more independent and have more self-respect and to get to more places of employment, shopping, etc. He indicated a survey was made in the County regarding how the disabled would use the service if provided. Mr. Gray stated he felt this may be an area that has been put aside because of lack of visibility of the handicapped. He stated they are beginning to feel pride in themselves and may become more of a force in the County. He stated he hoped the Board would consider this public transportation. Mr. William B. Scott, a handicapped person, stated that_the handicapped people pay their taxes and are here to request services for their funds. He suggested the Board consider services for the County which were available in the form of a grant involving federal, state and local funds. He stated this would provide transportation for all citizens as well as the disabled. He reviewed some of the costs involved for a ride on the public system, the lifts provided in the buses, etc. He stated they would like their taxes to go to a transportation system. Mr. Daniel stated it was 8:00 p.m., the advertised time for the public hearing on the use of revenue sharing funds. He stated although the hearing on the budget would continue, this public hearing for the use of revenue sharing funds would immediately follow the tax rate hearing and the announcement was necessary to comply with legal requirements. Mr. Charles Ellis, a member of the Greenfield P.T.A., stated he supported full funding of the School Budget. He stated the increases would go to teachers' salaries, the shortage of books, maintenance, new buses, etc. He stated he was concerned about the declining percentage to the schools each year. He stated this represents a decrease in the importance of education in the County. He stated he felt the Board should reconsider strengthening education as this is a vital concern across the nation. He stated he would pay additional taxes for education and he felt others feel the same way as the children are investments in the future. Mr. Jim Brown, President of the Swift Creek Elementary School, stated they submitted a survey also and 50% responded with 85% supporting an increase in taxes if it were earmarked for education. He stated this should indicate the support for education in the County as a tax increase is not pleasant. Mr. J. K. Timmons, presented the Board with a memorandum to the Chesterfield Business Council which he had prepared regarding the proposed County budget. (A copy of which is filed with the papers of this Board.) He stated he personally felt the history of government will indicate that it will grow by leaps and bounds but we do not relate it to County government as much as we do to the state and federal governments. He stated the County government has grown but the real growth is not necessarily in the dollars that it takes to fund the government. He stated he felt it was more in the cost to the citizen to do business with the government, the additional procedures, etc. that are involved. He stated it was difficult for government employees 84-188 to analyze every function of government against a reasonable cost benefit ratio and once a procedure is stated it becomes almost automatic with new procedures added to it. He stated the best comment one could expect from government is that they will hold costs and that would be a victory. He stated if the Board would carefully study the figures in his memorandum, it will indicate that costs need to be reduced. He stated he felt the approach to the budget is wrong by asking departments to submit what they need and he felt the Administration should give them a certain amount for their operation after the Board had studied the figures and let them work within the figures. He stated the issue of schools would not be before this Board, but before the School Board to decide the best use of the funds if this were the case. He stated his report gives data as to what dollars were spent ten years ago compared to today and reviewed an example. He stated the government should be run like a good business. He stated you would see a new attitude in the services provided by the County because the important services would get the attention and the trivial services would be abandoned. He stated this would still leave the Board in charge as the Board would allocate the funds. He requested the Board consider this approach to see if the citizens would be better served. There was no one else to speak regarding the proposed budget and the public hearing was closed. 3. and 4. PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE AND USE OF REVENUE SHARING FUNDS Mr. Hedrick stated there was only one speaker to address both the proposed tax rate and use of revenue sharing funds. It was generally agreed both hearings would be held at the same time. Mr. John Smith stated his concern regarding the use of revenue sharing funds and the input from citizens. He discussed the use of revenue sharing funds for the past year for a road at Midlothian High School and stated he did not remember any discussion of this matter. He stated to have an effective County, the decisions will have to be based on valid information and he felt it should be on the collective judgment of the Board, also. He discussed further the cost of government and the input of citizens, the responsibilities of the Highway Department, the Department of Community Development, etc. He discussed the taking of buses home by drivers and felt they should at least commute with others which would save money, insurance costs, gas, wear of buses, etc. He discussed concerns relating to the Board of Supervisors agendas and minutes. Mr. Michael Walker stated he supported full funding of the School Board Budget. He stated he was the parent of two children in Chesterfield schools but he is also a teacher. He stated he has sacrificed as a teacher because it is a labor of love and his family has sacrificed as well. He stated his son's biggest impression about school is his teacher and he hoped other children would have the same opportunity. Ms. Katherine Garrison inquired about the possibility of a GRTC public transportation system in the County. The Board explained that a pilot program started in the County with complete support of the Board and it failed due to lack of participation and interest by citizens in the County. He stated the routes were in Bermuda, Dale, Clover Hill and Midlothian and included a grant as well as local funding. He stated this budget does not include public transportation except for Spectran. Ms. Garrison requested that the Board reconsider public transportation for the County as she and others are interested. There was no one else present to address the Board and the public hearings were declared closed. Mr. Daniel expressed appreciation for the input from those who spoke during the hearings. 84-189 5. ADJOURNMENT On motion of Mr. Applegate, seconded by Mrs. Girone, the Board. adjourned at 8:45 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on April 11, 1984 at the Airport Restaurant. Vote: Unanimous Ric~ar~ L. HedYick County Administrator ~4-190