Town of Clintwood Town Council Recessed Meeting 248 Clintwood Main Street- Clintwood Town Hall May 28, 2024 6:00 pm  Record ofAttendance: Council Members: Danny Lambert- - Mayor Ron Kendrick - Absent Doris Rife Talbert Bolling Jim Childress Andy Rose Citizens Present -1 None  Others Present: Greg Baker- - Town Attorney Judy Steele - Clerk  Mayor Lambert called the recessed meeting ofl May 14, 2024 to order. The meeting was recessed Greg Baker, town attorney, addressed the council concerning the new assessments on the real estate property done by the county and whether the council wanted to stay with their current real estate rate of fifteen cents (.15) per hundred or lower their rate to twelve cents (.12) to offset the new real estate assessment. The county does reassessments every six years which is state law. The town set their rate of fifteen cents (.15) last year. Councilman Childress asked if the council decides to stay at fifteen cents (.15) then how we willl have to advertise. Greg Baker said that you have to have a public hearing and gave the council a copy of the public hearing notice and said you must be a separate public hearing. Councilman Bolling asked why do we: need tol haveap public hearing when a public hearing was held last year when the tax rate was raised. Greg said whenever there is a reassessment then youl have tol have the public hearing notice that he has given them to review. In the Town ofClintwood before the reassessment the value of! houses and land was Seventy Million ($70,000,000) and with the reassessment it is a little over Eighty-seven Million ($87,000,000). Which means you will have a tax increase unless the tax rate is lowered down. Councilman Bolling said if he is understanding what Greg is saying which is even though the town passed their levy last year to raise the tax rate and Greg said you have to set it every year whether you raise the tax rate or not. Because it was a reassessment this year, you have to do the notice he has showed them that basically says because of the reassessment and the increase in value of properties in the Town of Clintwood was twenty-four-point twenty seven percent (24.27%). Also, the code requires a super majority on the motion to pass. He said the county lowered their tax rate from sixty cents (.60) cents to fifty-two(.52). Greg went on to explain that once the council decides on the ratet then a public hearing needs to bel held on June 13. Thei regular council meeting is on June 11 and the public hearing on the tax rate will be held on June 13 and that will be all that will be done on that night. The council can vote on the rate that night.  until May 28, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. to have al budget workshop.  *    Minutes- - Recessed Town Council Meeting  May 28, 2024 Page 2  Motion was made by Councilman Rose and a second by Councilman Bolling toj proceed with the notice of public hearing for. June 13, 2024. Motion passed unanimously. The council expressed their appreciation to Greg Baker for explaining how the reassessment effected the town's current tax rate and revenue and the steps needed to set the tax rate for the Mayor Lambert asked the council if they have reviewed the proposed budget that was given to them and ift there are any questions. Councilwoman Rife said she had reviewed the information and figures everything looked good to her. Council Bolling asked ifthe Congressional Spending Appropriations was included in the proposed budget and Mayor Lambert said no that we were not sure if we would be getting anything or what fiscal year it might be in SO it was not included. If the town receives anything then it would be administered by Rural Development within their guidelines. There was a new work truck included ini the proposed budget for the water department. Councilman Rose askedi ifthe council would consider doing a line itemi int the budget forad donation oftwelve hundred dollars to the food bank. Mayor Lambert asked the council about a request he has received from Southwest Virginia Emergency Medical Services Council for a donation of $500. Since Councilman Kendrick was absent, the council wanted to defer this request until they get his opinion on this request. Councilman Bolling also wanted to increase the employee Motion was made by Councilman Bolling and a second by Councilwoman Rife to advertise the budget for a public hearing and include the additions that were discussed. Motion passed Motion wasi made by Councilwoman Rife and a second by Councilman Bolling to adjourn. Motion  next fiscal year.  Christmas Bonus to Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00).  unanimously.  passed unanimously.  ----00000-----  AAD Danny Lamber, Mayor  Attest:  gihe