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[Budget Public Hearing ]
I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS MEETING OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BUDGET WORK SESSION.MAIN TOPIC TONIGHT, DISCUSSION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION ORDINANCE.
THIS IS THE FIRST OF THREE WEDNESDAY MEETINGS.
WE'LL MEET HERE THE NEXT TWO WEDNESDAYS AT 6:30, GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
THE FIRST POINT ON THE AGENDA IS THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION ORDINANCE.
HONORABLE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR MEETING TONIGHT.
WE GOT A NICE CROWD TONIGHT IN THE AUDIENCE AT OUR SPECIAL WORK MEETING TONIGHT.
SO AT YOUR SEATS, YOU DO HAVE A THE MOST CURRENT SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION ORDINANCE AT YOUR SEAT.
AND I'LL JUST READ I'LL READ THROUGH THIS AND THEN I'LL.
ANY QUESTIONS I'LL LET THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, RICHARD RAILY, KIND OF TALK YOU THROUGH THAT HE'S THE ARCHITECT OF THE ORDINANCE.
BUT IN TERMS OF THE WAY THE ORDINANCE YOUR CURRENT PROPOSED ORDINANCE READS AT YOUR SEAT . YEAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE RICHARD'S ON THE PHONE, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THROUGH THIS ORDINANCE.
HEY, RICHARD. UM, SO IT SAYS AN ORDINANCE ABOLISHING THE SCHOOL BOARD SELECTION COMMISSION, REPEALING PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED PROVISIONS AS TO THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD SELECTION COMMISSION AND ESTABLISHING ELECTIONS FOR THE SCHOOL SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
WHEREAS SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY A SCHOOL BOARD SELECTION COMMITTEE, WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 8TH, 2022, THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY APPROVED A REFERENDUM, CHANGING THE METHOD BY WHICH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE SELECTED.
WHEREAS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR THIS AMENDMENT IS SECTION 22.1-57.3 AND 24.2 [INAUDIBLE] 304.6 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA 1950 AS AMENDED.
NOW, THEREFORE, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA, DOES HEREBY AMEND CHAPTER 19 OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY CODE AS FOLLOWS TO PROVIDE FOR ELECTIONS FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
CHAPTER 19 SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS.
ARTICLE ONE SCHOOL BOARD SELECTION COMMISSION ABOLISHED REPEAL OF PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED PROVISIONS AS TO THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD SELECTION COMMISSION. ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.
ALL PROVISIONS HERETOFORE ADOPTED BY THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PERTAINING TO THE CREATION AND FUNCTION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD SELECTION COMMISSION ARE HEREBY REPEALED.
THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD SELECTION COMMISSION IS ABOLISHED AS OF DECEMBER 31ST OF 2023, AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SHALL BE HEREAFTER SELECTED BY POPULAR VOTE OF THE DULY QUALIFIED SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY VOTERS.
SECTION TWO THE SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICTS HERETOFORE CREATED IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT ARE HEREBY ABOLISHED, AND ANY ORDINANCE CREATING SUCH SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICTS SHALL BE AND HEREBY IS REPEALED.
THE SCHOOL BOARD SHALL CONSIST OF NINE MEMBERS.
ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHALL BE ELECTED FROM EACH OF THE FIVE ELECTION DISTRICTS CREATED BY SECTION 5-12 AND 4 SHALL BE ELECTED AT LARGE FROM THE COUNTY.
A ONE MEMBER REPRESENTING THE FORMER FRANKLIN DISTRICT WITH A TERM ENDING JUNE 30TH OF 2023.
B ONE MEMBER REPRESENTING THE FORMER BERLIN-IVOR DISTRICT WITH A TERM ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2023.
C ONE MEMBER REPRESENTING THE FORMER DREWRYVILLE DISTRICT WITH A TERM ENDING JUNE 30TH, 24.
D THE SEAT OF THE MEMBER REPRESENTING THE FORMER CAPRON DISTRICT IS VACANT.
THE TERM FOR A REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS DISTRICT ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024.
E ONE MEMBER APPOINTED AT LARGE WITH A TERM ENDING JUNE 30TH, 25.
F ONE MEMBER REPRESENTING THE FORMER NEWSOMS DISTRICT WITH A TERM ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2025 .
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G ONE MEMBER REPRESENTING THE FORMER BOYKINS DISTRICT WITH A TERM ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2026, ONE MEMBER REPRESENTING THE FORMER JERUSALEM DISTRICT WITH A TERM ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2026, AND ONE MEMBER APPOINTED AT LARGE WITH A TERM ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2026.SIX SECTION 4 OF THE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE IN OFFICE AT THE TIME OF THE REFERENDUM APPROVING THE CHANGE SHALL CONTINUE IN OFFICE FOR THE BALANCE OF EACH MEMBER'S RESPECTIVE TERM, EXCEPT THAT EACH TERM SHALL EXPIRE ON JUNE 31ST, IMMEDIATELY SUBSEQUENT TO THE JUNE 30TH EXPIRATION DATE OF THE APPOINTED TERM.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
EACH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHALL BE ELECTED FOR A FOUR YEAR TERM WITH THE ELECTIONS TO BE STAGGERED AS SET OUT HERE IN SECTION SIX IN THE EVENT OF A VACANCY AMONG THE ELECTED MEMBERS, WHETHER BY REASON OF DEATH, DISABILITY, DISQUALIFICATION OR RESIGNATION, THE SEAT WILL RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT MEMBER AT THE NEXT ENSUING GENERAL ELECTION UNLESS THE VACANCY OCCURS WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.
AND IN THAT EVENT, THE ELECTION TO FILL THE VACANT SEAT SHALL BE HELD AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING ABOVE TO THE CONTRARY, IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH VIRGINIA CODE 22.1-57.3 AND 24.2-30.6. WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPOSITION AND SIZE OF THE INITIAL SCHOOL BOARD AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT EACH CURRENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHALL COMPLETE THEIR TERMS OF OFFICE.
A NOVEMBER 2023 GENERAL ELECTION.
B NOVEMBER 20TH, 24 GENERAL ELECTION.
ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHALL BE ELECTED AT LARGE.
AT LARGE ONE FROM THE COUNTY FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS.
C NOVEMBER 2025 GENERAL ELECTION.
ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHALL BE ELECTED AT LARGE.
AT LARGE TWO FROM THE COUNTY FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS.
TWO ONE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER SHALL BE ELECTED AT LARGE.
AT LARGE THREE FROM THE COUNTY FOR A TERM OF FOUR YEARS.
D NOVEMBER OF 2026 GENERAL ELECTION.
SO I KNOW THAT'S A LENGTHY ORDINANCE AND A LITTLE BIT HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF, BUT I'LL LET RICHARD TACKLE ANY QUESTIONS OR EXPLAIN FURTHER ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. RAILY? I HAD ONE COMMENT ON SECTION FOUR.
I DON'T KNOW. IN CASE THOSE THAT DIDN'T HAVE A PRINTED DOCUMENT IN SECTION FOUR ON PAGE TWO.
WHERE IT READS EACH MEMBERS RESPECTIVE TERM, EXCEPT THAT EACH TERM SHALL EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31ST.
BRIAN, YOU SAID JUNE IN THERE SO.
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OKAY.OKAY. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. RAILY? DOES MR. RAILY HAVE ANY. WAS THAT A QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, SIR.
AND WHAT WAS THE QUESTION? DO YOU MIND REPEATING IT? WE DON'T HAVE ONE.
OKAY. CAN YOU TALK INTO YOUR MIC SO HE CAN HEAR YOU BETTER? THANK YOU. ON THE ORDINANCE DEGREE WE RECEIVED IN SECTION FIVE, IT LISTED THE WAY THAT THEY ARE THAT THEY WILL BE ELECTED ON NOVEMBER 27TH.
OKAY. THIS ORDINANCE DOES MAINTAIN THAT AND IT KEEPS THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION CONSISTENT WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ELECTION, DOESN'T IT? THAT'S CORRECT. [INAUDIBLE] THE PART THAT YOU REFER TO ABOUT THE 2/27 ELECTION OR THE 2/29 THAT WAS THAT SEEMED TO BE OUT OF PLACE AND IT WAS CAUSING A LOT OF CONFUSION WITH FOLKS [INAUDIBLE]. SO I JUST TOOK IT OUT.
I THINK THE BETTER WAY IS, IS LIKE I'VE SET IT UP AND SHOWED WHERE WE WERE GOING TO BE SINCE 2000 UNTIL 2016, I MEAN, 26 AND THEN FROM THERE FORTH, IT'LL BE EASY.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY IN THE ROOM HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. RAILY? WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT IT COVERED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION AMONG THE BOARD? I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN.
25TH. YES. THAT'LL BE THE PUBLIC ADVERTISED.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. OPPOSED? NO. UNANIMOUS.
OKAY. THIS GOES FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
THE ADVERTISEMENT PUBLIC HEARING.
AND WE WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON 4/25 TUESDAY, OUR REGULAR MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK, RICHARD.
WELL, AT TIMES IT'S BEEN A LABOR OF LOVE, AND AT TIMES IT'S BEEN A LABOR OF FRUSTRATION.
IT'S NOT IT HASN'T BEEN AS EASY AS IT MAY APPEAR BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY MOVING PARTS.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED 24 YEAR BUDGET, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR ADMINISTRATOR, MR. BRIAN THROWER. YES, THIS IS THE FUN TIME OF YEAR BUDGET SEASON, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR.
YEAH, THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT.
THIS IS ONE OF SEVERAL BUDGET WORK SESSIONS.
SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TONIGHT IS JUST GIVE YOU A BROAD OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO JUST THANK OUR STAFF, LYNETTE LOWE, OUR DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR HELPING PUT PUT THIS BUDGET TOGETHER AND OUR STAFF AND THE OFFICE, CHRISTIE'S AND THE AUDIENCE AND TINA AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR HELPING US PUT THIS BUDGET TOGETHER.
YOU'VE GOT YOUR BUDGET BOOK IN FRONT OF YOU.
UM, THAT KIND OF GETS INTO TO THE DETAIL, BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS JUST GO THROUGH A I'LL PUT TOGETHER A WRITTEN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET BACK IN A FEW PAGES, BACK IN YOUR, IN YOUR BOOK, MAYBE ON PAGE SHOULD BE THE SEVENTH PAGE IN YOUR BUDGET BOOK THAT JUST OUTLINES THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
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SO I'LL KIND OF GO OVER THAT.AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT COME TO MIND LATER, LYNNETTE AND I ARE HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU, MEET WITH YOU, ANSWER QUESTIONS BETWEEN NOW AND NEXT WEDNESDAY.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET STANDS AT $89,218,208, AND THE EXPENDITURE TOTALS BROKEN OUT BY FUND ARE AS FOLLOWS.
THE THE GENERAL FUND AT $22,725,089, OUR ENTERPRISE FUND, WHICH IS WATER AND SEWER AT $6,673,290.
THE BUILDING FUND $17,355,769.
THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUND, WHICH IS SOCIAL SERVICES $3,014,779.
THE SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES FUND $1,545,430 AND THE SCHOOL FUND AT $37,903,851. THE GENERAL FUND LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND BY ITSELF, THE PROPOSED FY 24 GENERAL FUND BUDGET OPERATING EXPENDITURES, AGAIN TOTAL $22,725,089, THE TOTAL OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, INCLUDING ALL TRANSFER OUTS TO OTHER FUNDS, IF YOU INCLUDE ALL THE TRANSFER OUTS, THAT COMES TO $40,427,746.
TO MAKE THE BUDGET BALANCE, WE'VE PROPOSED THE FOLLOWING INCREASES IN REVENUE PERSONAL PROPERTY GENERAL FROM 460 PER 100 TO 480 PER 100 PERSONAL PROPERTY MOBILE HOME IS 89 PER 100 TO 93 PER 100. PERSONAL PROPERTY PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION 460 PER 100 TO 480 PER 100.
PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR MACHINERY SLASH SINGLE PRODUCT AT 115 PER 100 TO 125, $1.25 PER 100.
REAL PROPERTY GENERAL AT 89 PER $100 TO $0.93 PER HUNDRED AND REAL PROPERTY PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION AT $0.89 PER 100 TO 93 PER 100.
AND AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE WAS PREVIOUSLY SET AT $5 IN THE FY 22 BUDGET.
I DON'T SEE AMY HERE, BUT PER THE COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE AND SHE CAN PROVIDE SOME CLARITY ON THIS AT A LATER, I BELIEVE SHE'S GOING TO ATTEND THE APRIL 25TH REGULAR MEETING. SO SHE CAN.
UNLESS YOU ALL WANT HER TO COME EARLIER, SHE CAN COME TO A BUDGET WORK SESSION IF THAT'S PREFERRED.
BUT SHE SHE'S SAYING THAT SOME VEHICLE VALUES ARE STARTING TO DECREASE WHILE OTHERS ARE CONTINUING TO HOLD STEADY OR INCREASE. THEREFORE, THE ACTUAL AMOUNT THAT WILL BE PAID BY EACH TAXPAYER IN FY 24 WILL DIFFER BY VEHICLE CLASS.
AN ADDITIONAL $0.20 ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 4.3%.
AN ADDITIONAL $0.04 ON THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 4.5%.
ON THE EXPENSE SIDE, NEW PERSONNEL RELATED ITEMS IN THE PROPOSED 24 BUDGET INCLUDE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT COLA, INCREASE FOR EMPLOYEES AT 7%.
SO I BELIEVE WHAT YOU ALL DID LAST YEAR WAS MATCHED WITH THE STATE PUT IN AND WE'VE INCLUDED THAT IN THE BUDGET AT THAT 7% LEVEL AS OF RIGHT NOW.
EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION, RECOGNITION AND WELLNESS, $25,000 SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
BUT 25 IS ALLOCATED FOR EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION, RECOGNITION AND WELLNESS.
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INCLUDING SOCIAL SERVICES.SO I PLUGGED IN A PRETTY SMALL AMOUNT OF $4,000 FOR SUPERVISORY TRAINING, SHARED SERVICES POSITION, A SHARED POSITION WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THAT WOULD BE AN EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR AT $75,000.
I CAN GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER AS WELL.
BUT THAT'S ONE THING THAT THE COUNTY IS LACKING HAVING A TRUE EMERGENCY SERVICES FUNCTION .
SO WE'VE INCLUDED AN ESTIMATE OF AROUND $35,000 IN SALARY FOR THAT POSITION.
THERE WAS A STUDY DONE YEARS AGO WHEN THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED COUNTY WIDE.
SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED.
THOSE POSITIONS IN OUR CURRENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT SALARY STUDY AND NOT REAP THE BENEFITS OF THAT THOSE INCREASES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND THAT COMES TO NOT EVEN $20,000 TOTAL FOR THAT.
AND WE DID GET A MODEST IT COULD BE A LOT WORSE, AS YOU KNOW, BUT WE DID GET A VERY SMALL HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE OF UNDER 3% OVERALL AT 2.7 9%. A COUPLE OF OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE IN THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET, GATEWAY SIGNS, MANY, IF NOT MOST LOCALITIES HAVE GATEWAY SIGNS AT YOUR ENTRANCES ON MAJOR CORRIDORS LIKE 58 AND WHATNOT.
THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE ANY NICE GATEWAY SIGNAGE.
SO I THINK THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF HAD PREVIOUSLY ASKED FOR THAT IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
SO TO TRY TO PHASE THAT IN, I'VE INCLUDED $20,000 TO PUT GATEWAY SIGNAGE OUT AT OUR CORRIDORS.
THE [INAUDIBLE] TIPPING FEES HAVE MODESTLY GONE UP AT $2 PER [INAUDIBLE].
SO WE'VE INCLUDED AN ADDITIONAL $20,000 IN THE BUDGET FOR THAT.
SO THE COUNTY IS NOT IMMUNE TO INFLATIONARY PRESSURES THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS EXPERIENCING.
SO THAT'S INTERTWINED THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET AS WELL.
OUR ENTERPRISE FUND IS SUBSIDIZED BY THE GENERAL FUND.
AND ALL THESE FUNDS KIND OF BLEND TOGETHER, BUT THAT THE ENTERPRISE WATER AND SEWER FUND EXPENDITURES TOTALED $6,673,290. THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES $2 INCREASE TO ALL THE WATER AND SEWER RATES AS OUTLINED BELOW FOR WATER, THE MONTHLY RESIDENTIAL BASE RATE OF 4,000 GALLONS OR LESS, THE CURRENT RATE IS $29.
THE PROPOSED RATE WOULD GO TO $31.
THE MONTHLY RATE PER 1,000 GALLONS FOR ALL THE GALLONS USED.
OVER 4,000 GALLONS WOULD INCREASE FROM $7 TO $9.
THE SEWER REVENUES SAME PREMISE RESIDENTIAL RATE FOR EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN 4,000 GALLONS WOULD BE $37, AND THE PROPOSAL WOULD TAKE IT TO $39.
AND THE PROPOSED WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASES ARE ESTIMATED TO BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL $67,000 IN REVENUE TO HELP OFFSET OUR EXPENDITURES.
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LOCALITIES AND YOU'LL SEE THIS GOING FORWARD, YOU SHOULD BE BUILDING IN AT LEAST 2 OR 3% INCREASES EVERY YEAR TO JUST KEEP UP WITH INFLATION UNDER NORMAL TIMES, BUT ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE THIS TREMENDOUS INFLATION AS WE'VE ALL BEEN EXPERIENCING.SO IN THE WATER AND SEWER FUNDS, THE MAIN ITEMS, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, ARE CONTINUATION OF THE ARPA FUNDED PROJECTS, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, AND THAT'S THE EDGEHILL INFILTRATION AND INFLOW PROJECT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
AND THE BOYKIN SEWER MAIN PROJECT, THOSE BOTH TOTAL $2,362,590.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE ALL EXPERIENCING THE GENERAL OPERATING INCREASES DUE TO INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.
THE BUILDING FUND HERE AT THE COUNTY THAT TOTALS $17,355,769 THAT FUND PRIMARILY INCLUDES REVENUES AND EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH THE COURTHOUSE PROJECT, THE RADIO SYSTEM PROJECT, FIRE AND RESCUE CAPITAL PROJECTS SLASH CARRYOVER FUNDS AND ALSO INCLUDES JUST UNDER GENERAL BUILDING AND VEHICLE EXPENSES, A LOT OF EXISTING, A LOT OF EXISTING DEBT FOR PROJECTS THAT'S BUILT INTO THAT FUND.
THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUND AGAIN, THAT'S YOUR SOCIAL SERVICES.
ONLY ABOUT 15% COMES FROM LOCAL FUNDS.
SCHOOL SERVICE, SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE FUND.
THAT FUND TOTALS $1,545,430, AND THAT'S LEVEL FUNDING PER THE CURRENT YEAR'S ADOPTED BUDGET.
NO CHANGE THERE FROM THE CURRENT YEAR.
AND THE SCHOOL FUND, THE PROPOSED FY 24 SCHOOL FUND EXPENDITURES TOTAL $37,903,851. AND THIS INCLUDES LOCAL FUNDING OF $12,704,194 FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS.
AND THAT'S LEVEL LOCAL OPERATIONAL FUNDING FROM THE CURRENT YEAR FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS.
SO NO INCREASES ON SCHOOL OPERATING FUNDS.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS YOU ARE AWARE, DID REQUEST $15,885,665 IN LOCAL FUNDING.
SO WHAT STAFF HAS PUT TOGETHER BEHIND THAT PAGE, YOU DO HAVE A SUMMARY OF THOSE EXPENSES BY REVENUE AND IN REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
THE PAGE AFTER THAT, YOU DO HAVE BY CATEGORY PROJECTED REVENUES BY REVENUE SOURCE.
AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES.
THE PROJECTED REVENUE FOR GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES IS ABOUT $26.3 MILLION, WHICH IS 4.34% CHANGE INCREASE.
OTHER LOCAL TAXES, THE PROJECTION IS A LITTLE OVER $2.4 MILLION.
THAT'S PROJECTED AT A LITTLE OVER 11% INCREASE.
PERMIT FEES AND LICENSES PROJECTING $227,375.
THE NUMBERS ARE SMALLER, SO THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES AND DECREASES WILL BE MORE FLUCTUATION.
BUT THAT'S ABOUT 38.5% CHANGE.
FINES AND FORFEITURES PROJECTED AT $546,600.
INTEREST CHARGES, YOU CAN SEE THAT DIP DOWN A LITTLE BIT TO $9,000.
CHARGES FOR SERVICE, THAT'S AROUND THE SAME DIP DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM LAST YEAR, BUT $1.878 MILLION, THAT'S ABOUT A HALF A PERCENT DECREASE.
THE TRANSFER FROM THE MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE THAT WENT UP A TAD TO $1,119,418.
TRANSFER FROM THE YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT'S A GOOD FIGURE THERE.
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THAT'S A LITTLE OVER ABOUT A 1.6% CHANGE FROM THE CURRENT YEAR.OTHER COUNTY SOURCES DIDN'T CHANGE US $190,000.
ENTERPRISE FUND AT $1.487 MILLION.
THAT'S A LITTLE OVER A 9% INCREASE.
THAT'S WHY THAT NUMBER IS GOING UP DRAMATICALLY TO $15,663,000.
SO THAT'S WHY THAT INCREASES SO MUCH, REVENUE FROM THE COMMONWEALTH.
THAT DIPPED DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT'S PROJECTED AT $32,879,789 FOR A DECREASE OF ABOUT 1.3%. REVENUE FROM FEDERAL SOURCES EDGED UP TO ABOUT $5.2 MILLION, UP FROM ABOUT $2.9 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE GRAPH THERE OF THE REVENUES, LOCAL MONEY IS ALMOST RIGHT AT ABOUT 50%, 49.5% AT $35,512,327 STATE.
IT'S ABOUT $46.4 COMING IN ABOUT $33,313,866 IN FEDERAL AT $2.9, A LITTLE OVER $2.9 MILLION AT 4.11%.
THE PROJECTED EXPENDITURES, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THOSE LISTED OUT BY CATEGORY.
GENERAL AND FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION PROJECTED OUT AT $3.6 MILLION.
PUBLIC SAFETY ABOUT $11.6 MILLION.
PUBLIC WORKS RIGHT UNDER $2.5 MILLION.
HEALTH AND WELFARE ABOUT $1.4 PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURE ABOUT $308,000.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RIGHT AT ABOUT $622,000.
NON-DEPARTMENTAL ABOUT $65,000.
AGAIN, THE SCHOOL FUND A LITTLE UNDER $38 MILLION AT [INAUDIBLE] THE SCHOOL FUND, AGAIN, A LITTLE OVER $1.5 MILLION.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FUND A LITTLE OVER $3 MILLION.
AND ENTERPRISE FUND AROUND $6.6-6.7 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S BROKEN OUT IN YOUR PIE CHART.
55.2% OF THAT IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SCHOOLS.
THE GENERAL FUND AT 28.9 AND SOCIAL SERVICES AT 4%.
AND AGAIN, ON THE NEXT PAGE, YOU CAN SEE THE PROPOSED TAX TAX LEVIES AND FEES.
AS I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY FOR REAL ESTATE, PERSONAL PROPERTY AND WATER AND SEWER.
THE NEXT PAGE AFTER THAT TALKS ABOUT THE EQUIVALENT OF THE EFFECT OF $0.01 OF REVENUE FOR YOUR MAJOR TAX LEVIES, INCLUDING REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.
IF YOU SEE REAL ESTATE THAT GIVES YOU $0.01 IS EQUIVALENT TO A LITTLE OVER $163,000.
SO YOU'VE GOT SOME FIGURES THERE.
JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, WE DO HAVE A COPY OF YOUR BUDGET CALENDAR.
SO TONIGHT IS THE INITIAL BUDGET WORK SESSION.
YOU DO HAVE THE NEXT MEETING ON APRIL 12TH.
BUDGET WORK SESSIONS, PRESENTATIONS BY SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS.
SCHOOL SYSTEM IS PLANNED TO BE HERE AND 1 OR 2 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND ANYBODY ELSE YOU WOULD REQUEST THAT ATTEND. YOU DO HAVE A BUDGET WORK SESSION AGAIN ON APRIL 19TH.
ANOTHER ONE ON APRIL 20TH OR YOUR 20TH APRIL 25TH SESSION IS YOUR REGULAR MEETING SESSION WHERE YOU WOULD FINALIZE THE DRAFT BUDGET AND AUTHORIZE THE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THEN ON APRIL 28TH, WE WOULD SUBMIT THE POTENTIAL BUDGET TO THE TIDEWATER NEWS FOR PUBLICATION.
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REQUIRED LEGALLY PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND MAY 23RD.HOPEFULLY YOU WOULD ADOPT YOUR 24 BUDGET AND TAX RATES.
AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. ON THAT THE YOU GOT YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS IN THERE AND THEN THAT'S WHEN YOU AFTER THOSE PAGES, YOU GET INTO YOUR SPECIFIC DETAILED LINE ITEMS BY DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
I'LL BE GLAD, LYNETTE AND I WILL TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
AND LIKE I SAID, WE'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THOSE.
IF YOU WANT TO COME IN, WE'LL MEET WITH YOU, CALL IN WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO.
SO CAN WE CAN WE TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU? ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO.
ALL RIGHT NOW. I HAD A QUESTION, BRIAN, ON PAGE 12.
I KNOW IT'S JUST ME FAILING TO UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT IN THE BUILDING FUND WE SAID THAT WE HAD AN INCREASE OF $14,617,473 IN THE BUILDING FUND INCREASE BUILDING FUND IS ONLY 3.8%.
SO I'M NOT I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING SOMETHING THERE.
I NEED TO CHECK THOSE BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT THAT AND ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE TOO.
YES, I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE FISCAL YEAR 23 PIE CHART.
WE'LL GET THAT FIXED BY YOUR NEXT MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR CATCHING THAT UP TOP IN THE TABLE.
THOSE PERCENTAGE CHANGES ARE CORRECT.
ALL THE ONES UP TOP ARE CORRECT.
OKAY. THE SHARED EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR POSITION WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN $75,000 IS SET ASIDE FOR THAT POSITION IS ONE THAT OUR PERCENTAGE OF THAT POSITION.
THAT'S YES, THAT'S THAT'S A SPLIT POSITION.
AND TWO, IS THAT SALARY AND BENEFITS.
THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT QUESTION, SO I DID ASK THE FRANKLIN STAFF TO PROVIDE DETAIL ON THAT, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
SO WHAT MR. FRANCIS SENT BACK ON THAT? I'VE BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FRANKLIN CITY MANAGER AND HIM ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD POTENTIALLY WORK AND HOW WE CAN COME UP WITH A MUTUAL SHARED POSITION ON THIS, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A CURRENT, A CURRENT STRUCTURED FUNCTION WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES.
SO THAT INCLUDES, ACCORDING TO MR. FRANCIS, THE ADMINISTRATOR, SALARY WITH BENEFITS THAT HE COMES IN AT $10,218.
AND I BELIEVE HE SAID THAT WOULD ACCOUNT FOR SOME INCREASE ON HIS SIDE FOR ASSUMING MORE DUTIES.
THE MAJOR THE MOST OF THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH AN ANNUAL 50% THAT SPLITTING THAT POSITION SALARY WITH BENEFITS AT $48,554 AND THE CITY IS AGAIN PROVIDING THE OTHER 50% AND A YEARLY OPERATING EXPENSES THAT ARE SPLIT 50/50 AT $16,228.
WE JUST I JUST RAN THE NUMBERS ON UM, I SAT IN ON AN INTERVIEW FOR SUSSEX COUNTY AND SUSSEX COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR POSITION ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO, AND THEY JUST HIRED THAT PERSON AT $90,000.
SO IF YOU TAKE $90,000 AND ADD IN FRINGES BENEFITS, THAT COMES TO ALMOST ABOUT $132,000.
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SO TO ME THAT SEEMS LIKE A WIN WIN THAT WE CAN SPLIT THAT POSITION.THE CITY OF FRANKLIN ALREADY PROVIDES, YOU KNOW, BACKUP.
UM, AMBULANCE SERVICES FOR US THAT WE CONTRACT WITH THEM FOR THAT SERVICE.
AS Y'ALL, AS Y'ALL. I'M SURE SOME OF Y'ALL KNOW OUR SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS, ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, THEY HAVE A FULL TIME EMERGENCY SERVICES OR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR I BELIEVE WILL OUR OWN [INAUDIBLE] OWN RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY, SUSSEX COUNTY HAS A FULL TIME AGAIN FULL TIME POSITION.
SURREY COUNTY HAS A FULL TIME POSITION.
MOST LOCALITIES DO HAVE A DEDICATED FULL TIME POSITION FOR THIS PURPOSE.
SO I THINK WE WE'RE ABLE TO ESTABLISH A MORE FORMAL POSITION.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, SINCE WE DO SHARE SO MANY SERVICES WITH THE CITY, HAVE THAT AS A POSITION, A FUNCTION GOING FORWARD THAT I FEEL MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITH.
SO THAT'S GOING TO COMPLETELY SERVE OUR NEW RADIO PROGRAM, HIRE SOMEBODY ELSE FOR THAT.
SO THE RADIO PART IS A LITTLE IT THE RADIO PART IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW.
AS YOU'RE ALL AWARE, WE HAVE THE FORMER SHERIFF WHO HAS A MAINTENANCE CONTRACT WITH THE COUNTY.
SO PART OF THAT IS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE ON THAT GOING FORWARD AS OF JULY 1ST.
SO THE OTHER PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON THAT IS SEEING, POTENTIALLY IF THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE STAFF THAN WE DO HERE AND THEY THEY HAVE MORE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN THESE AREAS THAN WE DO COULD PROVIDE THAT FUNCTION OUTSIDE OF THE $75,000, HOPEFULLY FOR AROUND THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE CURRENTLY PAY THE FORMER SHERIFF, ERNIE FRANCIS.
SO THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITION TO HOPEFULLY FOR I'M STILL AWAITING AN ANSWER FROM THE FRANKLIN CITY MANAGER ON WHETHER THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY AND EXPERTISE TO TO MAINTAIN OUR SYSTEM.
BUT TO ANSWER THAT GOING FORWARD WITH THE NEW SYSTEM, THE WAY WE ENVISION THAT WORKING WHEN THE NEW SYSTEM IS UP AND RUNNING, YOU KNOW, IN 2 OR 3 YEARS, HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOMEBODY.
AND THEN WHAT YOU DO IS HAVE A SERVICE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT WITH WHOEVER YOU PICK, LIKE A MOTOROLA OR A HARRIS TO DO THE MORE TECHNICAL, IN-DEPTH MAINTENANCE.
BUT IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW, YOU DO STILL HAVE THAT EXISTING $21,000 THAT WE CURRENTLY PAY FOR RADIO MAINTENANCE IN THE BUDGET THAT WE CAN UTILIZE ELSEWHERE FOR THAT SAME PURPOSE.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, FOLKS? I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU KNOW, I'M SOMEBODY THAT DEALT WITH RADIOS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE UNDERCUTTING OURSELVES RIGHT HERE.
BUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ATTRACT.
MAYBE WE NEED TO LEASE SUSSEX.
YOU SAID IT WAS, WHAT, $90? SO THE OTHER LOCALITIES I'M TALKING ABOUT, USUALLY THE.
PLACES I'M USED TO THAT I'VE WORKED FOR AND THAT I KNOW ABOUT.
THEY USUALLY HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF PERSON IN THEIR STAFF.
THAT IS THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR.
SO NORMALLY UNDER STATE CODE, YOU'VE GOT TO YOU'VE GOT TO YOU'VE GOT TO DESIGNATE WHO THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR IS.
USUALLY THAT'S THE COUNTY OR CITY MANAGER.
[00:45:07]
SO IN AN EFFORT TO NOT TALKING ABOUT DOING THAT HERE, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT.WE'RE NOT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW SHARING A POSITION WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN TO, ONE, FILL THAT NEED AND TWO ON THE OTHER SIDE AND SAVE SOME MONEY.
AS I SAID, IF YOU IF YOU HIRE SOMEBODY AT $90,000 WITH BENEFITS, YOU'RE TALKING $130,000.
AND YOU'VE GOT A GOOD EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN THAT KNOWS ALL THE VOLUNTEER AGENCIES, KNOWS THE PERSONNEL HERE, AND I THINK WOULD INTERACT WELL WITH OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK I THINK THIS PROPOSAL POTENTIALLY IS A WIN WIN WIN FOR EVERYBODY.
BUT YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND MORE MONEY, MORE THAN LIKELY.
BUT IN THIS THE CONSULTANT THAT ROLLED OUT A SCENARIO.
WHAT A COUPLE OF THAT LAST MEETING, I THINK.
WE DON'T KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THAT YET.
WITH REGARD TO MAINTAINING A SYSTEM.
RIGHT. AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE.
THEY HAD A HUGE NUMBER UP THERE.
THAT'S RIGHT. AND THAT THAT'S SEPARATE FROM CAN IT BE MAINTAINED OUTSIDE OF THE COMPANY THAT'S AWARDED THE CONTRACT? LIKE JOHN DEERE JUST DID? YEAH. WITH THAT EQUIPMENT, I CAN SAY WHAT NORMALLY OCCURS THEY AND THEY CTA RECOMMENDS IT IS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR POSITION.
NOW THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT, THE COMMUNICATIONS.
BUT AT $21,000, THAT WAS PART OF RADIO THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES.
AND THAT CURRENT PERSON WE HAVE UNDER CONTRACT IS LEAVING.
SO THE ONLY THE BEST SCENARIO I KNOW TO GIVE YOU RIGHT NOW IS TO THAT'S WHY I WENT TO THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE TECHNICAL STAFF THAT CAN DO THIS IS TO ASK THEM ONE, DO THEY ARE THEY COMFORTABLE ENOUGH WITH OUR SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN IT? AND TWO, WHAT THE COST WOULD BE.
SO I'M STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE FRANKLIN STAFF ON THAT.
BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE THAT'S MY PLAN UNTIL THE NEW RADIO SYSTEM IS UP AND RUNNING.
AND THEN ONCE THE NEW RADIO SYSTEM IS UP AND RUNNING, IN MY MIND, WE WOULD HAVE A SIMILAR TYPE ARRANGEMENT BECAUSE YOU STILL NEED SOMEBODY TO DO THE DAY TO DAY MAINTENANCE OF OUR JOINT SYSTEM.
IT'LL BE A JOINT SYSTEM AND THE CITY OF FRANKLIN HAS THE EXPERTISE AND STAFF TO DO THAT.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN ANSWERED ON THE JOINT SYSTEM.
YEAH. AND THAT'S THAT'S THE WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS PUTTING OUR CONSULTANTS ARE PUTTING BID SPECS TOGETHER TO BID THAT PROJECT OUT. SO THE MAIN ISSUES, WHAT WE REALLY HAVE GOING FORWARD ARE WHAT THE WHAT THE BIDS TWO WAYS. MEANING.
THE SHARED SYSTEM MAY BE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT WE NEED TO JUST COVER THE COUNTY.
YEAH. WELL THE PLAN IS TO GO FORWARD ON A SHARED.
A SHARED JOINT SYSTEM [INAUDIBLE].
[00:50:09]
THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY PRESENTED AT THE MEETING.A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO TO GO FORWARD ON A SHARED JOINT SYSTEM AS PRESENTED.
SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW.
WELL, IF MY MEMORY WAS RIGHT, THAT WAS A HUGE RANGE.
AND WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE LOAD WOULD BE.
ONCE YOU CHOOSE SOMEBODY, WHAT THE NEGOTIATED COST WOULD BE.
SO YEAH, THAT'S A BIG PROJECT COST AND THAT IT'S A LOT OF FLUCTUATION IN THESE PROJECTS.
SO LIKE THE NUMBER OF TOWERS, CORRECT THAT BUT WHAT THEY GAVE YOU IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR A JOINT, A JOINT SYSTEM. BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS THIS EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR.
BUT I'VE GOT TO BE INTERFACE WITH THE NEW SYSTEM.
WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT WAS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
YEAH, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ALL ARRIVED AT THE INITIAL FIGURE.
SO ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS WHAT THEY'VE THE COST ESTIMATES THEY PROVIDED GOING FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY WE GET SOME GOOD BIDS AND WE CAN NEGOTIATE DOWN.
WELL, ARE THEY COMING BACK WITH A BREAKDOWN BEFORE WE MOVE TO BID? UH, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
WE'VE GONE FORWARD ON A CONCEPT OF A JOINT SYSTEM.
THEY'RE PREPARING BID SPECS NOW, AND WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS THAT HERE AFTER THEY.
BUT I THOUGHT WE WERE KIND OF ON A SET PATH OF MOVING FORWARD AS BECAUSE THEY PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF FRANKLIN THE NIGHT BEFORE, PRESENTED TO YOU ALL, AND WE WERE MOVING FORWARD ON A JOINT PROJECT.
BUT IN TERMS OF THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, ALL WE'VE DONE IS REALLOCATE THE MONEY, THE BOND PROCEEDS THAT YOU ALL PREVIOUSLY DID A BOND ISSUE FOR SO. WELL, ONE OF THE I GUESS THE STICKING POINT FOR ME.
THE MAINTENANCE PLAN OF WHAT THE CONSULTANT HAD UP THERE WAS HUGE.
AND JOHN DEERE JUST CAME OUT WITH THE, YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS.
THEY WOULDN'T LET OTHER PEOPLE WORK ON THEIR EQUIPMENT.
MY QUESTION IS, ARE THEY ARE WE STUCK WITH THAT OR IS IT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH THIS? SO I DON'T THINK WE'RE A LOT MORE ECONOMICAL.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE STUCK WITH THAT.
THEY'RE JUST GIVING YOU THEIR PROFESSIONAL OPINION.
CTA DOES THESE STUDIES AND THEY PROBABLY THE PREEMINENT CONSULTANT IN THIS IN VIRGINIA, IF NOT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, BUT THEY DO A LOT OF WORK WITH LOCALITIES, SO THEY KNOW HOW THIS WORKS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND THEY, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THEY KNOW MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS SPACE THAN I DO.
AND APPARENTLY THAT'S THE WAY MOST OF THESE PROJECTS WORK IN OTHER LOCALITIES WHERE YOU HAVE A WHOEVER YOU CHOOSE TO PROVIDE THE EQUIPMENT AND INSTALL IT, ALSO HAVE A YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE YOU, LIKE MOST ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT, YOU WOULD HAVE A MAINTENANCE SERVICE CONTRACT WITH WHOEVER PROVIDES THAT SERVICE.
I AGREE. AND MAYBE SOME OTHER OPTIONS CAN BE LOOKED INTO.
THE OPTIONS WERE TWO OR THREE TIMES, TWICE, THREE, FOUR TIMES BIGGER THAN THE INITIAL SYSTEM COST AND PERHAPS SOME OF THAT I'M SURE SOME OF THAT COULD PROBABLY BE NEGOTIATED.
YOU KNOW, ALSO AND THERE WERE THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF THINGS IN THAT THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT NEED FOR OUR BASIC SERVICE. SO THAT'S I GUESS WE CAN DEAL WITH THAT AT A LATER TIME.
BUT. WHEN THEY COME BACK WITH A PRICE YOU CAN.
GIVE US A LET US KNOW WHAT IT IS, RIGHT? OH, YEAH, OF COURSE. OPTIONS ARE.
YEAH, WELL, THEY WERE HERE BEFORE AND THEY'RE PRETTY UP AT $7 MILLION $4 MILLION? OKAY, THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST.
LIKE, DO YOU NEED IT? LUMPS IN THE DO YOU NEED IT AT ALL THESE AGENCIES OR DO YOU JUST NEED IT WITH.
[00:55:06]
SINCE WE I MEAN, WE WE SHARE IN THESE WE SHARE IN THESE COSTS.NOW, WHAT THE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE IS HOW YOU DETERMINE WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE SHARE IS WHAT.
AND I THINK THEY OUTLINED SOME WAYS TO DO THAT.
SO THAT'S AN MOU WITH THE CITY ON HOW COST ARE SPLIT IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED, BUT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THE PHILOSOPHICAL PREMISE OF A JOINT SYSTEM AS THE CONSULTANTS PRESENTED.
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? I THINK IT MAY BE OUR BEST INTEREST TO HAVE THEM COME BACK AND GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN.
I AGREE. I THINK THERE ARE ENOUGH QUESTIONS.
YEAH, I WAS KIND OF STUNNED WHEN I SAW THAT FIRST ARRAY UP THERE.
YEAH. UM, I JUST WANT TO GIVE INPUT ONE MORE TIME THAN I WAS A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER FOR 30 YEARS.
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR 35 YEARS.
AND THE FIREFIGHTERS ARE THERE.
THAT'S THAT'S WHAT THEY DO, THEY WORK FOR US.
THEY WORK FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE, WORK FOR YOU OR WHATEVER IT IS.
YEAH, I SAW AN EXAMPLE WHEN I WAS IN NOTTOWAY COUNTY.
THEY DIDN'T OPERATE AN EOC, ANY OF THOSE FUNCTIONS.
AND IT WAS IT WAS AWFUL TO WATCH.
YEAH. SO YOU CAN SAY THE EMERGENCY IS NEVER COMING, BUT IT'S COMING AT SOME POINT AND YOU NEED SOMEBODY TO BE PREPARED TO HELP THE LOCALITY BE PREPARED.
IS THIS JOB DESCRIPTION GOING TO MIRROR THAT OF AN EMERGENCY MANAGER? BECAUSE IN MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT JOB DESCRIPTIONS THE EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR AND AN EMERGENCY MANAGER.
TWO DISTINCT AND DIFFERENT ROLES.
EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR RUNNING THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.
THIS WOULD BE THE COORDINATOR, THAT KIND OF THING, OR AN EMERGENCY MANAGER MANAGING MORE THE THE EOC, THE EMERGENCIES AS THEY ARISE WITH HURRICANES AND TORNADOES AND FLOODS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AS YOU'RE AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE EITHER THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR OR CITY MANAGER OR THE BOARD CHAIR IS TECHNICALLY THE EMERGENCY SERVICES DIRECTOR AND THEN THERE'S AN EMERGENCY SERVICE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR THAT BASICALLY DOES THE DAY TO DAY OF THAT.
BUT THIS THIS WOULD BE MORE OF THE COORDINATOR POSITION THIS IS NOT A PLATFORM, I WOULD THINK, BECAUSE WITH THE SHARED SERVICES, WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN HAVING A CITY MANAGER AND A FIRE CHIEF, IF YOU WILL, YOU KNOW, HE'S ASSUMED MANY OF THOSE ROLES THERE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO SHARE THIS SERVICE, HE'S ALREADY ASSUMED THEM.
IF WE'RE GOING TO SHARE THIS ROLE, WHO DOES THIS PERSON WORK FOR? HE DOESN'T WORK FOR THE FIRE CHIEF, YOU KNOW, DOES HE WORK FOR YOU OR DOES HE WORK FOR AMANDA? SO, YEAH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL THESE DYNAMICS AND THAT HE WOULD STILL BE THIS POSITION WILL STILL BE A CITY EMPLOYEE.
YEAH, WE WOULD HAVE AN MOU OR CONTRACT WITH THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, WE PAY X ANNUALLY.
THEY WILL STILL BE A CITY EMPLOYEE.
BUT I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH AMANDA AND VERN PERSONALLY ABOUT THIS.
WE'VE WE'VE WORKED OUT SOME OF THESE.
IT'S NOT ON PAPER YET, BUT WE'VE TALKED IN DEPTH ABOUT A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS.
SO WE WOULD HAVE IN AN AGREEMENT, WHICH I DON'T HAVE YET, BUT I'VE GOT YOU.
I'VE GOT TO ASK YOU ALL TO APPROVE THIS FIRST.
BUT WHEN AN AGREEMENT COMES, WE WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, EXPECTATIONS SET UP.
IT WOULD BE STATED THAT THIS WAS A CITY POSITION.
[01:00:08]
OUR OWN POSITION.BUT I REALLY THINK THIS IS THE BEST, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD WITH THE PEOPLE INVOLVED SAVING MONEY, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF PAYING $132,000-$140,000, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE PAYING ALMOST HALF THE COST FOR A FOR A POSITION.
BUT IF YOU ALL IF YOU ALL YOU KNOW, THE ALTERNATIVE IS I MEAN, THE ALTERNATIVE THERE ARE TWO ALTERNATIVES DO NOTHING AND CONTINUE AS AS WE HAVE BEEN, WHICH I DON'T RECOMMEND OR DON'T DO THIS AND ESTABLISH OUR OWN POSITION THAT'S, YOU KNOW, REPORTABLE TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, WHICH WILL COST MORE MONEY.
SO. I THINK THIS IS A BLEND BEST OF BOTH WORLDS WHERE WE HAVE FUNCTION AND SAVE A LITTLE MONEY TOO.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, RIGHT? A SHARED EMERGENCY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR.
DOES THAT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE COST WE WERE TALKING ABOUT? THOSE ARE REALLY TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.
RIGHT. OKAY. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT A SHARED COORDINATOR, BUT IT'S TIED TO THE RADIO SYSTEM IN A BIGGER WAY.
NOT SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS, BUT THE SOMEBODY'S GOT TO DO THE DAY TO DAY, JUST LIKE WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITH THE FORMER SHERIFF HERE UNDER CONTRACT THAT THAT CONTRACT OVERSEES DOES THE DAY TO DAY RADIO MAINTENANCE OF OUR EXISTING SYSTEM SO THAT CONTRACT IS ANY THAT PERSON IS LEAVING AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
SO WE STILL NEED FROM JULY 1ST.
UNTIL WHEN THE NEW SYSTEM IS IMPLEMENTED.
WE STILL NEED SOMEBODY TO OVERSEE OUR SYSTEM HERE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT OPTIONS NOW.
AND LIKE I SAID, ONE OPTION IS I GUESS THE PREFERRED OPTION.
IF THE CITY OF FRANKLIN CAN DO IT, IF THEY CAN MAINTAIN OUR EQUIPMENT, HOPEFULLY PAY THEM AROUND THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE CURRENTLY PAY OUR EXISTING PERSON THAT MAINTAINS OUR SYSTEM NOW.
SO YES, THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES, BUT THEY ARE SOMEWHAT INTERTWINED.
NOT RIGHT NOW, BUT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.
IN THE POSITION WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING INTO FULL TIME POSITION IN THE COMMISSIONER REVENUES OFFICE ARE THE ONLY TWO NEW . IT WOULD WE PUT IN THERE FOR HALF YEAR BEGINNING JANUARY 1ST OF 2024 OF A BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS SUPERVISOR. UM, A FEW YEARS AGO THAT POSITION WAS ABSORBED INTO ANOTHER.
UM, BUT IT HAS COME THE TIME WITH THE COURTHOUSE COMING ON, COMING ONLINE THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED.
THAT'S WHY I STARTED MID-YEAR.
AND I HAVE TO AGREE WITH LYNETTE ON THAT.
THAT'S ANOTHER GLARING POSITION THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS WITH ALL THESE FACILITIES.
THANK YOU, LYNETTE. IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, WE LOOK AT THE PIE CHART ON PAGE 12 OF THE BREAKDOWN SCHOOLS AND BUILDING FUND WATER, SEWER.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS UNDER GENERAL FUND, ISN'T THAT CORRECT? THERE'S NO EASY WAY TO BREAK IT OUT OF THAT, IS IT? I CAN DO THAT. I JUST IT'S ALWAYS.
THEY'RE USUALLY TWO OF YOUR BIGGEST EXPENDITURES.
I KNOW THE PUBLIC LIKES TO SEE WHERE THAT MONEY IS SPENT.
WHERE THE SCHOOL MONEY IS SPENT, WHERE THE PUBLIC SAFETY MONEY IS SPENT.
AND I KNOW IF THEY PICK THIS UP AND LOOK AT IT, THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THEIR USUALLY IS ONE OF THEIR BIGGEST QUESTIONS IS TO WHERE IS MY POLICE, FIRE AND RESCUE MONEY AT? AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT.
SO IF YOU LOOK UP IN THE TOP, I KNOW YOU CAN'T SEE IT IN THE PIE CHART.
I SEE IT UP AT THE TOP, BUT IT'S NOT AS PRETTY AS WHERE YOU ALL HAVE IT DOWN THERE AT THE BOTTOM.
WE CAN BREAK ALL THOSE OUT LIKE IT IS IN THE TOP SECTION BY PUBLIC SAFETY.
YEAH. WE COULD ACTUALLY TAKE THE GENERAL FUND AND BREAK OUT ALL THE PIECES.
[01:05:06]
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.ANY OTHER BURNING QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE]? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S SEE NEXT MEETING WILL BE A WEEK FROM TONIGHT, 6:30.
THAT'S CORRECT. 6:30 NEXT WEDNESDAY, WESTERN TIDEWATER FREE CLINIC WILL BE HERE, I BELIEVE.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CARL HECK, SCHOOL SYSTEM.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO REACH OUT TO AND SPECIFICALLY REQUEST THEY BE HERE? SEEING NONE YEAH. THEY WANT TO GIVE US SOME MONEY.
IF NOT, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE EXHAUSTED THE MEETING TONIGHT.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
AYE. OKAY. SEE EVERYBODY NEXT WEDNESDAY AT 6:30.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.