05-13-2002 Special MeetingR
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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS HELD THE THIRTIETH DAY OF MAY IN THE YEpg
TWO THOUSAND AND TWO
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PRESENT: Robert C. Claud, Sr., Chairman
Richard K. MacManus, Vice Chairman
Stan D. Clark
Phillip A. Bradshaw
Henry H. Bradby
Also Attending: H. Woodrow Crook, Jr., County Attorney
W. Douglas Casket', County Administrator
Donald T. Robertson, Assistant.
County Administrator/Director of
Human Resources
Carey H. Mills, Recording Secretary
Chairman Claud called the special meeting to order at 700 p.m.
Chairman .Claud called for a public hearing on the following:
Proposed Fiscal Year 2002-03 General. Operating and Capital Budget
and the E-911 Budget.
Anne F. Seward, Director of Budget and Finance, stated the Board has
previously held a number of work sessions. on the proposed General
Operating and Capital Budget. She stated the proposed General Operating
and Capital Budget in the .total amount of $62,986,802 and the E-911
Central Dispatch Budget in the total amount of $677,700. have been properly
advertised for public hearing in the newspaper.
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Chairman Claud opened the public hearing and called. for persons o
speak in favor or in opposition to the proposed Budgets.
Thomas Finderson, Newport District, addressed the proposed budget
for Boykins .Tavern. He requested the Board. increase the .Equipment. Lune
Item to $2,000 and the Collection Management Line Item to $500. He
explained that these increases would assist the docent,. Mr. LaBonte, in
developing a program for preserving artifacts and make a video. for tourists..
He further requested $1,000. be appropriated for the installation of plastic
under the bricks near the chimney located in the kitchen. He addressed the
County's General Operating and Capital Budget noting that staff projections
through 2008 indicate that the County will fall short $1.S million. in the next
five (5) years.. He pointed out that: there could be a taxpayers' .revolt when
in another four (4) years. the County undergoes another reassessment on top-
of atax increase. He reported that there were over fifty. (50) residents at the
recent Isle of Wight Citizens Association meeting who were angry about the
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reassessment. He advised the Board to ,consider reducing the budgets over
the next few years in order to avoid a double hit to the County's residents.
Joe Joyner, Carrsville District, stated the Board is placing growth over
taxation and. driving residents out of the County. He stated the Board is over
burdening .citizens with taxation. who- do not currently receive sufficient
services. He requested the Board re-evaluate any new proposed
.expenditures so that the .revenues can be achieved through growth, not
through over taxation. He ..stated the. Board should. be lowering, not
increasing taxes to cover expenditures and .allow growth to take care of any
new expenditures.
Brenda Cook of Hummingbird Lane. stated over the last several
months she has. noticed the Board has adopted several different fee
increases. She stated she was dissatisfied with the results of her
reassessment and noted that all of the Reassessment Board representatives.
were retired.. She stated the Board is overtaxing the citizens of the County .
and not allowing growth to catch up and take care of the requirements
needed. She` stated the Board needs to reassess the needs of the County.
She stated while State dollars have decreased, Federal .dollars have
increased. She stated she has not seen any effort by the County to find ways
to do things smarter and she suggested the Board. re-evaluate the County's
needs.
Chairman Claud closed the public hearing and called for comments
.from the Board.
Chairman Claud. stated the State statute requires that the Board wait
.seven (7) days after holding the public hearing before acting on the Budget.
He stated the Board has discussed taking action on the Budget at its June 6,
2002 meeting.
Chairman -Claud advised that the proposed budget has been reduced
$5.8 million dollars. He .stated State law requires that the County submit
RFPs and, therefore, the County does get the best price possible through the
State prescribed process for procurement.
Supervisor -Clark reminded those in attendance that $.70 of every
$1.00 goes to the schools: He stated the Board held a public hearing on the
proposed School Board Budget several weeks ago and approximately 40
speakers represented that they did not care how much taxes were raised. as
long as the Board ensures that the schools are properly funded that there is
no loss of teachers -and that the Board provide adequate funding for facilities.
for the children of the County. He stated residential growth costs the
County, only certain types of retail growth bring substantial .resources and
industrial growth does provide. resources,. but the prospects for industrial
growth are uncertain for the future. He stated the needs for the schools .are
now and many of the increases. are related to the $.70 of every $ I :04. He
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stated the. Board must ~ do everything else it does for the County with only
$.30 out ofevery $1.00. He stated even though most citizens do not see the
cost savings .and what County staff does, it does not mean it is not
happening.. He stated he did not know how the Board could have done
anything different than it has done.
Supervisor. Bradshaw inquired when the Board. could anticipate
receiving a report from Blue Ridge Appraisals on the reassessment.
Mrs. Seward replied that a representative from Blue Ridge Appraisals
would be present at the Board's first meeting in June, 2002 to .address the
process, however, the results of the reassessment will not be availableuntil
September, 2002.
Supervisor Clark noted that he has received-many calls concerning the
lack of receptiveness on the part of the Reassessment Board. He stated he
has also received calls relaying certain comments .made to citizens by
representatives. ofthat Board that have concerned him greatly.
Supervisor Bradshaw. asked the County Attorney if the Board could
become involved in the reassessment process.
County Attorney Crook. stated the Reassessment Board performs the
reassessment and if an individual is not satisfied with the reassessment. they
have the right to go to the .Board of Equalization and then court,. if still
dissatisfied. He stated the Board. of Supervisors does not tell. the -
Reassessment Board or Board of Equalization what to do. He stated the ;'
.Board of Supervisors can inquire what these Boards are doing and why they ~'
are doing it, .but these Boards are independent Boards. r
Supervisor Clark stated that he intentionally selected. a retired person
to serve on the Reassessment Board because he thought a retired person,
who lives on a fixed income, would be more sensitive to the assessment and
more responsive to people when they came in.
Chairman Claud stated the Board has looked at alternative ways to g
generate revenue so that the County does not have to rely so heavily on the
real estate tax. He stated the Board attempted to get a .bill through the
General Assembly .where the .County could impose a Cigarette Tax. He
stated towns are allowed to impose a Cigarette Tax and the Town of
Windsor's Cigarette Tax is expected to .generate approximately $100,000.
He stated the County would. also like to impose a Meals Tax, but can't
unless the County holds a referendum. He stated .counties, with the Dillon
Rule, must receive authority from. the State before they can impose .some of
these taxes, whereby towns. can accomplish this by ordinance.
Supervisor Clark moved the Board defer action on the Budget until the
Board's June 6, 2002 meeting. The motion was adopted with Supervisors
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MacManus, Bradby, .Bradshaw, Clark and Claud voting in favor of the.
motion (5-0) .and no Supervisors :voting against the motion.
Chairman Claud called for a public hearing on the following:
Ordinance to Impose Taxes for Isle of Wight. County, Virginia for
Fiscal Year July 1, 2002 Through June 30, 2003.
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Mrs. Seward stated the proposed Ordinance- did advertise the tax rates
at the same rates as the current fiscal year with $.77 per $100. for real estate
and the elimination of the Farm Machinery tax in the amount of $.SO per
$100 of value.
County Attorney Crook advised that these rates are the County's past
and current rates based on current values and not the reassessment. He
stated when the reassessment figures come in, the Board will then
reconsider its rates based on the reassessment and they will be changed. He
stated at this time, the County has to have rates established for its budget
and that is why the. Board is using .the same rates as in the past.
Chairman Claud called for persons to speak in favor or in opposition
to the proposed Ordinance.
Joe. Joyner relayed an incident that. occurred to his neighbor, Harry
Whitley, to the Board. He stated Mr. Whitley bought 32 acres a half mile
up the road from him on Route 2S8 for which he paid $72,000. He stated
n Mr. Whitle deeded out a
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within two 2 weeks after urchas y
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2.S acre lot and a 2.6 acre lot to each of his children. He stated these lots
were then assessed at $28,000 and $29,000 and lowered the farm value
$5,000 which put him in a $120,000 value category for tax purposes within
a two (2) week period of his purchasing the property. He stated then the
County sent him a bill for. rezoning in the amount of $600. He stated Mr.
Whitley asked him what to do and he advised him to call his Supervisor. He
stated .that when he contacted his Supervisor, he was advised to take the five
(S) years because the Board is considering going to ten (10) years on the
reassessment and it might cost. him more. He stated he thinks if the property
stays agriculture for five (S) additional years, then it should be zoned
agriculture and taxed at a residential rate when it actually becomes a
residential area.
Chairman Claud closed the public hearing and called for comments
from the Board.
County Attorney Crook advised that the Board could not adopt the
Budget for seven (7) days after the public hearing- and the. Tax Rate
Ordinances establishes .the tax rates necessary to fund that Budget, He
.recommended that the Board not adopt the Tax Rate Ordinance until it
adopts the Budget.
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-Supervisor MacManus moved the Board defer action on the Tax Rate
Ordinance. for seven (7) days for possible action at the June 6, 2002 meeting..
The motion was adopted with Supervisors MacManus, Bradby, Bradshaw,
Clark and Claud voting in favor of the motion (5-0) and no Supervisors
voting. against the motion.
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Chairman Claud inquired if the Board wished to wait until the Board's
June 6, 2002 meeting to discuss pending budget items.
Supervisor MacManus recommended deferring action on the pending
budget items until the June 6; 2002 meeting when the Board considers the
Budget.
Supervisor MacManus inquired how the Hampton Roads .Partnership
(Square One) funding has been a benefit to the County in the past.
County .Administrator Caskey advised that this funding in several
years past was carried under the budget of the Hampton Roads Partnership
through the competitive funding that went out to those: agencies throughout
the State. He advised that the .State cut that. funding, leaving a number of
programs unfunded, and the Partnership, as a result, has turned to local
membership for support.
Supervisor MacManus stated a number of:programs have lost their
State funding recently and the Board of Supervisors has had to look at what
benef t those programs that lost such State funding have to the County. He
stated if there is no benefit, the Board has declined to support them. He
stated if there has actually been a situation where the programs have
benefited the County, he would like to know.
County Administrator Caskey. stated the Town of Smithfield also is a
member of the Partnership because of its population and information that
came to the County from the Partnership lumped he County in with the
Town of Smithfield. Restated he faxed all the information to the Smithfield
Tov~m Manager when he learned that Mr. Stephensondidnot receive any of
it with the idea that 20% of the $2;700 .may. be coming from the Town. of
Smithfield. He offered to get additional information from Jimmy Eason to
provide to the Board at its June 6, 2002 meeting.
Supervisor MacManus inquired.. if staff had any information to give the
Board concerning employee benefits that: could be considered by the- Board
-over the next several days.
County Administrator Caskey distributed copies of a Board Report as
a result of the initial meeting of the Employee Relations Committee
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responsive. to requests given to the Committee by the Board.. He stated this
information will be included with information to be discussed at the Board's
meeting on June 6, 2002. He stated the Committee is scheduled to meet
again on Monday to consider a broader benefits package.
The Board members offered no comments or questions regarding the.
information. presented on benefits.
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Supervisor MacManus stated SPSA has .scheduled a tour on June 10,
:2002 at 10:00 a.m. and he anticipates most of the County's legislative
members will be present. He stated the tour focuses primarily on educating
these representatives on the functions. of the refuge disposal facility and the
power plant, however, this will also be an opportunity .for the individual
Board members. to address their representatives on matters of importance.
He encouraged all Board members to attend. the tour.
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Supervisor MacManus distributed information to the Board
concerning the proposed Duke coal facility project which advises of
. technologies available to ensure emissions are as low as feasible. He stated
he forwarded to the Chairman information on conferences which are focused
on -new coal facilities and he would suggest that because. there is a new coal
plant generation conference held in St. Louis, the Board purchase a copy of
the proceedings for $200 so that .the Board can have this information
available. He stated these proceedings will be discussing the economics of
new coal facilities, as .well as the technologies available for low emissions.
He stated there is also a government sponsored conference in the D.C. area
in the end of June that he would recommend the Board consider having the
County's consultant attend at a nominal cost as he lives in that area.
Chairman Claud agreed that all this information for a cost of $200
would be beneficial to the County. He requested staff check with the
County's consultant to see if he could attend the conference in D.C.
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Supervisor MacManus inquired if Supervisor Clark had his nominee
.for the Newport District to serve on the Equalization Board.
.Supervisor Clark stated he spoke with. two (2) individuals that are
considering serving on the Equalization Board, however, he has not heard
from them today.
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County Attorney Crook distributed copies of the Ordinance to Amend
the Ordinance on Precincts to .add the Raynor Precinct in the Carrsville
Election District. He stated while there is not sufficient time to advertise the
Ordinance for the June meeting, he would request .permission to advertise it
for the Board's July 9, 2002 meeting.
Supervisor Bradshaw moved the Board authorize the County Attorney
to advertise the Ordinance for public hearing. The motion was adopted with
.Supervisors MacManus, Bradby, Bradshaw, Clark and Claud voting in favor
of the motion (5-0) and. no Supervisors voting against the motion.
County .Attorney Crook distributed copies of the amendment to the
contract for the delinquent tax collection attorney for the Board's review.
He stated he would like to discuss the amendment with the Board at its June.
6, 2002 meeting.
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Supervisor Clark moved the Board adjourn. The motion was adopted
unanimously (S-0).
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Robert C. Claud, Sr., C~iairman
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