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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1982-03-22 adj131 March 22', 1982 (Adjourned from March ~7, _~982) An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on March 22, 1982, at 1:30 P.M. in Meeting Room #7 of the County Office Building, 401 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia; said meeting being adjourned from March 17, 1982. PRESENT: Mr. James R. Butler, Mrs. Patricia H. Cooke, Mr. Gerald E. Fisher, Mr. J. T. Henley, Jr. (arriving at 1:33 P.M.), Mr. C. Timothy Lindstrom and Miss Ellen V. Nash. ABSENT: None. OFFICER PRESENT: County Executive, Guy B. Agnor, Jr. Agenda Item No. 1. Mr. Fisher. The meeting was called to order at 1:35 P.M. by the Chairman, Agenda Item No. 2. Presentation of Fiscal Year 1982-83 Budget by County Executive. Mr. Agnor summarized his recommendations for the budget as outlined in the following memorandum dated March 17, 1982: "Submitted herewith for your review is the proposed FY 82-83 County budget totalling $36,859,390, an increase of $2,431,262, or 7.06% oYer FY 81-82. As proposed, it is balanced without adjustments in tax rates. It does not include funding for a revenue sharing agreement with the City, or the costs of an annexation suit. It does not address the School Fund balance deficit, a matter which is awaiting completion of the consultant's report to the School Board. It does not include Federally funded school programs, referred to as self-sustaining, which will be added later. The following is a summary of the total budget: BUDGETED RE'QUESTED 81-82 82-83 RECOMMENDED 82-83 RECOMMENDED CHANGE OVER 81-82 General Government Education Debt Service Refunds Capital Improvements 8,456,340 21,400,221 1,963,392 1,608,175 1,000,000 $ 9,307,426 $ 8,843,433 + $ 387,093 + 4.58% 23,320,602 23,160,134 + 1,759,913 + 8.22% 2~060,067 2,060,067 + 96,675 + 4.92% 1,632,350 1,632,350 + 24,175 + 1.50% 1,260,669 1,163,406 + 163,406 +16.34% TOTAL $34,428,128 $37,581,114 $36,859,390 + $2,431,262 + 7.06% As proposed, it .omits approximately $624,000 in requests; $464,000 in general operations, and $160,000 in School operations. It adds $163,406 to the funding of the Capital Improvement Fund, derived from a $260,000 increase in Federal Revenue Sharing Funds, of which $97,000 has been allocated to finance nonrepeating operational costs. The Federal Revenue Sharing Fund improvements reflect new census data and budgeting pro- cedures designed to improve the County's eligibility for these funds. General government operations remain basically the same with some reduction in personnel positions reflecting the reduced Federal funding of Social Services and the diminishing construction economy. These reductions total eight positions affecting Social services, Engineering and Inspections, and will be handled through attrition. Partially offsetting the eight positions will be four additional positions in departments requiring increased staff (zoning, Data Processing and Staff Services). Salaries for the remaining staff are recommende~ to increase 8% on July 1, with additional funding continued for approximately 30% of the staff to be eligible for a merit increase of 5% on their anniversary date. The employer's share of retirement costs, through actuarial studies, has increased from 3.35% to 6.45%, an increase of 90%. The cost of the health insurance program is calcu- lated to continue to increase and is estimated at +22%. Economies in operational costs will be realized from the reduced usage of vehicles placed into effect this year, the maintenance of vehicles in the Central Garage, and the declining price of fuel and energy supplies. School operations also remain basically stable with a slight decline estimated in enroll- ment ~(9150 to 9110); the reduction of four teaching positions, partially offset by an emphasis on the Gifted and Talented program creating both a supervisory and a teaching position, a net reduction of two positions. Additionally, an emphasis on a computer science currioulum in the elementary and middle schools is proposed. The salary scale for the teaching staff is proposed t'o increase 9.7% at the entry level and 11.36% at the top of the scale, with the scale reduced from 22 steps to 1t steps. The salary scale for school employees on the classification plan is scheduled to increase 7% plus a 5% across-the-board step to all employees July 1, a total of 12% except for employees in the top step of their assigned range. Operational economies are being realized from energy conservation programs and the costs of fuel being lower than projected. The increase in Debt Service of $96,675 (+4.92%) is the net increase from beginning the repayment of two new Literary Fund loans authorized for School construction programs. The increase in Refunds is due primarily to expansion of the land use deferral and tax relief for the elderly and handicapped programs. The Capital Improvement item is the General Fund's appropriation to the five year Capital Improvement Program, which is increased in FY 82-83 from use of the Federal Revenue Sharing program authorized by Congress through September 1983. Revenues are estimated to increase as follows: 81-82 82-83 INCREASE OVER BUDGETED PROJECTION 81-82 GeneraI Fund School Fund $25,024,234 8,978~896 $26,959,339 + $1,935,105 + 7.73% 9~900,0~1 + 921,155 +10.26% TOTAL $34,003,130 $36,859,390 + $2,856,260 + 8.40% 132 March 22, 1982 (Adjourned from March 17, 1982) Local sources of revenue to the General Fund are calculated to provide $1,449,093 in additional revenues, or approximately 75% of the General Fund increase, and one-half of the total revenue increase. These local source increases represent a 6.65% change over 81-82, as follows: 81-82 82-83 BUDGETED PROJECTION INCREASE/DECREASE .OVER 81-82 General Property Taxes Other Local Taxes Permits - Licenses Fines Use of Money, Property Charge for Services $14,342,442 $15,250,533 + $ 908,091 + 6.33% 5,602,500 6,308,630 + 706,130 +12.60% 394,600 299,600 - 95,000 -24.08% 40,000 70,000 + 30,000 +75.00% 1,023,220 1,000,742 - 22,478 - 2.20% 379,975 302,325 - ~77,650 -20.44% TOTAL LOCAL SOURCES $21,782,737 $23,231,830 +$ 1,449,093 + 6.65% Revenue estimates reflect the slower pace of the economy. An attempt has been made to project the moderation in the rate of growth in the revenue sources which track the local economy, i.e. sales taxes, business and professional license taxes and property taxes. State revenues show approximately an 8 1/2% increase in the General Fund which, added to the local sources, provides the General Fund with $1.9 million or a 7.73% increase. The School Fund increase of $921,155 or 10.26% is derived almost entirely from State sources and is an important factor in the ability to fund 99.3% of the School Board's budget request. These revenue estimates are the latest ones available following adoption of the State budget on March 13, and have increased since the School Board adopted their budget request. The budget preparation process began in late 1981 with an analysis of the County's resources and financial health. Objectives were established to manage the operational needs within available resources, to adjust employee salaries and benefits as adequately as resources would allow and as the employment market reflected, and to fund the programs that were deemed from the staff's perspectiv? to be essential. The battle with infla- tionary pressures continues, with some slight moderation. Projections of current years expenditures and revenues indicate the County will end another year with black ink, and its financial health continues to remain sound. This budget proposal would not be possible without the continued dedication and assis- tance of the staff. The staff of the school system in providing information and assisting in the budget review has been very helpful. The effort of the County staff is gratefully acknowledged in presenting this document for your review." Agenda Item No. 3. Education budget. Mrs. Jessie Haden, Chairman of the School Board, and Dr. Carlos Gutierrez, Superintendent of Schools, were present along with various members of the administrative staff. Mrs. Haden said that the School Board's budget projects an increase of $1.9 million. Last fall, the School Board was told that there would probabZy be an increase in local funding of about $900,000 and she believes that with recent changes in State revenues, the budget is actually below that contemplated local level of funding. The School Board tried to keep both the computer program and the program for gifted and talented students in tact. She urged the Board to accept the budget that would be presented by.the Education Department staff. Dr. Gutierrez said this was his first budget presentation before the Board of Supervisors. He noted that since coming to Albemarle County, he had drafted a new organizational chart of management positions and then handed a copy to the Board members and explained same. Dr. Gutierrez also gave to the Board members a copy of the Superintendent's Goals which he explained would be the building block on which the School division operates. Fifteen.goals are listed, the first having to do with improved business management practices. To help achieve this goal, Dr. William Barton was hired to be the Business/Financial Manager. An independent audit is also being conducted of the School Fund deficit. Dr. Gutierrez said the School Board had several priorities while working on this budget request. 1) Improved compensation for teachers; 2) Improved compensation for administration/ management positions; 3) The gifted and talented program; 4) Introduction of a computer awareness program into the schools; and 5) In-service training for administrators. In relation to goal #1, a new salary schedule has been developed which has a beginning step of $11,300 which is an increase of $!,000 on the base. This will translate into an average increase for the teachers of about 12%. The number of steps in the scale have been reduced from 18 to 11 to shorten the distance from the beginning to the top step. 'Dr. Gutierrez said research shows that a teacher's performance improves about the fifth or sixth year, so there is good reason to increase the salary scale at about that point. Dr. Gutierrez said that in relation to goal #2, the School Board had approved a revised salary schedule for this group of people (67.5 persons) and the new schedule will giye between 10% and 11% as an increase in pay. In relation to goal #3, Dr. Gutierrez said Albemarle County has nearly double the national average of students for this program. The School Board has been convinced to fund two additional positions and to place the emphasis on this program during the coming year at the elementary level. The additional money will provide in-service training, develop materials, and provide teachers who will teach other teachers to work as resource people with teachers. The fourth Priority is an introduction of computer awareness programs into the schools. The plan for this year is to lease 30 micro-computer units with accompanying soft-ware and to buy course-ware, and to have in-service training for teachers and principals so they can make the children comfortable with these units. It is hoped that within five years, every child will be able to have hands-on experience with a computer. 133 March 22~~d~o~rned from March 1~_ 1__~_~ Priority #5, which has not been stressed as much as the other four, is a need for in-service training for administrators. Times and conditions change rapidly so there is a aeed for upgrading skills and attitudes of people; mainly the building principals. Part of the cost of this training program will be paid by a Federal grant called ELII. There followed a brief discussion of the Education budget, with a mention that State revenues are not final as of this date. The Clerk was instructed to include this item on the last work session for further review. At 3:22 P.M., the Board recessed and reconvened at 3:35 P.M. Agenda Item No. 4. for changes. Board~of Supervisors. Total $181,774. There were no recommendations Agenda Item No. 5. County Executive. Total $94,954. Mr. Agnor noted that one-half of the salary of Mr. Russell Otis will be changed to the Housing budget and one-half to the County Executive's budget beginning July 1. Mr. Lindstrom said he had a question about two salaries, one being that of the County Executive, which he would like to discuss in executive session. Mr. Fisher suggested that that be done at the end of this agenda. Agenda Item No. 6. Personnel. Total $82,697. There were no changes. Agenda Item No. 7. Legal Services. Total $118,867. There were no changes. Agenda Item No. 8. Data Processing. Total $279,324. There were no changes. Agenda Item No. 9. Agenda Item No. 10. Agenda Item No. 11. Finance - Total $519,915; Real Estate - Total $339,969; and Purchasing - Total $50,565. Mr. Agnor noted that a vacant position entitled "buyer" has been deleted from the Purchasing part of the budget and transferred to Finance as a "Clerk I". There were no recommendations for changes. Agenda Item No. 12. Planning. Total $257,917. Mr. Agnor noted that the Planning Office will be sharing a clerk with the Housing Office and later this year it is his plan to request that these two offices be merged and that Russell Otis be shifted to the County Executive's Office full-time. There were no recommendations for changes. Agenda Item No. 13. Housing. Total $54,601. There were no recommendations for changes. Not Docketed. At 4:43 P.M., motion was offered by Mr. Lindstrom, seconded by Mrs. Cooke, to adjourn into executive session to discuss personnel. The motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: NAYS: Mr. Butler, Mrs. Cooke, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Henley, Mr. Lindstrom and Miss Nash. None. At 5:00 P.M., the Board reconvened into open session. Agenda Item No. 14. Motion was offered by Mr. Lindstrom, seconded by Mrs. Cooke, to adjourn this meeting until March 24, 1982, at 1:30 P.M. The motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: NAYS: Mr. Butler, Mrs. Cooke, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Henley, Mr. Lindstrom and Miss Nash. None. v Chairman