[Budget Workshop]
[00:00:04]
WE'LL CALL THIS APRIL THE 20TH MEETING OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ORDER.WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, AND WE'LL ALL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [NOISE]
>> [NOISE] WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER TO INVOCATION.
>> I'M NO PREACHER. LET'S BOW OUR HEADS, PLEASE.
LORD, WE COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSINGS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT THINGS YOU DO FOR US.
WE ASK YOU TO HELP US AS WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR COUNTY, AND LORD, ASK YOU TO SOFTEN THE HEARTS OF THE SUPERVISORS TOWARDS OUR CHILDREN.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. CHRIS CORNWELL IS, I THINK, HE WILL TRY TO JOIN US BY PHONE.
>> HELLO, CHRIS. WE'LL NEED A MOTION TO LET HIM DO THAT.
>> YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
>> WE'LL THEN MOVE ON TO THE CITIZEN'S COMMENT PERIOD.
>> I'LL WAIT FOR YOU, JOHN. [NOISE] [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>> [INAUDIBLE] I WENT THROUGH THE BUDGET THIS AFTERNOON, SO A FEW THING COME STOOD OUT TO ME.
[NOISE] I BROUGHT THIS UP IN YEARS PAST, THE DETENTION OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
AS OF MONDAY, WE HAD 14 INMATES TO JAIL FOR AND 49 INMATES AT JAIL.
I WAS SURPRISED, I THOUGHT IT WOULD'VE BEEN THE OPPOSITE WAY.
BUT THAT'S THE TOTAL, 63 INMATES.
THE BUDGET FOR THOSE 63 PEOPLE, BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I CAN ALLOCATE YOU, IT GOES UP AND DOWN, BUT IT'S PRETTY STEADY.
I THINK ABOUT 80 IS THE MOST THEY EVER HAVE.
THE BUDGET'S $3,795,457 TO KEEP 63 INMATES INCARCERATED.
THEIR BUDGET INCREASE FOR THIS YEAR WAS 5.8 PERCENT, $208,000, $60,000 PER INMATE.
THERE'S 42 DEPUTIES IN THE DETENTION DEPARTMENT ACCORDING TO THE LIST.
SEVEN ARE LISTED LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD IN THE PAST, SOME OF YOU ALL MIGHT REMEMBER DURING THE STUTTS TENURE, THEY USE SOME OF THOSE, I ASSUME IT'S THE LAW LISTED AS LAW ENFORCEMENT TO RUN TRAFFIC [NOISE] AND HELP CONTROL THE COUNTY.
IT'S A WAY TO FUND PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH SLOTS APPROVED FOR THE REGULAR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
YOU REMEMBER THAT [INAUDIBLE]? REMEMBER WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO?
>> LET'S FORGET ABOUT THOSE SEVEN.
I FIGURE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY IN THE DETENTION.
SO THAT LEAVES 35 LISTED AS CORRECTIONS OFFICERS.
[00:05:03]
THAT'S ONE GUARD FOR EVERY 1.8 PRISONERS.ON THE OTHER SIDE, LOOKING TO SCHOOLS, AND I KNOW DR. SHANNON SAID IT WAS 20 TO 1, BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT IT'S NOT 20 TO 1 IN EVERY CLASS.
SOME HAS AS MANY AS 35 TO 1, SOME ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN DEMAND LIKE FOR COLLEGE-LEVEL-TYPE DOMAINS.
WE'RE SPENDING $60,000 A YEAR TO INCARCERATE ONE INMATE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE SPENDING $6,300 LOCAL MONEY PER STUDENT.
A TOTAL PER STUDENT IN A FEDERAL STATE IN LOCAL MONEY IS ABOUT $19,700 PER STUDENT.
I'M GOING BY WHAT WILLIAM HART TOLD ME THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE LEVEL FUNDED.
WHEN WE GOT INTO THIS THING WITH THE COURTHOUSE 100 YEARS AGO, I THINK IT'S BEEN ABOUT FIVE YEARS, WE KNEW WE WERE TALKING SEVEN MAYBE NINE CENTS TAX RATES TO PAY FOR.
WHEN WE CAME IN, WE FINALLY CAME UP WITH THE $21 MILLION.
WE AS THE TAXPAYERS [INAUDIBLE] KNEW THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY SOMETHING.
BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WE'RE NOT GOING TO SHARE IT WITH OUR TAXPAYER, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT ALL IN SCHOOL AND USE THE EXCUSE THAT [INAUDIBLE] BEING HEAVILY FUNDED BY THE STATE, IN WHICH THEY ARE.
BUT THEN EIGHT PERCENT FROM STATE IS ALMOST WIPED OUT BY INFLATION, AND THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE THEM ANY.
I'M GOING BY WHAT WILLIAM HART SAID [INAUDIBLE] WHEN HE SAW ME.
ALL I'M SAYING IS SHAME ON YOU IF YOU DID THAT.
THE SCHOOL BOARD [INAUDIBLE] THE LEAST FUNDS.
WE ALL WATCH THEM, I KNOW THOSE.
ALSO, TWO OF THE PRINCIPALS, TAMMY RILEY AND [INAUDIBLE], I KNOW THEM.
I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WHO WILL DO ANYTHING TO HURT OUR CHILDREN.
>> I DON'T THINK [INAUDIBLE] SCHOOL, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT COME DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
THEY HAVE TO IMPLEMENT WHAT COMES DOWN, BUT AS FAR AS A CHOICE OF DOING SOMETHING TO HURT OUR CHILDREN, I DON'T BELIEVE IT.
I DO NOT BELIEVE. I'LL TALK TO YOU MORE DIRECTLY, WILLIAM HART, BECAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE WHO FOLLOWS UP.
I DO NOT BELIEVE THOSE PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO HURT OUR CHILDREN.
I THINK THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT COME DOWN, THEY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BECAUSE IT COMES DOWN TO FEDERAL COURTS AND WHATEVER.
I MISSED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE I WAS ILL, BUT WHEN WE COME TO THIS POINT IN OUR BUDGET, TO ME IT'LL ALL BE THE EASIEST PART.
WE ALL GET TOGETHER AS MOTHERS, DADS, GRANDPARENTS AND TRY TO HELP OUR CHILDREN.
BUT NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT THIS YEAR.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THEM PAY FOR THE COURTHOUSE.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND. NOTHING'S PERFECT.
DR. SHANNON, I KNOW THE LADY, BUT AS FAR AS WHO SHE IS AND WHAT SHE DOES, I DON'T KNOW HER.
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE REASON BEHIND IT.
WHEN WE CAME UP WITH THIS, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT FIGURE IT COSTS, BUT IT WON'T PAY ITSELF, THE NEW COURTHOUSE.
A TWO-CENT INCREASE IN TAX RATE FOR 95 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY,
[00:10:07]
THEY CAN AFFORD IT.WE TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR OTHER CITIZENS, THE FARMERS, THE LANDOWNERS.
I'M A LANDOWNER, I GET [INAUDIBLE] AND I APPRECIATE IT, BUT WE DON'T LOOK THE SAME WAY IN OUR CHILDREN.
THEY'RE PEOPLE THAT WE CAN [INAUDIBLE] WE COULD TAKE THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO SPEAK FOR THEM, JUST A FEW OF US.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING I THINK THE LORD TELLS ME TO DO. I'M NOT POSITIVE.
BUT I DO KNOW AS A SUPERVISOR NEW SOLUTION WILL RUN FOR FOUR YEARS, AND I'M SURE ROBERT CAN ATTEST TO THIS.
YOU GOT PEOPLE COMING IN THE WORKFORCE [NOISE] WHO CAN BARELY READ AND WRITE AND DO BASIC MATH.
BUT AS A SUPERVISOR, BEFORE YOU GOT TO DO THE JOB [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S ONE REASON.
EDUCATION IS THE BASIS FOR EVERYTHING WE DO IN THIS COUNTRY, SO LONG AS YOU LIVE AND SERVE. [NOISE] I GOT A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.
[NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] WAS WHAT WE'RE SPENDING ON OUR INMATES, AND THAT OUR FOCUS IS STILL ON OUR CHILDREN.
I WENT THROUGH THE [INAUDIBLE].
THAT, LAST WEEK. I'M NOT AS YOUNG AS I USED TO BE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL WENT THROUGH BUT I DON'T THINK MIKE UP THERE ON GRAB BUDGET ON THE WEBSITE, A LITTLE COMPENSATION [NOISE] FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS WAS DOWN TO INCREASE ABOUT 11 PERCENT.
I'M NOT SURE IF I PRINTED THESE PRINTS AT ALL.
>> THEY REDUCED THEIR SALARY BY 10 PERCENT LAST YEAR.
WHEN WE DID THE INITIAL DRAFT BUDGET, WE PUT IT BACK UP TO WHAT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN.
THEN THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION LAST WEEK WAS TO REDUCE IT BACK DOWN, 10 PERCENT, TO BE THE SAME THING IT WAS LAST YEAR.
>> I RECOMMEND THAT YOU TO LEAVE IT ALTOGETHER.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY SENDING RECEIPTS TONIGHT THAT CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO TAKE COMPENSATION.
ANYTHING WE CAN DO, PUT TOWARDS SCHOOLS.
IF WE CAN FUND, ONE TEACHER OUT OF THE BUDGET CUTS, THAT WOULD BE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
[NOISE] THE ONE OTHER ONE IS THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FAIR.
I DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD BE [INAUDIBLE].
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED BY THE BUSINESSES, DONATIONS, AND CIVIC CLUBS.
BUT I DON'T THINK THE TAX PAYERS SHOULD PAY.
THAT'S A 367 PERCENT INCREASE, OVER WHAT THEY GOT I GUESS THE YEAR BEFORE.
>> IT'S THE HOUSE THAT'S LOCATED RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE COURTHOUSE.
>> IS THAT STILL IN THE BUDGET? $4,000?
[00:15:01]
>> [NOISE] I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO ANYTHING.
[INAUDIBLE] WHICH I HAVE ADVOCATED FOREVER.
THAT SHOULD BE A PRIVATELY FUND THING.
IT'S GOOD, GREAT ORGANIZATION, GREAT PEOPLE.
THE TAXPAYERS, AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR CHILDREN DON'T NEED THE FUND.
THAT'S WHY ANYTHING THAT WE FUND AND WE DON'T NEED TO, IS COMING OUT OF EDUCATION.
ALL I'M DOING IS ASK YOU, TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GIVE FIVE BUT TWO PERCENT.
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WATCH THE BUSINESS CHANNELS BUT INTEREST RATES ARE SKYROCKETING.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE GOT A LOT IN [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE'RE SCREWED ON THAT. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? CUT MORE FEES FROM THE SCHOOL BUDGET.
I'M ASKING YOU RAISE MY TAXES TO PAY FOR THE SCHOOL.
THEY DON'T HAVE A JUDGE SET THAT PART, THAT COULD MAKE YOU SPEND MONEY.
ALL I CAN DO IS ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR THAT.
I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CUT THE $200 GARBAGE FEE, WHICH IS ALSO, WHAT SHOULD BE RIGHT.
BUT I STILL ADVOCATE THAT WE CUT ONE DAY OFF THE DELIVERY.
[NOISE] I DON'T NEED THREE DAYS.
I'VE SPENT $20 FOR A GARBAGE CAN IF I GOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TAKING TO.
IF SOMEBODY CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE SCHEDULE, I'LL DO IT FOR HIM.
I AIN'T BRIGHT, BUT I CAN FIGURE OUT THE NECK FOR WAITERS TO DIVIDE THE SCHEDULE TO MAKE.
WHICH ONE SHOULD BE OPEN TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING'S OPEN EVERY DAY.
EXCEPT WITH THE ONE I PICK, THE ONE DAY OF THE WEEK.
IT'S MONDAY [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S ENOUGH TO FUND MORE THAN ONE TEACHER.
BUT I JUST THANK THE LORD FOR WHAT I GOT.
WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, I COULD CARE LESS.
I GOT BY AND I COULD DO MATH AND THAT WAS MY SAVIOR.
WHEN I GOT IN THE WORKFORCE, I COULD ADD AND SUBTRACT.
I AM NOT AN EDUCATED MAN, I WENT TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL BUT I DID NOT GO TO COLLEGE.
CHRIS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? [NOISE] ARE YOU FOR OR CUTTING THE FUNDING INCREASE IN SCHOOL? ARE YOU WITH THIS? I THINK YOU'VE GOT CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, IF I REMEMBER.
>> [NOISE] YES, SIR. I DO HAVE THREE BOYS IN THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. YES, SIR.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE PUTTING ANY LOCAL FUNDS TO KEEP SOMEBODY ELSE FROM HAVING TO PAY A PENNY OR TWO MORE? I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE FALL FROM THAT IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
[NOISE] I KNOW WHERE YOUR HEART IS AT, I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE HE COMES FROM.
I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HE SAYS, BUT I KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
I DON'T LIKE [INAUDIBLE] THE WAY THIS COUNTRY IS HEADING, BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND I HOPE I'LL BE HERE NEXT YEAR.
>> WE HOPE SO TOO. [NOISE] ALL RIGHT. WHO'S NEXT?
>> JOE BIG FROM [INAUDIBLE] I WAS JUST THINKING OF SOMETHING THERE.
MR. JOHNSON, DO YOU, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD KNOW, HOW MUCH THAT GARBAGE FEE BRINGS IN FOR YOU?
>> A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
>> 1.2 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WHAT IS THAT THE EQUIVALENT IN PENNIES ON THE REAL ESTATE?
[00:20:01]
>> THAT WOULD BE ALMOST 10 CENTS.
BET YOU COULD HAVE [OVERLAPPING] JUST CURIOUS.
I'VE BEEN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS NOW, I REALIZE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS NOW.
[LAUGHTER] IN THAT TIME, REGGIE DELAN WAS CHAIRMAN WHEN I FIRST STARTED COMING, [INAUDIBLE] REPRESENTATIVE.
[INAUDIBLE] WAS SITTING IN YOUR CHAIR.
YOU, MR. [INAUDIBLE] HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 20 YEARS BEFORE I GOT HERE. I'M SURE.
>> WE'RE NOT THAT OLD. [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, FOR SOME TIME. LET'S FACE IT, YOU ARE STILL HERE.
OF COURSE, I HAVE MR. JONES WAS HERE AS WELL BACK THEN. MR. JOHNSON WAS HERE.
I WAS LOOKING AT MY CALENDAR AND I MAY NOT BE HERE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MEETINGS. I'M TRAVELING.
I WANTED TO SAY TO YOU WHAT A PLEASURE IT'S BEEN TO HAVE YOU SERVING OUR COUNTY, ALL THESE YEARS.
>> I DIDN'T WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO PASS BY WITHOUT LETTING YOU KNOW THAT.
LIKE THE QUESTIONS THAT I JUST ASKED YOU, YOU KNEW WHAT THEY WERE, I DIDN'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO US NEXT MONTH TO GET BACK TO THOSE ANSWERS.
IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE I'VE BEEN COMING.
I THINK YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT ASSET TO THE COUNTY.
I ADMIRE THE WAY YOU'VE HANDLED THE JOB WITH PROFESSIONALISM [INAUDIBLE].
I KNOW AT TIMES YOUR PATIENCE HAS BEEN MORE THAN TESTED.
I KNOW YOU'VE REACHED THE LIMITS OF IT MANY TIMES.
I WILL SEE YOU, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU ANGRY.
YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY PROFESSIONAL.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN QUITE [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I KNOW THE COUNTY IS LOSING A BIG ASSET WITH YOU.
WE'RE HAPPY TO LET YOU GO AND FINALLY HAVE YOUR LIFE.
[LAUGHTER] I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT YOUR SCHEDULE HAD TO BE THESE LAST FEW YEARS.
I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T [INAUDIBLE] SCHEDULING LIKE ANYBODY ELSE HERE WOULD.
>> [BACKGROUND] I JUST GOT TO SAY ONE THING AND THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS IT.
WE'RE FACING DESPERATE TIMES THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR.
THEY HAVE ESTIMATED THAT THE NEW INFLATION WILL COST EVERY SINGLE PERSON OR FAMILY AT LEAST $4,000 OR MORE.
SOME OF THEM SAY IT COULD BE $4,000 OR $5,000 [INAUDIBLE] GAS PRICES GOING UP IN THE SUMMER.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS THIS, WE'RE NOT ALL CAPABLE OF HAVING $4,000 OR $5,000 IN OUR BANK ACCOUNT OR UNDER THE MATTRESS.
WE ARE GOING TO BE AVERAGE CITIZENS LIKE HERE WHO'S GOING TO BE FIGHTING TO SURVIVE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CUT EVERYTHING TO THE MAXIMUM THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
I REMEMBER, IN DOUG WALDO WAS INCUMBENT, BUT IT [INAUDIBLE] THE GENUINE BACKGROUNDS ECONOMIC PLANE.
IN EARLY TIMES, [NOISE] SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND THINGS LIKE ASSETS HAVE INFLATED AND A LOT OF HARD ON THE [INAUDIBLE] SAVE MONEY.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS ECONOMY IS GOING TO COME BACK.
IT'S NOT GOING TO COME BACK BY FILLING MONEY FREELY.
IT'S GOING TO HIRE FIRST EVERYBODY AS WELL.
THE BACKBONE OF [INAUDIBLE] CUTS EXCEPTION.
[00:25:10]
[NOISE] THAT'S HARD [INAUDIBLE] WE WANT TO DO THE JOB JUST LIKE THE DEPARTMENT HERE, HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU CAN GET RID.IT'S LIKE AFFECTING YOUR OPERATIONS.
I ENCOURAGE EACH ONE OF YOU TO PUT YOUR PENCIL TO THE PAPER AND GIVE YOURSELF A BACKBONE ENOUGH TO CUT.
BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PAY YOU THE TAX FIELD NEXT YEAR.
[NOISE] IT MIGHT BE ABOVE THIS YEAR WITH THE GOVERNMENT COMING TO PREFERENCE REALLY GIVING OUT MONEY.
THAT'S GOING TO DRY UP, I PROMISE YOU NEXT YEAR.
WITH THIS VIEW, IF THEY ASK A BUDGET, THEY CAN BE DETECTED NEXT YEAR [INAUDIBLE].
CUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO SAVE OUR COUNTY.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE PEOPLE NEXT NOVEMBER RECIPROCATE PAYING THEIR TAXES.
WE'VE SEEN THAT BEFORE BACKGROUND THAT THE PEOPLE CAN'T CONTINUE PAYING TAXES.
WHAT HAPPENS? EVERYTHING IS REDUCED BEFORE THIS OPERATION KICKS IN.
[INAUDIBLE] CONSERVATIVE [INAUDIBLE] LITTLE BIT BACKBONE GETS WHOLE LOT BETTER AND LETS THIS GET OUT OF CONTROL.
I WANT TO JUST ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE GO THROUGH THAT BUDGET [INAUDIBLE].
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTION ABOUT IT [INAUDIBLE] REGARDLESS WHAT DEPARTMENT YOU LOCATE.
IF YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHOEVER NEED IT, IF NOT [INAUDIBLE] WHAT WE WANT IS WHAT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WHO'S NEXT?
>> GOOD EVENING. CINDY EDWARDS 30421 [INAUDIBLE] AVENUE [INAUDIBLE] AS YOU PROBABLY GUESS I UP HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOLID WASTE BEGIN.
WHEN YOU ALL CAME ON BOARD, YOU'RE ALL FOR DOING AWAY WITH THE SOLID WASTE, WHEN I SPOKE WITH YOU.
WELL, THE BOARD, NOT ALL OF YOU WERE ALL ON THE BOARD BACK THEN, BUT SOME OF YOU ARE AND YOU'RE STILL SITTING HERE AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THIS YEAR IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING.
THE RATES WENT UP ON THE VEHICLES, THE VALUE OF THEM DID.
YOU CUT THE RIGHT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CHARGE FOR THE TAX, BUT YOU COULD STILL GO UP ON THAT, FROM WHICH YOU'RE PROPOSING CURRENTLY AND STILL DO AWAY WITH THE SOLID WASTE BAY.
ON TOP OF THAT, YOU COULD TAKE WHAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE THE SCHOOL BOARD THE ADDITIONAL THAT THEY ASKED AND COVER WHAT THE SOLID WASTE THING THEY WOULD'VE BEEN.
THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY THAT ANY WOULD'VE BEEN PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.
I KNOW I'VE HAD ONE SUPERVISOR TELL ME THAT THEY WILL ABOARD BACK IT BEGIN AND SINCE THEN HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T FEEL OBLIGATED TO DO AWAY WITH IT.
BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ON THE BOARD AT THAT TIME.
WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL OBLIGATED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
YOU SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING WHETHER YOU ARE ON THAT BOARD AT THE TIME OR NOT.
IT JUST APPEARS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
I'VE HAD SOME OF THE SUPERVISORS COME TO ME, TALK TO ME ABOUT IT IN THE PAST AND SAY THEY WANT TO DO AWAY WITH IT.
[00:30:04]
BUT WHEN IT COMES TIME TO VOTE ON THE BUDGET AND MAKE ANY CHANGES, YOU GO RIGHT ALONG WITH WHATEVER IS PROPOSED.IT'S TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
I HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN ALL THE TIME ASKING, "WELL, WHAT'S THE [INAUDIBLE] WILL GO DO IT FOR ONE YEAR? THEY SAID WHEN THE TIP AND FEES WENT DOWN, THE RATE WILL GO DOWN.
WHEN'S GOING TO HAPPEN?" I SAY WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO THE MEETING AND ADDRESS THEM? THE ANSWER I'LL GET IS, YOU ALL DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO ANYWAY.
THAT TOTALLY FEEL THAT MY MYSELF.
THE BOY BACK THEN FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE STILL ON THE BOARD, AND FOR THOSE WHO WERE ON IT THEN, IF YOU HAD NO INTENTION OF DOING AWAY WITH THE THING OR REDUCING THE TIP AND WHEN THE ROOT TIP AND FEES GOT REDUCED, GIVEN A REDUCTION ON THE SOLID WASTE THING, YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE SAID SO.
I'VE SAID BEFORE, THE WAY THAT YOU COME ACROSS TO THE PEOPLE, IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO WHAT YOU SAY, YOU'RE MORE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T TRUST YOU.
PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO COME TO THE MAINTENANCE SPEAK BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY'RE WASTING THEIR TIME.
WHICH I GOT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT. I THINK THEY'RE RIGHT.
YOU ALL DID VOTE, AS MOST OF [INAUDIBLE] TO HAVE A FEW MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS YEAR AND GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET.
DO YOU SEE HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE HERE? THE SAME VIEW THAT USUALLY SHOW UP? [NOISE] YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY'RE NOT BEING HEARD AND NOTHING'S BEING DONE.
IF WE HADN'T SPENT MORE MONEY THAN WE NEED IT TO BE SPENDING, WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO ADD THAT SOLID WASTE DAY BACK IN 2012.
IT SEEMS TO CONTINUE TO GET THAT WAY, NOT JUST HERE INSIDE THE [INAUDIBLE], BUT COUNTRYWIDE, WORLDWIDE.
THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY JUST DON'T HAVE IT.
YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE OF WHAT ANYBODY IN THIS COUNTY GETS PAID.
UNLESS YOU'RE A DOCTOR, A LAWYER, MAKING BIG LOADS OF MONEY, YOU CAN'T AVOID IT.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY TOO MUCH HEART CARE CONCERN FOR THE PEOPLE.
I'M PLEADING WITH YOU AGAIN TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
COME ON, IT HAS BEEN SINCE 2012, AND HERE WE ARE IN 22 AND YOU SAY YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT BUT IS YOUR HEART REALLY TRYING TO DO ANYTHING TO DO AWAY WITH IT? WAS IT JUST HAULED OUT? PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.
THIS IS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO AWAY WITH IT.
BECAUSE NEXT YEAR IT'LL BE SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU'RE [INAUDIBLE] AND YOU'LL NEED TO THROW UP AGAIN.
DO THE RIGHT THING AND MOVE AWAY FROM THE SOLID WASTE FEE.
THE PERSON WHO COMES IN AND HAS TO SCREEN THE APPLICATIONS, WE COULD DO AWAY WITH THAT.
THERE IS TIME FOR EVERY OFFICE PRETTY MUCH.
FINANCE, IT, TREASURER'S OFFICE.
WE'D HAVE TIME TO WORK ON OTHER THINGS THAT NEED DOING IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT SOLID WASTE FEE.
JEFF WAS TALKING ABOUT CUTTING DEPARTMENT HEADS.
WELL, PRETTY MUCH EVERY DEPARTMENT HERE IN THIS COUNTY CAN'T STAND TO TAKE ANY CUTS BECAUSE PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IS ALREADY OVERWORKED AND PUTTING IN EXTRA TIME.
AGAIN, I SAY, PLEASE PRAY ABOUT IT, PLEASE LOOK AT IT AGAIN, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.
>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
[00:35:01]
HOW MUCH WOULD THOSE CUTS BE THAT YOU JUST DISCUSSED? THE CUTBACKS THAT YOU'D TOLD US OF.>> I HAVE GIVEN THOSE FIGURES BEFORE.
BUT YOU'RE TALKING SOMEWHERE AROUND 25,000 FOR THE PERSON COMING IN AND SCREENING THE APPLICATIONS.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE TIME EACH DEPARTMENT SPENDS.
I CAN'T REALLY GIVE YOU THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT FINANCE SPENDS ON IT OR IT SPENDS ON IT LIKE THAT FOR CUTS THERE.
BUT IT'S TIME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO OTHER THINGS WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND.
A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT IN A LOT OF EXTRA TIME FOR THIS COUNTY WITHOUT GETTING PAID FOR IT.
>> THAT BRINGS IT DOWN TO A MILLION.
WHERE DOES THE OTHER MILLION COME FROM?
>> WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO AWAY WITH THAT TOTAL.
YOU WOULD DROP IN THE PERSONAL PROPERTY RATE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DROP THAT DOWN TO WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO DROP IT DOWN TO.
>> WELL, YOU JUST TOLD US HOW TOUGH THIS $200 IS ON EVERYBODY, BUT YET YOU WANT TO ADD MORE TO THE TAXPAYERS.
THAT DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.
>> IT'S NOT ADD MORE TO THE TAXPAYERS BECAUSE IF YOU'RE GOING TO COLLECT THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND DO AWAY WITH THE SOLID WASTE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO OFFSET IT.
>> BUT YOU'RE ADDING MORE TO THE TAXPAYER.
>> BUT YOU'RE TAKING AWAY THAT $200.
THE MORE YOU OWN, THE MORE YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAYING.
BUT THAT'S NATURAL BECAUSE IF YOU'RE PAYING STATE TAXES, FEDERAL TAXES, ANY TAXES WHEN YOU BUY A VEHICLE, THE MORE YOU SPEND, THE MORE YOU PAY.
BUT THE ONES WHO CAN AFFORD IT THE MOST SHOULD BE PAYING THE MOST.
>> I WAS THINKING TO DROP THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX 15 AND ADD $50 A YEAR TO THE TRASH FEE.
>> SO YOU REALLY WANT TO TAKE 15 OFF?
>> WELL, NOW LISTEN TO THE MATH.
YOU ADD 50 DOLLARS TO IT THAT'S GOING TO GENERATE $300,000 FOR THE COUNTY, IF IT GOES TO 250.
BUT IT'LL SAVE THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER, $500 A YEAR IN TAXES.
IF WE DROP THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX TO 4.457DOLLARS, 100, IT'LL SAVE THE AVERAGE TAXPAYER 500 BUCKS AND HE'LL ONLY PAY ANOTHER $50 IN TRASH.
WELL, I'VE DONE THE MATH. IT'S SIMPLE MATH.
>> SANDY, I WON'T SPEAK FOR ANY OTHER SUPERVISOR, BUT MYSELF.
THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE IN FAVOR OF THE TRASH FEE THAT HAVE TALKED TO ME THAN ARE AGAINST IT FOR THE REASON THAT SUPERVISOR WHITE MENTIONED.
THE CITIZEN THAT'S PAYING THE $200, THERE MAY BE A FEW OUT THERE THAT DON'T HAVE AN AUTOMOBILE.
SOME OF THEM, MOST OF THEM HAVE ONE OR EVEN TWO IN A FAMILY, AND THEY WOULD BE PAYING FAR MORE IN PERSONAL PROPERTY THAN THE $200.
I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR THOSE THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME THAT FEEL THAT ALTHOUGH THEY RECOGNIZE WHAT WAS SAID IN 2012, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY THINK IT'S FAIR NOW.
AGAIN, I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME.
>> WELL, I'M SURE THE ONES THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO WERE THE ONES WHO ALMOST STOPPED.
>> I'M TALKING TO THE ONES THAT CALLED ME.
LIKE YOU SAID, COME INTO YOUR OFFICE, I HAVEN'T HAD ANYBODY CALL ME.
I KNOW THEY ARE OUT THERE OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE YOU HEAR ABOUT THEM.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MORE ARE IN FAVOR OF KEEPING THAT TRASH FEE THAN GETTING AWAY WITH IT.
>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT. I BELIEVE IF YOU PUT IT UP TO A VOTE, YOU'D SEE.
>> I'VE HAD THE SAME CONSTITUENTS TELL ME THE SAME THING.
I MEAN, PEOPLE THAT I KNOW PEOPLE THAT COME IN MY SHOP ALL THE TIME AND WE DISCUSS IT AND THEY DON'T MIND PAYING THE $200 RATHER THAN THEIR TAXES GOING UP FIVE OR $600.
>> WE'RE TALKING OF THE TAX. [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES IT WOULD. IT'S GOING TO GO UP.
>> WELL, YEAH, BUT THE AVERAGE FAMILY,
[00:40:03]
I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND ARGUE.MOST PEOPLE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HAS GOT TWO VEHICLES A FAMILY, BOTH PEOPLE WORK.
THEY'VE GOT TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.
SOME OF THEM COMMUTE AN HOUR ONE WAY.
SO YOU CAN'T DRIVE JUNK AN HOUR ONE WAY EVERY DAY.
A CAR'S NOW 65 FOR A DECENT CAR.
LIKE PICKUPS, 70,000 150 FOUR WHEEL DRIVE.
THEY'RE GOING TO PAY TAXES ON $100,000.
THEIR PROPERTY TAX IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND $100,000 NEXT YEAR, THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLES.
LET'S JUST USE THAT FOR SIMPLE MATH.
THE TAX RATE'S FIVE DOLLARS RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU'VE GOT $100,000, TWO VEHICLES WORTH $100,000 TO PUT TOGETHER.
SAY THEY'RE $50,000 A PIECE TAX-WISE, THAT'S $5,000 DOLLARS TAXES. ALL RIGHT.
IF WE CUT THEIR RATE TO 445 AND THE TRASH FEE $50, THAT'S GOING TO CUT THEIR TAX BY $550 ON $100,000 WORTH OF CARS.
SO IF WE RAISE THE TRASH FEE BY $50 AND GENERATE ANOTHER 300,000 TO COVER THAT IN 15 PERCENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OFF TO TAXES, IT'LL BE FLAT TAX ACROSS THE BOARD AND SAVE ANYBODY WHO'S GOT VEHICLES THEY GOT TO DRIVE TO WORK EVERY DAY, 500 BUCKS NET.
BUT THAT'S [OVERLAPPING] THE POINT I'M MAKING.
>> WELL, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE 50 OR $60,000 VEHICLES.
MOST PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY CAN'T AFFORD ABOVE 50 TO 60,000.
>> WELL YOU RIDE AROUND, AND YOU SEE A LOT OF THEM PARKED IN DRIVEWAYS.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY GET THEM. [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU CAN SEE THAT BUT THEN YOU SEE WHAT SOME OF THEM LIVE IN WHAT THEY LIVE IN VERSUS WHAT THEY DRIVE.
I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH IT.
BUT PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO WOULD RATHER PAY AN EXTRA $50 FOR THE TRASH THAT WOULD ACTUALLY PAY THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON TRASH EVERY YEAR IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
THEN YOU COULD TAKE THAT MONEY AND CUT TAXES ON THE TAX PAYING PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY.
THAT'S THE WAY I'M LOOKING AT IT.
>> I WAS ON THE BOARD WHEN THAT POLICY WAS INSTITUTED, AND EVERY YEAR, WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE SAME THING AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT POPULAR.
IT'S NOT POPULAR WITH ME EITHER.
HOWEVER, WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE REVENUE HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE, AND IT'S ALWAYS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE COUNTY THAT IT'S GOING TO COME FROM.
YOU GET IT FROM TAX FEE OR YOU RAISE THE TAXES.
WHEN PEOPLE SAY GET RID OF THE TAX FEE, THE MINUTE WE TALK ABOUT RAISING TAXES, THE TAX FEE DOESN'T SEEM QUITE AS BAD.
>> WELL NOT TO EVERYONE, BUT LIKE I SAY, NOT EVERYBODY'S BUYING 50 OR 60,000 VEHICLES.
>> I'M ONE OF THOSE NOT BUYING.
>> YEAH, MOST FOLKS CAN'T AFFORD THAT IN THIS COUNTY.
>> WELL, [NOISE] THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLES HAS IMPACTED USE VEHICLES TO WHERE, A LOT OF THOSE ARE PRICED ABOVE WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY THINK THEY CAN AFFORD.
THAT EVEN PUTS MORE STRESS ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY, WHICH WE ARE ONE OF THE HIGHEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE.
WE FELT LIKE THE WISE THING TO DO WOULD BE TO CUT THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX AND LET THE TRASH FEE REMAIN THE SAME.
I HAVE CERTAINLY FOUND OUT IN MY DISTRICT THAT'S A MORE POPULAR MOVE TO MAKE, AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
CERTAINLY, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT COMPLAIN, WHAT THEY HAVE TO DRIVE OR ANYTHING.
BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT I'VE FOUND OUT.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BOTTOM LINE FOR THE TAXPAYER.
>> I BELIEVE THE COUNTY IS SUBSIDIZING THAT 200 BUCKS ANYWAY. RIGHT, MIKE?
>> YEAH, THE 1.2 MILLION THAT YOU TAKE IN FOR THE TRASH FEE DOES NOT FULLY COVER THE COST OF COLLECTING AND DISPOSING IT.
>> WE'RE SUBSIDIZING THAT $200 AS IT IS?
>> ALSO FOR PERSONS WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY PAYING THAT, THERE ARE SOME REMEDIES.
>> THAT'S TRUE. IT'S JUST EVERYBODY DOESN'T HAVE TO DRIVE A
[00:45:03]
50 OR $60,000 VEHICLE AND PRETTY MUCH THEY DON'T.THE ONES WHO LIKE I SAID, THE ONES WHO HAVE THE MOST SHOULD REALLY PAY THE MOST.
>> YEAH. I THINK THEY'RE DOING THAT.
>> WELL, YOU'D BE SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE GET VEHICLES MORE THAN THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY GET APPROVED FOR IT, BUT THEY FILE MORE.
>> WELL, THE POINT IS THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT.
>> YEAH. WELL, SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING FOR IT.
EITHER THEY GET PRO-RATION, OR WHATEVER TO GET THE MONEY FOR THE TAXES OR EITHER THE VEHICLE GETS REPOSSESSED.
I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO THINK ABOUT IT MORE I MEAN AND THEN THE FUTURE.
>> WE DID SEND IT AND [OVERLAPPING] I'M TRYING TO EXPRESS THE RATIONALE THAT WE USED.
>> WELL, LIKE YOU SAY, I'M JUST SAYING WHOEVER OWNS THE MOST, HAS THE MOST, SHOULD BE PAYING THE MOST, THAT'S THE FAIR WAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
WHO'S NEXT? [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> I AM BILL WORSHIP, I LIVE IN THE BOOMING METROPOLIS OF BERLIN, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
I WASN'T GOING TO SPEAK I JUST WANTED TO COME AND LISTEN BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THE RAWLS LIBRARY.
I JUST CAME OUT OF A MEETING, AS A MATTER OF FACT, PROBABLY ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AGO, THE LIBRARY BOARD MEETING AND WE GOT A PACKET.
IN A PACKET, IT SHOWS THE PROGRAMS AND THE FIVE LOCALITIES.
NOW I KNOW YOU ALL AREN'T INTERESTED IN THE SYSTEM AND AS I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THAT PACKET I WAS LOOKING AT NUMBERS.
NOW I'M SEEING HERE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FOR ONE PROGRAM THAT WAS CONTINUOUS OVER A MONTH, WITH 1,500 PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUT ALL PROGRAMS WILL GET 1,500 PEOPLE AND THOSE PROGRAMS ARE VERY WORTHWHILE.
AGAIN I REMIND YOU WHAT THE NEWS I LOOKED IN THEIR BRIEFING TODAY.
I THINK THERE WERE FIVE OR SIX PROGRAMS THAT WERE ADVERTISED IN THERE, RANGES FROM TODDLERS ON UP TO ALL [NOISE] THESE PEOPLE OF MY AGE.
THE THING IS, WHEN I GOT TO ELABORATE MORE, I GOT ON AIR OUT OF HONOR FROM MY WIFE, BEVERLY.
THERE WAS ONE THING SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO BUT SHE GOT SICK WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND SHE COULDN'T.
WHAT I WAS SAYING YES, CASSIE, I'LL BE GLAD TO DO IT, THEN I'LL DO IT FOR BEVERLY AND I'M GLAD I DID.
THAT SHE PROBABLY WOULD'VE MADE A MUCH BETTER MEMBER THAN MORE THAN WHAT I AM BECAUSE OF HER KNOWLEDGE OF LIBRARY ISSUES, YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.
BUT I'M GLAD I GOT ON THERE BECAUSE THAT IS ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU IN THIS COUNTY, I SERVED IN EDUCATION OF COURSE.
WE'RE INDEED THE BIGGEST BANK IN THE BOOK.
I HOPE THAT I'M HEARING THE WORD CUTS AND CUTS.
I HOPE THAT THAT'S ONE AREA THAT WE CAN PRESERVE SOMEDAY [BACKGROUND].
A NUMBER OF PEOPLE GO TO THE LIBRARY FOR VARIOUS SUNDRY THINGS.
NOT JUST TO CHECK OUT THE BOOK IN THERE.
PEOPLE DON'T GO TO THE LIBRARY TO CHECK OUT THE BOOKS ANYMORE.
WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING AND CHECKING THEIR PORTFOLIOS FOR STOCKS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE COME ON IN THERE AND THEY WANT BOOKS THAT WE DON'T AND IN THE LIBRARY WE DON'T HAVE THEM.
THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS LIKE I SAID, THERE'S THIS SUMMER WILL BE ENOUGH FOR THE READING PROGRAM FOR OUR YOUTH AND THOSE PROGRAMS ARE PRETTY GOOD.
WE ARE VERY THANKFUL TO [INAUDIBLE] TO THE MAGICIANS TO STORYTELLERS.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO ON AND AS A RESULT OF THESE CHECKOUT BOOKS.
WE CHECKOUT THOSE BOOKS, GUESS WHAT HAPPENED? THEY READ SOME OF IT ANYWAY.
I THINK ALMOST SITTING AROUND HERE TODAY,
[00:50:01]
WE AGREE IF WE CAN'T READ, WE CAN'T GET VERY FAR IN LIFE. WE ARE ALL FROM THERE.WHEN YOU START THINKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, PLEASE THINK ABOUT THAT LIBRARY WHAT IT DOES FOR THIS COUNTY ALONE.
I CAN SPEND TIME HERE TALKING ABOUT REALLY POOR LOCALITY BUT I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT, I'VE BEEN STANDING ON HERE FOR A WHILE.
BUT THEY HAVE SIMILAR PROGRAMS WE CONDUCT.
I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU GO TO PROCESS THESE BUDGETS THROUGH.
YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR, I'VE BEEN AN EDUCATOR FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
ALL THAT I'M GOING TO SAY TO YOU AND I'VE HEARD STREET TALKING THE EDUCATION BUDGET IS GOING TO BE CUT.
THAT'S STREET'S TALK. I'VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS NOT TO LISTEN TO A LOT OF THAT.
BUT WHENEVER WE CUT THAT BUDGET, YOU DON'T HURT ME, YOU DON'T HURT THE SCHOOL BOARD, YOU DON'T HURT STAFF; GUESS WHO YOU HURT? CHILDREN. THESE ARE NON TAXPAYERS.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF PROGRAMS, STATIONED DIRECTLY TO US I KNOW THAT.
BUT IF YOU CAN SEE WAY CLEAR SO THAT WE CAN AVOID AND I'M SAYING THIS WITH ALL SINCERITY AND ALL SERIOUSNESS, AVOID PUTTING 30 AND 35 KIDS IN A CLASSROOM.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ALGEBRA TEACHER TEACHING THAT MANY.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ENGLISH TEACHER TEACHING THAT MANY WITH THE NUMBER OF PAPERS THE KIDS HAVE TO DO.
IF YOU'VE GOT THREE CLASSES OF 35 WHICH YOU CAN DO THE MATH, THAT'S A LOT OF PAPERS FOR READING AND GRADE AND GET BACK TO [BACKGROUND] THE CLASS.
WHENEVER WE DO THAT, AGAIN WE HURT CHILDREN.
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO HURT CHILDREN BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND SOMETIMES WE GOT TO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS OUT OF IT.
I CAME HERE TONIGHT BASICALLY BECAUSE [INAUDIBLE] ASKED ME.
I TOLD BEVERLY THAT I WAS COMING IN.
I THINK HE'S WATCHING IT ON TV OR HE HAS SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON BUT PLEASE THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO SAY ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE LIBRARY.
THAT'S THE HEART AND SOUL OF IT I DON'T THINK CONVENIENTLY BUT IT IS.
IT DOES A LOT OF GOOD FOR THE COUNTY.
YOU GET A LOT BACK, A LOT OF RETURN FOR YOUR DOLLAR YOU SPEND IN THAT LIBRARY.
I THOUGHT I COULD HAVE BROUGHT IT HERE THE REPORTS AND EVERYTHING SO YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT TYPES OF PROGRAM.
WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST MAKING MALE'S PROGRAM, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PRETTY GOOD PROGRAMS. YOU ALL PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT.
I APPRECIATE YOU LIVE AND TALK TO ME.
I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A TOUGH JOB.
JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT I'VE SAID IT MIGHT BE REAL.
NOTHING. JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT I'VE SAID. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
WHAT I'VE SAID IS FACTUAL OR MOST OF IT ANYWAY.
WHAT I'VE SAID IS A FACT, LIKE I SAID, I KNOW SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE DONE.
I DO WANT TO SAY THIS. I HEARD THE OTHER NIGHT AT THE MEETING THAT THE ASSESSMENTS DON'T ROLL AS STEADILY.
WE'RE GOING UP BECAUSE OF VALUES OF HOMES.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT EFFECT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE BUDGET HOW IT'S MORE?
>> NONE. ALL RIGHT BUT WHAT I MEAN, WE HAVE LOOKED AT THOSE LANES AND LOOK DEEP INSIDE THAT BUDGET BEFORE YOU MAKE THOSE SPECIAL ONES THAT AFFECT CHILDREN ENSURE YOU GET ENOUGH BRAIN OUT OF IT [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK TO YOU.
>>ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO TALK AGAIN? ANYBODY HAVING AFTER THOUGHTS? [OVERLAPPING] WELL, THAT'S YOU WE'VE GOT TOM.
>> YEAH. HOW ABOUT THE VIDEO [INAUDIBLE].
I WAS TOLD [INAUDIBLE] THAT THAT TAX WAS PUT ON THE FOUR PEOPLE WITH THAT TYPE OF SHIFT.
[00:55:01]
IT WAS THE FOUR PEOPLE'S TAX.IF YOU DON'T CUT THE TAX RATE, I WILL HAVE TO PAY WAY MORE THAN $200.
JUST AS ANY GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION THERE'S SOMEBODY WHO SAYS, "I'M GOING TO DO THIS." I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE 20 OR 50 YEARS LATE.
YOU'RE OBLIGATED TO DO IT UNLESS IT'S MORALLY WRONG.
THEY DON'T KNOW TWO WAYS ABOUT.
THIS WAS PUT ON TO KEEP PEOPLE LIKE ME AND PEOPLE LIKE MOST OF YOU FROM PAYING OUR TAXES.
I CONSIDER MYSELF A CONSERVATIVE.
BUT I ALSO LOVE MY GOD AND I DON'T THINK HE'D BE HAPPY WITH ME [NOISE].
YOU DEAL WITH YOUR OWN CONSCIOUS, I DEAL WITH MINE AND THAT'S WHY I'M UP HERE.
BECAUSE I KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD WHAT JUST HAD TO FALL.
IT WAS TO MAKE ALL PEOPLE PAY THEIR SHARE.
BUT I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANT, WELL I WAS TOLD IN THE SAME SESSION WITH THAT PERSON, THAT IT WAS ALL GOING TO BE UNTIL THE TIP FEE FOR THEM.
I MEAN, IT WILL GO AWAY UNTIL [INAUDIBLE]. THANKS.
>> MIKE HAVE THE TIP-IN FEES GOING BACK UP.
>> THEY'RE GOING UP FOUR DOLLARS NEXT YEAR.
BUT CLEARLY, THEY'RE NOWHERE NEAR WHAT THEY WERE BACK IN 2012 WHEN WE WERE PAYING $170 A TURN, THE CURRENT RATE IS 61 AND IT GOES UP TO 65 NEXT YEAR.
>> ANYBODY ELSE, WE PROBABLY GOT TIME, ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO COME UP? [NOISE] WELL, LUCKY WE EXHAUSTED THE CITIZENS' COMMENT PERIOD.
WE'LL CLOSE THAT AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO NUMBER 3, WHICH IS THE BUDGET DISCUSSION BY THE BOARD.
[NOISE]. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, [INAUDIBLE] YOU'RE STILL WITH US? CAN YOU HEAR US?
>> WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS REGARDING THERE WERE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT DIDN'T GET ANSWERED LAST WEEK.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ANSWERED, AND SO FAR AS THE CHILDREN ARE CONCERNED I THINK I REMEMBER THE DAYS OF RONALD REAGAN WHEN HE WAS CRITICIZED SHARPLY FOR STARVING THE CHILDREN OVER [NOISE] 16 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS REQUESTED.
HE WAS ACCUSED OF STARVING THE CHILDREN WHEN HE INCREASED AT EIGHT PERCENT.
HE ACTUALLY INCREASED AT EIGHT PERCENT, NOT 16.
I'M SURE THAT THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN TOWER NEWS TODAY REGARDING THE NON-COMPLIANCE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT HAD $130,000 TAKEN FROM THE CHILDREN IF YOU WANT TO TERM IT THAT WAY.
THE POSITION WENT UNADVERTISED FROM JULY TO FEBRUARY AND POOLED FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DIDN'T DO THAT.
ACTUALLY WAS YOUR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF OTHER GRANTS THAT HAVE GONE BY THE WAYSIDE.
I DON'T HEAR THE RHETORIC OF TAKEN FROM THE CHILDREN WHEN THINGS LIKE THAT OCCUR.
[01:00:01]
WE HAVE I THINK A FRACTION OF A PERCENT MORE THAN WAS LEVEL-FUNDED.BUT YOU COULD REASONABLY SAY THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS GETTING THE SAME FUNDING THIS YEAR AS LAST YEAR I THINK.
IT'S A LITTLE LESS THAN ONE PERCENT I THINK SOMEWHERE AROUND [OVERLAPPING] 0.07 I THINK.
>> THE OPERATIONAL FUNDING IS LEVEL-FUNDED.
THE DEBT SERVICE WENT UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> BY THE WAY, THAT GRANT WAS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS WHICH WAS SORELY NEEDED.
AS FOR THE LIBRARY, MR. WOSHIM, I AGREE WITH YOU, AND IT'S A VALUABLE TOOL TO HAVE ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF COVID AND THE CITIZENS THAT NEEDED TO CONNECT TO THE WI-FI FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE STUDENTS THAT GO THERE AND USE IT AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
WE DID LOOK AT ALL THOSE THINGS AND [NOISE] MR. CHAIRMAN, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BOARD WE GAVE OUT OF ITEMIZED LIST OF THE REDUCTION IN FUNDING THAT WE RECOMMENDED THE 450 TO.
MR. CONNAL WHO WAS ON THE PHONE WITH US AND HE MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD TO THAT, BUT A LOT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD'S REQUESTS HAD TO DO WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
YET I SEE A GRANT THAT WAS TAKEN FROM SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR $130,000 A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.
[NOISE] I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.
>> I WAS GOING OVER THIS AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS DONE AND RECOMMENDED THESE REDUCTIONS.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SCHOOL.
NOW, WHAT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED BUDGET RECOMMENDED FOR THE SCHOOL WAS WHAT?
>> WELL, I MIGHT ADD, THESE NUMBERS SUPERVISOR FAISON WHERE YOU SEE ELIMINATING FUNDING FOR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
THE 102,000 FOR THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACTUALLY WENT BACK TO A LEVEL-FUNDED BUDGET AS OPPOSED TO LAST YEAR.
>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE LEFT AT THE END OF THE YEAR EITHER.
>> BUT WE DIDN'T CUT THE BUDGET, WE CUT WHAT WAS REQUESTED.
>> THE OTHER FACTOR HERE IS [INAUDIBLE], YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE IN THE ESS FUNDS, YOU GOT FROM FEDS?
>> I PROBABLY HAVE IT ON MY NOTES BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU.
>> ACCORDING TO WHAT WE FOUND, YOU GOT $4.5 MILLION.
SEEMS TO ME THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO WHAT OTHER THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO APPLY TO.
NOT LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY, $4.5 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY.
>> MR. CHAIRMAN, [INAUDIBLE], I DIDN'T BRING TO THE FOREFRONT OF [INAUDIBLE] WHY IS IT NOT CUTTING THE SCHOOL BUDGET ANYWAY.
BEEN GETTING THE SAME AMOUNT OF FUNDING I RECEIVED LAST YEAR AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY'RE RECEIVING THE COVID SR FUNDS OF 5.5 ADDITIONAL MILLION MORE DOLLARS THAN WHAT THEY HAD LAST YEAR AND ON TOP OF THAT,
[01:05:01]
THEY'VE GOTTEN THE $3.18 MILLION ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE STATE.SO THIS IS TOTALING SOMEWHERE AROUND $8.68 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO OUR CERTAIN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT THEY RECEIVING ON TOP OF WHAT WE FUND THEM LOCALLY.
SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE CUTTING THEM IN ANY WAY FROM A 452 PERSPECTIVE AS WILLIAM HART INDICATED.
THESE WERE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TROUBLE BASED ON THESE THINGS.
LOOKING AT THE REVENUE STREAMS FROM OTHER SOURCES IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER NEEDS OF THE COUNTY AND WE DIDN'T CUT THEIR BUDGET IN ANY WAY, WE CONTINUE TO FUND THEIR BUDGETS AS THEY HAD BEEN IN YEARS PAST.
>> I WAS WONDERING OF A POINT THAT WE WILL PUT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED BUDGET WAS 1,444,581 LESS THAN WHAT THEY REQUESTED AND ANY FUNDS THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE CALL OF COVID ABLE TO ADDRESS TO COMPENSATE FOR LOSSES THAT THEY RECEIVED FOR THE CALL OF COVID.
NOW I CAN IMAGINE THAT IN FIGURING THAT BUDGET, WHAT THEY LOOKED AT WAS WHAT THEY'LL NEED FOR THIS YEAR COMING UP TO EDUCATE OUR KIDS.
I GOT A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD AND WHAT THEY PUT INTO RUNNING OUR SCHOOL.
WHEN THEY MADE THEIR REQUEST, I CERTAINLY LOOKED AT THEIR REQUEST AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD FUND ALL OF THAT.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO CUT IT ANYMORE THAN IT IS.
MY SUGGESTION IS THAT FOR AS FAR AS OUR REAL ESTATE TAX IS CONCERNED, WE RAISE IT ONE CENT TO NINE CENTS AND LET US GO KEEP THAT $102,967.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WITH THE $8 MILLION? THAT MONEY WAS FUNDED TO HELP CATCH UP SO THAT IT CAN GO TO TEACHERS, TUTORS, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT.
THEY HAVE A PILE OF MONEY THERE.
ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS UTILIZE IT.
>> I DOUBT THAT THEY HAVE IT IN A CLOSET SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY AREN'T ADDRESSING HOW THEY'RE GOING TO USE IT.
>> WELL, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS USE IT AND JUSTIFY HOW TO USE IT.
THAT MONEY IS JUST SITTING THERE. A LOT OF MONEY.
>> YOU'VE HEARD MY RECOMMENDATION.
>> WHAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION?
>> THAT WE RAISE THE TAXES FROM ONE CENT TO NINE CENTS AND THAT WE GIVE THEM $102,967 TO THE SCHOOL RATHER THAN REDUCE WHAT WE HAD PLANNED TO GIVE THEM.
PROBABLY SUGGEST THAT WE GIVE THEM IN THEIR DRAFT BUDGET.
>> WHICH WAS AN INCREASE BEYOND THE [OVERLAPPING]
>>YEAH, BEYOND THE LEVEL OF FUNDING.
SURELY THEY MAY REQUEST BASED ON HOW THEY SEE THEIR NEEDS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I CAN'T SQUARE IN MY THINKING, MUST HAVE PHASE AND WANT $130,000 GRANT, ADDRESSED SOME OF THE NEEDS THEY ENUMERATED STANDING HERE LAST WEEK.
SOME QUESTIONS WERE ASKED AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR TONIGHT.
THEY DIDN'T COME TO GIVE US THE ANSWERS, SO I DON'T SUPPORT THAT.
THAT WAS, AS I UNDERSTOOD IT, SPECIAL NEEDS GRANT WHICH THEY HAD QUITE A BIT OF TIME LAST NIGHT IN THEIR PRESENTATION TALKING ABOUT THAT VERY ISSUE.
THE FACT IS THEY'VE LOST $130,000 GRANT, THEY DID NOT COMPLY SO I HAVE A HARD TIME SQUARING IT.
[01:10:06]
>> DID YOU MAKE THAT IN THE FORM OF MOTION FOR? IS THAT A MOTION YOU PUT FORWARD.
>> I HAD AND I DIDN'T PUT THAT FOR A MOTION, THERE WAS SUGGESTION THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE'LL PUT THAT IN A MOTION. I MOVE THAT WE DON'T IGNORE.
>> ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH ALL THAT MONEY.
THAT MONEY IS SITTING THERE, THAT MONEY HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED.
[INAUDIBLE] SAID IT WAS OVER EIGHT MILLION.
I KNOW I COULD ACCOUNT FOR 4.5 MILLION AT LEAST AND IT'S FOR CATCHING UP KIDS WITH THE TROUBLE THEY HAD WITH COVID.
WE'RE TEACHING AND HIRING TEACHERS AND HIRING TUTORS OR WHATEVER THEY NEED.
THE COMPUTERS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF DOWN.
BUT WE ASKED THEM, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT? WHERE IS THAT MONEY? THERE WAS NO ANSWER.
>> WITH NO SECOND, I GUESS THERE IS MORE TO GO OUT.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT GRANT.
IT'S 130,000 BUCKS OUT THE WINDOW.
WELL, YOU UNDERSTAND IT ALL THE WAY.
THE ONLY THING THEY HAD TO DO IS TO FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK AND GET IT IN AND THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE ONLY GRANT THAT'S GOING OUT THE WINDOW.
ANYMORE DISCUSSION? I GOT TO SAY THAT, I LIKE THE BUDGET WHERE IT IS AND I'M CERTAINLY GOING TO VOTE FOR IT WHERE IT IS.
>> IT IS WITHOUT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THOUGHT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU FILL THE BUDGET ENTITIES.
>> WE'RE NOT VOTING ON TONIGHT. I'M JUST SAYING.
>> WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TO REACH CONSENSUS ON THE DRAFT BUDGET THAT YOU ADVERTISED NO LATER THAN NEXT TUESDAY.
SO IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOT THAT CONSENSUS TONIGHT, THAT'S FINE BUT IF YOU DON'T, YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IT TOMORROW AND THEN WHAT WE'LL NEED YOU TO DO IF WE'RE MEETING NEXT TUESDAY, IS TO AUTHORIZE PUBLICATION OF THE DRAFT BUDGET FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE COULD GO AHEAD AND DECIDE ON TONIGHT AS WRITTEN ON THE 452.
>> IS CONSENSUS BASED ON MAJORITY, MIKE?
>> YES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE.
>> I'LL NEED YOU TO VOTE TO PUBLISH A DRAFT BUDGET.
>> WE'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE BUDGET IS THE FORFEIT TO COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED.
>> WE'VE GOT A MOTION TO SECOND AND FROZE THE SESSION BEFORE WE VOTE.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE DRAFT BUDGET AS PROPOSED BY OUR FINANCIAL COMMITTEE.
>> WE ADJOURN.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.