Budget Work Session Meeting – March 30, 2015

Budget Work Session Meeting, Monday, March 30, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. Government Center, Verona, VA.

PRESENT: Michael L. Shull, Chairman
David A. Karaffa, Vice-Chairman
Carolyn S. Bragg
Jeffrey A. Moore
Marshall W. Pattie
Tracy C. Pyles, Jr.
Larry J. Wills
Jennifer M. Whetzel, Director of Finance
Timmy Fitzgerald, Director of Community Development
Melissa Meyerhoeffer, Assistant Director of Finance
Patrick J. Coffield, County Administrator

VIRGINIA: At a budget work session meeting of the Augusta County Board of Supervisors held on Monday, March 30, 2015, at 8:30 a.m., at the Government Center, Verona, Virginia, and in the 239th year of the Commonwealth….

FY2015-16 BUDGET

The County Administrator and Finance Director presented the FY2015-16 Budget. The Board reviewed projected revenues, expenditure requests and recommendations and capital allocations.

Board Member General Comments:

 Re-instate Contract Services $75,000 (12040-3120)  Eliminate Retiree Hospitalization Subsidy once Health Insurance Escrow is depleted (FY2017) $67,500 (92020-2801) Note: Created when County received BC/BS funding.

This account closed.

 Discussion of courthouse referendum costs coming from contingency/revised in FY16.

 Review of estimated MRRJ buy-in allocation (1/3 operating/1/3 future expansion [cash or debt service]/1/3 County depreciation). Ten-year payout schedule.

 Compare M&T tax to surrounding localities.

 Schools: Discussion on 11-month contracts vs. 12-month contracts, BGHS surplus property, Health Insurance.

 Fire & Rescue A) Reclassification of 4 firefighters to Lieutenant as working supervisors $12,000 (Transfer from 92020-9994) B) Authorize Chief to use FT/PT/OT accounts to manage staffing for agency utilizing 2 ghost positions for turnover/vacancies.

C) Authorized Chief to redeploy career positions on a “daily” basis to address staffing needs due to annual, sick and training vacancies.

D) Requested Chief to review funding formula for Revenue Recovery and to look at pro’s and con’s for Revenue Recovery “soft billing”.

E) Discussed Riverheads engine request. Board consensus For agency to utilize Fire Revolving Loan program.

 Contributions A) Augusta Archers application was discussed.

B) Suggest Vail apply to CAP-SAW for funding in future.

CLOSED SESSION

On motion of Mr. Karaffa, seconded by Ms. Bragg, the Board went into closed session pursuant to provisions of Section 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia:

(1) Discussion of prospective candidates for assignment, appointment and evaluation as permitted under subsection (A) (1); A) County Administrator B) County Attorney Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Bragg and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.

On motion of Mr. Karaffa, seconded by Mr. Pattie, the Board came out of Closed Session and adjourned subject to the call of the Chairman.

Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Bragg and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.

The Chairman advised that each member is required to certify that to the best of their knowledge during the closed session only the following was discussed:

1. Public business matters lawfully exempted from statutory open meeting requirements, and 2. Only such public business matters identified in the motion to convene the closed session.

The Chairman asked if there is any Board member who cannot so certify.

Hearing none, the Chairman called upon the County Administrator/ Clerk of the Board to call the roll noting members of the Board who approve the certification shall answer AYE and those who cannot shall answer NAY.

Roll Call Vote was as follows:

AYE: Pattie, Karaffa, Wills, Shull, Moore, Bragg and Pyles NAY: None The Chairman authorized the County Administrator/Clerk of the Board to record this certification in the minutes.

FY2015-16 SCHOOL BUDGET

The Augusta County Board of Supervisors met with representatives of the Augusta County School Board including Vice-Chairman Lee Godfrey, Assistant Superintendent Doug Shifflett, and Finance Director Mark Lotts, who presented an overview of their FY15-16 Budget, as well as supplemental Budget requests.

School Board requested priorities of additional funding available:

 Reinstate 20:1 Pupil/Teacher Ratios in 2nd & 3rd Grades $ 430,000  School Buses: Purchase of 10 $ 870,000  Capital Maintenance Needs $ 637,300  Technology (Devices, Computer Technician, ITRT) $ 498,000 $2,435,300 The Board of Supervisors endorsed the following revisions to County Administrator’s Budget and authorized that the budget and proposed tax/fee increases be advertised for April 15, 2015 Public Hearing:

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

FY15-16 Budget The Board of Supervisors endorsed the following revisions to County Administrator’s budget at their Wednesday, March 30, 2015 work session:

Expenditures FY16 Budget:

12040-3120 Contract Services $ 75,000 32010-MIS F&R Lt. Upgrades $ 12,000 92020-9994 Reserve <$21,000> $ 66,000 Revenues A) Landfill tipping Fees $66,000 (residential hauler from $7.50 to $15.00 per ton) B) BOS Tax Rate Increase:

 Real Estate Tax 2 cents $1,352,000 (split 50-50 with schools)  Business PP and M&T 10 cents $ 295,660 (split 50-50 with schools)  Campers, Boats, Airplanes, Trailers, etc. 60 cents $ 149,040 (split 50-50 with schools) $1,796,700 (total for schools $898,350)

ADJOURNMENT

There being no other business to come before the Board, Mr. Karaffa moved, seconded by Mr. Moore, the Board adjourned subject to call of the Chairman.

Vote was as follows: Yeas: Pattie, Karaffa, Shull, Wills, Moore, Bragg and Pyles Nays: None Motion carried.

Chairman County Administrator H3-30bgtws.15