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Adjourned Meeting
November 28, 2000
6:30 p.m.
Meeting Convened. An Adjourned Meeting of the York County
Board of Supervisors was called to order at 6:53 p.m., Tuesday, November
28, 2000, in the Library of Grafton High/Middle School, by Chairman
Walter C. Zaremba.
Attendance. The following members of the Board of
Supervisors were present: Walter C. Zaremba, Sheila S. Noll, Donald E.
Wiggins, James S. Burgett, and Melanie L. Rapp.
Also in attendance were Daniel M. Stuck, County Administrator; and
James E. Barnett, County Attorney.
JOINT MEETING WITH THE YORK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
School Board Members Present: Don Felling, Chairman; Barbara
Haywood; Barrent M. Henry; Mark Medford; and Page Minter.
Also present were Dr. Steven R. Staples, Superintendent of
Schools; Richard M. Hixson, Deputy Superintendent of Operations; and Dr.
Valerie A. Taylor, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction.
Mr. Stuck indicated that Mr. McReynolds and Mr. Jarrett would
provide the two boards with an overview of the budget process at this
time. He noted the briefing contained very preliminary information to
give the boards an idea of what is being looked at and to show how the
two gentlemen work together very closely during the budget process.
Mr. Dennis Jarrett, School Division Director of Finance, made a
presentation on the revenue outlook for the School Division in FY2002.
The revenue assumptions included an enrollment projection of 11,810
students and an impact aid projection of $800,000 based on the FY2001
proposed Federal budget. He then discussed State revenue, stating that
it was the second year of the biennium, and there would be very minor
change, if any. No teacher salary increases had been approved as yet.
The composite index will not change, and State tax collections are less
than projected for the first four months of FY2001.
Mr. James O. McReynolds, Director of Financial and Management
Services, then briefed the two boards on the FY2002 County revenue
projections. In terms of local revenue, staff is expecting property
taxes to increase 4 to 4.5 percent and other local taxes increasing only
3 to 3.5 percent. All other local revenues are expected to rise only 1
to 2 percent. On the State side, the County should see a 2 to 3 percent
increase for shared expenses from the Compensation Board over the 2001
budget, and categorical aid and grants should remain level. Transfers
for activities such as grounds maintenance and law enforcement should
increase 2 to 3 percent, and other State revenue will show only a minor
increase over the 2001 budget. Mr. McReynolds noted that compared to the
FY2001 budget, only moderate growth is expected. Concerns include the
strength of the economy, State funding of current programs, and State
changes to taxing authority. Overall, the County can expect only a $3
million to $3.3 million increase over last year. He then discussed the
employee compensation system, explaining that a bench-marking system is
used for the non-licensed (non-teaching) employees, both County and
School Division, through a comparison of pay scales in market areas to
maintain competitiveness of the County's pay plan. Based on the
benchmarking study, a 2.4 percent market adjustment would be recommended
for FY2002 non-licensed County and School personnel.
Mr. Jarrett briefed on the licensed personnel (teaching) salary
scale, noting that the scale was based on the work of the 1995
Compensation Committee. He explained the compensation lanes, indicating
they were based on education level obtained, and that the goal of the
Committee was for the personnel to be in the top third of the local
market. He noted the County model maintains a pay plan which places
starting salaries for positions near the middle of state-wide market
area pay scales. The recommendation for licensed employee compensation
in FY2002 would be $482,000 for the step increases and a 2.9 percent
market adjustment which equated to $1.03 million.
Mr. McReynolds addressed the School Division/County funding
requirements and issues which include:
· Contribution to
Schools
$1,200,000
· Employee
compensation
1,000,000
· New
Programs/Personnel
621,000
· Meals/Lodging
Tax
110,000
·
Capital/Debt
100,000
·
Shared/Regional
100,000
· Adult
Incarceration
250,000
· Community
Center
200,000
· New Quarter
Park
90,000
· Senior
Center
45,000
TOTAL
$3,716,000
Mr. McReynolds indicated that with a projected increase in General
Fund Revenues for FY2002 of $3.3 million and currently identified
funding requirements of $3.7 million, there exists an estimated funding
gap of approximately $400,000. He also noted that no reductions in
current expenditures had been factored into the figures.
Discussion followed regarding the anticipated increase of 4
percent to the School Division and how increases or decreases in funding
by the State and Federal governments were factored into the County's
contribution to the School Division. The two boards also discussed
school funding increases over the last 10 years and the policy of the
past several years to provide the School Division the same percentage of
revenue increases as the County received.
Mr. Stuck noted his concern that there may not be any State
revenue increase this coming year. There is no real enrollment increase
projected for next year, and he stated he felt that the numbers provided
this evening were very accurate according to the information available
at this time. Mr. Stuck stated he felt it was going to be a very tight
budget year.
Dr. Staples stated that Virginia was entering into the stages of a
very serious teacher shortage. Average salaries will not bring in good
teachers. About one-quarter of the new York County teachers come from
out of state. He stated that adequate compensation for the School
Division wasn't going to be a matter of discretion, but a matter of
survival.
Discussion followed regarding the recruitment process for new
teachers.
Chairman Zaremba then indicated that for the last four years at
least the County and the School Division has finished up the year with a
surplus, and the Board of Supervisors and the School Board then go
through the drill of deciding how to spend the surplus. He suggested
that both boards look at the excess and factor it into the front end of
the next budget cycle.
Mr. Felling stated the School Division has an excess at the end of
the year, but if it had a debit at the end of the year, there would be
no way of paying for it. The School Division's budget surplus is
somewhere in the range of $350,000 which is a very small percentage of
its overall budget.
Chairman Zaremba asked what was the latest news on the Lottery
money.
Dr. Staples stated the Constitutional amendment states the money
will come to the schools, but this is about the fourth time the General
Assembly has said this. He indicated it would not preclude the General
Assembly from taking the same amount from another funding source.
Mr. Stuck noted that several years ago the schools put together
its technology plan with a price tag of about $17 million, and we're
making good progress on paying for it. The County is funding it without
a separate bond issue. Without a surplus of some kind, this couldn't be
done.
Mr. Felling stated that three years ago the School Board developed
its budget using a near zero based budget approach, and it was planning
on doing the same this coming year. He noted the process was very
disruptive at the time, but it was found to be very helpful. The School
Board will be looking at each line item, and it hopes to have a very
efficient budget when an approved budget is presented to the Board of
Supervisors. He suggested that the School Board come to a Board of
Supervisors meeting once a month to provide a report on its progress.
Chairman Zaremba stated he felt that was a good suggestion. The
Board of Supervisors wants to be a part of the solution to whatever the
issues are, and it wants to keep the lines of communications open.
Meeting Adjourned. At 8:30 p.m. Chairman Zaremba declared the meeting
adjourned to 8:00 a.m., Monday, December 4, 2000, in the restaurant of
the Duke of York Motel, for the purpose of conducting a work session
with York County's legislators.
_____________________________
_______________________________
Daniel M. Stuck,
Clerk
Walter C. Zaremba, Chairman
York County Board of
Supervisors
York County Board of Supervisors
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