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ALL RIGHT. WE WILL CALL THIS BUDGET MEETING APRIL 29TH TO ORDER.
AND LET'S START WITH THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHICH STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE WILL ALLOW YOU TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
AND BEFORE WE GET INTO THE BUDGET.
DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD AND ADDRESS ANY PART OF THE BUDGET.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO FIVE MINUTES OR LESS IF YOU CAN.
MY NAME IS WARREN SIMMONS AND I LIVE AT 27511 SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY IN COURTLAND.
THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF WHAT I'VE GOT IS AN UP TO DATE THING.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN SINCE WE'VE BEEN BUILDING THE COURTHOUSE.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING COURT AT THE OLD HONESDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY ISSUES.
AND OF COURSE, THE REASON WE'VE SPENT $25 MILLION IS FOR SECURITY TO MAKE SURE THE JUDGES ARE SAFE TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE, SAFE TO THE PRISONERS, OR KEPT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, I WONDER.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO THE QUARTER TO START WITH? BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN MAKING DO WITH A MAKESHIFT COURTHOUSE.
BUT ANYWAY, I'M LOOKING AT THE BUDGET HAS BEEN PROPOSED, AND OF COURSE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING, BUT I'M THE TWO THINGS I NOTICED WAS.
AND THE SHERIFF MIGHT TELL US THE BAILIFF, HE GOT A $200,000 INCREASE, AND I THOUGHT HE WAS KIND OF KEPT QUIET SECURITY HIMSELF. BUT THEN COURTHOUSE SECURITY HAS GONE FROM 211 TO 264.
AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT GOING FROM HOLLANDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO A BRAND NEW FACILITY DESIGNED FOR SECURITY, THAT EXPENSES WOULD GO DOWN, NOT UP.
SO THAT'S JUST THAT'S ONE THING I'VE I'VE LOOKED AT IT.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY CATEGORY AND JUDICIAL HAS, HAS GONE UP AND I AND LIKE I SAY I DON'T I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT ALL BUT IT JUST THAT WAS ONE THING THAT JUST SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT IT.
WHY DOES SECURITY COST MORE WHEN WE SPENT $25 MILLION TO BE MORE SECURE? THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? JAMIE LEE AND I LIVE AT TWO NINE 206 FLAGGY RUN ROAD IN COURTLAND.
AND DOCTOR EDWARDS IS MY SUPERVISOR.
AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I REALLY HAVE ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I BROUGHT UP LAST WEEK, BUT I'LL JUST HIT A COUPLE OF THOSE HIGHLIGHTS AGAIN. JUST HOPING THAT THEY STICK, I GUESS.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO PLEAD.
I CAN'T SEE TO PLEASE PUT THE NEW RADIO SYSTEM ON HOLD UNTIL.
I MEAN, I'VE HEARD AND THAT'S, OF COURSE, I GUESS RUMOR AGAIN, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY SEEN IT MYSELF, BUT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL PEOPLE OF SOME OF THE COSTS THAT ARE IN THAT NEW RADIO SYSTEM.
AND I THINK IT'S KIND OF HIGH AND RIDICULOUS, TO BE HONEST.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE TOOK TIME TO GO AND TALK TO MAYBE THE TOWER PEOPLE AND THE RADIO PEOPLE AND THE GENERATOR PEOPLE, I KNOW ON THE FARM, WE BUY QUITE A FEW GENERATORS FROM HENRICO OVER HERE IN WINDSOR.
SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT WE COULD DISSECT IT AND COME UP WITH A MUCH CHEAPER THAN $9 MILLION RADIO SYSTEM. AND AFTER THIS 25, $24 MILLION COURTHOUSE.
BOY, I SURE HATE TO SEE ANOTHER $9 MILLION ANYTHING.
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ALSO LIKE TO ASK THAT Y'ALL WOULD LOOK AT CUTTING EACH DEPARTMENT 5 TO 10% FROM FROM LAST YEAR'S NOT NORMAL.NOT LIKE NORMAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETS GO NOT NOT THE 5 TO 10% THAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR FOR THIS YEAR, BUT 5 TO 10% FROM WHAT THEY GOT LAST YEAR.
A REAL CUT LIKE THE REST OF US HAVE TO DO.
I'D ALSO ASK THAT NO NEW POSITIONS BE FILLED.
I KNOW THAT MR. THROWER HAD SOME NEW POSITIONS THAT WERE IN THE THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
AND I THINK WITH THE CURRENT SITUATION WE DON'T NEED ANY NEW POSITIONS.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO COLLECT THE.
I BELIEVE IT WAS SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO $4.5 MILLION IN DELINQUENT TAXES THAT ARE ALREADY OWED BEFORE WE PUT AN ADDITIONAL TAX ON THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY PAYING THEIR TAXES. AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME.
THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? HONOR GUARD IN 19311 ROSEMONT.
DOTTIE EDWARDS IS MY SUPERVISOR.
I WAS JUST NOTICING ON YOUR BUDGET WORK SESSION BY MISS DAVENPORT AND COMPANY.
YOU'RE TAKING SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT THEY HAD IN THAT BOOK.
I DID LOOK AT THE SUMMARY IN THAT DAVENPORT BOOK.
IT SAID OUR REASSESSMENT SHOULD ONLY GO UP 25 TO 30%.
AND I HAD A MEETING WITH AMY LAST WEEK AND IT IS 68%.
SO WE ARE PAYING THEM TO DO A JOB THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW YOU CAN PICK OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO USE OUT OF THEIR BOOK, BUT IT DIDN'T REFLECT OUR REASSESSMENT BECAUSE THAT IS 68% AVERAGE.
THINKING BACK ON SOME PRIOR BOARDS BEFORE YOUR TIME.
AND TO FIND A JOB FOR THEM, WE PICKED SOME OF THE WORKLOAD OFF OF 3 OR 4 PEOPLE AND APPLIED IT TO ONE PERSON, AND THAT WAS DONE SEVERAL PEOPLE.
SO I WONDER, DO WE NEED TO GO TO OTHER DIRECTION? DO WE NEED TO MAYBE ASK SOMEBODY TO DO AN EARLY RETIREMENT, OR LET SOMEBODY GO AND TAKE SOME OF THEIR WORKLOAD AND DISTRIBUTE IT OVER 3 OR 4 PEOPLE? I KNOW THAT'S HARSH, BUT IT'S HARSH OUT HERE WITH THE WHEN YOU RIDE OVER THIS COUNTY, THIS IS A POOR COUNTY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO FAR TO SEE A LOT OF ROUGH LOOKING HOUSES.
AND WE'RE NOT FILTHY RICH IN THIS COUNTY, SO WE JUST NEED TO FACE REALITY AND CUT.
AND I KNOW IT'S A HARD THING TO DO, BUT WE'RE IN AN ECONOMIC SITUATION NOW THAT WE NEED TO DO IT.
SO I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME YOU SPENT.
ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE DISCUSSION.
I GUESS EVERYBODY HAS A AGENDA OUT THERE IS AVAILABLE.
THE STORY YOU WANT TO START OUT? YES. BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING IT OUT TONIGHT.
LYNETTE HAD A FAMILY EMERGENCY COME UP, BUT SHE SHOULD BE HERE HOPEFULLY AT ANY TIME NOW.
SO YOUR PACKET HERE YOU DO HAVE THE LIST OF THE REVISIONS YOU MADE THUS FAR TO THE BUDGET HERE ON YOUR SECOND PAGE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THE RECOMMENDED REVENUE CHANGES AS THE LAST STANDS, DECREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE TO $0.79 PER 100.
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TAX RATE TO $0.79 PER HUNDRED.AND AS WE REVIEWED AT THE LAST MEETING, THE YOUR EXPENDITURE CHANGES THUS FAR.
WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDY AT 50,000.
THAT WAS YOU ASKED TO TAKE THAT OUT.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SITE STUDY AT $120,000.
YOU ASKED TO TAKE THAT OUT? TAKE OUT THE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN AT $100,000.
THE CAREER AND TECH EDUCATION.
THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY CONSULTING.
THAT WAS JUST SEED MONEY FOR IF YOU HAD AN IDEA OF WHAT, SINCE YOU DISCUSSED THAT SO HEAVILY AT THE PLANNING SESSION A FEW MONTHS AGO, IF YOU WANTED TO DO ANYTHING WITH CAREER AND TECH EDUCATION, THAT WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
WE HAD PUT IN THE BUDGET TO START FORMING SOME IDEAS AROUND SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY FAIR PROJECTS $2,000.
YOU DID INCREASE THE AS THEY CAME TO THE LAST MEETING, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER BUDGET TO GIVE THEM $10,000 AS THEY HAD REQUESTED CONSULTING, FINANCIAL SERVICES.
THE HUMAN RESOURCES AND RISK MANAGEMENT SLASH SAFETY POSITION.
THAT'S SALARY, BENEFITS AND EVERYTHING.
$157,798. THE HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS BONUS DECREASE OF $23,000 TO GIVE ALL THE EMPLOYEES $100 BONUS FOR CHRISTMAS.
DECREASE THE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION RECOGNITION LINE ITEM.
UMMS. THAT'S $25,000 DECREASE.
OFFICE SUPPLIES DECREASED 3000.
BOARD OF ASSESSOR'S OFFICE SUPPLIES DECREASED 3000.
TREASURER'S POSTAL SERVICES DECREASED 5000.
SIGN ON BONUS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT 62,500.
SHERIFF LAW ENFORCEMENT HOSPITAL PLAN, 14,00169.
SHERIFF DETENTION HOSPITAL PLAN, 5812.
HOSPITAL PLAN, 10,000 DECREASE THE RADIO MAINTENANCE CONTRACT 273,000.
DECREASE OF THREE NEW POSITIONS HALF A YEAR FUNDING AT 169,608 806, SORRY.
YOU INCREASE THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND AT 90,000 AND DECREASE SCHOOL FUNDING, 411,000.
$261,000, FOR A TOTAL OF TOTAL DECREASE OF EXPENDITURES OF $1,495,396. SO THAT'S WHERE IT STANDS THERE.
AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN WE TALKED TO DAVENPORT AND COMPANY LAST WEEK ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL DEBT NEEDED FOR THE RADIO PROJECT UP TO THAT $2.5 MILLION, THE THEY SUGGESTED WE PUT IN A PENNY OR TWO IN DEBT SERVICE FOR THAT PROJECT AND THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR.
SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, ONE PENNY IS $216,710.
TWO PENNIES WOULD BE $433,420.
AND WE'RE ESTIMATING WE'LL NEED AN ADDITIONAL $119,000 TO PAY THE INCREASED COST OF POWER AT THE NEW COURTHOUSE WITH ALL THE ADDED COST FOR THAT PROJECT AND POWER NEEDED.
NOT RECOMMENDED, BUT YOU COULD CONSIDER.
AND THESE ARE PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.
BIGGEST THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF THE COUNTY BUDGET IS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO THEREFORE YOU COULD GET OBVIOUSLY, WHATEVER YOU WOULD DECIDE TO CUT.
ADDITIONALLY, YOU COULD CUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OPERATING MONEY.
YOU COULD CUT OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND CIVIC GROUPS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY.
YOU COULD CUT OUT ENTERPRISE WATER AND SEWER.
WE DID INCLUDE MONEY IN THERE.
THE COUNTY DOES NOT CURRENTLY.
MAINTAIN ON ANY CONSISTENT BASIS THROUGH A OUTSIDE COMPANY THAT MANY OTHER LOCALITIES DO.
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WITH A MAINTENANCE, WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE A MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR OUR WATER TANKS, WHICH IS A BEST PRACTICE.SO IF YOU DID NOT WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT, THAT'S $90,000 THAT WE COULD REDUCE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE TRANSFER MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO OUR ENTERPRISE FUND, WATER AND SEWER FUND.
SO THAT'S POTENTIALLY $90,000 YOU COULD CUT OUT THERE.
AND AGAIN, WE WOULDN'T HAVE OUR WATER TANKS BEING MAINTAINED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU COULD CUT.
PLANNING. WE PUT IN $15,000 FOR GATEWAY SIGNS.
YOU COULD TAKE THAT $15,000 OUT.
AND PLANNING DID OFFER AND INSPECTIONS DID OFFER UP SOME SMALL.
YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR ATTACHED SHEET THERE SOME SMALL ITEMS THAT WE COULD PARE BACK THAT ADD UP TO ABOUT $6,200 AND ADVERTISING, POSTAL SERVICES, OFFICE SUPPLIES, ETC..
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU GOT.
WE ARE ASKING AGAIN, SINCE WE'VE HAD TO PUSH EVERYTHING BACK BASICALLY A WEEK NOW THAT YOU WOULD AUTHORIZE ADVERTISING YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET AND CONDUCTING A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MAY 21ST AT 6 P.M.
AND ALSO AUTHORIZING ADVERTISING A PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY INCREASE NOTICE AND CONDUCTING THAT PUBLIC HEARING ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 28TH AT 6 P.M. AND ALSO APPROVING THE NEW BUDGET DATES THAT YOU HAVE ATTACHED HERE TO YOUR AGENDA.
THAT'S WHERE IT'S YOUR BUDGET STANDS NOW.
JUST GIVE MY COMMENTS ON THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, THE REASSESSMENT, I HAD MY DRUTHERS.
I THINK IT'S MORE A CRIME THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
THE CRIME. THE RIDICULOUS IN THIS DAY AND AGE TO INCREASE THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S JUST, LIVIN'S HARD OUT THERE.
AND PROBABLY 15 TO 20% OF THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY CAN PAY IT AND DON'T LIKE IT.
BUT THERE ARE 75 TO 80% OF THESE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T PAY IT.
AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, STILL, SOME PLACES OPERATES ON THE MAJORITY.
SO. I'VE LOOKED AT THIS AND THOUGHT ABOUT IT A LOT AND.
I THINK WE CAN CUT BACK THE REAL ESTATE TO 74.
AND MY THINKING ON THAT IS TAKE THAT AND RUN WITH IT.
AND IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT, THEN I WON'T VOTE FOR IT.
WE GOT OTHER THINGS WE CAN TAKE OUT.
I MIGHT POINT OUT SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT'S BEEN A COMMENT. AND YOU KNOW, I GOT TO RUB SOME PEOPLE THE WRONG WAY.
I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GETTING 14% MORE THIS YEAR FROM THE STATE.
CHRIS, WHAT IS THAT FIGURE THAT THE SCHOOLS AGAIN STATE AND FEDERAL.
DR. EDWARDS HIT ON THE HEAD WITH THE STATE FUNDED IN ABOUT 10% INCREASE? HOW MUCH? $3,276,626, INCREASE FROM THE STATE, 9.97% INCREASE IN STATE FUNDING. AND I WANT LYNETTE TO CLARIFY.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO SIT DOWN AS FAR AS THE FEDERAL INCREASE, BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT MUDDY IN OUR BUDGET SHEET HERE AS FAR AS WHAT THE FEDERAL INCREASE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE BEEN.
BUT I WANT TO BE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR.
BUT IT IS CLEAR AND THE STATE INCREASE AT 9.97%, $3,276,626 IN NEW REVENUES FROM THE STATE AND THE STATE, WHEN THEY GAVE THEM ALL THAT EXTRA MONEY, SAID THAT IT WAS TO LESSEN THE BURDEN ON THE LOCALITIES.
THAT WAS THE INTENT OF THE NEW MONIES.
THE OTHER THING, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
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SO I DON'T SEE WHY THAT MONEY CAN'T BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.NOW SOMEBODY SAID, THAT'S GRANT MONEY AND YOU CAN'T USE IT ON BUILDINGS.
THEN HOW CAN YOU REMODEL THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING? I THINK WHEN THEY SEND OUT A GRANT THAT THEY SAID YOU COULDN'T USE IT FOR A SALARY, YOU CAN USE IT FOR A BUILDING BECAUSE A BUILDING IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S ON GOING, BUT A SALARY IS ONGOING AND THE GRANT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ONGOING.
SO THEY CAN REMODEL ONE BUILDING AND NOT ANOTHER.
I MEAN THEY CAN CHOOSE WHICH BUILDING THEY..
WHAT I KNOW ABOUT IT. I READ IT IN THE PAPER AND I THOUGHT I READ EITHER/OR IN THAT ARTICLE.
I COULD BE WRONG. I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND..
THEY COULD RENOVATE CAPRON ELEMENTARY OR AN ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING AND USE THAT MONEY FOR RENOVATION RATHER THAN NEW CONSTRUCTION, BUT I, HAVE YOU SEEN THE GRANT LYNETTE? AM I SO ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE GRANT FOR THE FOR THE WELLNESS CENTER? YES. OKAY. NO, I HAVE NOT SEEN THE GRANT.
BUT I KNOW THAT WHEN MISS LORRAINE GREEN WHITEHEAD WAS HERE, SHE SAID SHE SPECIFICALLY WROTE THAT GRANT FOR THAT PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS IS WHAT SHE SAID.
SO THE ARPA GRANT THAT THEY'RE USING TO BUILD THE WELLNESS CENTER AND TO DO SOME UPGRADES TO THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE? YES, TO THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE WAS NOT PART OF FUNDS THAT WERE AUTOMATICALLY GIVEN, YOU KNOW, HOW THERE WAS A TIME WHERE ALL LOCALITIES AND ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS JUST RECEIVED MONEY FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES? SHE SAID THAT SHE WROTE THIS GRANT SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT FOR THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BUILDING AND THE WELLNESS CENTER.
WELL, DIDN'T THEY RENOVATE THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, PUT UP PANELING AND CARPET? THAT'S NOT REALLY CONSIDERED.
I MEAN, PUTTING IN CARPET IS NOT CONSIDERED REMODELING.
I'M GOING TO GUESS I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE PANELING WAS PUT IN, BUT IF THERE WERE WALLS THAT.
WELL, IF THEY START THIS PROJECT I ASSUME THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE IT WITHOUT COMING HERE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
YES. WE ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO GIVE THEM MONEY FOR IT.
IT IS A GRANT. I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
IT IS A GRANT THEY APPLIED FOR.
IN TOTALITY, IT WAS NOT A GRANT THAT REQUIRED BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVAL.
DID IT REQUIRE A LOCAL MATCH? NO, MA'AM. I WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE RADIO SYSTEM. NOW, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
I GUESS HE'S NOT HERE, BUT I THINK HE MET WITH MR. PRESTON AND MAYBE HIS SUPERVISOR TODAY IN A MEETING TO SEE IF THERE COULD BE SAVINGS IN THAT RADIO PROJECT.
I DON'T THINK THIS BOARD KNOWS WHAT THE RADIO, THE FINAL NUMBER IS GOING TO BE ON THE RADIO PROJECT BECAUSE THERE'S ROOM TO LOWER SOME PRICES, AS I UNDERSTAND THINGS.
THEY FROM GREG VICK, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING INTO.
SO I HAD ASKED VERNON TO GO OVER THERE IF HE WOULD, AND HE SAID HE WOULD.
NOW, WHETHER MR. VICK WENT WITH HIM OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW, BUT HOPEFULLY TWO OF THE COMMITTEE WOULD.
THE ROLLOUT THAT WE HAD SHARED WITH US, THE POWERPOINT WAS BACK IN MARCH, I THINK IT WAS OUR MEETING WHEN IT CAME TO THE OVERALL $4.2 MILLION FOR MAINTENANCE.
I THINK IT WAS SAID THAT THE COMPANY THAT HAD SUBMITTED THAT PRICE.
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WAS NOT ABLE TO REALLY BE COMPETITIVE IN THAT AREA.SO THEY COMMITTED WAS OUT TO LOOK TO REDUCE PRICES.
WE'RE NOT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT NUMBER TO BUDGET OR WHAT NUMBER TO PLAN ON.
IF THERE IS ONE, I'D LIKE TO HEAR IT, BUT I DON'T.
I DON'T THINK I DON'T SEE ANYBODY FROM FIRE AND RESCUE.
I KNOW THE SHERIFF WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE, BUT IF I'M WRONG, SOMEBODY TELL ME.
BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT NUMBER HAS NOT BEEN SET.
SO THAT CAUSES ME TO WONDER WHAT DO WE PUT IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR FOR THE RADIO PROJECT FOR.
WHAT WAS IT, $4.2 MILLION AT THIS BUDGET? THIS COMMITTEE WAS PLANNING ON WAS A NUMBER THAT WAS SET FOUR YEARS AGO.
AS A ESTIMATED COST AND IS DOUBLE THAT WITH THE POWERPOINT THAT THEY SHOWED US.
BUT THEY. NOBODY'S TOLD US WHAT? THAT WHAT THAT PRICE IS GOING TO BE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU PUT IT IN THE BUDGET.
CORRECT ME OR TELL ME SOMETHING HERE BECAUSE WHERE EXACTLY IS WHERE IS IT LISTED IN THE BUDGET? ARE YOU LOOKING THAT UP NOW? SO JUST TO GENERALLY ANSWER THE COMMENT OR QUESTION AS YOU KNOW, DAVENPORT IS LOOKING AT WE NEED SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF 2 TO $2.5 MILLION MORE FOR OUR PORTION OF THE PROJECT.
AND FROM WHAT I'M AWARE OF, GREG AND BERNIE ARE TALKING TO THESE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK WINDSOR SO THERE'S THE COMMITTEE HADN'T EVEN REALLY WE HADN'T EVEN SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH JVC KENWOOD AT THIS TIME.
AND FURTHERMORE, THE CITY OF FRANKLIN IS THE PROCUREMENT AGENT FOR THIS PROJECT.
BUT LET'S SAY, HYPOTHETICALLY, WHOEVER IS CHEAPER THAN THE PRICE FOR THESE GENERATORS, THEN WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN KENWOOD'S, JVC, KENWOOD.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, JVC KENWOOD COULD BE THE BEST OVERALL OFFER.
WE THE COMMITTEE PULLED THAT OUT INITIALLY TO SEE IF WE COULD, WITH THE THOUGHT WE MAY BE ABLE TO SAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY BY PULLING THE GENERATORS OUT FROM HAVING JVC INCLUDE THAT IN THEIR PROPOSAL.
THE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN COST IS SO SMALL THIS THIS BOARD FOR BUDGET PURPOSES, THAT'S A PRETTY SMALL LITTLE PIECE TO TRY TO BE FIGURING OUT THE EXACT PORTION WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN KIND OF WHOLE NUMBERS NOW.
THE DIFFERENCE IN COST OVER 50.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A VERY SMALL LITTLE BIT OF BIT OF MONEY.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN WHOLE NUMBERS.
THAT'S WHY THEY TOLD US TO GO IN AND STICK IN.
THEY RECOMMEND 2 OR 1 TO $0.02 AND DEBT SERVICE OR EQUIVALENT TO OWN A PENNY AT THIS TIME.
THE COMMITTEE HADN'T SOLIDIFIED ANYTHING ON THE GENERATOR.
SO WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THAT.
THAT'S NO REASON NOT TO APPROVE A BUDGET JUST BECAUSE THE RADIO PROJECT IS NOT FINALIZED.
WELL, MY QUESTION IS, MR. THROWER, HOW WHAT DEPTH IS THE COMMITTEE LOOKING INTO IT? ARE THEY LOOKING INTO REEVALUATE THE THE QUOTES THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN OR HOW FAR INTO IT ARE THEY LOOKING TO REDUCE THE POSSIBLE COST? THAT'S MY QUESTION.
AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY COME HERE TO EXPLAIN TO THE BOARD IN THIS AND I AGREE WITH THE PUBLIC THAT IN THIS CLIMATE, WE NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE CAN SAVE.
THAT'S THAT'S IT'S STILL AN EXTREMELY BIG NUMBER FROM WHAT WE ANTICIPATED IT WOULD BE.
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SO THE TIMELINE WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THIS.SO THE COMMITTEE HAS A CHANCE TO GO BACK AND REEVALUATE THE QUOTES THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN TO POSSIBLY SAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY THAN WE ARE THINKING THEY CAN SAVE.
THE TIMELINE IS THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS PROJECT FOR 2 OR 3 YEARS NOW, AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH A FORMAL PROCESS TO GET WE GOT THREE PROPOSALS TO THE FIRM WE CHOSE.
THE ONLY FACTOR WAS A LOT OF MORE FACTORS BUILT INTO IT, BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SYSTEM THIS IMPORTANT AND THIS BIG OF A PROJECT, YOU DON'T ONLY LOOK AT COST, BUT THEY DID END UP BEING THE LOWEST COST OF THE THREE.
AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
WE'RE FINALIZING SOME OF THE OPTIONS NOW.
I SHOULD BE SIGNING OFF ON THE CONTRACT HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.
WE JUST GOT THE FINAL MOU FOR BOTH CITY AND COUNTY ATTORNEYS TO BE REVIEWING THAT.
I'LL BE SIGNING OFF ON HERE SHORTLY.
AND THEN I'M SURE THE COMMITTEE, AS THEY'VE ALREADY STARTED TALKING TO THIS GENERATOR PERSON THAT YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN WINDSOR, THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT, I'M SURE, THAT PERSON AND GETTING ESTIMATES FROM THAT PERSON, UNLESS IT'S ON A STATE CONTRACT OR WHETHER IT'S INCLUDED IN THE JVC KENWOOD PROPOSAL THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SEPARATE BID PROCESS FOR THAT ANYWAY.
SO, YES, THE COMMITTEE WILL FRANCIS TOLD ME THAT WAS CERTAINLY WAYS TO LOOK AT THESE COST SAVINGS.
AND THERE WERE CERTAINLY IN A BUREAUCRACY, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF WAYS TO, TO WORK AROUND A PROJECT LIKE THIS STATE CODE, COOPERATIVE PROCUREMENT, IF IT'S AN EMERGENCY PURCHASE.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT A QUOTE THROUGH JVC KENWOOD THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THEIR COST.
WHAT'S A MAINTENANCE CONTRACT PER YEAR? I THINK OUR PORTION WAS 300 AND INCLUDING THE INCLUDING THE TOWER LEASES ABOUT 345,000.
AND AS PART OF THE MOU WITH THE CITY.
OU. WELL, BUT THAT THAT PORTION OF THE COST, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IT'S NOT.
WE PULLED THAT OUT OF YOUR THAT'S NOT IN YOUR YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET.
NOW WE PUT WE PULLED THAT COST OUT.
WE TRIED TO BUILD THAT IN THIS YEAR JUST TO BUILD IT IN, BUT WE WE PULLED THAT COST OUT NOW.
WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO EXPLORE SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS.
I KNOW THAT TAKES TIME, BUT I WOULD HATE TO COME BACK AND SAY WHOOPS.
AND MAYBE VERNON CAN CLEAR THAT UP.
HE ADDED I DON'T KNOW IF HE LEFT LYNETTE ANY INFORMATION TODAY.
HE DIDN'T CALL ME BACK, BUT NO, SIR, I THINK HE'S RIGHT.
THERE'S A LOT OF ASPECTS OF THIS WE HAVEN'T EXPLORED.
WE JUST TOOK THE PRESENTATION FOR GRANTED AND HERE IT IS.
THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME UP.
I JUST DON'T THINK WE SHOULD ACCEPT THAT SITUATION.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, THEN DON'T VOTE FOR IT.
I THINK THE REAL ESTATE RATE IS 74 IS REASONABLE.
KEEP THE PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR 70, WHICH IT IS ALREADY, AND DO NOT RAISE THE FARM TAX ON FARMERS WHO ARE OUR MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY.
NOW YOU'VE GOT POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL CUTS THERE.
YOU'LL TAKE IT AND CUT IT TO A SET.
IF YOU CAN'T DO IT, THEN WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND SHOW YOU HOW TO DO IT.
I DEFINITELY DON'T THINK THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX CAN BE LEFT AT WHERE IT IS.
WE CAN'T KEEP INCREASING THIS.
WE'RE CHASING PEOPLE OUT OF THE COUNTY.
THEY'RE TITLING THEIR VEHICLES IN NORTH CAROLINA AND WHEREVER THEY CAN.
IT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE TO LOWER IT DOWN TO 470, THEN GO BACK TO $5.
[00:35:05]
THAT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE.IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAVE DONE THAT FOR MANY.
YOU JUST HAVE TO FIGURE A WAY AROUND IT.
I DID A LITTLE BIT OF FIGURING ON THAT PERSONAL PROPERTY.
IT SAY YOU GOT YOUR VEHICLE'S WORTH $40,000 AT $4.70, YOUR TAX GOING TO BE 1880.
IF YOU RAISE IT TO $5, IT'S GOING TO BE 2000.
SO IT'S GOING TO GO UP 120 BUCKS.
BUT IF YOU KNOW, EVERY PENNY WE REDUCE THE REAL ESTATE MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.
I'M NOT SAYING, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO TAKE IT BACK TO $5, BUT I THINK WE'D BE BETTER OFF TO DO THAT AND CONCENTRATE ON THE REAL ESTATE TAX.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE TIED FOR NUMBER SIX IN THE STATE.
OKAY, LOOK, I KNOW THAT THAT'S OUR CLAIM TO FAME.
SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS TIED FOR NUMBER SIX IN THE STATE.
THEY'RE ONLY 5 OR 6 OTHER OTHER COUNTIES WHO CHARGE MORE FOR US.
I CAN'T SEE GOING BACK TO FIVE.
THAT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE TO EVERYBODY OUT THERE WHO'S BUYING VEHICLES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I AGREE WITH MR. WHITE, BECAUSE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE REAL ESTATE TAX AND THEN YOU CONSIDER PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX, A PENNY IS A LOT MORE ON REAL ESTATE TAX THAN IT IS ON PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.
SO I AGREE WITH.. MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IF WE KEEP THAT AT 470, IT'S GOING TO KNOCK $1.5 MILLION OUT OF GENERAL FUND. THAT'S THAT'S FINE.
THIS BOARD HAS TO HAVE THE GUTS TO SAY WE'VE HAD ENOUGH.
IT'S GOING TO COST ME $500 A MONTH TO LIVE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
WHY SHOULD I DO IT? WELL THE RECOMMENDATION BY DAVENPORT AND THE NOTE THAT INCREASED WHAT DID HE SAY? TWO PENNIES. YEAH.
IF WE TOOK 1 TO 2, I THINK HE SAID PENNIES WOULD BE 433,000.
HE SAID TWO. HE SAID THAT IN GENERAL THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR THAT WE SHOULD PUT THREE PENNIES IN THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND.
IS THAT THE COMMENT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YES. YES, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RADIOS.
OKAY. HE SAID THAT WE HAD TO AT LEAST PUT ONE PENNY UP TO TWO WITHIN THE BUDGET TO PLAN FOR THE RADIO SYSTEM.
I WOULD RATHER YOU PUT IN ONE THAN NONE, BUT YOU MAY NEED TO AT A LATER POINT.
ME TOO. SO THAT LEAVES THE $216,710.
IT STILL HAS THE THREE HALF POSITIONS IN IT, TOO, DOESN'T IT? IT DOES. SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE THE TAXES NEXT YEAR TO FUND THE OTHER HALF OF THOSE THREE POSITIONS.
YES. THAT'S THE DOWNSIDE OF DOING THIS HALF YEAR IF WE FUND THOSE SPOTS.
JUST TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT A LITTLE BIT.
THE I VOTED THE OTHER NIGHT NOT TO RAISE THE.
BUT IN THINKING ABOUT THE CITIZENS.
WELL, LET ME PUT IT IN A MORE PERSONAL WAY.
YEARS AGO, I COULD ADJUST MY BUDGET BASED ON PERSONAL PROPERTY.
EASIER THAN I COULD ON REAL ESTATE.
WITH SAVINGS IN MY PERSONAL BUDGET, SIMPLY BY THE VEHICLE I DROVE.
[00:40:01]
SO BUT I COULDN'T.I DIDN'T HAVE THAT ABILITY WITH THE REAL ESTATE.
SO I WOULD I WOULD RATHER IF WE'RE GOING TO CUT, I'D RATHER SEE THE CUT COME.
ON THE REAL ESTATE AND GO WITH THE ONE PENNY AND INSTEAD OF TWO.
AND AND THAT LEAVES THAT'S A PENNY.
CAN BE APPLIED TO A REDUCTION IN THE REAL ESTATE TAX, I'M THINKING.
RIGHT. WELL, IF I IF CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG ON THAT, BUT THE ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 PENNIES IS NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN YOUR 79 CENT RATE ON YOUR PAGE.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO ADD YOU WOULD HAVE TO ADD ANOTHER PENNY BACK UP TO 80.
THE ADDITIONAL WHAT IF YOU ADD ANOTHER PENNY FOR THE FOR THE RADIO PROJECT, YOU'RE BACK UP TO $0.80 INSTEAD OF $0.79. CHRIS.
THAT TWO PENNIES IS NEW MONEY SINCE LAST WEEK? RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT SIR.
YEAH. I'D LIKE TO KNOW AGAIN WHAT YOU FOUND OUT ABOUT THE FEDERAL AND STATE SCHOOL MONEY.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO ASK ME, CHRIS? AND I'M. EXCUSE ME FOR BEING LATE TODAY.
THANK YOU. HOW MUCH FEDERAL REVENUE DID THE SCHOOL SYSTEM RECEIVE? SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE FEDERAL SCHOOL FEDERAL AID FROM THE SCHOOL, WE WILL BE GETTING IN FISCAL YEAR 25, $1,488,222.
SO I'M WONDERING, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT STATE MONEY THAT WAS COMING IN? CAN YOU SO, SO THAT THAT NUMBER FISCAL YEAR 25 COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR 24, WE HAD 1,423,892 THAT CAME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND THEN IN FISCAL YEAR 23, WE HAD $1,466,955.
SO THAT HAS PRETTY MUCH STAYED THE SAME.
THE STATE MONEY IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
BY ANY CHANCE ARE YOU LOOKING AT.
ARE YOU LOOKING UP THERE? OKAY, I GOT YOU THAT BIG SHEET.
THE FEDERAL IS JUST AS I JUST STATED.
STATE THE BOTTOM LINE 36 156 415 VERSUS THE 32 870 978.
OH, THAT THAT'S YOUR STATE MONEY.
YEAH, THAT'S YOUR STATE MONEY.
SO THE PART THAT IS JUST FOR THE SCHOOLS IN THAT STATE MONEY.
YOU. YOU LOOK AND SEE WHERE IT SAYS SCHOOL AID SCHOOL OPERATING SCHOOL FOOD SALES 20.
SO THAT'S FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WHEREAS FISCAL YEAR 24 WAS $20,312,785.
GOTCHA. SO AT 12.86% INCREASE.
STATE FUNDS? A BIG PIECE OF THAT IS IN THE AT RISK FOUR YEAR OLDS PROGRAM.
BRINGING KIDS INTO SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME.
500. IT'S 531,282 FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.
AND PREVIOUSLY IT WAS 294,000.
YEAH. ANYWAY, YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S THE STATE NUMBER THERE.
[00:45:02]
OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T HAVE A BREAKDOWN AS TO THE DIFFERENT.PROGRAMS THOSE STATE FUNDS WERE GOING TO.
SO WHAT WHAT INCREASE NEW MONEY WILL THE SCHOOL HAVE THIS COMING YEAR FROM THE NEW MONEY FROM THE COUNTY? NO, FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL? STATE AND FEDERAL, 18.5%.
SO DEFINITELY 12.86% INCREASE IN THE SCHOOL OPERATING STATE MONEY.
AND. FOR THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS. IT IS JUST 4.5% INCREASE.
HAVE I ANSWERED YOURS, THOUGH, CHRIS? HAVE I? OKAY. YES, MA'AM.
SO, HAVE WE GOT A NUMBER FOR THE OPERATING FUNDS? IS THAT? WHAT WERE WE CONSIDERING NOW? SO THE NUMBER THAT YOU WERE CONSIDERING FOR LOCAL OPERATING BUDGET AS A CUT. NOW YOUR NUMBER FOR THE CUT WAS 411,000.
WELL, THAT WAS, THAT WAS INCLUDED IN.
YEAH, THAT WAS INCLUDED ON THE, ON THIS OTHER HANDOUT.
WHAT IS THE ADDITIONAL SCHOOL SYSTEM OPERATING FUNDS.
SO AS A POSSIBLE CONSIDERATION FOR CUT THAT I'M LOOKING AT ON PAGE ONE.
BUT I'M LOOKING AT POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL CUTS FOR CONSIDERATION.
YEAH THAT THAT THAT WAS JUST SOME.
SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT I RAN SOME MORE NUMBERS.
SO AS OF FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MISS CARR HAD FINISHED UP HER PART WITH THE LAND USE ADJUSTMENT.
AND SO GOING IN AND UPDATING MY NUMBERS FOR THAT.
AND IF WE WENT TO A $0.76 PER 100 FOR REAL ESTATE, THAT MEANS WE WOULD NEED TO IN THE IN THE BOOK THAT YOU HAVE THAT'S DATED APRIL 23RD, THAT WE WOULD NEED TO FIND A REDUCTION.
AN EXPENDITURES OR INCREASE IN REVENUE OF $451,110.
SO BASICALLY $452,000 THAT WE WOULD NEED TO COME UP WITH TO BRING IT DOWN TO WHAT'S THE NUMBER THAT THE COMMISSIONER GAVE US THAT WAS THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE LAND USE.
YES. SHE FINISHED BUILDING OUT THOSE NUMBERS, BUT THAT'S AN ENTIRE DAY.
THAT WAS AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN ENTERTAIN AT OUR LAST MEETING.
IS THAT CORRECT? WAIT A MINUTE.
NO, NO, I'M ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE RELIEF NUMBERS FOR THE PROGRAM FOR THE LAND USE PROGRAM.
SO SHE FINISHED BUILDING OUT THE VALUES OF LAND USE AND THE ASSOCIATED RELIEF NUMBERS.
AND SO SHE GAVE THOSE TO ME, AND I USE THAT TO UPDATE MY COMPUTATION AND COMING UP WITH POTENTIAL REVENUE NUMBERS, BECAUSE WHEN I CONSIDER THE REVENUE NUMBERS, I'M LOOKING AT REGULAR HOUSES, REGULAR LAND, LAND THAT'S IN AGRICULTURAL LAND THAT'S IN THAT HAS TIMBER. WE'RE ADJUSTING OUT THE RELIEF THAT'S GIVEN FOR LAND USE, THE RELIEF THAT'S GIVEN FOR VETERANS AND THE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE COMING INTO PLAY TO FIGURE THE FINAL REVENUE NUMBER,
[00:50:10]
POTENTIAL REVENUE NUMBER.SO THAT. AM I MAKING SENSE? SO WE CAME, WE DROP IT TO 76, WE GOT TO COME UP WITH 451.
SO THERE IS NO NEW REVENUE BUILT IN TO WHAT YOU HAVE.
I THINK SOMEBODY HAD A QUESTION OF WATER AND SEWER RATES.
WE'VE ALREADY GOT $2 PER RATE CATEGORY BUILT IN NOW EVERY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, ONE EVERY $2 YOU ADD ON, LET'S SAY YOU WANTED TO GO INSTEAD OF $2 IN EACH CATEGORY IN WATER AND SEWER, ANOTHER $2.
EVERY$2 INCREMENT IS ABOUT $66,000.
WHICH WOULD REDUCE PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL FUND TRANSFER TO THE WATER AND SEWER FUND.
CORRECT. SO KEEP THAT NUMBER IN YOUR MIND TO 66,000.
DROPPING THE REAL ESTATE TAX CAN GO TO HELPING YOU GO BUY A TRUCK OR A CAR.
YOU SAY THAT'S GOING TO HELP BY DROPPING THAT.
BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, THIS BOARD HAS GOT TO RUE THE DAY THAT WE GO BACK UP TO FIVE.
I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.
IN FISCAL YEAR 24, WE YOU CAN FIND SOMEWHERE IN THIS BUDGET THAT WE CAN STILL MAINTAIN THAT AT 470, WE PULLED.
1.25 MILLION OUT OF OUR RESERVE ACCOUNT TO GIVE THE TAXPAYERS.
ANOTHER YEAR OF RELIEF FOR PROPERTY TAX.
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY BY NOT CHASING PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA TO TITLE THEIR VEHICLES? I THINK SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TITLE THEIR VEHICLES IN NORTH CAROLINA.
ANYWAY, I'VE BEEN SEEING IT A LONG TIME.
WELL, I THINK IT'S A BIG MISTAKE.
FACT THAT AMY CAME UP WITH DIDN'T MOVE THE NEEDLE AT ALL.
YES, IT MOVED IT DROPPED IT TO $0.76.
RIGHT. SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS EACH $1, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, EACH PENNY.
BEFOREHAND. IN YOUR 79 CENT PROPOSED BUDGET DATED APRIL 23RD, THE VALUE OF $0.01 IN REAL ESTATE WAS $214,048.
AFTER THE ADJUSTMENTS FOR LAND USE TO THE CORRECT WELL TO THE FINAL WORKED OUT NUMBER.
NOW THE VALUE OF A PENNY IS $216,710.
HAVE WE TAKEN EVERYTHING OUT OF THE POSSIBLE CUTS SECTION THAT WE HAVE LISTED THERE, THAT YOU HAVE, THAT YOU HAVE LISTED? WE TOOK OUT FROM THE INITIAL BUDGET, PROPOSED BUDGET DATED APRIL 10TH TO THE BUDGET DATED APRIL 23RD. WE TOOK OUT $1,495,396.
HOW ABOUT THE FARM EQUIPMENT TAX? OKAY. WE STILL GOT A SOCKET TO OUR MAJOR INDUSTRY.
OUR BIGGEST INDUSTRY IN THE COUNTY.
SO, I THINK THEY ADDED THAT BACK TO FIVE.
FARM MACHINERY WENT UP $0.05 PER 100.
KIND OF SYMBOLIC ISN'T IT? WHEN A FARMER SPENDS TWICE WHAT HE DOES IN ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY TO FARM HERE AND WE INCREASE THE TAX.
WHAT ARE WE THINKING? HOW MUCH DOES THAT INCREASE GENERATE? HOW MUCH MONEY? LET ME SEE.
[00:55:03]
YOU KNOW, THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT EASY.AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS WITHOUT SOMEBODY SUFFERING.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO THANK SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
YEAH. I GOT TO COMPARE THOUGH.
ANOTHER THING. I'LL CHANGE GEARS JUST A LITTLE BIT.
I GUESS EVERYBODY'S SEEN THIS, BUT WE HAVE $4.26 MILLION IN DELINQUENT TAXES.
$4,260,000. GIVE TO THEM TO KNOW THAT IN THE PAPER PUBLIC, PUBLIC NOTICE A LITTLE OVER $1,036,000 IN DELINQUENT REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY, $3.2 MILLION.
SEE, THAT'S THE PERSONAL PROPERTY I'M TALKING ABOUT.
YOU KEEP BUMPING IT UP, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GOING TO PAY IT.
$3.2 MILLION PERSONAL PROPERTY NOT BEING PAID.
THAT ALL THE 3.2 MILLION PERSONAL PROPERTY.
CINDY, IS THAT FOR HOW MANY YEARS IS THAT? FIVE YEARS.
OKAY, SO THAT'S HOW MUCH HASN'T BEEN PAID IN THE LAST PAST FIVE YEARS.
THAT'S HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE DELINQUENT OR DIDN'T PAY IT.
WHY ISN'T THAT COLLECTED? IF THEY'LL LET ME? BECAUSE I CAN'T COLLECT IT.
I USE EVERY METHOD THAT THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA GIVES ME TO COLLECT TAXES.
BUT IF PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE A JOB, THEY DON'T HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT.
AND I'VE TALKED TO SOMEBODY ABOUT GETTING THE VEHICLE SO I COULD SELL THEM.
WELL, IF THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT GOING TO BRING MORE THAN WHAT IT COSTS ME TO GET SOMEBODY TO SELL IT IF THEY NEED TO DO IT, AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN BANKRUPTCY, I CAN'T COLLECT FROM UNTIL THEY COME OUT OF BANKRUPTCY.
AND WHEN THEY COME OUT OF BANKRUPTCY, IT'S AUTOMATICALLY SOLID.
WASTE FEES THEY OWE IS AUTOMATICALLY DISMISSED.
THE INCREASE IN THE FARM IMPLEMENT TAX FROM $1.90.
THAT COST OR THAT PIECE OF REVENUE IS $102,968. OVER ALL OF THE FORM MACHINERY THAT'S SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, NOT THE SEASONAL, SEASONAL SEPARATE.
YES SIR, AND IF YOU LOOK AROUND, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE BEST COLLECTION RATES THERE IS. IN FACT, ONE OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS ASKED ME HOW I COULD POSSIBLY HAVE SUCH A HIGH COLLECTION RATE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE I'M USING EVERY METHOD I CAN.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS THIS IS WHAT OCCURS IN EVERY LOCALITY.
I SEEN A PERSONAL PROPERTY, THERE'S A TRUCKING COMPANY, OWES 50,000 BUCKS.
ARE THEY BANKRUPT? I SEE ANOTHER TRUCKING COMPANY THAT OWNS ALMOST 15,000.
ARE THEY BANKRUPT? I SEE SOME CITIZENS I KNOW FROM MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT I WAS 6 OR $7000, AND I KNOW THEY'RE NOT BANKRUPT.
SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WE'RE NOT COLLECTING.
EVERYTHING THAT WE SHOULD BE COLLECTING.
WE'RE LETTING STUFF SEND THROUGH EVERY METHOD THAT I CAN.
AND I EVEN USE COLLECTION AGENCIES TO HELP FIND THEM.
WE USE THE EMPLOYMENT COMMISSION TO FIND OUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE WORKING SO WE CAN GARNISH THEM.
BUT LIKE, I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO COLLECT.
AND IF YOU'LL NOTE AS FAR AS THE REAL ESTATE, IF YOU'VE NOTICED IN THE NEWS I'VE SOLD, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PROPERTIES FOR UNPAID REAL ESTATE TAXES.
[01:00:09]
IS ANYBODY ELSE GOT A NUMBER IN YOUR MIND? 74, 4.7 AND FORGET THE FARM TAX.ALL RIGHT, THAT'S DOCTOR EDWARDS.
WHAT DO YOU GOT, CHRIS? I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, IF YOU WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, IT IS IF YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP STICKING IT TO THESE 80% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT, THEN VOTE FOR IT. ALL RIGHT? OKAY.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.
I'M WITH YOU. I WANT TO DO ALL I CAN DO TO.
YEAH. WE GOT WE DON'T HAVE AN INCOME PROBLEM.
WELL, LET'S GET EVERYBODY ELSE'S IDEAS ON IT.
WILLIAM HART. WHERE ARE YOU AT? RIGHT NOW 76..
AND WHAT? BUT I DON'T KNOW THE COMPLETION OF PAGE ONE HERE.
SCHOOL SYSTEM, CIVIC GROUPS THAT WE COULD CUT.
NOW, THE ADDITIONAL CUTS WOULD HAVE TO COME FROM INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE SYSTEM.
WHAT OUTSIDE AGENCIES? CAN WE CUT IN CIVIC GROUPS? I THINK MOST OF THEM HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS WAITING IN THE BOARDS FOUR PAGE.
I DON'T KNOW. I THINK I GOT AN ANSWER TO WILLIAM HART'S QUESTION.
I WANT TO SEEK ONCE AGAIN CLARITY FROM OUR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT DOWN HERE.
WE'VE GOT WHAT THEY'VE REQUESTED.
WE'VE GOT WHAT WAS PRELIMINARILY PROPOSED TO US.
WE'VE GOT THE SUGGESTED REDUCTION OF 411, $261.
SO THAT'S WHAT PAGE I'M ON, IF YOU WILL.
SO IF YOU TAKE WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED AND YOU DEDUCT THE 411, 261 FROM IT, AND THEN LOOK AT THE COUNTY'S PRELIMINARY BUDGET PROPOSAL, WHAT'S LEFT? I HAVE $1,000,581.78.
SO, AM I CLOSE? WAIT A MINUTE, TELL ME, SAY THAT AGAIN, CHRIS.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THE SCHOOL, THEIR REQUEST.
OKAY. AT THEIR REQUEST, FOR WHICH THE TOTAL REQUEST FOR 42,000,000? 42,744,553. AND THEN I'M LOOKING AT WHAT WE PROPOSED, THE 41163..
WELL, ACTUALLY IT COMES DOWN FROM THAT.
OKAY. BECAUSE I HADN'T TAKEN THAT OUT.
YEAH, BUT YOU TAKE THAT OUT AND YOU END UP WITH.
SO THE NUMBER THAT YOU WILL GET TAKING OUT THE 411,261 IS 40,752,214. WHICH IS A 1,169,000 IN NEW FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOLS IS WHAT I'M GETTING AT.
WELL, YES, FROM OTHER SOURCES, NOT FROM LOCAL SOURCES.
IT'S ONLY 100,000 NEW LOCAL TAX, LOCAL TAXPAYER SOURCES. SO RIGHT NOW THE $0.79 PAGE, DEDUCTING THAT 411, YOU'VE GOT $100,000 NEW OPERATING LEFT AT 79, AN INCREASE OF 100,000 TO THE SCHOOL.
WHAT'S THE LEVEL FUNDED NUMBER 100,000.
SO THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER 100,000.
YEAH. AND THAT WOULD BE THE SAME AS LAST YEAR.
BUT OVERALL, WITH THE INCREASE IN STATE FUNDING, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
HEY, WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
[01:05:03]
THAT WAY I WROTE IT.SO ARE WE SAYING THAT FROM ALL SOURCES, THE SCHOOL WILL GET THE SAME THING THEY DID LAST YEAR? FROM ALL SOURCES, THEY'RE GETTING AN 18% INCREASE IN WHAT THEY GOT LAST YEAR.
WE'RE DEALING WITH THE LOCAL FUNDING.
I'D LOVE TO HAVE AN 18% INCREASE.
I WAS THINKING HOW THAT 100,000, IF WE DIDN'T GRANT IT, HOW IT WOULD AFFECT THEM OVERALL.
BUT IF THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING AN INCREASE FROM THE OTHER, THEN MAYBE WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.
I THINK IT'S 3.2 MILLION INCREASE.
YEAH. WE NEED TO TAKE THAT OUT.
OKAY. NO, THAT'S STATE MONEY 10% FROM THE STATE, WASN'T IT? I'M NOT TALKING. I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS HUNDRED.
YEAH. OKAY, WELL, IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
YEAH. I THINK THAT GIVES US SOME UNDERSTANDING ON. IT'S.
I KEEP GOING BACK TO THIS RADIO PROJECT.
AND THE DATE THAT WE NEED THE MONEY.
IT'S POSSIBLE WE DON'T NEED THE MONEY TILL.
BOND FINANCING THAT WOULD BE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE RADIO SYSTEM.
I THINK YOU WON'T NEED IT UNTIL ABOUT 18 MONTHS OUT.
AS LONG AS YOU WAIT TO GET THE FINANCING UNTIL, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE LATER WHICH WE HAVE BEEN TOLD, WHICH I MEAN, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING'S A CYCLE. THINGS GO UP, THINGS GO DOWN.
BUT YOU DEFINITELY HAVE THE OPTION OF WAITING AT LEAST.
2 MILLION THAT WE ARE HOLDING TO PAY TOWARDS THE DIFFERENT STEPS OF THE RADIO PROJECT, AND SO IT'S A TWO YEAR BUILD OUT PROCESS.
AND WE ARE THINKING THAT WE WILL NEED BETWEEN 2.3 TO 2.5 MILLION MORE BASED ON WHAT CTA CAME AND PRESENTED TO YOU GUYS.
BUT BASED ON THEIR PRESENTATION, IT LOOKS LIKE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY SHARE OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE THE 4.2 PLUS ANOTHER 2.3 OR 2.5 MILLION.
AND THAT'S JUST FOR BUILD OUT.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE MAINTENANCE.
OUR QUESTION WHY WE ARE ADDING A $0.01 ONE PENNY, THE 216,000 THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF NEXT YEAR.
SO WHAT DAVENPORT WAS SAYING IS THAT YOU NEED TO PLAN.
YOU NEED TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, AND THAT IT IS COMING AS FAR AS THE RADIO BUILD OUT PROJECT.
BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM IS AT END OF LIFE, IT'S PAST END OF LIFE.
SO SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE RELATIVELY SOON.
WE'VE ALREADY SPENT WHEN I SAY WE, SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY AND THE CITY OF FRANKLIN HAVE ALREADY SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME AND MONEY ON THE STUDIES TO SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CLOSE IN.
[01:10:01]
THERE ARE MANY LOCATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW WHERE THERE IS NO RADIO SERVICE.SO IF OUR FIRE AND RESCUE PEOPLE OR DEPUTIES ARE IN CERTAIN AREAS, THEIR RADIOS ARE NOT WORKING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PICKING UP.
SO WE HAVE TO FILL IN THOSE SPACES, THOSE AIR SPACES SUCH THAT IT WORKS WITHIN OUR 600 SQUARE MILE AREA.
SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE I THINK THE QUESTION IS WHEN DO YOU PAY FOR IT? THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EVENTUALLY PAY, WHETHER IT'S NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
AND WE HADN'T TAKEN OUT THE DEBT TO PAY THAT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE IN PLANNING.
BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S YOUR CHOICE.
WELL, THEN OUR OUR SHARE OF THE RADIO PROJECT WOULD BE OVER 6 MILLION. AND IS THAT HALF OF IT? SO WE PAY 67%.
SO THE ADDITIONAL 2.3 TO 2.5 IS OUR SHARE ONLY.
SO JUST LIKE JUST LIKE THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT PIECE.
YEAH. ALL YOU'RE DOING IS DEFERRING THIS ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO.
EVEN IF WE CAN STRETCH THE DEBTS, WHICH IS QUESTIONABLE WHETHER YOU CAN STRETCH THE DEBT OUT TO 26.
BUT WE'LL DO WHATEVER THE BOARD SAYS.
BUT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THE LIKELY DEMAND FOR THE DOLLARS IS 18 MONTHS OUT.
THAT'S THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE FINAL CONTRACT TO SIGN OFF ON THE TIMING OF THE PAYMENTS.
AND AND AGAIN, THE CITY IS THE FISCAL AGENT.
SO THEY'LL PAY IT AND THEN THEY'LL BILL US OUR PORTION.
SO I DON'T THAT WAS MY ESTIMATE.
SO THIS IS BUT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY WE COULD HAVE TO PAY THAT ADDITIONAL 3.3 TO 2.5.
THERE'S A POSSIBILITY, LIKE LYNETTE SAID, WE MAY NOT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY WE MIGHT.
OKAY. IF WE WERE TO SET A TAX AT 7 TO 6 SO RIGHT NOW, IF YOU ADD IN, LET'S SAY HYPOTHETICALLY, YOU ADDED IN ANOTHER AD, RIGHT NOW YOU'RE AT 79.
LET'S SAY HYPOTHETICALLY, YOU ADD IN ANOTHER PENNY AT 216,710.
THEN YOU'RE BACK UP TO $0.80 FOR THIS ONE ADDITIONAL.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO DEDUCT FOUR.
SO DEDUCT 610, I MEAN 216,710 TIMES FOUR, IF I CAN MULTIPLY CORRECTLY 866,008 40.
ALL RIGHT. SO YOUR PROPOSAL IS 79.
THEN MY PROPOSAL IS THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL THAT I GAVE YOU ALL AT 86.
WHEN WE WHEN Y'ALL MET BEFORE, Y'ALL CUT IT DOWN TO 79.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE HERE NOW.
WELL, I WOULD SUGGEST YOU KEEP IT HERE AND ADD IN A PENNY FOR THE DEBT ON THE RADIO PROJECT AT 80.
BUT THESE ARE THE ADDITIONAL AS WE SAID, THESE ARE THE ADDITIONAL CUTS YOU CAN MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OUTSIDE CIVIC GROUPS COMP AND CLASS STUDY THE WATER TANK MAINTENANCE CONTRACT.
GATEWAY SIGNS AT $15,000 AND SOME OFFICE SUPPLIES, SOME PLANNING AND INSPECTIONS.
BUT THE BIGGEST CHUNK YOU SEE THERE, OBVIOUSLY, IN ANY LOCALITY, IS GOING TO BE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
BUT AGAIN, AS WE SAID BEFORE Y'ALL, I SAY Y'ALL.
THE COUNTY HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH LOCAL FUNDING THE SCHOOLS FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.
[01:15:01]
TO CHRIS'S POINT, THEY DID GET MORE STATE MONEY THIS YEAR, WHICH IS.SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE STATE PICK UP ITS PORTION OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR SCHOOLS, WHICH THEY HAD BEEN REDUCING EVERY YEAR UNTIL THIS CURRENT YEAR. SO THAT'S THAT'S A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT TO REDUCE FROM 79 TO 76 HOW MUCH IN CUTS DO WE NEED TO MAKE.
YEAH, TWO. WELL, THAT'S WITH THE NEW NUMBERS FROM AMY.
THREE PENNIES WOULD BE. SAY THAT AGAIN.
WELL, SHE JUST ALL SHE GAVE ME WAS THE LAND USE RELIEF NUMBER.
AND I'VE COMPARED FROM THE TWO DIFFERENT SCENARIOS.
SO THAT 216-17 THAT'S EQUIVALENT TO $0.01 ON THE REAL ESTATE RATE OKAY.
THAT'S A GOOD LESSON. I GOT A REAL CONCERN ABOUT NUMBERS AND OUR CITIZENRY.
CITIZENRY BEING ABLE TO PAY THE TAXES.
ME TOO. THE UNCOLLECTIBLES IN THIS ECONOMY, IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF THEY GROW.
SO IF THE ECONOMY IS IS NOT GROWING AGAIN, INFLATION IS A TAX AND IT'S GOING UP EVERY MONTH, IT'S GOING UP.
AND WE COULD FIND OUR SELF WITH THE DEBT THAT WE ARE CARRYING IN THIS COUNTY 70 I THINK IS 70 MILLION NOW.
THAT'S GOING CONTENT, THAT'S GOING TO GROW.
IN THIS ECONOMY THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO SURVIVE.
OH, IT COULD HIT THIS COUNTY EXTREMELY HARD.
AND THEN WE'D BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WISH WE HAD A CUT.
I DON'T THINK I'M BEING PESSIMISTIC.
WHEN WE INTERVIEWED THE COMPANY.
I LAID OUT THE SCENARIO THAT WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT.
WE HAD A HIGH THREE YEAR HISTORY, BUT WE HAD JUST HAD AN ELECTION.
AND ALL SIGNS POINTED TO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TRAIN WRECK.
WILLIAM HART, I AGREE WITH YOU AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME HARD DECISIONS HERE.
SO WHY I FOUND OUT, I FOUND OUT.
I CHECKED WITH A STATE AGENCY OR TWO.
THEY HAVEN'T BOUGHT A NEW VEHICLE IN TWO YEARS.
AND THEY EMPLOYEES ARE HAVING TO WRITE DOWN THE MILEAGE AND TURN IT IN.
THEN THEY'RE MAKING SOME SEVERE CHANGES.
AND FROM WHAT I SEE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THEM TONIGHT OR DOWN THE ROAD IF WE IF IF WE DON'T GET THIS TAX RATE REDUCED TO THE LEVEL OF THE ABILITY OF OUR TAXPAYERS TO PAY.
SO WE DON'T SEE THAT LIST GROW BY 20 OR 30%.
[01:20:02]
THAT WAS PRINTED ON THE BACK OF THE TOYOTA NEWS.OUR CITIZENS ARE GOING TO MAKE HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS, AND WE'RE IN DIRE TIMES.
THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT.
[INAUDIBLE] WHAT I, JUST WANT TO SAY.
WHAT WILLIAM HART SAID, I AGREE WITH THE 100%.
SO THE QUESTION IS, WHY ARE WE INCREASING TAXES? OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.
WELL, THINGS ARE TO GET. THINGS ARE GETTING TOUGH.
EVERYBODY'S GOING TO JUST HAVE TO CUT BACK.
WELL, WE'VE GOT TO COVER THE COURTHOUSE.
WE'VE GOT TO, IF WE'RE GOING TO SURVIVE, WE'VE GOT TO MAINTAIN OUR CREDIT RATING.
SO TO THE POINT OF THE RADIO SYSTEM.
WE'D BE GAMBLING ON THE INTEREST RATE, I SUPPOSE.
THERE'S PROGRESS PAYMENTS, YOU PAY THE CONTRACTOR.
SO HOW THOSE FALL OUT, I MEAN, WE'RE PAYING A CONTRACTOR FOR A CONTRACT WE HAVEN'T GOT.
NO, WE'RE NOT PAYING THE WE'RE NOT PAYING JVC KENWOOD.
NOW WE'RE NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT.
BUT THERE'S PROGRESS IN BETWEEN.
YEAH. WELL, GIVE ME THE STARTING DATE.
THE STARTING DATE IN MY MIND IS A QUESTION MARK.
NOW IS THAT STARTING DATE SET? WHAT'S THE CONTRACT ASSIGNED? YES. YOU'RE THERE ON THE CLOCK.
IT WILL BE SIGNED VERY SHORTLY.
AND WHO SIGNS THE CONTRACT? NAME THE CITY MANAGER.
YES, AS Y'ALL AUTHORIZED ME TO DO 3 OR 4 WEEKS AGO.
WE HAVEN'T COME UP WITH AN INTENT YET.
WE SIGNED AN MOU WITH THE INTENT.
OKAY. OH, GENTLEMEN, IN THE BACK.
HAS SOMEBODY HAD A COMMENT BACK THERE? COME ON UP FRONT.
I DON'T WANT TO END UP BEING A PAIN TO Y'ALL, BUT I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT A 68% INCREASE THAT CAME FROM THE COUNTY'S PEOPLE.
68% INCREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE.
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU PUT AS A TAX RATE, WHETHER IT'S 8980.
WHAT DID YOU SAY HE WANTED? 86. WHAT Y'ALL WANT, 79 OR 76? AND WE GOT A 68% INCREASE? NO, SIR. AND WHAT? NO. SHE TOLD ME THAT FRIDAY, THURSDAY, AMY DID.
THE REAL ESTATE PEOPLE CALLED HER AND SAID THAT THE AVERAGE WENT UP FROM 45% TO 68%.
CAME RIGHT OUT OF HER OFFICE THURSDAY, I THINK AT 1:00.
AM I CORRECT, JAMIE? YOU SAID 68% INCREASE I HAD, I HAD BEEN TOLD IN THE FIRST NUMBER WAS 68%.
AND THEN AS THE NUMBERS CAME IN, IT WAS 45%.
AND THEN THAT LAND USE PROPERTY WENT UP, I DON'T KNOW, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 AND 17%.
BUT I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT Y'ALL ARE CONSIDERING PUTTING A BAND AID ON OUR PROBLEM.
AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID.
ALL OF US IN SOUTH HAMPTON COUNTY NEED TO SHARE IN THIS PROBLEM.
THAT MEANS THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE COUNTY, ALL OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO SHARE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SEND ME ANY MONEY TO PAY MY INCREASE. AND I PAY MY TRASH FEE EVERY YEAR.
[01:25:04]
IT IS TERRIBLE FOR RESPECTABLE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY TO HAVE THEIR NAMES PRINTED ON THE BACK PAGE.IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY CAN'T PAY WHAT THIS COUNTY IS CHARGING.
AND IT AIN'T ONLY JUST A TRASH FEE AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HURT ME.
ON PERSONAL PROPERTY, I DRIVE A 1997 CHEVROLET TRUCK WITH 580,000 MILES.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU RAISE IT TO $10, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HURT ME.
BUT THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY WANT TO HAVE A NICE VEHICLE.
I'M NOT GOING TO BUY A $60,000 TRUCK AND PAY PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX ON IT, AND I'M NOT GOING TO CARRY MY STUFF BACK TO NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. I DID IT BECAUSE OF THE TAX DIFFERENCE.
BUT I HAVEN'T DONE IT LATELY, BUT I HAVE.
I AM ONE OF THEM PEOPLE THAT DID IT.
BUT YOU ALL DON'T NEED TO PUT A BAND AID ON OUR PROBLEM.
YOU NEED TO QUIT SPENDING, QUIT AUTHORIZING ANY SPENDING UNTIL WE GET CONTROL OVER IT.
AND I DON'T WANT TO COME HERE.
THAT'S NOT A FIXING THE PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM IS TOO MUCH SPENDING, AND YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CONTROL THAT YOU NEED.
AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, ANYTHING EXTRA YOU GIVE TO THEM IS THROW AWAY MONEY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THEY'VE SAID IT BY THROWING MONEY AT IT.
AND I SENT YOU THE PICTURES, GIVE YOU THE PICTURES OF THE SCHOOL AND I WANT TO.
I JUST DON'T WANT A BAND-AID ON THE PROBLEM.
CAN I HELP WITH IT? I CAN'T HARDLY READ THAT PAPER THERE WITH ALL THAT STUFF ON IT.
WE'RE NOT LEVEL FUNDING FROM LAST YEAR.
IF WE WERE, OUR TAXES WOULDN'T GO UP.
SO IF YOU TAKE THE COMP AND CLASS STUDY 75,000 ENTERPRISE FUND TANK MAINTENANCE CONTRACT, 90,000 GATEWAY SIGNS AT 15,000, AND THE LITTLE ITEMS AND PLANNING INSPECTIONS THAT COMES TO $186,200.
EVEN WHEN YOU PUT ALL THAT OUT, YOU DIDN'T ADD THE 100,000.
IF YOU ADD UP MINUS, THAT BRINGS A FUNDING SCHOOL, THAT'S TWO, TWO, 82, 86, 200.
AND THEN IF WE WERE LOOKING AT THE CONTRACT FOR CURBSIDE RECYCLING TODAY WE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE A 60 DAY NOTICE IF WE WERE GOING TO DISCONTINUE THAT AS ANOTHER THAT IS EVEN $100,000 NOT PROMOTING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU THE FACTS OF THIS IS A CONTRACT.
BUT WE NEED TO DO THAT SO THAT IT IS IN PLACE 60 DAYS PRIOR TO JUNE 30TH, BECAUSE THAT'S THE YEARLY THAT'S THE TIME WHEN THE CONTRACT GOES OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR.
THAT DOES NOT AFFECT THE RECYCLING BINS AT THE SITES, BUT IT DOES AFFECT THE BLUE BINS THAT ARE WITHIN THE TOWNS AND WITHIN CERTAIN POPULATED PARTS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY.
AND SO IF YOU ADDED ALL OF THOSE NUMBERS TOGETHER, YOU GET $386,200.
THERE IS ONE ADDITIONAL ITEM WE HAVE NOTED AND THAT IS ELECTRICAL SERVICES FOR THE NEW COURTHOUSE.
WE WENT IN AND LOOKED OVER THINGS THIS PAST FRIDAY, AND ALSO WE HAVE BEEN WE HAVE THREE INVOICES THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED ON THE NEW COURTHOUSE, WHEREAS IT USED TO ONLY COST US IN THE OLD COURTHOUSE $1,600 A MONTH FOR.
[01:30:03]
OVER AT HUNTER DALE, WE'VE BEEN PAYING ABOUT DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF THE YEAR.SO I'LL SAY AN AVERAGE OF $3,200 A MONTH FOR ELECTRICITY.
WE'VE GOTTEN ONE ELECTRICITY BILL FOR 9000 SOME ODD AND ONE FOR 8000 SOMETHING.
AND WE HAVE BROUGHT THAT TO DOMINION POWER'S ATTENTION.
I WAS CONCERNED THAT POTENTIALLY THEY HAD US IN A AN INCORRECT TIER OR BILLING.
I'M NOT THINKING OF THE RIGHT WORD RIGHT NOW.
SORRY. BUT THAT THEY HAD US CODED WRONG, BASICALLY.
BUT WHEN WE TOOK, WHEN WE WENT IN TO LOOK AT THE BUILDING, THERE ARE A LOT MORE ELECTRONIC ITEMS AND FEATURES WITHIN THE COURTHOUSE.
I'M GOING TO CALL IT THE LIVING AREA.
THE FLOOR SPACE IS ABOUT 40,000FT².
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO, I BELIEVE IT SEEMS, IS WE'VE GOT TO INCREASE THE BUDGET OR INCREASE OR REARRANGE LINE ITEMS TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT COST FOR ELECTRICITY.
AND THAT'S WITHOUT ANY COMPUTER, NO COMPUTERS ARE IN THERE.
NO DESK COMPUTERS ARE IN THERE CURRENTLY.
NO TELEPHONES ARE IN THERE CURRENTLY.
SO THERE'S A LOT MORE STUFF THAT'S GETTING READY TO BE MOVED IN.
BUT I'M THINKING I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ESTIMATE.
SO IF YOU ADD THAT 119,000 BACK INTO THAT, THAT PUTS YOU BACK AT 267 200.
YEAH. SO IF WE TOOK OUT THE CURBSIDE RECYCLING, SO WITH THE CURBSIDE RECYCLING.
SO LET ME JUST GO FROM THE TOP.
SO REDUCE SCHOOL BY 100,000, REDUCE TANK MAINTENANCE AND WATER AND SEWER FUND BY 90,000.
REDUCE THE GATEWAY SIGNS 15,000.
REDUCE THE COMPENSATION STUDY 75,000.
REDUCE CURBSIDE RECYCLING 100,000.
SO THAT'S $386,200 COMING OUT.
BUT WE NEED TO PUT THAT 119,000 IN.
SO WE NEED TO, AND I'M JUST ADDING NUMBERS HERE, BUT TO GET TO THE 76 NUMBER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE OUT ANOTHER $183,910 AND MAYBE EVEN MORE IF WE NEED TO SET ASIDE MORE PENNIES THAN WHAT WE HAD ALREADY IN OUR LAST PRESENTED BUDGET, DATED APRIL 23RD.
BUT THAT'S THE RUNDOWN OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO ADD ONE THING TO THE GENTLEMAN'S RESPONSE.
IF I'M READING THE PAGE RIGHT.
THE TOTAL REVENUES FOR FY 24 WERE $89,090 550.
$89,090,551. AND THE TOTAL PROJECTED REVENUE WITH THIS NEW ASSESSMENT.
$85,021,312. OVER 2 MILLION OF THAT WAS THAT ARPA MONEY.
[01:35:02]
THAT'S RIGHT.. FROM THE FEDERAL.SO THAT'S THE $4,669,239 LESS OVER FOR 4.5% OF THE TOTAL THAT THE COUNTY WAS OPERATING ON.
SO RUN THAT BY ME AGAIN, LYNETTE.
IT BROUGHT IT DOWN TO BELOW 76 CENTS.
BROUGHT IT TO SEVEN WITH THESE CUTS.
RIGHT. THAT WE THAT YOU JUST ENUMERATED.
RIGHT. BUT WE NEED STILL NEED TO TAKE SOME MORE OUT.
FOR TO BE $0.76 OR YES TO TO BALANCE IT OUT.
YES. SAY IS ANYBODY THOUGHT ABOUT IF YOU DO AWAY WITH THE CURBSIDE RECYCLING, HAVE ANY MORE TONS, ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE THAT ARE GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] IT'S GOING TO BE SOME IT WILL BE SOME BE SOMETHING YOU'RE GOING TO THAT'S NOT A THAT'S NOT A DO AWAY WITH WHAT THE THE CURB RECYCLING, RECYCLING, HAVING MORE TONS.
YOU'RE GOING TO END UP WITH ONE.
SHE'S SAYING THAT THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE RECYCLING, THE CURBSIDE RECYCLING BINS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE UNLESS THEY ALL BRING THEM TO THE RECYCLE CONTAINERS THAT THE DUMP SITES, WHICH WE KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME EXPENSE ON ON THE ON THE.
YEAH. IT'LL END UP IN THE LANDFILL.
YEAH. WE COULD DO THAT IF WE COLLECTED THESE DELINQUENT TAXES.
WELL, IF YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME MORE METHODS AT STAKE WOULD APPROVE.
LISTEN, WHATEVER WE DECIDE, YOU KNOW, I DEAL WITH REALITY THIS EVERY DAY.
AND THAT'S 80% OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY.
I DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE GOOD MEDICAL HEART MEDICATIONS THAT KEEP THEM ALIVE.
THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THESE PEOPLE.
LIKE I SAID, EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY IT.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LIKE IT, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT.
BUT THAT 80% OF THE OTHER PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY.
I COULD BE MORE IN THE HOLE THAN THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
EVERY DAY. I HAVE A PATIENT NEEDS CERTAIN HEART MEDICATIONS.
I HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING CHEAPER, SOMETHING THAT'S NOT AS EXPENSIVE BUT NOT AS GOOD.
SO THINK ABOUT THAT IF YOU WANT TO RAISE TAXES.
AND THEN ADD BACK. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SUGGESTED TO ME THAT WE CUT EACH DEPARTMENT 5%.
WHAT WOULD THAT GENERATE? I DON'T KNOW, WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT EACH DEPARTMENT AND WHAT IS IN EACH DEPARTMENT.
SOME DEPARTMENTS ONLY HAVE SALARY AND BENEFITS.
SO I MEAN THAT'S THAT SOUNDS ALL WELL AND GOOD AND WE CAN DO THE BEST WE CAN.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU STILL HAVE TO OPERATE AND.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN A BEATING.
SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A BEATING.
WE'LL HAVE TO CUT SOME SERVICES.
SO WHY SHOULD THE COUNTY BE THE ONLY THING THAT DOESN'T TAKE A CUT? THESE PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN AFFORD, I MEAN, THEY'RE EATING JUNK FOOD SPAGHETTI BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD ANYTHING ELSE.
SO, MAYBE YOU SHOULD COME SIT IN MY SHOES AND SEE WHAT I SEE EVERY DAY.
PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD GOOD MEDICATIONS, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO DECIDE IF THEY'RE GOING TO BUY THEIR MEDICINES THIS MONTH OR THEY'RE GOING TO EAT THIS MONTH. AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF THEM CARE ABOUT ALL THE ESOTERIC ARGUMENT WE'VE HAD UP HERE.
[01:40:06]
EVERY $2 IS 66,000 ON THE WATER AND SEWER IS AT $2 ON THE WATER AND $2 ON THE SEWER, EQUAL 66,000? YEAH, BECAUSE EVERY $1 ON EACH IS A TOTAL OF 33,000.IF YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT REVENUE, I WOULD SUGGEST GOING UP ON THOSE TWO.
BECAUSE AGAIN, AS YOU ALL KNOW, PART OF THE ISSUE IS IF WE TAKE A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OUT OF GENERAL FUND TO SUBSIDIZE WATER AND SEWER, WHICH YOU WHICH A LOCALITY SHOULD NOT DO.
SO COULD YOU USE YOUR MIC? I CAN'T. I NEED A HEARING AID, BUT I CAN'T GET THEM IN THE BUDGET.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE GALLON USAGE IS OF A HOUSEHOLD FOR WATER? Y'ALL GOT ANY IDEA? I MEAN, I SEE IT'S $31 FOR EVERY 4000 GALLONS, I MEAN.
SO WHAT'S HOW'S IT GOING TO AFFECT SOMEBODY IF YOU GO UP? IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD.
AND I DO HAVE A CHART THAT SAYS THAT.
YEAH. I WILL SAY MOST HOMES, IF IT'S JUST TWO PEOPLE THERE ARE JUST PAYING THAT MINIMUM BILL.
YES, SIR. AND THEN THE OTHER THING I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT'S NOT SUGGESTED OR RECOMMENDED EITHER.
WELL, PEOPLE HAVE RECOMMENDED NO NEW EMPLOYEES.
THAT MAY BE THE CITIZENS RECOMMENDING THAT, BUT THAT'S NOT STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING FOR TWO YEARS.
SO RIGHT NOW, IF YOU DEDUCT THE ANOTHER $100,000 FROM THE SCHOOLS, ANOTHER 186,200 FROM THE ITEMS LISTED ON PAGE ONE, THE COMP AND CLASS STUDY, THE WATER TANK MAINTENANCE CONTRACT, GATEWAY SIGNS AND THE LITTLE ITEMS FROM PLANNING AND INSPECTIONS, THAT WAS 186. PLUS TAKING OUT RECYCLING AT 100,000.
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE GOING TO PAY SOME INCREASED FEES WITH SPSA TONNAGE THAT'S NOT ACCOUNTED FOR, BUT JUST MAD THAT THAT IN ITSELF, THOSE ITEMS ARE $386,200. THEN IF YOU ADD BACK IN THE 119,000 NEEDED FOR ELECTRICITY AT THE COURTHOUSE, THE NET, IF I CAN ADD CORRECTLY, IS $267,200.
POSSIBLY CUT THOSE POSITIONS OUT OF THE BUDGET.
THAT WILL GIVE YOU ANOTHER 169.
8060. THE THREE POSITION SORRY, NOT THE FOUR, BUT THE THREE POSITIONS.
WE STILL HAVE ONE CUSTODIAN POSITION.
169806. THAT GIVES YOU WHAT? 67, $437,006.
216. ADD $4 TO THE WATER AND SEWER, THAT'S ANOTHER $132,000. YES.
$0.02 ON THE REAL ESTATE TAX EQUIVALENT IS, IF I CAN ADD CORRECTLY, 433,420.
SO WITH THAT 437,600, THERE'S TWO PENNIES RIGHT THERE.
NOT ADDING IN WATER AND SEWER RATE INCREASES.
SO THERE YOU'RE DOWN FROM 79 TO 77.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND TWO THINGS TWO PENNIES AND GETTING THE RATE TO 76%.
NOW THAT $151,110 AND THEN $433,420, AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY DEBT SERVICE FOR
[01:45:02]
THE RADIO PROJECT EITHER, RIGHT? IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL THE ADDITIONAL, THE ADDITIONAL.RIGHT. I WILL SAY THAT I AM CONCERNED WITH NOT POTENTIALLY GETTING ANOTHER PUBLIC SERVICE WORKER.
MEANING WE WERE GOING TO USE THAT PERSON TO DO SOME MAINTENANCE WORK AT OUR TRASH SITES.
AND IF WE STOP THE CURBSIDE RECYCLING WE'RE GOING TO NEED ANOTHER PERSON TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE AND TRANSPORT.
IS THERE A MARKET FOR THE RECYCLING? WELL, ALL OF IT HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE.
SO WHETHER WE TAKE IT OR SOMEBODY ELSE.
IT CAN'T GO ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADS, WE HOPE.
YOU KNOW, IT HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO STAY IN OUR YARDS.
IT'S GOT TO GO. IT NEEDS TO GO TO THE LANDFILL.
WE HAVE TRUCKS THAT CONTINUALLY BREAK DOWN.
SO IN THE BUDGET AND IN YOUR CAPITAL FUNDS BUDGET, THERE WAS THE REQUEST FOR ANOTHER ROLL OFF TRUCK.
BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE DONE ON A DAILY BASIS.
IT'S NOT LIKE I CAN ASK MY MEN TO WORK LONGER HOURS.
AND WHAT I MEAN IS THE SITE THAT TAKES THE THE TRANSFER STATIONS THAT TAKE THE WASTE THE REFUGE IS ONLY OPEN X NUMBER OF HOURS OF DAY.
WE'RE NOT PUTTING FRIVOLOUS POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES WE REALLY DO NEED.
SO WHEN WE WERE JUST GIVING YOU INFORMATION, WE'RE GIVING YOU THE FACTS.
JUST BECAUSE I SAY THAT THAT'S A THAT'S THE COST, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE RECOMMEND YOU CUT THAT OUT.
WE'RE JUST GIVING YOU A, THE COST OF THOSE POSITIONS.
BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT LYNETTE JUST SAID.
BUT WHAT YOU WERE GIVEN JUST NOW MEAN THAT WHAT THREE POSITIONS ARE ELIMINATED? THREE. HALF A YEAR OF THREE POSITIONS YOU'VE ALREADY CUT OUT FOR HALF OF A YEAR, WHICH YOU OBVIOUSLY WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FULL COST IN 26 BUDGET. SO THE HALF A YEAR POSITION OF BUDGETS POSITIONS AND IT'S 169,806.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU ADD THAT WITH THE OTHER PREVIOUS CUTS THAT WE MENTIONED, THAT COMES TO $437,006, WHICH IS ABOUT 4000 MORE THAN TWO PENNIES EQUIVALENT ON THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE.
TO $0.77 IF I CAN DO ALL THAT MATH CORRECTLY.
AND IF WE CUT EACH DEPARTMENT 1 OR 2%.
AND LET THAT DEPARTMENT DECIDE WHETHER WHAT THEY CUT.
SOME DEPARTMENTS AS I SAID, ONLY HAVE.
SOME DEPARTMENTS, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY VEHICLES THEY HAVE TO DRIVE FOR THEIR JOB, WHETHER IT BE THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OR PUBLIC UTILITIES OR PUBLIC WORKS.
THEY'VE GOT TO, WE'VE GOT TO PAY WHATEVER THE PRICE OF DIESEL FUEL IS.
WE'VE GOT TO PAY THE WHATEVER THE PRICE IS OF GASOLINE.
WE DO UTILIZE THE STATE CONTRACTS TO GET THE BEST PRICE WE CAN.
BUT WE HAVE TO PAY WHAT IT IS.
SO IF THE IF THE GOVERNING BODY JUST WANTS TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD ON PAPER AND WE RUN OVER ON LINE ITEMS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO OPERATE, I DON'T WANT TO I DON'T WANT THE COUNTY TO START RUNNING DEFICITS AND BUDGETS BECAUSE AND LYNETTE'S CORRECT, SOME OF THESE DEPARTMENTS JUST HAVE SALARIES.
I MEAN, WE'VE GIVEN YOU NOT RECOMMENDED.
[01:50:02]
IF YOU CUT ALL THAT STUFF OUT YOU'RE AT $0.77 RIGHT NOW.I DON'T UNLESS YOU START CUTTING OUTSIDE GROUPS AND YOU START CUTTING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM EVEN MORE.
I MEAN, THAT'S ONLY LARGE CHUNKS.
AND THIS OTHER ISSUE ABOUT TRYING TO BUILD THE FUND BALANCE UP, YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY PLUS OR MINUS ANOTHER $2 MILLION IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS IF YOU WANT TO STICK TO YOUR FINANCIAL POLICY GUIDELINES.
I NEED TO NEED TO BE THINKING HARD ALONG ABOUT.
ANYBODY OUT THERE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? SO A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.
THE FIRST ONE IS SOUNDED LIKE I WAS BACK LISTENING TO NANCY PELOSI.
LET'S SIGN THE THING AND WE'LL WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S IN IT LATER.
IT'S THE STUPIDEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD.
DON'T SIGN A RADIO CONTRACT WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT'S IN IT.
YOU JUST SAID WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE IT FOR ANOTHER 18 MONTHS.
THERE YOU GO. LET'S DO WITHOUT THAT ONE.
MR. CORNWELL SAID THAT AND I CAN HAVE TO DO SOME MATH HERE, BUT IF I.
IF I HEARD IT CORRECTLY AND I KNOW HALF OF US ARE CONFUSED.
BUT WE HAD $40 MILLION IN THE SCHOOL BUDGET AND THE SCHOOL GOT AN EXTRA 14% FROM THE STATE.
IS THAT CORRECT? 12%? YEAH. THEY GOT A TOTAL OF 12% FROM.
YEAH. 12 $4,800,000 THAT YOU COULD CUT OUT.
AND THEY STILL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY HAD LAST TIME, RIGHT.
THERE YOU GO. THERE'S $5 MILLION WE CAN CUT OUT RIGHT THERE.
ACTUALLY, IT'S 12% OF WHAT THE STATE GIVES THEM.
SO WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS YOU CAN SEE US AUTHORIZED ADVERTISING THE PROPOSED BUDGET ON THE VARIOUS DATES LISTED BELOW, AND THE REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE, BECAUSE THERE'S A REASSESSMENT YEAR ON THOSE DATES.
BUT YOU CAN YOU CAN GO DOWN IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
SO WE DO NEED TO GET SOMETHING ADVERTISED.
BECAUSE THERE IS A PROCESS TO ADVERTISING AND MEETING ALL THE TIMELINES AND DEADLINES, STIPULATIONS IN THE, IN THE WAY THOSE WORK THEMSELVES OUT. WELL, WE'RE NOT REALLY CUTTING.
WELL, THE SCHOOL BUDGET IS NOT REALLY LESS.
IT'S MORE THAN IT'S BEEN THE THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT'S ON YOUR PLATE THAT YOU CAN CONSIDER.
YOU TALKED ABOUT FROM THE LAST BUDGET WORK SESSION, WAS CUTTING THEM 411,000 AND SOME CHANGE WHERE THEY WOULD ONLY GET AN ADDITIONAL 100,000. TONIGHT, THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT CUTTING THAT ADDITIONAL 100,000 BACK JUST TO LEVEL FUND THEM.
AND THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF THE LIST OF POTENTIAL CUTS THAT I JUST READ OFF.
BUT THERE'S STILL MONEY AHEAD.
AND THE MR. CORNWELL HOW MUCH MORE THE SCHOOL IS GETTING THAN LAST YEAR FROM US BY THE WHOLE SHOOTING MATCH? OH, JEEZ. OKAY, TELL ME WHAT.
HOW MUCH DID YOU GET? 37 MILLION.
THIS YEAR TO GET I MEAN TO ASKING 42 MILLION.
YEAH. LEVEL FUNDED WOULD BE 41 MILLION.
143. RIGHT? NO, BOY, THAT'S WORTH THE 5%.
[01:55:01]
IN FISCAL YEAR NUMBERS FOR FISCAL YEAR ARE YOU TO LOOKING AT TOTAL NUMBERS.YEAH. SO IN FISCAL YEAR 24 THEIR TOTAL NUMBERS WERE 37,000,878 $694. OKAY.
THIS YEAR THEY REQUESTED A TOTAL OF $42,744,553.
THE COUNTY COLLECTIVELY THROUGH DISCUSSIONS UP THROUGH UP BEFORE TONIGHT THE TOTAL NUMBER WOULD BE $40,752,214.
ALL RIGHT. AND BUT THAT'S STILL LEAVING IN THE $100,000 THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
YEAH. AND THAT WOULD REDUCE IT TO 40,652,000.
AND WE CUT THEM TO 40,252,000.
THEN WE CAN LEAVE OUR TAX RATE.
AT $0.76, AND I'M SUGGESTING 490 ON THE CAR TAX.
THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. WHAT'S YOUR PROPOSAL? $0.76 ON REAL ESTATE.
DROP THE SCHOOLS ANOTHER HALF $1 MILLION.
SO THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE WAY ABOVE WHAT THEY HAD LAST YEAR? YEAH. HOW ABOUT $1 MILLION? I DON'T IT'S STILL GONNA BE WAY UP ON $1 MILLION..
THEY'RE EXPERIENCING, YOU KNOW, INFLATION LIKE WE ARE.
WHAT? WHAT WAS YOUR BOTTOM FIGURE FOR THE SCHOOLS? IT'D BE 40 MILLION.
IT WOULD GO FROM 40 MILLION TO 752 TO 40,000,252.
YES, SIR, DROP IT 500 MORE THOUSAND.
GO TO $0.76, 490 ON THE CAR TAX.
I THINK WE COULD WORK WITH THEM NUMBERS.
HOW ABOUT THE FARM MACHINERY? THAT'S BE KICKING OUR MOST VIABLE INDUSTRY.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. LEE DROPPED HIM BACK TO $1.90.
AND THEY HAD TWO MORE DOLLARS TO THE WATER AND SEWER RATE.
THAT'S GOING TO MAKE UP THAT $100,000 WE'RE GOING TO LOSE ON THE TAX RATE FOR THE FARMERS.
WHAT WOULD THAT MAKE? THE WATER AND SEWER $35 A MONTH? I THINK WE NEED TO GO. IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT WHOLE, YOU WOULD NEED TO GO UP AT LEAST $0.03 ON THE WATER AND SEWER BECAUSE 3% IS 33,000.
DID YOU SAY WATER AND SEWER DOLLARS? YEAH. GO UP $4. THAT'S $132,000.
YEAH. SO THAT'S GOING TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO GO FROM $31 TO $35 IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOUR MORE DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THE 43,000.
AND I DON'T. THAT'LL HELP SPREAD IT OUT.
IT'LL THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE, AND EVERYBODY'S GOT WHAT THEY WANT.
THEY WILL HAVE AN INCREASE FROM YEAH, THEY'RE GOING TO STILL HAVE $1 MILLION INCREASE.
I THINK YOU'RE SAYING ADD AN ADDITIONAL $2 TO WATER AND SEWER GO FROM BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY DONE 33.
I THINK THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT.
EVERYBODY WILL BE HAPPY AND WE HAVE SOMETHING WE CAN WORK WITH HERE.
HOW ABOUT FOR 71 OF THOSE CUT.
FOR THAT WE HAVE $0.20 I MEAN YOU KNOW THAT'S ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS.
SO JUST JUST TO CLARIFY, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE FARM MACHINERY WHOLE IN COMPARISON TO THE DOLLAR 90, YOU WOULD YOU WOULD NEED TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WATER AND SEWER WATER AND SEWER. YOU'D HAVE TO ADD THREE MORE ABOUT THREE MORE.
IT'LL STILL BE A, IT'LL STILL BE A LITTLE BIT BELOW.
SO SO IT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF FIVE FOR EACH $5 EACH.
YEAH OKAY. AND THAT'S STILL YEAH.
AND YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING TRYING TO REDUCE THE THE RELIANCE ON THE GENERAL FUND.
SO YEAH I MEAN I THINK THAT'S A LEGITIMATE GOOD.
THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD BE GOING ANYWAY.
AND YOU'RE STILL TAKING OFF THE 70.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT MAN. HOW MUCH.
[02:00:01]
AND THE LET'S DO THAT.HOW MUCH? YEAH, I'M GOOD WITH THAT.
THOSE ARE BUILT IN. HE'S GOOD WITH THAT REDUCTION, I THINK.
HOW MUCH MORE IS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM GETTING FROM THE STATE THAN THEY DO? $2,804,300. AND HOW MUCH? $2,804,325. SO 2.8 MILLION.
WE'VE ALREADY CUT THEM A MILLION.
IF YOU ADD THIS 500,000 THAT I'M ADDING.
SO THERE'S STILL 1.8 MILLION TO THE GOOD.
I DON'T THINK WE OUGHT TO CUT THEM ANY MORE THAN THAT.
WE'RE CUTTING A BIG CHUNK OUT OF THERE.
YEAH, BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAD 500,000.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER 500.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OUT OF IT.
I THINK THESE NUMBERS ARE SOMETHING EVERYBODY CAN LIVE WITH.
76 ON THE REAL ESTATE FOR 90 ON THE CAR TAX.
IF YOU TAKE IF YOU CUT THE SCHOOL A TOTAL OF $1 MILLION, YOU KNOW ALTOGETHER THE 411, THE 100,000 THE NIGHT AND ANOTHER 500,000, YOU KNOW, JUST GOING TO DROP THEM TO I THINK THEY CAN MAKE IT ON 40 MILLION.
CAN Y'ALL LIVE WITH THAT? I CAN'T LIVE WITH THE PERSONAL PROPERTY GOING UP LIKE THAT.
IS 480 A COMPROMISE? EXCUSE ME. IT'S 480.
IF YOU CUT IT BACK THAT MUCH THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER HALF $1 MILLION.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER HALF MILLION DOLLARS SOMEWHERE THEN.
I REALLY THINK YOU COULD CUT THAT SCHOOL BUDGET A LITTLE MORE.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN UP HERE TO TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT THE MONIES THEY'VE GOT LEFT OVER THIS YEAR.
AND AREN'T THEY REQUIRED BY THE STATE TO TO TELL US WHAT THEY HAVE LEFT? EACH YEAR.
WE DO GET IN THE AUDIT NUMBERS THAT I GIVE YOU AND YEAR END NUMBERS THAT I GIVE YOU, THE THE AMOUNTS THEY HAVE LEFT AND I DETAIL EACH YEAR.
AND ANY MONEY THAT IS LEFT HAS BEEN GOING RIGHT BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND AND BEING RE BUDGETED IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
BY THE BOARD. SO THEY ARE NOT ROLLING ANY MONEY OVER.
I'M NOT SURE. I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK, BUT PROBABLY 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO, MR. TURNER WAS HERE. WELL, WHEN MR. TURNER WAS HERE, THEY WERE ALLOWED TO ROLL THE MONEY OVER.
AND A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT, THEY WERE ALLOWED.
BUT THEN THE BOARD SPECIFICALLY TOLD THEM THAT THEY COULD NOT.
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? DO WE KNOW WHAT THEY DO WITH THE EXTRA $360,000 A YEAR IN REVENUE GENERATED FOR THE RENT FOR THE HUNTERDALE SCHOOL? SO THE AGREEMENT THAT THEY SIGNED WITH THIS BOARD STATED THAT THEY COULD DO SOME ONE TIME PROJECTS.
MAINTENANCE TYPE PROJECTS, WHATEVER, WHATEVER THEY NEEDED WITHIN THAT AREA, BUT ONLY FOR ONE TIME. EXPENDITURES.
NOT FOR ANYTHING THAT ROLLED OVER FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
I MEAN, THERE'S A DEGREE OF COOPERATION HERE THAT'S NOT THERE.
I'D SAY, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT MY BOOKS.
FINE. YOU CAN LOOK AT MY BOOKS EVERY TIME WE TRY TO FIND SOMETHING.
[02:05:04]
HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT? YOU KNOW, I HAVE A, I HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN.
AND THERE THE EQUAL BOARD JUST WITH US.
THEY APPROPRIATE THE MONEY TO WHERE THEY FEEL IS NECESSARY TO OPERATE A SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND PERSONALLY, I FEEL THAT WE HAVE A GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I READ IN TIDEWATER NEWS THE OTHER DAY THAT ALL THE SCHOOLS ARE STILL ACCREDITED.
CERTAINLY THEY HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE OKAY.
AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH US SEEKING WAYS TO GUARANTEE THAT ACCOUNTABILITY.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THEM FEEL AS THOUGH WE ARE PUNISHING THEM.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THEN.
THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY THERE.
I DISAGREE ON ONE FRONT IN THAT THEY'RE NOT AN EQUAL BOARD, AND THAT THEY'RE NOT ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS THAT WE WERE ELECTED TO BE HERE, TO BE THAT GOOD STEWARD OF THOSE DOLLARS.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, TO ENSURE THAT WE SPEND THEIR MONEY RESPONSIBLY.
AND PART OF THAT IS BEING ACCOUNTABLE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE CONTINUALLY ASKED THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY ARE SPENDING THAT MONEY.
BUT JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE CITIZENS MONEY, WE WANT TO BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE ENTRUSTED US TO OVERSEE.
THAT'S THE WAY I SEE IT ANYWAY.
100%. WE MADE A REQUEST TO HAVE A TOUR OF THE SCHOOLS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD, HAVE WE? SO THEY DID GET BACK WITH US.
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID SHE WANTED TO TAKE THAT TO THEIR HER NEXT BOARD MEETING, I BELIEVE, ON MAY 13TH AND DISCUSS THAT WITH HER BOARD AND THAT THEY WOULD BE INVITING HER ENTIRE BOARD.
SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WILL BE A PUBLIC TOUR MEETING WITH BOTH GOVERNING BODIES.
AND SHE WOULD LET ME KNOW AFTER SHE CONSULTS WITH HER BOARD ON MAY 13TH.
THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION WHETHER WE CAN GO IN THE SCHOOLS, THE FUNDING BOARD HERE, RIGHT HERE IN THE COUNTY, AND WE ALL PAY TAXES AND WE CAN'T WALK INTO THE SCHOOLS AND LOOK AROUND.
I THINK YOU THINK I WANT TO GIVE THEM MORE MONEY FOR THAT.
COME ON.. THEIR MEETING TO DETERMINE THE DATE.
THE DATE IS OUR UNDERSTANDING.
RIGHT, BECAUSE THAT DOES HAS TO BE COORDINATED AND IT HAS TO BE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER.
OH, COME ON, THAT'S NO BIG DEAL.
I'VE DONE IT. I DID IT TWO MONTHS AGO, BUT NO BIG DEAL.
I WENT AROUND AND LOOKED AT ROOMS. I LOOKED AT THE GYM. I LOOKED AT ALL THAT STUFF.
OKAY. NOBODY SAID ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT IT.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY RESERVATIONS OR ANYTHING.
BUT YET WE HAVE TO BEG AND BORROW AND MAKE RESERVATIONS TO GO IN THAT SCHOOL BUILDING.
AND WHEN THE ROOFS ARE LEAKING, THEY WOULDN'T LET HIM, THEY WOULDN'T LET YOU IN.
OKAY. SO THERE IS LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY HERE.
SO I THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN'T FIX BY THROWING MONEY AT.
HAVE WE GOTTEN IT DOWN TO $0.76? WE WILL GET IT THERE.
YEAH. WHAT'D YOU SAY? I SAID I THINK SO.
I THINK BETWEEN LYNETTE AND I, WE WILL FINE TUNE IT.
WE WROTE SOME STUFF DOWN, AND I THINK WE HAVE YOUR GENERAL DIRECTION.
WE JUST NEED TO ADVERTISE RATES AND WHATNOT, AND WE'LL.
LIKE I SAID, THAT ADVERTISED RATE CAN BE REDUCED AND NOT RAISED.
IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH. WELL, THIS THIS ADVERTISE IS 76 AND 490, AND IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO DROP IT TO FOUR 6470 OR 480, WE FIGURE IT OUT TONIGHT THEN. SO WE OKAY.
I MEAN WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THAT.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT A WEEK FROM NOW.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW OKAY.
RIGHT. WE NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT.
BUT I MEAN WE CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT TONIGHT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO FIGURE IT OUT A WEEK FROM NOW.
SO YOU WANT TO GO TO 40 MILLION EVEN THOUGH 40 MILLION EVEN WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
[02:10:04]
BUT WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO PERSONAL PROPERTY? THAT WILL DROP IT TO 475.YOU USED TO BE A CAR SALESMAN? NO, BUT I'VE NEGOTIATED A LOT OF RATES THROUGH MY LIFE.
BUT WE GOT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS.
WELL, I WANT TO GET RID OF THE INCREASE IN THE FARM TAX TOO.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT'S THAT'S GONE.
47576 LEVEL FUNDED SCHOOL SYSTEM AT 40 MILLION.
FUNDED SCHOOL SYSTEM AT $40 MILLION.
YOU STILL BE GETTING AN INCREASE FROM THE STATE..
FROM 37? NO, I LAST YEAR THEY HAD 37,000,878.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO 40 MILLION.
DO WHAT? WHAT WERE YOU SAYING BEFORE? BEFORE I WAS SAYING 40,000,202.
BUT IF WE DROP IT DOWN TO 250, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
YEP. 15 CENT THAT I HAD ADDED IN THERE.
BECAUSE THE 17,000 EVERY PENNY ON 17 SOMETHING.
ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO DROP IT.
THAT 250 WE TAKE OUT OF THE SCHOOL FUNDS WOULD GET YOU RIGHT ON AT 475.
I MEAN WILL THE BOARD WOULD GLADLY PAID FOR IT.
WE WILL GO FROM 40,252,000 TO 40 MILLION, EVEN ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
EVERY MUSCLE, EVERY PENNY, JUST FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE, IS 18,000.
PERSONAL INTEREST LIMIT ABOUT 17.
17. YEAH. I WAS FIGURING ON ABOUT 2.1 MILLION MORE AND WHAT THEY HAD LAST YEAR.
YEAH, JUST AND I DON'T KNOW THE BREAKDOWNS, BUT PLEASE KNOW THAT MANY STATE FUNDS ARE CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON VERY PARTICULAR THINGS.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE THEY CAN ALL JUST LUMP IT INTO TEACHER SALARIES.
YEAH, BUT THEY'RE STILL GETTING.
TWO. $2.2 MILLION INCREASE IN FUNDING WITH US SETTING SETTING IT AT 40 MILLION EVEN.
CAN Y'ALL LIVE WITH THAT? I CAN'T READ THAT. I THINK YOU MAKE A VERY CONVINCING ARGUMENT.
YEAH. HE SAID ONE NIGHT, $0.76.
$4.75. THEY KEEP THE FARM AT THE FARM AT ONE FARM AT THE SAME RATE AND GO TO 30.
GO UP $5 ON THE WATER AND SEWER.
FARM IS 194 75 ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY.
FORGET THE FARM TAX INCREASE, AND WHAT WAS YOUR WATER? GO UP A TOTAL OF $5 ON EACH FROM WHERE IT IS RIGHT THIS MOMENT.
WE ALL GOOD WITH THAT? ONE QUESTION.
YEAH. ROB, MR. WRIGHT. ARE WE ALSO OKAY TO INCREASE THE MONTHLY RATE PER 1000 FOR YEAH, GALLONS THAT ARE OVER 4000.
ARE WE ADDING $5 TO EACH OF THOSE? SO LIKE WHERE RIGHT NOW? MONTHLY RATE FOR THAT FOR WATER IS $9.
AND THEN FOR 14 OKAY TO BE THE SAME.
AND THEN FOR SEWER WILL UP IT TO 16.
YEAH. IS THAT OKAY? YEAH. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SHOOTING. ONE, THREE AND FIVE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE GO VOTE THAT SET OF RATES.
DO YOU WANT ME TO SPELL THEM OUT AGAIN OR SO? 76, $0.76 FOR THE REAL ESTATE.
[02:15:02]
FOR REAL ESTATE? 475 FOR THE CAR TAX? YES. 36, WATER AND SEWER.YEAH. FOR THE NUMBER OF GALLONS, SEWER WILL BE $44 PER THE NUMBER OF GALLONS.
THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. NO INCREASE IN FARM TAX, NO INCREASE IN ALL THE WATER.
AND FARM TAX WILL STILL BE $1.90.
ALL RIGHT. YOU HAVE THE MOTION. THERE'S A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ALL RIGHT, I KNOW IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT I THINK WE.
SET A PRECEDENT HERE TONIGHT THAT WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH THINGS AND DO THE BEST WE CAN.
SO. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR COMING.
SEVERAL THINGS BEFORE WE ADJOURN.
THERE COULD BE A SOLAR MEETING HERE TONIGHT.
IT'S NOT ANY OF THE COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS.
IT'S THE SOLAR COMPANY WHO'S COMING HERE AT 6:00.
AND I THINK MOST OF US WILL BE HERE.
TOMORROW NIGHT I HAVE THE SOLAR ORDINANCE, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT.
I'VE GIVEN ONE TO BACK THERE SO YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND THAT'S AT 6:00 TOMORROW NIGHT.
WERE THERE ANY OTHER ISSUES? YEAH, I'VE GOT ONE.
THESE RATES WE DISCUSSED TONIGHT ARE NOT SET AS OF YET.
SO WHERE DO WE FIT IN A MEETING? I SEE THE PUBLICATION OF THE NUMBERS WE JUST VOTED ON, I GUESS THAT'S.
THAT'S GOING IN THE TIDEWATER NEWS ON MAY 8TH.
IS THAT RIGHT? ALL RIGHT, THEN WE GOT TO SUBMIT ON MAY THE 10TH, PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE, MAY 15TH.
AND THAT'S ANOTHER PUBLICATION.
THEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 21ST.
MAY THE 29TH NOW, SHOULD THEY? SHOULD THEY BE REDUCED? WHERE'S THE MEETING TO DEAL WITH THAT? THAT'S UP TO Y'ALL. I MEAN, Y'ALL Y'ALL CUT IT PRETTY GOOD TONIGHT.
SO THAT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THAT HAPPENS.
THAT'S A GOOD POINT. SO NORMALLY I SEE HE'S ASKING WHERE CAN WE STEP IN HERE BEFORE EVERYTHING GETS SET IN STONE.
THE FINAL BUDGET. WELL, NOT VOTE ON THE FINAL BUDGET, BUT YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ALL.
AND THAT'S TUESDAY, MAY 21ST, 6 P.M.
PUBLIC HEARING ON BOARD'S PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND THAT AT THAT POINT, AFTER YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE YOU CAN DECIDE CHANGE IT ON THE 21ST.
BECAUSE THE WEDNESDAY IT SAYS PROPOSED BUDGET TO NEWSPAPER.
OKAY. I WOULD ASK EVERYBODY TO KEEP THE THINKING CAPS ON.
WE'LL TALK AND WE'LL JUST SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN GO DOWN ON THIS.
YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE GOT SOME IDEAS.
SO THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE MAY THE 21ST.
ALL RIGHT. BUT THE PUBLIC'S GOING TO BE COMMENTING ON THESE NUMBERS.
[02:20:08]
MAY 21ST.THE ONES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUBLISH IN THE NEWSPAPER.
YES, SIR. THEY WILL BE COMMENTING ON THOSE.
OKAY. AND AFTER YOU HEAR THEIR COMMENTS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO MAKE FURTHER DECISIONS.
WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER VOTE MAY 21ST.
TUESDAY, JUNE 4TH WILL BE YOUR FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION.
OKAY. AND THEN I'M OKAY WITH THE.
SCHEDULE. IF I DON'T FORGET THE SOLAR MEETING TOMORROW, 6:00.
YOU WANT A COPY OF THE ORDINANCE? I HAVE ONE HERE IF YOU WANT IT.
THAT END OF THE COUNTY WHEN IT COMES BACK FROM THE MEETING TOMORROW.
DO I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE? MOTION TO ADJOURN.
GOOD NIGHT CARL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.