>> NOT YET. >> SIX O'CLOCK. GOOD EVENING, [Call to Order] [00:00:03] FOLKS, IT'S SIX O'CLOCK. WE WILL OPEN THE SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BUDGET MEETING PUBLIC HEARING THE MAY 21, 2024. WE'LL FIRST PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE. DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FROM THE AUDIENCE FOR INVOCATION? THANK YOU. >> LET US PRAY. HEAVENLY FATHER, WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR LOVE AND YOUR GUIDANCE. WE'RE SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR WATCHFUL [INAUDIBLE] IT KEEPS AN EYE ON US ALL THE TIME. WE ASK YOU NOW FOR YOUR SPECIAL BLESSING ON ALL THESE LEADERS FOR THIS COUNTY SO THEY MIGHT MAKE WISE DECISIONS, AND REMEMBER THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE IN YOUR WILL. IN HIS NAME FORKS WE ASK IT. AMEN. >> AMEN. THANK YOU. TONIGHT IS A PUBLIC HEARING. >> THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED. THAT'S WHAT I HOPED. >> PLEASE LIMIT YOUR TALKING TO FIVE MINUTES OR LESS. COME UP TO THE PODIUM, GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, AND YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT ANYTHING CONCERNING THE BUDGET THAT YOU LIKE OR YOU DON'T LIKE. BEFORE WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING, [1. Public Hearing - FY25 Proposed Budget, Tax Rates, Fees, and PPTRA] WE HAD SOME BOARD DISCUSSION ABOUT MAYBE SOME CHANGES IN THE RATES. >> EVERYBODY IS LOOK AT IT TOO. >> BUT ME. YES, I HAVE SOME TO PRESENT. MR. CHAIRMAN, FIRST, I WANT TO GIVE THEM A RATIONALE. I THINK EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM KNOWS ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH ENVIVA, AND WE ALL HOPE THAT THEY COME OUT SUCCESSFULLY AND REMAIN A VIABLE COMPANY. I KNOW WE'RE PULLING FOR THEM FOR SURE. NEVERTHELESS, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THAT'S GOING TO END UP, AT LEAST I DON'T. I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T LET THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT I THINK WE'RE MAKING A MISTAKE IF WE SET THIS RATE TOO HIGH AND THINGS DON'T WORK OUT. THAT'S A BIG REVENUE STREAM FOR US. ALONG WITH AND I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS ON THIS, BUT RECENTLY THERE WAS A FIRE OVER AT HAMPTON FARMS. SOME OF THAT PRODUCTION HAS GONE ELSEWHERE. SOME OF THE REVENUE THERE HAS STOPPED COMING IN. ON TOP OF THAT, INFLATION, AND OTHER ECONOMIC BEARINGS ON THIS COUNTY AND THE CITIZENS THAT ARE NOT YET SET IN STONE CAUSE ME A LOT OF CONCERN. WITH THAT IN MIND, I'VE LOOKED AT THE REQUIRED LOCAL MINIMUM FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY GENEROUS IN THE PAST YEARS BY BEING SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 75% ABOVE THE MINIMUM REQUIRED LOCAL FUNDING BY THE STATE. IN THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD FOUR YEARS. THIS IS GOING ON MY FIFTH YEAR. THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST UNPREDICTABLE YEAR THAT I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME AND WITH THAT, I WOULD RECOMMEND REMOVING 633,000. [00:05:01] THAT STILL LEAVES US OVER THE LOCAL MINIMUM FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THAT WOULD TAKE THE TAX RATE 3 CENT LESS THAN WE ENDED THE LAST MEETING. WITH THAT, THAT WOULD BE MY INPUT TO REVISING THE NUMBER THAT WE ENDED THE LAST MEETING WITH. >> THE WALL STREET JOURNAL SAYS AND ENVIVA HAS A 42% CHANCE OF SURVIVING. >> HAVE THEY PAID THE WATER BILL YET? DID YOU ALL KNOW IF THEY HAVEN'T PAID IT? HOW FAR BEHIND ARE THEY ON THAT? >> JANUARY. >> THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR ME. THEY OWE US $38,000 ON A WATER BILL RIGHT NOW. THIS IN ARREARS SINCE JANUARY, SO WE DEFINITELY NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IF THEY SHUT DOWN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? I'M WITH YOU ON WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP, WILLIAM HART. >> PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE I THINK OUR TAX REVENUE FROM ENVIVA IS AROUND 800,000. IS IT NOT? WE GOT A 42% CHANCE WE'LL GET THAT NEXT YEAR. HOPE FOR THE BEST AND PREPARE FOR THE WORST. >> WHAT WOULD THAT TOTAL? WHAT WOULD WE BE GIVING SCHOOLS? NINE POINT SOMETHING MILLION. >> YES. IT WOULD BE A LITTLE OVER NINE MILLION. NOW, FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT, THE REQUIRED LOCAL MINIMUM IS $8,212,634. WE'D BE ABOVE THAT. >> THEY'D STILL BE OVER 39 MILLION TOTAL BUDGET, CORRECT? >> I BELIEVE SO. >> YEAH. THE TOTAL BUDGET WOULD STILL BE OVER 39 MILLION. >> YES. >> I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GETTING MORE FROM THE STATE AND MORE FROM THE FEDERAL THAN IN THE PAST. >> THEY'D STILL BE ACTUALLY GETTING AN INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY OVER A MILLION DOLLARS, SAY. I THINK THEY'LL BE ABLE TO OPERATE ON 39 MILLION. IT'D BE 39,300 AND SOMETHING. >> DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA HOW MANY OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE EMPLOYED BY ENVIVA? >> WHEN WE MET WITH THEM A FEW MONTHS AGO, I THINK THEY WERE SOMEWHERE AROUND 90S. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, BUT I THINK THEY HAVE A TOTAL OF AROUND 90 SOMETHING EMPLOYEES RIGHT NOW BUDGETED I THINK AROUND 100, 110 IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. >> THE FRANKLIN PLANT, THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO ANYBODY THAT KNEW IT WAS 96 EMPLOYEES. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM COME FROM CAROLINA. SOME OF THEM COME OUT OF GATES COUNTY, HERTFORD COUNTY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY? >> HOW MUCH DID YOU SAY IN TAX WE RECEIVE FROM ENVIVA? >> IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR DRAFT BUDGET BAG AND IF WE LOOK ON THE PAY SHEET PAGE, I WILL TELL YOU WHAT NUMBER THAT IS IN IT. >> IT WOULD BE NUMBER 13, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE THE GREEN SHEET ON TOP OF NUMBER 13. YOU SEE ENVIVA EXPANSION, AND THEY GET A 50% REBATE AT THE MOMENT ON THE EXPANSION MACHINERY AND TOOLS BASED ON THEIR CONTRACT WITH US. WE ACTUALLY ARE GOING TO GET IN THAT WE KEEP $849,960 IN FISCAL YEAR 25. >> I CAN UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE TO CUT THE RATE AND ALL THAT WE CAN. [00:10:03] BUT I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE KNOW WE MIGHT NOT GET INCOME TAXES FROM THERE. WELL, INCOME TAXES HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET IT FROM THERE, I DON'T SEE HOW IT WOULD BE CONSISTENT TO LOWER THE TAX RATE MORE KNOWING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET TAXES FROM THERE. HOW WOULD WE MEET THE REVENUE REQUIREMENTS AND REDUCE THE TAXES AND NOT GET FROM ENVIVA. >> I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH MR. FASON ON THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE RATE, DOWN CUTTING THE SCHOOLS AND REDUCING THE RATE, IT IS NOT GOING TO ACCOUNT FOR POTENTIAL LOSS OF TAX REVENUE FROM A BUSINESS. IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT, I WILL KEEP THE RATE THE SAME AND PUT THE DIFFERENCE IN OPERATING RESERVE OR BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND. IF THAT'S THE CONCERN, YOU'RE NOT REALLY ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING THERE BY CUTTING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BY THAT MUCH, BUT DECREASING THE RATE AT THE SAME TIME. >> IT'S A PAINFUL THING TO HAVE [NOISE] TO RAISE TAXES AND SAY WHAT WE HAVE LIKE WE HAVE, BUT I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO PUT US IN A EVEN WORSE POSITION IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF US LOSING SOME TAX REVENUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. >> WELL, MY OTHER CONCERN WAS THE INCREASE IN THE ASSESSMENT AND DRIVING UP. WE'RE ALREADY, I THINK, BY THE TREASURER'S REPORT MONTHLY IN OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD, SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $4 MILLION IN ARREARS, AND WE'RE CLOSE. IF THAT WERE NOT THE CASE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM. BUT WITH THE INFLATION AND NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THESE FEDERAL TAXES ARE GOING TO BE AFTER NOVEMBER. OUR TAXES ARE DUE IN DECEMBER, AND WE COULD BE IN A REAL PRECARIOUS SITUATION OF INCREASING THE DEFAULT PAYMENTS ON OUR TAXES THAT ARE DUE. I THINK THAT 73 CENT RATE EVEN CONSIDERING THE NEW ASSESSMENT WILL COVER OUR COURTHOUSE AND THE TWO BIG ONES ARE THE COURTHOUSE AND FIRE AND RESCUE AND PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM WITH THE CITY OF FRANKLIN, OF WHICH WE OWE 67%, I THINK OF THAT AND FRANKLIN PICKS UP THE OTHER. THEY ARE THINGS THAT WE MUST FUND GOING FORWARD, IF WE OVERSHOOT THIS TAX RATE AND THINGS DON'T LOOK VERY GOOD TO ME IN THE FUTURE, IN THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. NOW, IF WE HAVE LOWERED IT TOO MUCH, PEOPLE THAT PAID THE TAXES WERE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT. IF WE PUT IT TOO HIGH AND PEOPLE BACK OFF ON THE DELINQUENT LIST, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A MESS, ESPECIALLY IF ENVIVA DOESN'T COME THROUGH. I UNDERSTAND INCREASING THE TAXES. THAT'S ALWAYS THE ANSWER. MOST TIMES FOR DIGGING YOURSELF OUT OF A HOLE BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WITH THE MAKEUP OF OUR COUNTY, THE AVERAGE AGE, THE AVERAGE INCOME. PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING NOW FROM THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD, MR. FASON I DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHETHER YOU'VE HAD A REQUEST TO RAISE IT OR LOWER IT. BUT ANYWAY, MR. CHAIRMAN, [00:15:06] THAT'S MY POSITION AND THAT'S JUST ONE PERSON UP HERE. >> WELL, SUPERVISE GILLETTE, I FOLLOW THAT TOO. OUR DEBT SERVICE IS NOT GOING TO DROP SIGNIFICANTLY UNTIL 2030. THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME ROOM, BUT THAT'S FIVE YEARS FROM NOW AND LORD KNOWS WHAT TAXES ARE GOING TO DO FROM NOVEMBER. I AGREE PEOPLE HAVE STRESSED ENOUGH. I'M IN FAVOR OF DROPPING IT TO 73 AND GOING WITH THE CUT OF 633,000. >> I'VE GOTTEN PHONE CALL AFTER PHONE CALL ALL WEEK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CANNOT PAY THE REASSESSED RATES VALUES. >> WELL, I'M ONE OF THOSE PERSONS WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE MAKING A PHONE CALL AND ASKING FOR THE TAXES TO BE LOWERED. BUT I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO BENEFIT US IN THE FUTURE WHEN WE KNOW THAT WE'RE FACING PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE BY NOT HAVING TAXES THAT WE HAVE BEEN HAVING. SOMEHOW THE COUNTY IS GOING TO STILL HAVE TO OPERATE. IT'S PAINFUL, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT LOWERING THE TAXES NOW IS GOING TO HELP US IN THE FUTURE. >> SOME OF THE REDUCTIONS WERE SOME CUTS, BUT THE LINE SHARE OF IT WAS CUTTING THE INCREASE. >> I JUST THINK THE AVERAGE CITIZEN IN THIS COUNTY WOULD BE MUCH BETTER OFF WITH 73 CENTS. WE ENDED THE LAST MEETING AT 76. >> MS. LOW WHAT'S REVENUE NEUTRAL? >> YOU WILL NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER FOR THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING WE'RE GOING TO HAVE. SO REVENUE NEUTRAL DISREGARDING PUBLIC SERVICE IS 64.5 CENTS. IF YOU INCLUDE ALL OF THE REAL ESTATE PROPERTY, MEANING PUBLIC SERVICE AND EVERYTHING, IT IS 68.5 CENTS. >> THAT'S WHAT WE DECIDED, I THINK ALL ALONG. >> YOU CALL ME UP YET? >> NOT YET. >> I THINK WE CAN GO AHEAD AND HAVE IT. >> I THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID LAST TIME. BUT THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE, CUT SPENDING. >> I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT. >> DID WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING? >> WELL, WE CAN DO IT. >> I'D LIKE TO HEAR THE PEOPLE. >> [OVERLAPPING] PUBLIC INPUT AND THEN WE'LL VOTE ON IT. >> WE COULD DO EITHER WAY. THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, WE'RE OPEN TO PUBLIC HEARING. >> I'M [INAUDIBLE] III. I LIVE ON ROSEMONT ROAD. DR. EDWARDS IS MY SUPERVISOR. I STAYED OVER HERE LAST NIGHT WITH CITIZENS UNTIL 10 MINUTES AFTER 9:00 ON THIS BOARD OF EQUALIZATION. IT IS OUR SIXTH OR SEVENTH DAY, AND WE GOT ANOTHER WHOLE MONTH OF IT. AND TO START WITH, I WOULD HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT WHAT I HAVE NOTICED AND SHE AND I TALKED ABOUT IT, I CAME IN HERE THE FIRST TIME AND SAID THAT 65% WAS THE AVERAGE INCREASE. SHE SAYS 45. I WENT BACK AND TALKED WITH HER, BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN COMING TO THESE MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD, IT TAKES A WHOLE LOT OF ZERO INCREASES TO GET 100% INCREASES DOWN TO 45. WE'RE NOT SEEING IT. I'LL GUARANTEE YOU THIS COUNTY HAS GONE UP MORE THAN 45% INCREASE, JUST WHAT WE'VE SEEN. I WAS GIVEN THIS. I DON'T READ THE VIRGINIA-PILOT. YORK COUNTY TRIMS FUNDS FOR SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC WORKS. TAX REDUCTION CUTS TO THE COUNTY SCHOOLS, PUBLIC WORKS, AND CAPITAL PROJECTS. IT ALSO MAKES A COMMENT SAYS, "HE HINTED AT FURTHER TAX CUTS IN YEARS TO COME. [00:20:05] WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET WITH A FINE TO COUNTY." THIS IS YORK COUNTY. I DON'T LIVE THERE. THEY GOT A TERRIBLE BUDGET, BUT THEY GOT A FINANCE PROBLEM. IN THIS LITTLE PACKAGE RIGHT HERE THAT WE WERE GIVEN WHEN WE TOOK THIS HAD TO BE SWORN IN TO DO THE BORDER EQUALIZATION. I GLANCED AT MOST OF ALL OF MY LITTLE PACKAGE HERE THAT WE WERE SUPPOSED TO READ BEFORE WE GOT SWORN IN. ON PAGE 8, IT SAID, "REDUCTION OR TAX RATE HAS TO PRODUCE NO MORE THAN 101%." AND IT GOES ON TO SAY IN HERE, "AFTER A REASSESSMENT, THE LOCAL GOVERNING BODY MUST REDUCE THE LEVY BY LOWERING THE TAX RATE HAS TO PRODUCE NO MORE THAN 101% OF THE REVENUE GENERATED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR." IT SAYS, "THIS SAFEGUARD HAS BEEN PUT INTO LAW SINCE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR INCREASING LOCAL GOVERNMENT REVENUES SHOULD BE PROPERLY BORNE BY THE GOVERNING BODY AND NOT BY THE ASSESSING OFFICE." I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN GET 73 CENT TO MEET WHAT THIS THING TELLS US WE GOT TO DO. NOW, IF YOU AIN'T GOING TO FOLLOW THE BOOK THAT WE GOT, WE DON'T PROBABLY NEED TO FOLLOW IT EITHER. SO I'M SAYING YOU'RE NOT LOW ENOUGH. YOU GIVE TOO MUCH MONEY TO THE SCHOOL TO START WITH, AND THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME MORE CUTS. YOU TALK ABOUT VIVA BEING PREPARED, THIS COUNTY BETTER HOPE THEY DON'T GO OUT BECAUSE THERE'S LANDOWNERS OUT HERE THAT SELL THEM TO PAY TAXES. IF VIVA GOES OUT, THE PRICE OF THE TIMBER JUST WENT DOWN, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO RECOUP THAT BECAUSE UNLESS SOMEBODY BUYS THE LAND, WOULD YOU BETTER HOPE THEY STAY HERE. IF THERE'S A 42% CHANCE, THEY AIN'T GONE OUT YET. DON'T PREPARE YOURSELF FOR SOMETHING THAT AIN'T HAPPENING. THEY STILL GOT A CHANCE OF MAKING IT. THEY ARE STILL BUYING TRUCKS OF TIMBER. THEY ARE STILL BUYING TRUCKS. THEY ARE BUYING TIMBER THEMSELVES, PLUS THE WOOD PRODUCTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE. I'M JUST SAYING WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE, BITE THE BULLET. YOU'RE ASKING ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO SEE US THEY GOT TO MAKE A SACRIFICE, AND I'LL GUARANTEE THE SON THAT CAME TO SEE US THAT CAN'T PAY THEIR TAXES, THEY CANNOT PAY HIM. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FIGURE IT YET, BUT YOU CAN'T PUT A HOUSE ON A PAYMENT PLAN WITH TAXES. IF YOU CAN'T PAY THEM, YOU AIN'T GOING TO PAY THEM, AND THE ONLY THING THEY'RE GOING TO DO, SOME OF THESE HOUSES IS NOWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT THEY WOULD BRING WHAT THE ASSESSOR HAS ON THEM BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO FIX THEM. THEY ARE RUN DOWN. I'M JUST TELLING YOU A LOT OF THE VALUES THAT WE SEE, THEY MIGHT CAN JUSTIFY HIM TO SOMEBODY. THEY CAN'T JUSTIFY HIM TO ME BECAUSE I THINK THEY DID THIS. WE GOT THIS FIGURE, AND WE GOT THIS FIGURE. LET'S USE THAT. THIS ADJUSTMENT FACTOR THAT IS ON NOW, THEY COME UP WITH A VALUE OF THE HOUSE, AND IF THEY DON'T LIKE THE VALUE OF THE HOUSE, THEY ADJUST AN ADJUSTMENT FACTOR. NOW, IF THEY FIGURE YOUR HOUSE IS 400,000, AND THEY SAID, WELL, THAT QUITE AIN'T ENOUGH. IT OUGHT TO BE WORTH A LITTLE MORE, SO THEY PUT AN ADJUSTMENT FACTOR OF 1.25. NOW YOUR HOUSE IS 500,000. WE HAVE SEEN THE ADJUSTMENT FACTORS ON PEOPLE'S IS AS MUCH AS 1.6. THAT'S 60% MORE THAN THEY FIGURED IT WAS WORTH ON THEIR COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT THEY CLAIMED, THAT'S WHAT THEY USED. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY THEY'RE BUMPING IT FIRST. NOT THE WORST, BUT THEY'RE BUMPING, BEING IN FIRST PLACE ON A TERRIBLE ASSESSMENT. THANK YOU. >> WHAT ABOUT 101%? >> IS THAT A QUESTION? THE ISSUE IS, I DON'T RESPOND DIRECTLY TO CITIZEN, BUT I'LL RESPOND TO THE BOARD. THAT IS CORRECT, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING WHICH IS ON THE 29TH AND YOU CAN GO OVER THAT 101% FIGURE. THERE'S MORE TO THAT STORY THAN YOU JUST HEARD BY CODE. WHEN YOU HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 29TH, YOU CAN GO OVER THAT 101% FIGURE AND SET THE RATE TO WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE. [00:25:12] >> I'M LARRY WHITLEY. I RESIDE RIGHT OUT OF SEDLEY AND DR. EDWARDS IS MY SUPERVISOR. I THINK MR. THROWER JUST ANSWERED MY FEEL THAT I'VE HAD THE WHOLE TIME I'VE BEEN ON THE EQUALIZATION BOARD THIS TIME TOO. I WONDERED ABOUT ALL THE ADVERTISING FOR THE OTHER MEETING AND EVERYTHING. IT GIVES ALL AN OPENING TO BE MORE THAN 101%. I DON'T THINK THAT'S PLAYING VERY FAIR. I KNOW ALL OF YOU-ALL SUPERVISORS, SOME BETTER THAN OTHERS, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT YOU-ALL HAVE THE BACKBONE TO BE, LIKE HE'S TALKING ABOUT, TO BE MORE THAN 101%. I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S BEING FAIR. I HOPE YOU ALL KEEP IT AT THE 101% TO THE REVENUE NEUTRAL LIKE IT SHOULD BE, AND DON'T USE THIS OTHER MEETING THAT YOU HAVE SCHEDULE SO YOU CAN JACKET TO US, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE IN THE COUNTY CAN STAND MUCH MORE THAN WE'VE ALREADY PAID. I APPRECIATE MR. GILLETTE'S WORK ON THIS. I'M LIKE MR. DARDEN, I THINK WE NEED TO TRIM THE PENCIL JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE, AND GET IT DOWN TO 68. THAT'S WHERE IT SHOULD BE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, WOULD THE COUNTY BE GETTING MORE FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE THIS YEAR THAN IT DID LAST YEAR OR WOULD IT BE GETTING LESS? >> THE COUNTY IN GENERAL, DISREGARDING SCHOOLS? >> NO, NOT THE SCHOOLS. DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH SCHOOLS. >> RIGHT. WE'RE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. THERE WILL BE A 3% INCREASE THAT THE COMPENSATION BOARD IS GIVING TO SALARIED COMPENSATION BOARD EMPLOYEES. THAT'S LIKE YOUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE, COMMISSIONER REVENUE, TREASURER, COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY, AND CLERK OF COURT. >> THE COUNTY WILL BE GETTING MORE REVENUE FROM THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE THAN IT DID LAST YEAR? >> NOT FEDERAL. >> JUST STATE. >> BUT JUST STATE ONLY SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE SALARIES. >> THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THE QUESTION IS, WHAT WOULD THE RATE BY AT 101%? >> WELL, 1% OF THE REVENUE THAT WAS TAKEN IN LAST YEAR WOULD GIVE YOU AN ADDITIONAL. IT WAS ABOUT $145,000. THAT WAS IT. NOW, ANOTHER THING YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER, IS THAT, THE BOARD HAS GONE A NUMBER OF YEARS WITHOUT INCREASING THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE BECAUSE THE BOARD HAS TRADITIONALLY DONE MOST OF ANY INCREASE AT A REASSESSMENT TIME. IT'S JUST A CHOOSING OF THE BOARD AS TO HOW YOU DO IT, AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE PLAYING CATCH UP NOW. BUT THAT'S A DECISION OF THE BOARD FROM YEAR TO YEAR. >> STILL PUBLIC HEARING. >> I DON'T LIKE TO HAVE TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS BETSY WAGMANN. I LIVE IN DART MILL STATES, AND SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. >> PULL THE MIC DOWN A LITTLE BIT. >> BOTH MY PARENTS GREW UP IN CORTLAND. ALL OF MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED HERE. I DID NOT GROW UP HERE, BUT IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY MOST FAVORITE PLACE IN THE WORLD, BECAUSE I LOVE FARMING. WE CAME BACK HERE THREE YEARS AGO. WE'VE LIVED ALL OVER THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. WE'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE CAME BACK HERE THREE YEARS AGO TO BE CLOSE TO THE FARM. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT INVIVA. YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT BRINGING ANOTHER INDUSTRY IN HERE AS WELL. SOMETHING ELSE, JOBS BESIDES FARMING. I'M NOT AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO THAT, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS IMPROVE YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET SOMEBODY IN HERE IF YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS NOT GOOD. [00:30:01] I'M A RETIRED TEACHER. I SPENT 39 YEARS TEACHING ALL OVER THE STATE OF VIRGINIA AND IN NORTH CAROLINA. THAT'S THE FIRST THING PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW IS, WHAT SCHOOLS YOU'VE GOT. OUR CHILDREN HAVE LIVED ALL OVER, IOWA, SEATTLE, SAN DIEGO, EVERYWHERE, AND SUFFOLK, EVERYWHERE, AND WITH THEIR CHILDREN, AND THE FIRST THING THEY ASK WHEN THEY LOOK AT A JOB, AN OPPORTUNITY IS WHAT ARE THE SCHOOLS LIKE? THEY FIND THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE THE BEST. EDUCATION IS KEY TO THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. FARMING IS ALSO KEY TO THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY. IF YOU CANNOT FEED YOUR POPULATION, YOU CANNOT PROVIDE FOR A NATION. YOU KEEP JACKING STUFF UP SO HIGH. YOU'RE FORCING PEOPLE TO DO THINGS THEY DON'T WANT TO DO WITH THEIR LAND, SUCH AS SOLAR FARMS. I'M SO OPPOSED TO THAT, BECAUSE THAT LAND IS RUINED FOREVER NO MATTER WHAT THEY TELL YOU. CUT SOME OF THE SALARIES. YOUR SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL IS MAKING OVER $200,000 A YEAR. SHE HAS SEVEN SCHOOLS. SEVEN SCHOOLS. THERE'S NOT 1,000 STUDENTS IN EACH ONE OF THOSE SCHOOLS. IN CHESAPEAKE, WHERE I RETIRED, THERE WERE 37 SCHOOLS, AND OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS NEVER MADE $200,000 A YEAR. THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. THEY'RE JUST SOME OF MY SUGGESTIONS, BECAUSE I CARE SO DEEPLY ABOUT THE FUTURE HERE OF THIS COUNTY. YOU NEED SOME INDUSTRY IN HERE. YOU NEED SOMETHING BESIDES JUST INVIVA AND FARMERS, YOU'RE BEATING WHAT OUT OF THEM. THEY'RE WORKING. THEY'RE THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE ANYWHERE. THERE ARE TWO COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA THAT STILL TAX FARM EQUIPMENT, AND YOU'RE ONE OF THEM. THAT CHANGES THE WHOLE SCENE FOR MANY OF THEM, BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER TAX THEY HAVE TO PAY. PLEASE, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, LEAD WISELY, LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE, AND HIRE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEIR JOBS AND CAN DO THEM WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ANYBODY ELSE? WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD. MY NAME IS DAVID DAVIS, 29-273 UNITY ROOM, MR. SEL, YOU'RE MY SUPERVISOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'RE MY SUPERVISOR. I'M WAY OVER AND YOU'RE WAY OVER THAT WAY. BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE. I USED TO BE A SELF FORTUNATE YOUNG MAN. I'M NOT A YOUNG MAN NO MORE. I'M AN OLD MAN. BUT I AM VERY FORTUNATE. MY GRANDDAD COME BACK FROM WORLD WAR 1 AND GOT BEHIND A MULE AND A PLOW AND FARMED AND FARMED HARD. EVERYTHING I HAD TODAY IS BECAUSE OF HIM. RIGHT NOW I HAVEN'T REACHED OUT AND BOUGHT IN ANYTHING AS FAR AS PROPERTY. THAT BEING SAID, WE LOOK AT OUR TAX RATE. I HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY UNLESS I WANT TO SELL UP A BLOCK OF LAND HERE, A BLOCK OF LAND THERE WHICH I DO NOT WANT BECAUSE I RESPECT FOR WHAT MY GRANDDAD AND MY DAD DID IN THEIR LIFETIME. I LIKE TO SEE A TAX RATE THROUGH THE REASSESSMENTS. IT'S STAY FLAT AND Y'ALL DONE A GOOD JOB. BUT THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT, AND THE REASON WHY THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE CHOICES IN LIFE. WE HAVE CHOICES OF WHAT WE BUY, WHAT WE DRIVE, HOW MANY CARS WE WANT, HOW MANY BOATS, OR WHATEVER. IN 2018, OUR TAX RATE ON PERSONAL PROPERTY WAS $5,2019, IT WAS $5, 2020, IT WAS $5, 2021, IT WAS $5, 2022, WE GIVE THEM A BREAK AT $4.60. THAT'S FINE. DIDN'T DO NOTHING REAL ESTATE. KEPT THAT SAME, DIDN'T GIVE THESE PEOPLE A BREAK, 2023 WENT TO 4.70. RAISE THEM A LITTLE BIT. WELL, I'M HERE TO SAY WE NEED TO GO BACK TO $5 AND DROP THE REAL ESTATE DOWN ANOTHER PENNY OR TWO BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO BUY A BRAND NEW CAR, [00:35:03] THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY TAXES. IF YOU WANT TO DRIVE ONE THAT'S 10 YEARS OLD, LIKE SOME OF MY STUFF, THEN YOU DON'T PAY MUCH TAXES ON THEM. I SAY I'D LIKE TO SEE MAYBE THE PERSONAL PROPERTY GO UP A LITTLE BIT. I KNOW THAT ONE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE. IF YOU TAKE THAT MONEY AND PUT IN GENERAL FUND, THAT'S FINE. WE HAVE A CUSHION SOMEWHERE. BUT I THINK THE REAL ESTATE TAXES DUE TO BECOME DYING BECAUSE THAT IN CHOICES, UNLESS YOU WE DON'T BUT THAT'S MY OPINION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. WHO'S NEXT? >> HELLO. MY NAME IS OTTO WAKEMAN. MY WIFE WAS UP HERE SPEAKING AND I'VE BEEN SITTING BACK HERE LISTENING. I LIVE IN DARDEN POINT. I GUESS, MR. EDWARDS, YOU ARE MY BOARD MEMBER HERE. BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A DEFEATIST GROUP UP HERE. Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT ALL THIS AND WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THIS MONEY TO DO SOMETHING AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. WELL, WE'VE GOT SO AND SO THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT COMING IN HERE, OR WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE MIGHT COME IN HERE TO TAKE THE PLACE OF ENVIVA. I'D LIKE TO FIND OUT SOMETHING POSITIVE HERE AS FAR AS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS LOOKING LIKE WE MIGHT GET SOME MORE INDUSTRY IN HERE TO PICK UP THE TAX BASIS. JUST BECAUSE THE ENVIVA MIGHT NOT BE HERE. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE SCHOOLS. WE NEED TO HAVE THE BASIS FOR IT. BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYBODY SAY ANYTHING POSITIVE ABOUT, WELL, THERE ARE THINGS ON THE HORIZON THAT WE MIGHT BE IN LINE FOR. IF THERE'S ANYBODY HERE THAT CAN SPEAK TO THAT, I CERTAINLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. >> GOT PLENTY OF TIME WHO'S NEXT? ANYBODY ELSE? LAST CALL. WE WILL THEREFORE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. >> I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO FOR WHAT THE LAST GENTLEMAN BROUGHT UP ABOUT. WE DO HAVE SOME INTEREST IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. LAST MONTH, WE ACTUALLY REZONED AN INDUSTRIAL PARK OVER ON RIGHT 2508, AND THERE'S SOME INTEREST THERE FROM THAT COMPANY THAT DID IT. THEY'RE MARKETING REAL GOOD AND THEY'VE GOT A FEW LEADS. ONE OF THEM IS A DATA CENTER, SO THAT WOULD BE HUGE FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IF WE COULD GET THAT. BUT THAT'S ONE BIG THING, AND THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS IN THE WORKS THAT ARE ON STONE, SO WE CAN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT IT, BUT WE KNOW ABOUT IT. WE'RE WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN TO BRING INDUSTRIAL TAX BASE TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF COMPETITION. YOU GOT ALL THESE COUNTIES IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY THAT ARE VYING FOR THE SAME PEOPLE, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD STRONG INTEREST. I FEEL PRETTY POSITIVE ABOUT THAT, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ENVIVA BECAUSE THEY'RE A BIG EMPLOYER. ALSO ALL THE LOG IS THE EMPLOYEE AND JUST A HUGE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT IN ENVIVA. IT WOULD PUT A TERRIBLE HOLE IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY IF THEY SHUT DOWN AND PUT ALL THESE LOGGERS OUT OF BUSINESS AND ALSO THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT THE LOGGERS IN ENVIVA. WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN DO TO TRY TO BRING PEOPLE IN HERE. >> IF EVERYBODY DON'T KNOW, WE DO HAVE A FULL TIME STAFF THAT'S WORKING ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE COME IN. WE'RE HANDICAPPED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUFFOLK HAS, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE INTERSTATE THAT EMPORIA AND ANYTHING WEST HAS. WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH A POOR HAND TO BEGIN WITH. [00:40:06] BUT WE'RE PRETTY MUCH WIDE OPEN. LIKE YOU SAID, WE BOUGHT ANOTHER TRACT OF LAND OUT THERE AND THE INDUSTRIAL PARKING PEOPLE WANT TO COME IN. THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO MESS AROUND AND BUY A PIECE OF LAND AND GET IT REZONED. WE'VE GOT THE STUFF READY IF THEY WANT IT. >> YOU GOT A REALLY GOOD PROSPECT FOR THAT LAND. GOOD PROSPECT. >> I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PERSONAL PROPERTY DRIVE BACK TO 470. THAT'S ONLY DOWN A NICKEL >> MR. DARDEN, WHAT IS THE MANDATE ON THE PERCENTAGE OF INCREASE? IS IT 100 AND NO MORE THAN 1%? WHAT DOES THE CODE OF VIRGINIA SAY? >> I CAN SEND YOU ALL THE STATE CODE SECTION, BUT THAT'S THE REASON BEHIND YOUR PUBLIC. MANY, IF NOT MOST LOCALITIES WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THIS REASSESSMENT PROCESS, DON'T JUST KEEP A REVENUE NEUTRAL TAX RATE. LOCALITIES CAN GO ABOVE THAT 101%, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. BUT YOU'VE GOT SCHEDULE FOR MAY 29TH TO GO ABOVE THAT 101% INCREASE RATE. THAT'S THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF YOUR PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 29TH. >> BUT MY UNDERSTANDING FROM MR. DARDEN, THE TRAINING THAT YOU ALL WENT THROUGH STRESS THE INCREASE TO BE 1% ABOVE. CATHERINE, HELP ME GET THEM UP. >> ONE PERCENT ABOVE THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S REVENUE FOR REAL ESTATE. >> WHAT HE WAS SAYING IS YOU CAN'T UNLESS YOU GO THROUGH A PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO DO AND WHICH MANY LOCALITIES DO WHEN THEY GO THROUGH A REASSESSMENT PROCESS. >> YOU CAN GO NO MORE THAN 1% ABOVE WITHOUT HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING. ANYTHING ABOVE 1%, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A PUBLIC HEARING. >> I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THAT'S GOT TO BE ASSESSMENT YIELD. IF WE BRING ASSESSMENT YIELD, IT STAYS AND THAT WE DID TALK. IF A HIGH TAX RATE IS NECESSARY THE GOVERNING BODY MUST ADVERTISE THE INCREASE AND CONDUCT A PRIVATE HEARING ON THAT AMOUNT. WELL, YOU GOT TO SPECIFY WHY YOU'VE GOT TO RAISE IT MORE THAN 101% AND YOU CAN'T TELL US YET WHY YOU GOT TO DO THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T GONE 101%. WHAT I LIKE LARRY OLD LAND IS ABLE TO DO IN THIS IS TRY TO PUT BOTH OF THIS IS ONE PUBLIC HEARING. >> NO. >> WE'VE GOT A PUBLIC HEARING. >> FOR THE BOARD'S SAKE, THE SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S BEING REFERENCED IS MAY 29TH. >> IT'S NEXT WEDNESDAY. IT'S ADVERTISED NEXT WEDNESDAY AND THAT'S JUST FOR THAT. THAT'S ALL IT'S FOR, IS TO SET THE RATE INCREASE. IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IF WE WOULD JUST GO WITH ANYTHING OVER 68.50 CENTS. >> WE NEED TO VOTE ON THIS. >> WELL, WHAT'S THIS MEETING FOR? >> JUST TRYING TO FIGURE THIS THING OUT HERE. THIS IS ALL WE'RE DOING. LOOK, WE'VE CUT THIS THING TO DEATH, AND I KNOW YOU GO, WELL, YOU GOT $39 MILLION. WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM. I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS BOOK FIVE TIMES, LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM. EVERYBODY I CALL AND ASK FOR TO DROP IT, THEY GO, WE'RE CUT TO THE BONE. THAT'S WHAT THEY TELL ME. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, THE TREASURY'S OFFICE, EVERYBODY. THEY SAY WE'RE CUT TO THE BONE. EVERY TIME WE CUT SOMETHING, THEY LOOK AT US. HOW IN THE WORLD ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS? NOW, WE'RE TRYING. WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN DO. [00:45:01] JUST LIKE WE SAID, CUTTING OUT ANOTHER 633,000 OUT OF THE BUDGET, THAT'S NOT YOUR SCHOOL. THAT WAS ALL THIS LINE ITEMS PUT TOGETHER. WE DID. WE CUT MORE STUFF LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM THIS WEEK, TRYING TO FIND CUTS. BUT NOW, WE'RE NOT UP HERE JUST TRYING TO MAKE MONEY. >> TO CLARIFY FOR THE BOARD SAKE, TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING IS ON, THAT'S REQUIRED EVERY YEAR DURING THE NORMAL BUDGET PROCESSES FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE TAX RATES, THE FEES AND THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF RATE. THAT'S ALL REQUIRED AS PART OF YOUR ANNUAL NORMAL BUDGET PROCESS. THE ONE ON THE 29TH THAT'S REQUIRED BECAUSE OF THE REASSESSMENT INCREASE OVER THAT 101%. >> YES. MAY THE 29TH AT SIX O'CLOCK. IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. ACTUALLY, WE'VE CUT THE RATE FROM 89 TO WHAT, 73 SO FAR. WE'VE ACTUALLY CUT CUT IT TRYING TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS REASSESSMENT. BUT IF WE GO TO $0.68, EVERY PENNY IS $216,000 TO THE COUNTY. COUNTY'S GOT TO OPERATE. COUNTY'S PRICES HAVE GONE UP JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE'S. WE'VE GOT TO OPERATE. I KNOW IT'S TOUGH BUT I THINK WHAT DAVID BROUGHT UP, THAT IF WE WOULD GO BACK TO $5 ON PERSONAL PROPERTY RATE, THAT'D BRING IN $425,000. >> TWO CENTS. >> THAT'S $0.02. A LOT OF THESE FARMERS LIKE HIM AND EVERYBODY THAT WAS GOT GENERATIONAL FARMS. I THINK THAT WOULD HELP THEM IF WE DID THAT. THAT WAY, YOU'RE NOT PUTTING ANY INCOME FROM THE REAL ESTATE. YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT FROM PEOPLE MAKING CHOICES ON WHAT THEY BUY. YOU BUY A BIG BOAT, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY TAXES. YOU BUY A BIG BOAT HOME, YOU'RE GOING TO PAY TAXES. TO ME THAT WOULD BE THE ANSWER. >> RUN THAT BY ME ONE MORE TIME. >> WELL, IF YOU WANT TO DROP IT TO 68 CENT, WE'LL GO WITH 70 CENT, MAYBE GET IT TO 70. RAISE THE PROPERTY PROPERTY TAX BACK TO $5. THAT'LL BRING IN. WE HAD IT SET 470 LAST YEAR? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> FOUR SEVENTY. >> WELL, $4 IS GOING WITH THE NEW RATE. >> SEVENTY FIVE RIGHT NOW. >> YES. WE WERE PROPOSING 475. IF WE GO UP $0.30 ON IT, THAT WOULD BE 510,000 INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE. BUT IT WOULD TAKE THE BRUNT OF THE INCREASE OFFER TO LAND OWNERS, THESE FARMERS. YOU UNDERSTANDING WHAT I'M SAYING? >> YOU'RE RIGHT. THE PERSONAL PROPERTY IS A VOLUNTARY TAX. YOU EITHER BUY A NEW CAR OR DON'T BUY A NEW CAR. MY LAND IS NOT VOLUNTARY. IT'S THERE. >> EXACTLY. YOU'RE TRYING TO HANG ONTO IT. IF YOU GO TO $0.70 ON THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE AND RAISE THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX TO $5, THAT'LL MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE. >> IS THERE SOME WAY YOU COULD EXCLUDE THIS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX WITH THE FARMERS, NOT RAISE IT OVER THERE? >> THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON, BUT DIDN'T RAISE IT. BUT I AGREE WITH YOU. WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO HELP THEM WHICH LAND USE TAXATION HELPS THEM A LOT. >> THAT WOULD BE A $0.30 INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR ON PERSONAL PROPERTY. THAT WOULD BRING IN $510,000 MORE. THAT WOULD GIVE US ANOTHER $0.02 OFF THE RATE. >> TWO AND A HALF. >> WE COULD GO TO $0.71 CENT WOULDN'T BE MUCH MORE THAN A 1% INCREASE OVER. I THINK EVERYBODY CAN LIVE WITH $0.71. I THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO DO IT WITHOUT SLASHING EVERYBODY'S THROAT IN THESE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. [00:50:01] THEY'RE ALL STRONG AT IT RIGHT NOW, EXCEPT MAYBE SCHOOLS. I DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE STRONG AT IT. BUT WE'VE CUT THEM A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT THIS YEAR, AND WE'LL LOOK AT IT MORE NEXT YEAR, I THINK. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET BACK OFF ON IT. DAVID HAD A GOOD IDEA, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE PUBLIC HEARINGS. WHAT DO YOU-ALL THINK ABOUT THAT? [OVERLAPPING] I'M GOOD WITH THAT. >> CERTAINLY, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY IS A VOLUNTARY TAX. >> EXACTLY. >> YOU GO BUY [OVERLAPPING] $400,000 MOTOR HOME, YOU GOT TO PAY TAXES ON IT. CAN'T GET A MAILBOX IN NORTH CAROLINA, [LAUGHTER] I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DO THAT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, I'M JUST SAYING. [OVERLAPPING] THAT WAS A VERY GOOD IDEA, AND I THINK SOMETHING EVERYBODY CAN LIVE WITH. >> EVERY $0.13 IN PERSONAL PROPERTY EQUALS $0.01 IN REAL ESTATE, SO YOU'RE RIGHT. >> EVERY PENNY IN PERSONAL PROPERTY IS $17,000. >> SEVENTEEN THOUSAND. >> THAT'S WHAT I WAS FIGURING OFF OF. WE GO TO $5 ON THAT, WE CUT THE RATE TO $0.71. I THINK EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEANCE ON THAT. THE $5 AIN'T GOING TO KILL ANYBODY. I KNOW IT'S TERRIBLE, IT'S A HIGH RATE, BUT MAYBE WE CAN GET A BIG INDUSTRY IN HERE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AND WE CAN BACK OFF ON THAT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON. WE'RE REALLY WORKING ON IT. >> IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO BUY A NEW CAR, YOU COULD AFFORD TO PAY YOUR TAX. >> [OVERLAPPING] YOU'RE NOT SITTING THERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY TAXES ON YOUR FARM YOU'VE HAD IT IN YOUR FAMILY FOR FIVE GENERATIONS OR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP YOUR LAND THAT YOU'VE OWNED FOR 100 YEARS. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA. >> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I'VE SEEN PUBLIC COMMENT WORK, [NOISE] SO I WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC. >> THAT'S WHY WE DID IT. >> WE ENDED THE LAST MEETING AND GOT TO WORK, AND THAT'S WHY WE CAME UP WITH THE $0.73 TONIGHT. IF YOU HADN'T BEEN HERE TO NIGHT, THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE IT WOULD BE STUCK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT IN MY RECOLLECTION THAT THE BOARD HAS EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS. MAYBE YOU CAN REMEMBER FURTHER BACK THAN ME, BUT I KNOW ONE THING I'M OLDER THAN YOU, [LAUGHTER] SO I DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO IT. >> WE'D NEVER HAD TIMES THAT WE HAVE NOW. >> NO, WE HAVEN'T. I REALLY HOPE THE PUBLIC IS KEEPING UP WITH WHAT'S GOING ON. I WON'T GET INTO THAT UP HERE, BUT I SERIOUSLY HOPE THE PUBLIC PAYS ATTENTION TO WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEM, AND THAT'S VERY TROUBLING. BUT I THINK WE HAVE ARRIVED AT A BETTER SOLUTION TONIGHT, SO THANK YOU. >> NOW, WHEN WE CAME IN YOU MENTIONED CUTTING THE SCHOOLS BY ANOTHER [INAUDIBLE] [BACKGROUND]. THIS INCLUDES DEBT CUTS AND THE $0.71? >> FIVE DOLLARS IS GOING TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE, $5 PERSONAL PROPERTY. >> JUST TO CLARIFY, SO WE'RE SET GOING FORWARD, IF THERE'S AGREEMENT OR A STRAW VOTE, I THINK WHAT YOU SAID IS CUT THE RATE BACK DOWN TO $0.71, DECREASE THE SCHOOL FUNDING BY 633,000 AND INCREASE THE PERSONAL PROPERTY RATE TO $5. >> BASICALLY. >> DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT. WE CAN JUST DO A STRAW VOTE. >> THAT'S A NON-BONDING VOTE TILL YOU ADOPT THE BUDGET. >> WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE. >> THAT'S FAIR. >> JUST ROLLED IT OFF LIKE IT OUGHT TO BE. [OVERLAPPING] >> SEVENTY ONE AND FIVE. EVERYBODY GOT IT? IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? LET'S HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS. >> YES. >> YES, SIR. >> YES. >> YES. >> YES. >> YES. >> 6:55. [00:55:03] >> NEXT. >> I THINK WE GOT A GOOD BUDGET THAT EVERYBODY CAN LIVE WITH, AND I THINK THE COUNTY CAN LIVE WITH IT. THE CFO'S SHAKING HER HEAD IN AGREEMENT, SO I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT SOMETHING TO WORK WITH HERE. >> THE NEXT MEETING IS A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE 28TH AND THE 29TH. WE'LL BE HERE AT 6:00 ALSO TO FINALIZE THE THINGS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT. >> THAT'LL BE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. THAT WOULD BE. >> THEN [NOISE] JUNE THE 4TH, TUESDAY, THE 4TH WE'LL BE BACK HERE TO [OVERLAPPING] >> ADOPT THE BUDGET. >> THE BUDGET. >> FINISH OFF THE WHOLE WHOLE SHOOTING MATTERS. BEFORE WE ADJOURN, DOES ANYBODY ELSE OUT THERE LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING BEFORE WE ADJOURN? [BACKGROUND] >> BACK HERE AND SAY IT, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU I'M PROUD OF THIS. YOU-ALL DO A FANTASTIC JOB, AND YOU DO LISTEN TO OUR TROUBLES. >> THANK YOU >> THANK YOU. >> IT'S BEEN AWHILE, BUT WE GOT OUR ANSWERS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER] >> ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? MOTION TO ADJOURN. >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> WE ARE ADJOURNED. >> [INAUDIBLE] * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.