Board of Supervisors March 11, 2021 Sheet 1 March 11, 2021 County of Greene, Virginia THE GREENE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MET FOR A BUDGET WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2021, BEGINNING AT 4:30 P.M. BY ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE ADOPTED ON MARCH 24, 2020 TO PERMIT PUBLIC BODIES OF GREENE COUNTY TO ASSEMBLE ELECTRONICALLY, TO MODIFY PUBLIC MEETING AND PUBLIC PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES, TO EFFECTUATE TEMPORARY CHANGES IN CERTAIN DEADLINES, AND' TO. ADDRESS CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DISASTER Present were: Bill Martin, Chair Marie Durrer, Vice Chair Steve Bowman, Member Dale Herring, Member Davis Lamb, Member Mark B. Taylor, County Administrator Patti Vogt, Deputy Clerk Tracy Morris, Director of Finance Staff present: RE: DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED BUDGET FORFY21-22 Mrs. Morris said additions to the proposed budget includes: deputy and dispatcher for the Sheriff's Office. additional hours for Victim Witness program $250,000 for legal fees grant writer position Medic position IT position Social Services position A2.7% salary increase has been added for county employees. That amount added to the previous 2.3% salary increase will meet the requirement by the State Compensation Board for a 5% increase and the County will be able to receive the full 5% reimbursement. The total cost of the salary increase is $204,015 and with the reimbursement of $77,977 from the State Mr. Lamb clarified that the grant writer position will be working for all county departments. Mr. Martin noted that position would also serve as training officer for EMS. Compensation Board, the net cost to the County is $126,038. Board of Supervisors March 11,2021 Sheet 2 The total budget for the IT department is $174,686 and includes a full time IT position. The original request was for a part-time IT position. Mr. Bowman was very supportive oft the IT Mrs. Morris said the proposed appropriation to the School Division is level funding ($17,465,112) minus the School Resource Officers funding ($104,711). The new request from the School Division ($17,681,943) is an increase of$216,831. The Schools received level funding for the last two years. Mr. Bowman was concerned that there wasn't something in the budget to Mr. Lamb read a prepared statement saying he felt the Board should let citizens know the predicament the County is in financially. Noting the carryover funds the Schools have, he wondered why they continue to ask for increases in funding. This year $998,282 in carryover funds were added to the previous balance of $5,384,848 which increased the total to $6,383,130 as ofJune, 2020. The Schools have done aj phenomenal job educating students. These funds are sitting in a reserve year after year and the carryover increases year after year while the County government struggles to find funds for all other departments that also provide necessary services for all citizens. Safety is a top priority and the Sheriff has asked for additional positions for the last two budget cycles that the County has been unable to provide. IfCounty were able to use some ofthe $6.3 million in reserve to invest, we would be in better position to grant departmental position asl he believes it will be needed as we move: forward. support the request from the Schools. requests. Mr. Lamb said hei is not in favor ofr raising taxes Mr. Martin said he also was not in favor ofa tax increase this year. Mr. Bowman encouraged the Board to consider allowing county departments to assign remaining funds at the end of the year to a capital account that would fund capital projects in the Mr. Herring questioned insurance savings. Mrs. Morris said insurance rates vary from year to year. This year the rate is a 4% decrease and 1%1 is being passed on to employees. Mr. Herring suggested this 1%1 not bej passed on to employees as a salary increase would be a greater benefit. Mr. Herring said funds toj pay RSA debt has to come from somewhere because the facility fee has not been collected in this fiscal year. Mrs. Morris said debt is in both the FY2 21 and FY 221 budgets. Hopefully, the facility fee willl be collected again but right now money: is coming from Mr. Herring said a delay ini filling positions for six months could result in cost savings. He gave the example of the engineer position which has notl been filled and said those funds go back Mrs. Durrer said she does not want to raise taxes. Ms. Meador has done a great job and a lot ofher responsibilities were taken on by Mr. Anderegg sO Ms. Meador might be able to take on grant writing. Maybe not have the medic position this year. Mr. Martin said Ms. Meador is charged with overseeing emergency services and is spending a lot more time with the new EMS team. The Board discussed the grant writer position. That position should pay fori itself. Mr. Taylor felt it a grant writer would be very beneficial to the County. future. the general fund to make debt payments. into the general fund. The savings could be used for other purposes. Mr. Herring felt the fire departments would need administrative assistance more than a training position. Definitely need to concentrate on grant writing position but wasn't sure ift the position should bej public safety training coordinator also. Mrs. Durrer and Mr. Lamb agreed with Mr. Bowman said he did not want to raise taxes and felt this is the best the Board can do. Mr. Herring. Ifthere are any additional funds, he would ask for the $104,000 for the Schools. Board of Supervisors March 11,2021 Sheet 3 Mr. Taylor said with the elimination of the facility fee by RSA last year and the debt payment made in November, that fund balance is zero. Even ifv we start collecting the facility fee next month, we would not have the sum necessary to make the November payment. Mr. Herring said the engineer position will be part of the water authority if Greene is allowed tol leave RSA. Originally, the engineer was intended to be a county employee. Mr. Martin said an engineer was not hired this year. The new proposal is to fill the position that becomes someone who gets to know the RSA system right away and report to Greene County during the transition to whatever sort of authority we have downline. Mr. Herring still did not think the engineer position is needed. Mr. Bowman agreed it makes sense to wait to hire an engineer. Mr. Martin said the engineer should not be hired until needed. Mr. Taylor felt this position will be a needed member oft the team in the coming year. RE: RESOLUTION - PROPOSEDTAXRATE Mr. Lamb read the proposed resolution. Upon motion by Davis Lamb, second by Marie Durrer and unanimous roll call vote, the Board approved the resolution as presented. (See Attachment "A") Recorded vote: Bill Martin Marie Durrer Steve Bowman Dale Herring Davis Lamb Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Motion carried. Mr. Martin said he would love toj provide $120,000 to essentially meet the full request by the Schools. He is fairly confident that there will be new CARES money coming to the county and schools. Mr. Herring pointed out that if the budget goes through as proposed, the Schools will not receive any increase. Mr. Bowman strongly supported providing additional resources for the Schools. He said there would be $100,000 savings from the engineer position. Mr. Herring suggested not filling positions until a certain date to save money. Mrs. Durrer did not have a problem with the delay in filling positions. Mr. Lamb also agreed with a delay. Mr. Martin did Mr. Taylor said he would like to see ifa delay of one quarter in hiring could fill the gap. Cut one quarter from each new position including the engineer. Mr. Taylor said the deputy position may need tol be hired July 11 because oft training and it may not be beneficial to delay filling the IT position. Dispatch positions require al lot oftraining also and possibly can not be delayed. Exempt deputy, dispatcher, and IT from quarterly delay. The difference would come from the proposed excess between revenue and expenditures. The Social Services position is funded for the first year Mr. Herring clarified that if the County gets CARES Act funding the County will work Mrs. Morris said the amount saved by the delay of one quarter in filling the grant writer position, Victim Witness hours, medic, and engineer is $69,661. The difference of$42,459 will bet taken from the excess between revenue and expenditures. This will add $112,120 to the School It was the consensus of the Board to move forward with these changes to the proposed not agree with a delay in filling the engineer position. by the State. with the Schools to share that funding. budget. budget. Board of Supervisors March 11,2021 Sheet 4 RE: RECESS The Chairman called ai recess to give Mrs. Morris time to make changes to the spreadsheet. Mrs. Morris clarified that the School is asking for $216, 831 in new money. The total proposed budget for the School Division is $17,472,521. Mrs. Morris was confident this figure is correct. It was the consensus ofthe Board to move forward with this amount for the Schools. RE: CONTINUED DISCUSSION OF BUDGET RE: RESOLUTION- - ADVERTISE PROPOSED BUDGET Upon motion by Steve Bowman, second by Marie Durrer and unanimous roll call vote, the Board approved the resolution authorizing advertisement of the proposed budget for FY 21-22. (See Attachment "B") Recorded vote: Bill Martin Marie Durrer Steve Bowman Dale Herring Davis Lamb Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Motion carried. RE: ADJOURN Board meeting was adjourned. Upon motion by Marie Durrer, second by Steve Bowman and unanimous roll call vote, the Whi h- haf William Bryan Martin, Chair Greene County Board of Supervisors Mark B. Taylor, Clerk Greene County Board of Supervisors MAAByR Board of Supervisors: March 11, 2021 Attachment "A" RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE ADVERTISING OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 2021 TAX: RATES (FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022) WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors has discussed the tax rates for calendar year 2021 THEREFORE, BE ITRESOLVED, that the Greene County Board of Supervisors hereby authorizes the County Administrator to advertise the following tax rates for calendar year 2021 (Fiscal Year 2022) during their budget workshop, (Fiscal Year 2022) and to do all things necessary to give this resolution effect: Real Estate Public Service Corp. Personal Property $0.82 $0.82 $5.00 $0.00 $2.50 Except Farm Machinery & Livestock Industrial Machinery & Tools Adopted this 11th day ofMarch, 2021. Motion: Second: Recorded Vote: Steve Bowman Marie C. Durrer Dale R. Herring Davis Lamb Bill Martin Dihi Davis Lamb Marie Durrer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ATTEST: bhaf William BryaryMartin, Chair Greene County Board of Supervisors Mark'B. Taylor, Clerk Greene County Board of Supervisors Board of Supervisors March 11, 2021 Attachment "B" RESOLUTIONTO AUTHORIZE THE ADVERTISING OF THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors has discussed the budget for Fiscal Year 2022 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Greene County Board of Supervisors hereby authorizes the County Administrator to advertise the proposed budget for Fiscal Year during their budget workshop, 2022 and to do all things necessary to give this resolution effect. Adopted this 11th day of March, 2021. Motion: Second: Recorded Vote: Steve Bowman Marie C. Durrer Dale R. Herring Davis Lamb Bill Martin Steve Bowman Marie Durrer Yes Yes Yes_ Yes Yes_ M ahhak William Bryan Martin, Chair Greene County/Board of Supervisors ATTEST: M Mark B. Taylor, Clerk Greene County Board of Supervisors