04-04-1984 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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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