May 20, 2026 Budget Workshop

[00:00:02]

GOOD EVENING, FOLKS. IT'S 6:00. WE'RE NOW CALLED TO MAY 20TH, 2026 BUDGET MEETING TO ORDER.

[Call to Order]

AND THAT'S THE FIRST THING. LET'S STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

ALL RIGHT. CAN WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER FROM THE AUDIENCE FOR INVOCATION FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING? I CAN DO IT ABSOLUTELY. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, EVERYONE WHO HAS GATHERED THIS EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. LET'S, BOW OUR HEAD. WE THANK YOU FOR THE EVENING THAT WE WILL NEVER SEE BEFORE.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK OF PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO AS WE HANDLE THE BUSINESS OF NOT ONLY FOR OUR PARTNERS AND ENTITIES IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THE ALMIGHTY PRAISE FOR ALLOWING US TO DO SUCH WORK.

WE THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER THAT YOU'RE GOOD EVERY DAY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER THAT WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER AS WE CONTINUE TO DO OUR HARD WORK AND DISCUSS THE BUSINESS OF OUR FAMILIES, OUR CONSTITUENCY AND THE COUNTY THAT WE ALL LOVE DEARLY.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO DO THE WORK UNDER YOU.

THIS IS MY PRAYER. IN YOUR NAME, AMEN. AMEN. OKAY, WE'RE HERE TONIGHT FOR A PUBLIC HEARING

[1. Chairman opens Public Hearing on FY27 Proposed Budget ]

WE GOT PLENTY OF TIME, SO WE CAN LET JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY WANTS TO SPEAK.

AS COMPARED TO THAT ALL RIGHT. THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS BUDGET IS OPEN.

I GUESS I'LL BE FIRST THEN I LIVE AT 27511 SOUTHAMPTON PARKWAY IN COURTLAND.

AND THE FIRST QUESTION I THINK WE NEED TO ANSWER TONIGHT IS I'VE HEARD IT IN ALL THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE BEEN IN IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS IS WE HAD A LIST OF QUESTIONS THIS LONG FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD FROM SCHOOLS.

WE HAD MILLION DOLLARS. WHATEVER IT WAS, WAS MISSING.

HAVE WE EVER GOT ANSWERS FOR ALL THOSE QUESTIONS WHERE THAT MONEY WENT AND ALL THOSE QUESTIONS GET ANSWERED? OKAY. THE NEXT THING I TALK ABOUT IS WE'RE ALWAYS COMPARING OURSELVES WITH ISLE OF WIGHT AND SUFFOLK.

I HEAR IT ON ALL KINDS OF ISSUES. AND WE'RE NOT COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES AND ORANGES TO ORANGES.

WHEN WE DO THAT, WE'RE COMPARING WATERMELONS AND PEANUTS.

AND WHAT I'VE GOT TO SAY IS THOSE TWO COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENTS, THEY PAY THEIR EMPLOYEES MORE.

AND THEY TAX THEIR, THEIR PEOPLE LESS. AND IT'S BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT INDUSTRY.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES.

IT'S BECAUSE ISLE OF WIGHT TWO AND A HALF TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE HAVE, AND SUFFOLK'S PROBABLY TEN TIMES MORE PEOPLE THAN WE HAVE.

SO IT'S EASIER FOR THEM TO AFFORD. SO WHEN WE COMPARE THEM TO US, THAT ANYTHING WE GO WITH IS WE'RE JUST NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THOSE TWO COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENTS.

AND THEN $120.04, I THINK A CENT DRAWS ABOUT 160,000 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO THINK BACK FIVE YEARS AGO, USED CAR PRICES WENT UP, OUR TAXES WENT UP. YOU TRIED TO BRING IT DOWN.

YOU MISSED THE TARGET. WE DIDN'T GET A REFUND.

WE DIDN'T ADJUST THE PRICES DOWN. WE JUST KEPT THE TAX INCREASE.

THREE YEARS AGO, THE ASSESSORS CAME TO TOWN TO REASSESS OUR REAL ESTATE.

BEFORE THEY'D BEEN HERE A MONTH, THE RUMORS WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE, HOW MUCH IT WAS GOING UP,

[00:05:05]

I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DROP DOWN TO ABOUT $0.55.

WE PATTED YOURSELF ON THE BACK FOR GETTING TO 71.

AND AGAIN, YOU MISSED THE TARGET. SO LAST YEAR THIS BUDGET WE IN RIGHT NOW, WE INCREASED SPENDING BY $4 MILLION.

WE DIDN'T RAISE TAXES. IN THE TIDEWATER NEWS ABOUT FIVE WEEKS AGO.

IT SAYS YOU ALL ARE GOING TO RAISE THE BUDGET BY $4.6 MILLION.

NO RAISING TAXES. THAT'S $8,600,000. NO RAISING OF TAXES.

WHERE DID IT COME FROM? IT CAME FROM HIGHER ASSESSMENTS ON THE REAL ESTATE AND ON THE CAUSE.

NOW YOU WANT TO RAISE IT JUST ANOTHER $120 PER HOUSEHOLD.

IT MIGHT WOULD BE OKAY IF YOU HADN'T ALREADY RAISED IT $0.50 BEFORE.

THAT'S WHAT, 160,000 DIVIDED ABOUT $8.5 MILLION COMES TO.

SO YOU'VE RAISED OUR TAXES EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE.

SO I THINK YOU WE'VE DONE NOW IS WE'RE BUMPING THE TOP.

WE'RE AT THE CEILING. IF WE NEED MORE PEOPLE, IF WE NEED MORE AMENITIES, WHATEVER WE NEED, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY IT ANYMORE BECAUSE WE'VE DONE TAX EVERYTHING TO THE MAX BECAUSE MY TAXES DIDN'T GO UP $120.

THEY WENT UP MORE LIKE $1,220, AND EVERYBODY ELSE'S MUST HAVE TOO TO COME UP WITH $8.6 MILLION.

SO WE'RE PUSHING IT. AND WHERE I WAS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANOTHER THING, WE TALK ABOUT, WELL, THIS PERSON LEFT BECAUSE THEY GOT A HIGHER PAY SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO THEY GOT BETTER BENEFITS, WHATEVER. WELL, WHEN I WAS WORKING, PEOPLE LEFT ALL THE TIME FOR MORE WAGES, MORE BENEFITS. GO TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY WHERE THEY HAVE BETTER AMENITIES, OR THEY DON'T LIKE THE COMPANY TO WORK FOR THE BOSS THEY WORK FOR.

BUT WHEN THOSE PEOPLE LEFT, PEOPLE CAME IN TO REPLACE THEM FOR THE SAME REASONS MORE MONEY, MORE BENEFITS, BETTER JOB. SO IT'S A CONTINUOUS CYCLE IN EVERY KIND OF WORK PEOPLE DO, WHETHER IT'S TEACHING SCHOOL, WORKING FOR THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WORKING AT INTERNATIONAL PAPER OR ANY OR ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

PEOPLE COME AND GO ALL THE TIME AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.

SO I THINK WE'RE TOPPING OUT ON TAXES. WE'VE GOT ONE PLACE ELSE WE COULD GO.

AND THAT WOULD DESTROY THE ONLY INDUSTRY WE GOT.

AND WE THEN WE'D BE BROKE SURE ENOUGH. SO I JUST WANT TO BRING ALL THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.

AND BECAUSE WE SEEM TO FORGET FROM ONE MEETING TO THE NEXT, WHAT WE DID AT THE LAST MEETING.

AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? BY PLENTY OF TIME.

GOOD EVENING BOARD, DAVID EDWARDS. SEDLEY, VIRGINIA.

I MIGHT BE A LITTLE CONFUSED ON THIS, BUT LAST MONTH WHEN I WAS HERE WAS NOT A TAX RAISE.

CORRECT IN THE BUDGET? CORRECT. I DON'T GET THE TIDEWATER NEWS, SO YOU HAD TO GIVE ME A LITTLE.

BUT NOW THERE IS A $.04 TAX RAISE? IS THAT WHAT YOU ALL ARE? IT'S PROPOSED, BUT IT'S PROPOSED, NOT CONCRETE ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'M AGAINST IT. OKAY? I'M TAXED TO DEATH.

I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THEY'RE WELL DESERVED OF THEIR MONEY. BUT I THINK SOMETIMES THE SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE MANAGEABLE WITH THEIR MONEY.

JUST LIKE Y'ALL GOT TO BE MORE MANAGEABLE FOR Y'ALL'S MONEY.

YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME YOU RAISE REAL ESTATE, IT'S NO WAY FOR, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO REALLY SAY THIS. A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND I'M A FARMER.

AND IN AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS, WHEN YOU RAISE THE REAL ESTATE RATE, THE FIRST THING I GET FROM THE LANDOWNER, I GOT TO RAISE MY RENT. I GOT TO NEED MORE MONEY.

I CAN'T CALL THE GRANER AND TELL ME I NEED $6 FOR MY CORN.

[00:10:02]

SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WE GOT A TIGHT SITUATION.

THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW IS NOT VERY WELL, NOT VERY GOOD.

BUT WE CAN'T KEEP PUTTING ALL THIS BURDEN ON THE LANDOWNERS.

AND WHEN I SAY THAT THE LANDOWNERS RIGHT NOW ARE SUBSIDIZING EVERY RESIDENTIAL HOME IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. I MEAN, I MEAN A PIECE OF PROPERTY OUT THERE WITH NO TREES, NO HOUSES, NOTHING. IT CAN'T BE COSTING THE COUNTY $0.75 PER 100 WHERE A HOUSE COSTS ABOUT $1.65 FOR EVERY DOLLAR 100 BROUGHT IN. SO I JUST SAY BE A LITTLE TIGHT WITH YOUR MONEY IF YOU COULD.

IF I MEAN, IF WE NEED TO GIVE THE TEACHERS A RAISE, I THINK THE SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE MANAGEABLE WITH THE MONEY.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN SOME HARD TIMES BETWEEN Y'ALL AND THEM AND I WOULD WANT TO BE A TEACHER, BUT THIS DAY AND TIME, I KNOW THEY'RE VERY DEDICATED PEOPLE. NOT DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT I JUST RIGHT NOW, THE WAY THE ECONOMY, THE FOUR SENSES OF WITH THE BIG BURDEN. I JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

ALL RIGHT. WHO'S NEXT? GOOD EVENING BOARD. PAUL, VIRGINIA. I AGREE TAXING PEOPLE TO DEATH IS NOT THE WAY TO GO.

HOWEVER, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE, HAS BEEN HIT WITH INCREASED PRICES ACROSS THE BOARD.

FUEL COST HAS GONE UP. ELECTRICITY, TELEPHONE, ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT A NORMAL HOMEOWNER AND NORMAL BUSINESS IS COMPLAINING ABOUT. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS FEELING IT JUST AS BAD.

IF WE KEEP NOT DOING SOMETHING TO INCENTIVIZE TEACHERS TO STAY, GOOD HOME-GROWN PEOPLE TO STAY, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO FIX THE SITUATION WE'RE IN.

ON TOP OF THAT, IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR YOU ALL TO BRING INDUSTRY INTO THE AREA WHEN OUR SCHOOLS AREN'T UP TO PAR COMPARED TO THE NORMAL SURROUNDING LOCALITIES.

AND THE QUICKEST WAY TO FIX THAT IS INCREASE FUNDING TO US JUST A LITTLE BIT AND SEE WHERE WE CAN GO.

WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING ON OUR END TO TRY TO BE MORE OPEN AND HONEST.

IT'S THE BEST RELATIONSHIP I'VE SEEN WITH THE BOARD AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SINCE I BEGAN IN 2016 WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I BELIEVE IN THIS COUNTY. I'VE LIVED IN THIS COUNTY MY WHOLE LIFE. MY FATHER'S LIVED IN THIS COUNTY HIS WHOLE LIFE.

I HAVE NOT LEFT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE SCHOOL BOARD CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS PLACE GREAT AGAIN, LIKE IT WAS WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE IN 2016. AND I AGREE, TAXES AREN'T THE WAY TO GO, BUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE BETWEEN DECIDING TO PAY FOR DIESEL FUEL OR PAYING TEACHER SALARIES AND ADDING POSITIONS TO HELP INSTRUCTION.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. CINDY EDWARDS 30421 SYCAMORE AVENUE, SEDLEY, VIRGINIA.

I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS. HOPEFULLY YOU ALL HAVE BEEN LOOKING OVER THE BUDGET.

AND LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, THE TABLE OF CONTENTS IS OFF.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON PAGE FOUR AND THE TABLE OF CONTENTS, IT SAYS UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY SHERIFF LAW ENFORCEMENT, PAGES 46 TO 48. WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS REALLY ON PAGE 45.

ON PAGE FOUR OF THE TABLE OF CONTENTS UNDER PUBLIC WORKS, IT LISTS STREET LIGHTS ON PAGE 73, AND STREET LIGHTS IS ACTUALLY ON PAGE 70. SANITATION WASTE REMOVAL IS WHAT'S REPORTED ON PAGE 73.

SO ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC WHO'S BEEN ONLINE AND LOOKED AT THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THEY'RE SEEING ALL OF THESE ERRORS.

AND ON PAGE 53, THERE'S A CHART THAT'S OFF OF THE PAGE.

ON PAGE 45 BESIDE NUMBER ONE, SHERIFF, IT SHOWS THE SHERIFF'S SALARY OF $139,612 PLUS $21,577 FOR ANIMAL CONTROL. HOWEVER, WHEN YOU LOOK OVER UNDER THE TOTAL, THEY ARE NOT ADDED TOGETHER.

SO THIS IS GOING TO THROW ALL OF YOUR NUMBERS ARE OFF.

IF ANYBODY HAS NOT PICKED UP ON THIS, SURELY YOU SHOULD HAVE.

AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED PAY AND BENEFITS SEVERAL TIMES.

I KNOW THE SHERIFF HAS, I HAVE. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL ARE AWARE, BUT A LOT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND OTHER LOCALITIES

[00:15:01]

IN ADDITION, THE MINIMUM AMOUNT THAT THESE OTHER LOCALITIES ARE PAYING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS IS $25,651 ANNUALLY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, SUSSEX COUNTY PAYS THEIR EMPLOYEES 100%.

THEY PAY 100% OF THEIR HEALTH CARE. SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT COMPARING OTHER COUNTIES, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE THINGS REALLY SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION.

AND WHEN THE JOB, STUDY POSITION, STUDY SALARY STUDY WAS DONE, I DID NOTE THAT ON MY REPORT THAT I TURNED IN TO WHETHER YOU ALL SEE THAT OR NOT, I DON'T KNOW.

AND SO THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AND.

I KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO HIRE A PERMANENT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, BUT WE SHOULD NOT START OUT PAYING A NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AT THE TOP OF THE PAY SCALE OR MUCH MORE. EVERYTHING SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION HOW LONG SOMEBODY HAS SERVED IN ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS. ALSO, THERE SHOULD NOT BE A CONTRACT STATING THAT THE COUNTY WILL PAY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR SIX MONTHS OR ANY PERIOD OF TIME BEYOND THE TIME THAT THEY ARE FIRED OR ASKED TO RESIGN.

THIS HAS BEEN A BIG MISTAKE FROM THE FIRST TIME THAT THE BOARD EVER MADE A CONTRACT WITH SOMEONE TO PUT THIS IN PLACE.

WHEN YOU GET RID OF SOMEONE, YOU GET RID OF THEM BECAUSE THEY AREN'T DOING THEIR JOB.

YOU DON'T CONTINUE TO PAY THEM FOR NOT DOING THEIR JOB YEAR, MONTHS, YEARS LATER.

ALSO, YOU DON'T NEED TO HIRE A CONSULTING FIRM TO FIND A NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.

YOU SEE WHERE THAT GOT YOU ALL THE LAST TIME WE WASTED COUNTY MONEY WHEN WE ENDED UP WITH WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS GOING TO APPLY ANYWAY.

WE DIDN'T NEED TO HIRE A CONTRACTING FIRM AND WE DON'T NEED TO DO THIS THIS TIME.

EITHER YOU SHOULD HAVE ALL LEARNED A LESSON FROM THAT.

AS FAR AS THE SPACE NEEDS STUDY THAT WAS DONE THAT WAS A BIG WASTE OF MONEY FROM THE BUDGET AS WELL.

NOTHING'S GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT ANY NEEDS AND BUILDING A NEW BUILDING OR ANYTHING OF THE KIND.

WE'VE GOT A COURTHOUSE TO PAY FOR. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE.

SO THAT WAS $100,000 DOWN THE DRAIN. IN ADDITION, WHEN YOU HIRE SOMEBODY IN AN ACTING POSITION, THEY NEED TO HAVE THE CREDENTIALS FOR THAT POSITION.

AND BY CREDENTIALS, I MEAN THEY NEED TO HAVE WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THAT JOB DESCRIPTION.

FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE A JOB POSITION THAT REQUIRES SOMEBODY TO HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR A CPA.

WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, THEY CAN'T ACT AS IF THEY HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE UNDER SOMEBODY ELSE'S DEGREE.

THEY CAN'T ACT IF THEY HAVE, AS IF THEY HAVE A LICENSE UNDER SOMEONE ELSE.

THAT IS ILLEGAL. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE FEE.

BACK IN 2012. YOU SAID THAT IT WOULD BE FOR ONE YEAR.

THEN YOU SAID WHEN THE TIPPING FEES WENT DOWN THAT YOU WOULD DROP THE RATES.

NONE OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE. AND DOCTOR EDWARDS, YOU MADE THESE COMMENTS DURING THE MEETING AND EVERY YEAR AND THIS HAS HAPPENED EVEN THIS YEAR, SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM YOUR VERY NEIGHBORHOOD ARE THE ONES WHO ARE COMPLAINING SO MUCH ABOUT THE SOLID WASTE FEE.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE GET NASTY GRAMS ON THE PAY SLIP THAT THEY SEND IN WHERE THEY WRITE UGLY MESSAGES YOU KNOW, AND THEY FEEL LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S WAY PAST TIME TO GET RID OF THE SOLID WASTE FEE.

AND YOU ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CONSTITUENTS WANT.

WELL, IF YOU PUT THIS UP TO A VOTE, YOU WILL FIND THE MAJORITY OF THE CONSTITUENTS WANT TO DO AWAY WITH THE SOLID WASTE FEE, AND IT'S PAST TIME TO PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE. AS FAR AS THE 4% PROPOSED INCREASE, IF YOU DO AN INCREASE, IT REALLY SHOULD BE DONE ON PERSONAL PROPERTY.

[00:20:02]

SO EVERYBODY WHO OWNS ANY PERSONAL PROPERTY WOULD BE CONTRIBUTING.

YOU HAVE A LOT MORE CONSTITUENTS AND TAXPAYERS WHO OWN A VEHICLE OR A TRACTOR TRAILER, THESE TYPE THINGS VERSUS REAL ESTATE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE RENTING WHO DO NOT OWN ANY REAL ESTATE, ANY LAND, ANY HOMES.

SO THE PLACE TO PUT IT WOULD BE ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT.

AND I WILL FOLLOW UP ON WHAT MR. SIMMONS SAID.

YOU ALL GOT IN A PILE OF MONEY BACK IN COVID, AND THE COUNTY WASTED A LOT OF MONEY.

AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT. AND WE DON'T EVER DO MAINTENANCE ON SOMETHING UNTIL IT GETS DOWN TO THE FACT, JUST LIKE THE COURTHOUSE WE WERE MADE, WE WERE FORCED TO DO IT.

WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF ANYTHING. WE JUST LET IT GO DOWNHILL.

ANIMAL TO SHELTER EVERYTHING. WE JUST LET IT FALL DOWN.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE PIECES AND GET SLAMMED WITH THESE HIGH-TECH TAX RATES IN ORDER TO COVER IT.

AND I KNOW SOME OF THIS GOES BACK WAY BEFORE YOU ALL'S TIME, BUT IT'S TIME THE BOARD LEARN HOW TO MANAGE THE MONEY THAT'S BEING TAKEN IN.

AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION ON EVERYTHING I HAVE SAID.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? WE GOT PLENTY OF TIME. ANYBODY OUT THERE WANT TO SAY SOMETHING GOOD? [LAUGHTER] COME ON UP. WE GOT PLENTY OF TIME.

THAT'S IT THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION. SEVERAL THINGS THAT I HEARD THIS EVENING WAS THAT STANDS TRUE THAT WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER.

AND SO I JUST WANTED TO STAND HERE THIS EVENING, AS YOU ALL WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO DISCUSS ALL OF THE CHOICES THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE. AND THE CHOICES ARE HEAVY. I'M STANDING HERE IN SUPPORT, OF COURSE, OF THE ENTITY THAT SUPPORT HARD WORK FOR CHILDREN. AND WE STAND FIRMLY ON OUR NEEDS BASED, NEEDS BASED BUDGET AND THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED, THE WORK THAT WE HAVE GATHERED TOGETHER TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL AND TO THE COMMUNITY, OUR NEEDS, THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT THE AREAS IN WHICH WE'VE ASKED TO SUPPORT FINANCIALLY ARE NOT WASTEFUL AREAS.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE SINCE JANUARY 1ST, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE INTENTIONAL ABOUT PROVIDING A TRANSPARENT BUDGET IN COLLABORATION WITH YOU.

AND SO I'M EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE YOU AGAIN, POSSIBLY MY LAST TIME BEFORE YOU.

IT JUST DEPENDS IF I'M INVITED BACK FOR DINNER OR NOT, THAT'S OKAY.

AS ACTING SUPERINTENDENT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WORK AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOU ON AREAS OF NEED FOR FAMILIES THAT WE BOTH CARE ABOUT. SO MY ASK IS THE SAME. MY HUMBLY ASK IS THE SAME.

AND WHEN I WAS BEFORE YOU JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO, I SAID TO YOU, AND I MAINTAINED THAT PROMISE IS THAT THE EYES MAY BE HEAVY, BUT I WILL STAND WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE CONSIDERATION TO ENSURE THAT OUR TEACHERS CAN OUR STAFF CAN HAVE A 5% PAY INCREASE.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO THANK YOU.

AND I COULD SAY. SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I FELT I'VE GOTTEN AN ACCURATE, HONEST BUDGET FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. IT'S MY TEAM WHO I LOVE AND SUPPORT 100%.

SO THANK YOU. AND TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, WE HAVE SOME SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS HERE.

SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. [APPLAUSE].

STILL HAVE SOME TIME. ANYBODY ELSE?

[00:25:06]

I THINK CINDY HIT ON SOME GOOD POINTS. SHE WAS STRONG AND VERY CLEAR ON WHAT SHE THINKS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME VALID POINTS IN WHAT SHE SAID.

AND IN ORDER TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH I COMPLY WITH, SOME OF THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE LOOKED AT THOROUGHLY AND CORRECTED.

SO IT WOULD GIVE MORE LEEWAY TO GRANT WHAT IS NEEDED BY THE SCHOOLS.

WE DON'T HAVE A BOTTOMLESS PIT TO SPEND, AND IF WE GO IN AND OBSERVE AND CRITIQUE SOME OF THE METHODOLOGIES THAT WE'RE USING TO SPEND MONEY, WE PROBABLY WOULD FIND SOME THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO HAVE MORE.

AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT CINDY ADDRESSED ARE JUST BEST BUSINESS PRACTICES THAT COULD BE IMPROVED UPON.

SO I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. I WOULD URGE YOU TO GO BACK AND READ HER NOTES CAREFULLY, BECAUSE SHE LAID OUT A LOT OF STUFF IN A SHORT TIME.

BUT THE POINT SAYS SHE'S MAKING ARE GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES AND SHE'S VERY STRONG WITH HER WORDS, BUT SHE'S ON TARGET WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SHE SAID.

VERY MUCH SO. AND THEN MONEY COULD BE MANEUVERED AROUND THAT MIGHT MAKE MORE AVAILABLE FOR THE SCHOOLS.

IF YOU LISTEN TO SOME OF HER IDEAS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING BRENDAN RODGERS 10854 NEW ROAD I'VE OR VIRGINIA.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU TONIGHT. I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE.

SUFFOLK CITY COUNCIL WENT LONGER THAN I EXPECTED THEY WOULD GO FOR THE OTHER JOB THAT I'VE GOT.

I COME TO YOU JUST AS A CITIZEN TONIGHT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE BUDGET THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT TOGETHER, AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE THERE. AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS AN AGGRESSIVE ASK FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM RELATED TO INCREASING SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOWARD THE CHILDREN THAT WE SUPPORT IN THIS COUNTY.

AND I KNOW THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE. AND I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THAT, THAT YOU GUYS ARE IN THAT SPOT. WHAT I WANTED TO ADVOCATE FOR WAS THAT AS WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND BETWEEN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS I THINK WE CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER VISION FOR SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, FOR PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS, FOR BUSINESSES, FOR OTHERS THAT WANT TO COME AND LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE.

AND I THINK THAT BY SETTING SOME OF THAT TONE THAT WE'VE WORKED ON, AND I'VE SEEN ALL OF YOU WORK ON OVER THE LAST YEAR, IT'S BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FOR OUR COUNTY.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THAT ALSO IN THE FUNDING REQUEST THAT THE BOARD PUT FORWARD TO ALL OF YOU THIS YEAR.

DOCTOR HARRIS-MUHAMMED AND HER STAFF DID A GOOD JOB OF COMMUNICATING, TRYING TO GET INPUT FROM EACH OF YOU, AND I THINK REALLY DID A GOOD JOB OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEEDS BASED BUDGET WAS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WE'VE GONE SEVERAL YEARS WITH LEVEL FUNDING, AND THAT HAS DEFINITELY IMPACTED OUR TEACHER MORALE AND OUR ABILITY TO RETAIN SOME OF THE BEST TEACHERS IN THIS COUNTY, IN THE COUNTY. I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN TAKE A FEW STEPS FORWARD THIS YEAR THAT WILL HELP TO PREPARE US FOR SOME FUTURE GENERATIONS AND SOME OF THE ABILITY TO ATTRACT TOP TALENT HERE. THE OTHER PIECE I WANTED TO COMMENT ON WAS THAT YOU SAW THE REQUEST FROM WESTERN TIDEWATER COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD COME IN AS A LEVEL FUNDED REQUEST. AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS FOR FUNDING US LAST YEAR AT THE LEVEL WE NEEDED TO MEET OUR 10% LOCAL MATCH THERE. AND WHILE I'M SPEAKING TO YOU AS A CITIZEN, I CAN'T IGNORE THE FACT THAT I AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THERE AND JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE REQUEST THAT YOU DID. YOU FULFILLED LAST YEAR. IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH THE STATE AND THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE IN THE COUNTY. SO THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. STILL HAVE SOME TIME.

WHO'S NEXT? ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. LAST CALL. ANYBODY ELSE? CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON THIS ISSUE.

ALL RIGHT FOLKS. WELL, I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS.

[2. Discussion among Board of Supervisors ]

[00:30:05]

THEY ASKED FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS A 5% RAISE.

IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, I'M A LITTLE MORE USED TO STRATEGIZING WHEN YOU'RE IN A HOLE WITH THE REVENUE STREAM, NOT BEING ABLE TO FULFILL EVERYBODY'S WANTS, THERE HAS TO BE SOME STRATEGIZING.

AND THAT WAS MY THINKING THAT CAUSED ME TO VOTE THE WAY I DID.

I CAN'T HELP BUT GET BACK TO THE REPORT THAT WAS DONE FOR THE COUNTY ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IT WAS ALL BASED ON COMMENTS FROM THE CITIZENS.

WE TOOK IT SERIOUSLY AND WE STARTED OUT WITH IT IN THE PROFESSIONAL MANNER THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT AND TAKEN IT ONE STEP ABOVE US AND LEAVING IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS.

IN MY OPINION, THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB. IT'S WRITTEN, IT'S STILL OUT THERE AND IT'S IN PRINT COPY AND NOT HAVING. NOT HAVING A WHOLE LOT OF INPUT UP TO THIS POINT ON SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE NEEDED TO BE MADE IN THIS REPORT. I WENT TO THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WHEN SANDS ANDERSON, I BELIEVE IT WAS, CAME IN AND GAVE THEIR REPORT SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER OCTOBER 2ND. IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THEIR OPINION FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD, FROM THE LEGAL SIDE OF THAT. AND I LISTENED TO IT.

AND A LOT OF WHAT WAS IN THAT REPORT WAS NOT TOUCHED, WASN'T COVERED, WASN'T BROUGHT OUT.

I BROUGHT THE REPORT WITH ME TONIGHT. I WON'T READ THESE THINGS, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL ISSUES IN THERE THAT THAT LED ME TO VOTE THE WAY I DID. ONE OF THEM WAS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CATEGORY.

I FELT LIKE THAT THE INCREASE THAT WAS APPLIED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE CATEGORY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN INSTRUCTION, THE INSTRUCTION CATEGORY, BECAUSE THE TEACHERS ARE THE ONE THAT NEEDS THEY NEED.

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT NEED THE RAISES, NOT THE ADMINISTRATION.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY, BUT PUBLIC SCHOOL SPENDING RIGHT NOW ANNUALLY ACROSS THIS COUNTRY IS $1 TRILLION. AND WHAT HAS TAKEN THAT NUMBER TO SUCH A HIGH LEVEL HAS BEEN THE ADVANCEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION IN PROPORTION TO INSTRUCTION.

IT'S GOTTEN WAY OUT OF LINE AS FAR AS THE RATIO IS CONCERNED.

AND WHAT'S CAUSED THAT HAS BEEN A DROP IN STUDENTS.

A LOT OF STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SHOVELED OFF, DECIDED TO BE HOME SCHOOLED OR GO TO PRIVATE SCHOOL OR CHARTER SCHOOLS AND ALIKE.

AND THE RATIO HAS REALLY GOTTEN OUT OF KILTER.

AND NEVERTHELESS, THAT HAS PUT A PINCH ON PROPERTY TAXES.

AND IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW, THE STATE OF OHIO RIGHT NOW IS TAKING PETITIONS TO PUT ON THE REFERENDUM TO DO AWAY WITH PROPERTY TAXES, AND THIS IS GAINING STEAM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND SEVERAL OTHER STATES ARE LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW AND FOLLOWING SUIT.

SOMETIMES THESE THINGS ARE CONTAGIOUS. LORD KNOWS, I HOPE IT DOESN'T HIT HERE BECAUSE THAT COVERS THE BULK OF THE BURDEN OF COVERING OUR SERVICES THAT ARE MUCH NEEDED IN THIS COUNTY.

SO WE'VE GOT TO DO THAT. WE'VE GOT TO BALANCE THESE THINGS.

AND I THINK IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS, INSTEAD OF A 5% RAISE ONE YEAR, I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT A COUPLE OF YEARS AND ACHIEVING YOUR GOAL. AND I WOULD AGAIN TONIGHT BE IN FAVOR OF REDUCING ANY INCREASE IN THE ADMINISTRATION, PUTTING IT IN TO INSTRUCTIONAL AND SEEING IF WE COULD GET IT TO 4% INSTEAD OF 5%.

[00:35:04]

AND WE'VE GOT A UNCERTAIN ECONOMY RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL HAVE TIME TO DO SOME PLANNING AND, AND MOVING FORWARD IN STRATEGY WITH, WITH REGARD TO PERSONNEL.

I KNOW MOST PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM DON'T REMEMBER WHEN THE STATE OR GOVERNMENT COUNTY FRAMEWORK WAS CHANGED WITH REGARD TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES. I DOUBT MANY OF YOU.

I SEE A FEW FACES THAT WOULD PROBABLY REMEMBER IT.

IT USED TO BE 8 STEP UP FOR GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.

THAT WAS CHANGED AND IT WAS MADE 16 STEPS. THE ISSUE WAS THAT THE LEGISLATURE IN VIRGINIA NEVER FUNDED THE 16 STEP CHANGE. AND SO HUMAN RESOURCE ENTITIES AT EVERY GOVERNMENT LEVEL WERE LEFT WITH BALANCING OUT EMPLOYEE SALARIES EVERY YEAR. BUT THERE WAS A REASON FOR, AND IT HAD TO BE DOCUMENTED, BUT YOU COULD COMPLY WITH THE 16 STEPS, BUT YOU HAD TO RATIONALIZE IT.

YOU HAD TO SUBMIT YOUR JUSTIFICATION FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND YOU HAD SOME VARIANCE. YOU HAD VARIANCES THAT YOU COULD USE FROM 5% TO 15%.

AND IT WAS DONE IN A SUPERVISORY CAPACITY. THAT'S ALL GONE BY THE WAYSIDE.

WHEN WE RAN INTO DEI AND SOME OF THESE OTHER ALPHABET NAMED PROGRAMS THAT THROUGH EVERYTHING, I'D HAVE KILLED THEM TRYING TO BE CORRECTED MOVING INTO THE FUTURE.

AND I THINK IT CAN BE CORRECTED IN THIS COUNTY, BUT THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP US WITH JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT THAT COULD HELP US WITH TEACHERS AND BUDGETS AND THINGS THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A REVENUE STREAM THAT'S, I THINK EVERYBODY IN HERE ACKNOWLEDGES IS NOT COMPOSED LIKE SUFFOLK OR ISLE OF WIGHT OR CERTAINLY SURRY THAT HAS THAT NUCLEAR PLANT OVER THERE. AND BRUNSWICK WHERE THE TOBACCO LINE STOPPED.

IT DIDN'T COME TO SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BECAUSE SOUTHAMPTON DIDN'T HAVE ANY TOBACCO LAND.

IT HAD ALL BEEN SOLD. AND ALL OF THOSE SETTLEMENTS THAT, THAT HELPED CREATE THE INDUSTRY THAT'S UP THERE IN GREENVILLE AND BRUNSWICK COUNTY CAME BECAUSE OF THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT. ALL OF THESE THINGS, A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET.

AND BUT THAT IMPACTED THIS COUNTY TREMENDOUSLY.

AND THEN WHEN YOU ADD THE IP SITUATION, YOU CAN JUST SEE THE DOWNWARD TREND.

SO THAT IS PUTTING A PRESSURE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO REALLY DO SOME STRATEGIZING.

AND MAYBE YOU CAN'T JUMP INTO SETTLING UP A COUNTS IN ONE YEAR OR MAYBE, MAYBE TWO YEARS.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT 2 TO 3. GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ALL OVER THE STATE THEY WORK ON FIVE-YEAR PLANS, SOME OF THEM TEN-YEAR PLANS. BUT THERE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY MY VOTE IS STILL A NO ON THE $0.05, AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET IT TO 4% WITHOUT RAISING THE $0.04 TAX INCREASE.

SO THAT'S ABOUT ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY. IF YOU WANT TO SEE ANY OF THIS DATA THAT I GOT LAYING UP HERE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SEE IT AND I'LL SHARE IT WITH YOU.

TONIGHT AND THIS PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT'S BEING AFFECTED.

IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. AND THIS IS NOT AN EASY TASK TO, FOR GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO SOLVE THESE THINGS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO DO IT. THAT'S OUR JOB.

AND THAT'S MY POSITION. ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN.

YOU KNOW WHEN WE COME TO THE AREA OF FORMING A BUDGET, OKAY, IT THE RESPONSIBILITY FALLS ON US TO PASS THIS BUDGET.

BUT EVERY DEPARTMENT GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF COMING UP WITH THEIR BUDGET AND PRESENTING IT.

[00:40:06]

AND I KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THE SITUATION.

OKAY. WE UNDERSTAND SOUTHAMPTON'S SITUATION, JUST LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SUFFOLK AND ISLE OF WIGHT AND SURRY AND OTHER PLACES, OKAY? THAT HAVE FINANCIAL ADVANTAGES OVER US.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY THAT WE CAN RAISE FUNDS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY BASICALLY COME FROM TAXES.

I DON'T LIKE THEM ANY MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

OKAY. I DON'T LOVE PAYING TAXES, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S A NECESSITY AND WE ARE WHERE WE ARE.

OKAY, NOW WE CAN GO OVER MANY REASONS WHY WE ARE THERE.

OKAY. BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, WE END UP WHERE WE ARE.

OKAY. AND THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE DISAGREEMENTS AS TO HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE AND ALL OF THAT.

NOW, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US DO A $0.04 TAX RATHER THAN A $0.05.

OKAY. BUT WE NEED ALL OF THE FOR THE SCHOOLS, FOR EXAMPLE.

OKAY. I'M HAPPY WITH THE SITUATION BETWEEN OUR BOARD AND THE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW.

OKAY. AND I'D LOVE FOR US TO CONTINUE THAT. AND I DON'T THINK WHAT THE 4 OR 5 IS GOING TO DAMAGE THAT RELATIONSHIP.

OKAY. BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR THE SCHOOLS.

OKAY. THERE'S NO THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE EDUCATION OF OUR KIDS.

NOTHING IN THIS COUNTY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT.

AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO SEE $0.04, BUT I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE TAXES THAT WE HAVE.

GENTLEMEN. A LOT TO TAKE IN. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THIS WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF IMPACT FOR THE LANDOWNERS.

AND I HATE THAT THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO. I WISH WE COULD GET A BIG BUSINESS IN SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY WITH.

ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO IP. THAT'S REALLY HURT US.

SOME TAX REVENUE THROUGH THE YEARS, THESE LAST TEN YEARS.

AND SO WE'RE TAKING YOUR WORD FOR IT. WE'RE GOING TO HASH THIS THING OUT AND TRY TO COME UP WITH A HAPPY MEDIUM.

ARE WE ARE WE SUPPOSED TO COME UP WITH IT TONIGHT OR ARE WE GOING TO VOTE ON IT NEXT THE BOARD MEETING OR WHAT'S THE? SO WE ACTUALLY VOTE ON A BUDGET NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT, THE 28TH.

NOT ABLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT BY NEXT TUESDAY, THEN WE WOULD NEED TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING, PROBABLY SOMETIME THE FIRST WEEK IN JUNE TO FINISH UP.

SUPERVISOR CORNWELL. I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME TONIGHT AND SPENT OF YOUR TIME THIS EVENING HERE WITH US AND PROVIDING YOUR COMMENTS. I AGREE WITH MOST EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

AND JUST TO RECAP SOME OF THAT. THE CHOICES ARE HEAVY.

YES THEY ARE. THIS WAS AN AGGRESSIVE ASK BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

YES IT WAS. WE MISSED THE TARGET, POSSIBLY. AS IT PERTAINED TO THE REASSESSMENTS.

CITIZENS ARE AGAINST THE $0.04 TAX INCREASE. YES MOST OF THEM ARE.

PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE TAXED TO DEATH. YES.

I THINK THEY DO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE. IF WE COULD JUST INCREASE THE FUNDING JUST A LITTLE BIT TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD DO THAT.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH ANY OF THOSE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF EITHER SIDE OF THE ARGUMENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT DOES MAKE THIS DIFFICULT FROM FROM MINE AND OUR VANTAGE POINTS.

SO I'LL LEAVE IT WITH THAT THIS EVENING. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR COMING.

ALL RIGHT. THAT ANYTHING ELSE, CHRIS? THAT $0.04 IS EQUAL TO ABOUT $954,000 THAT WE WANT TO GO TO THE INSTRUCTIONAL CATEGORY.

[00:45:01]

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST A FACT. SO, YOU KNOW, GOOD SCHOOLS ARE IMPORTANT TO EVERYTHING.

YOUR COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY LIFE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND I, I THINK SUPERVISOR WHITE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST TIME.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.

WE KEEP DOING IT. IT'S GOING TO COST US A WHOLE LOT MORE IN THE FUTURE.

BUT THE INSTRUCTIONAL SIDE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS BEEN IGNORED FOR A LONG TIME.

AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS THE FIRST SCHOOL BUDGET I CAN REMEMBER GETTING.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS HONEST AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK FOR LOOPHOLES AND WHATEVER.

SOMEBODY ELSE TOUCHED ON THE PROPERTY TAX. WE'RE NUMBER SIX.

WE'RE TIED FOR NUMBER SIX IN THE STATE, $5. WE CAN'T GO MUCH.

CAN'T GO ANY HIGHER THAN THAT. AND EVERYBODY'S RIGHT.

THE TAX BURDEN IS ON THE, ON THE BACK OF THE LANDOWNER AND THE HOMEOWNER.

I MEAN, WE'RE TRYING LIKE, LIKE CRAZY TO GET HERE.

WE HAVE A, WE HAVE MR. CARL HECK HERE TONIGHT LISTENING TO THIS.

WE'RE, WE'RE WIDE OPEN TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COME IN HERE AND SET UP BUSINESS.

AND WE DON'T, WE DON'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE SUFFOLK HAS AND ISLE OF WIGHT AND WE DON'T HAVE THE I-95 LIKE THEY HAVE TO THE WEST OF US, SO WE'RE KIND OF HANDICAPPED ON THAT. SO IT'S A STRUGGLE.

I HOPE THAT $954,000 THAT, THAT $0.04 FOR LIKE IT'S $238,126 PER PENNY RAISED.

AND I THINK WITH THE NEW SCHOOL BOARD COMING ONBOARD, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GOING TO WASTE IT.

I HAVE FAITH THAT THEY WON'T WASTE IT. SO I FOR THAT REASON, I'M IN FAVOR OF GOING FROM 71 TO 75 ON THE REAL ESTATE. WELL, I'D LIKE TO CORRECT SOMETHING.

I SAID SOMETHING ABOUT $0.05. I MEANT 7. IT'S 4.

70 I SAID FIVE. FIVE OKAY. I MEANT FOUR.

YOU KNOW, I FEEL TOO, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU KNOW, PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RAISED CAIN ABOUT THE SCHOOLS AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THIS AND WE'VE GOTTEN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD, AND WE'VE GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THESE PEOPLE, WHICH WASN'T POSSIBLE BEFORE.

SO I THINK BACKING OFF OF IT NOW, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WOULD BE A VERY MISTRUSTFUL.

I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION IF I COULD. HOW MANY PEOPLE IN IN HERE FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAVE READ THIS REPORT? 01, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. SOMEBODY RAISED TWO HANDS OR EITHER SOMEBODY SITTING IN SOMEBODY'S LAP.

OH. [LAUGHTER]. 8. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO READ IT.

READ IT AGAIN. MY VOTE WILL BE CHANGED WHEN THESE THINGS ARE, I WOULD SAY, ATTACKED AND IMPROVE ON THEM BECAUSE OF ALL THE DEFICIENCIES THAT ARE IN THIS REPORT.

AND IT CAME OUT VERY CLEAR. INCOMPETENCE AND MALFEASANCE.

AND WHERE THERE WAS THAT IN, IN THE GRANTS AND IN THE PROGRAMING AND EVEN IN THE ACTIVITY FUND.

YOU LOOK AT US AND EXPECT US TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

SO WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO THAT. BUT AGAIN, I GUESS I'LL BE STANDING WHERE I WAS LAST MEETING. I'M WILLING TO CERTAINLY TO WORK, BUT.

BUT FROM MY VIEWPOINT, WE CAN'T GIVE A 5% INCREASE ALL AT ONCE, I THINK.

I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO WITH WITH THE BUDGET THAT WAS PROPOSED

[00:50:07]

WELL, MS. LOWE, WHAT'S THE MATH BEHIND THAT? IS THAT POSSIBLE? SO THE WAY THE SCHOOL BUDGET WORKS IS THEY DO NOT ASSIGN SPECIFICALLY THE FUNDING THAT WE COME UP WITH TO SPECIFIC POSITIONS AND OR DEPARTMENTS BETWEEN ADMINISTRATION AND INSTRUCTION UNTIL THEY KNOW THE BOTTOM NUMBER TO LAY IT IN PLACE BASED ON WHAT THEY ARE ALLOWED. YEAH. IT EXCUSE ME, ON THE. THE SCHOOL BOARD TO COME UP WITH IT WHERE THE CHANGES OUGHT TO BE MADE.

WE WOULDN'T MAKE THOSE CHANGES. YOU'D MAKE THEM TO GIVE YOURSELF A RAISE.

MR. ROGERS? YES, SIR I'LL PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. SORRY, BUT WHAT? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? SO IF. LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU ASKED, MR. GILLETTE. IF YOU WERE TO IDENTIFY THE DOLLAR AMOUNT TIED TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR DIVISION GETTING A 4% RAISE VERSUS A 5% RAISE IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP YOUR THE TAX INCREASE AT A LOWER RATE.

WAS THAT WHAT YOU WERE ASKING? YES. AND THAT WOULD THAT WOULD THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO LOOK AT THE OVERALL PICTURE AND FIGURE WHERE THAT COULD TAKE PLACE. YOU'D HAVE TO OBVIOUSLY REARRANGE SOME NUMBERS AND SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY, YOU KNOW THAT. AND I KNOW THAT, AND THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT.

I RECKON THEY KNOW IT. IF THEY DON'T, THEY SHOULD.

AND COME UP WITH THE MONEY THAT ENTAILS THE INCREASE IN REVENUE THAT THAT CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN TAXES PAID DUE TO REASSESSMENT WAS THE BIGGEST ITEM.

AND THAT WAS THAT WAS QUITE CONSIDERABLE, AS WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC TONIGHT.

THAT'S JUST MY VIEW. THAT'S JUST ONE VIEW UP HERE.

SO I GO WITH WHAT THE BOARD DECIDES, BUT THAT'S JUST ONE VIEW.

YEAH, I. SO CERTAINLY IF THE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WAS LESS THAN, THAN WHAT WE'VE ASKED FOR, WE WOULD BE FORCED TO RECONSIDER WHERE WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO HANDLE EVERYTHING FROM THE POSITIONS TO THE RAISES.

AND WE WOULD HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS THERE. I THINK THE WAY I WANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION IS ACTUALLY WITH REGARDS TO WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF TEACHER PAY AS IT IS. DOCTOR EDWARDS JUST RECENTLY OR JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LAST IN TEACHER PAY AND WE AREN'T GOING TO MAKE A GAIN AT A 4% INCREASE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE OTHER DIVISIONS ARE DOING, THE STATE'S FUNDING, AS LONG AS THEY PASS A APPROVE A BUDGET, A 2% INCREASE FOR EVERYBODY, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO EITHER DRIFT IN THE SAME POSITION OR WE'RE NOT GOING TO, OR WE'RE GOING TO LOSE GROUND BASED ON WHAT I HEAR THE OTHER DIVISIONS DOING.

I KNOW OUR NEIGHBORS IN ISLE OF WIGHT ARE SEEING A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE.

THEY WERE IN A SIMILAR POSITION TO YOU. AND ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY AS THEIR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND HAVING TO INCREASE.

WE'RE GOING TO LOSE GROUND TO ISLE OF WIGHT, EVEN WITH A 5% INCREASE FOR OUR TEACHERS THIS YEAR. AND SO IF YOU ASK ME IF I CAN GO AROUND AND WE CAN REARRANGE, I'M CERTAIN THAT THE STAFF CAN REARRANGE ALL OF IT, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO LOSE MORE GROUND THAT WE JUST CAN'T REALLY TOLERATE LOSING RIGHT NOW AND KEEPING PACE WITH WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND I HEAR YOUR POINT ON THE REPORT. I'VE READ THE REPORT MYSELF A COUPLE TIMES.

I'VE READ OUR REPORT A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND I THINK WE KNOW THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE.

AND I THINK WE'VE ALREADY STARTED DOING SOME OF THAT WORK. I KNOW THAT DOCTOR HARRIS-MUHAMMED,

[00:55:05]

THOSE GRANT CYCLES DON'T COME AROUND EVERY TWO SECONDS, BUT THAT'S A PURPOSE BUILT STRATEGY IN THE DIVISION THAT WE'VE TRIED TO PIVOT ON.

AND WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. I DON'T WANT TO COME AND ASK YOU GUYS FOR MORE AND MORE MONEY ALL THE TIME.

AND I DON'T REALLY HONESTLY WANT TO PAY MORE TAXES MYSELF EITHER.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHAT WE SUBMITTED IS WHAT WE NEED JUST TO STAY AFLOAT WITH OUR CURRENT POSITION COMPARED TO OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS.

THAT'S CORRECT I THANK YOU GUYS. REALLY DO. YOU KNOW, IT HADN'T BEEN TOO LONG AGO THAT SOUTHAMPTON SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS THE BEST IN THE STATE AT LOSING TEACHERS 22% A YEAR.

WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. EXCUSE ME THAT'S NOT SOMETHING GOOD TO BE. THE ATTRITION RATE WAS 22%.

ANYBODY ELSE? I THINK THAT WAS THE 23-24. I'M NOT REAL SURE OF THE DATES, BUT IT WAS THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE, WHICH SAYS A LOT.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SECOND WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? YEAH. AND A SECOND. TO GO WITH THE 75.5? [LAUGHTER] NO.

IS THAT RIGHT? IT MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. RIGHT.

I THINK WE'RE WAITING FOR THE NEXT MEETING BEFORE WE.

WE VOTE ON IT UNTIL THE NEXT, TILL THE NEXT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING. RIGHT? CORRECT. RIGHT. RIGHT. CORRECT.

BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, THOUGH. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW, BUT IF YOU CANNOT DECIDE TONIGHT THEN WE WILL TALK

[3. Give Guidance to Acting County Administrator of any changes for May 26, 2026, BOS meeting regarding the FY27 Proposed Budget ]

BUT IF THE ONLY PIECE YOU ARE DETERMINING IS WHETHER THERE IS A $0.04 REAL ESTATE TAX INCREASE OR WHATEVER REAL ESTATE TAX INCREASE, THEN I CAN EASILY TAKE CARE OF THAT.

AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S MEETING. BUT LIKE I SAID, IF YOU END UP NEEDING MORE TIME THAN THAT AND WE GET TO TUESDAY NIGHT, THEN WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.

THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE. WE CAN ALWAYS GO DOWN, BUT WE CAN'T GO UP.

I HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN ANYTHING TONIGHT THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND.

ESPECIALLY SINCE BRANDON CAME UP AND SAID, YOU KNOW, THEY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS IN THAT REPORT AND THEY NEED IF WE WANT TO GET BETTER TEACHERS, WE NEED TO DO THIS.

SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO WITH THE $0.04 INCREASE TO $0.75.

SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I THINK. IF WE WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING, THEY'VE GOT TO CHANGE IT AND.

I'M GOOD WITH ONE OF THE TWO VERSIONS THAT'S BEEN PRESENTED SO FAR.

YOUR INITIAL DRAFT BUDGET OF THE AMENDED ONE THAT WE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPER, EITHER ONE OF THOSE.

AT THIS POINT, I DON'T SEE ANY NEED TO CHANGE EITHER OF THOSE.

I THINK WHAT THEY WERE POTENTIALLY VOTING ON IS WHAT REAL ESTATE TAX INCREASE THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF. IS WHAT I WAS HEARING. FROM THE MOTION AND THE SECOND.

[01:00:05]

75. THEY'LL MAKE THEY'RE GOING TO DO THE PERCENTAGE ON THEIR BUDGET.

RIGHT. HOPEFULLY TO GET 5%. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

I GOT MORE QUESTIONS. OKAY. I KNOW YOU GOT NEXT WEEK YEAH, [LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHERE I AM SO. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

ALL RIGHT. PASSES 3 TO 2. WELL, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT WE GOT SOMETHING TO WORK ON.

I MEAN IT, WE CAN GO DOWN. WE CAN'T GO UP. SO I WOULD THINK ANYBODY OUT THERE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS GOT CAN ENLIGHTEN US ANY MORE ON THE SITUATION THAT PLEASE DO IT.

WE THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE IT ELSE? I MOVE WE ADJOURN. ALL RIGHT. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. WELL, THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR COMING TONIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.