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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-03-25 BudgetMarch 25, 2002 (Adjourned Meeting) (Page 1) An adjourned meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, was held on March 25, 2002, at 1:30 p.m., Room 235, County Office Building, McIntire Road, Charlottesville, Virginia. This meeting was adjourned from March 20, 2002. PRESENT: Mr. Lindsay G. Dorrier, Jr., Mr. Charles S. Martin, Mr. Walter F. Perkins, Mr. Dennis S. Rooker and Ms. Sally H. Thomas. ABSENT: Mr. David P. Bowerman, OFFICERS PRESENT: County Executive, Robert W. Tucker, Jr., County Attorney, Larry W. Davis, Deputy Clerk, Laurel Bentley, and, Assistant County Executive, Roxanne White. Agenda Item No. 1. The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m., by the Chairman, Ms. Thomas. _______________ Agenda Item No. 3. From the Board: Matters not Listed on the Agenda. Ms. Thomas referred to a memorandum from Ella W. Carey, Board Clerk, dated March 25, 2002, re: SP-2001-038, American Tower, Site #10109. Ms. Carey states that one of the conditions of approval of this permit was that the cabinets and the facility would be painted dark brown. When the applicant had a second opportunity to speak at the hearing, she asked that the Board not specify a color, but suggested either leaving the color as is or painting it gray to blend in with the background. The Boards discussion = seems to indicate that it agreed to let the staff approve the color, but did not include any specific wording to that effect in the motion. Mr. Perkins said he believes it was the consensus at that meeting to let staff determine the color. Mr. Davis said staff simply wants to confirm the Boards intent at the March 20 meeting. After a short = discussion, it was the consensus to revise Condition 1f to read "Unless expressly required by FAA regulations, the facility color shall be approved by the agent. Any future FAA requirement to paint the tower shall be documented and submitted to the Zoning Administrator for inclusion with the permanent file for this request." Mr. Dorrier asked if the Board needed to vote on this change. Mr. Davis asked that the Board clarify the meaning of the term agent. Ms. Thomas said the word agent refers to the director of planning A@A@ and community development. __________ Ms. Thomas said she had sent to the Board members an E-mail asking that the Board adopt a resolution supporting the County's Sister City relationship with the Province of Prato, Italy, to be presented to the Italians this Saturday. Motion to adopt the following resolution was offered by Mr. Martin, seconded by Mr. Perkins. AYES: Mr. Martin, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Rooker, Ms. Thomas and Mr. Dorrier. NAYS: None. ABSENT: Mr. Bowerman. WHEREAS, Thomas Jefferson was born in Albemarle County on April 13, 1743, and, across the ocean, Filippo Mazzei was born on Christmas Day, 1730, in Poggio a Caiano; and WHEREAS, F ilippo Mazzei became an Albemarle County resident, neighbor and friend of Thomas Jefferson in 1773; and WHEREAS, Filippo Mazzei also became deeply involved in helping our country pursue its desire for freedom in the Revolutionary War; and WHEREAS, Filippo Mazzei left Albemarle in 1785 when he returned to Europe; but the vineyard, the place-names, the descendents of his farm workers and the close associations were not forgotten; and WHEREAS, during our nation's bi-centennial celebration, leaders in the communes of Poggio a Caiano and Prato suggested to Charlottesville and Albemarle that we mutually establish a permanent twin-community relationship for the purpose of cultural association and exchange of international goodwill; and WHEREAS, in 1976 and 1977 official visits to and from Italy sealed this proposal with a pact of friendship between the twin communities; and WHEREAS, in the 1980's a lively exchange of high school students involved many families and expanded the horizons of young people in our communities; and WHEREAS, in the 1990's an exchange of visitors took place between the communities, with many homes and hearts being opened in both; and WHEREAS, in 1977 the Province of Prato was not yet instituted and therefore was not a party to the original twinning agreements; but March 25, 2002 (Adjourned Meeting) (Page 2) WHEREAS, Irene Gorelli and Gerardina Cardillo represented the Council of the Province of Prato in a momentous visit to Albemarle County in March of 2002; and WHEREAS , on March 25, 2002, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, in honor of this visit, unanimously voted to welcome the Province of Prato into Albemarle County's twin-communities relationship; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of Albemarle County, Virginia, on behalf of all the citizens of this community, that we do hereby express our friendship, our appreciation for the historic, cultural, and human relations that tie our communities together, our hope for increasingly frequent contacts, and our desire to seal a pact of twinship with the Province of Prato, Italy. Signed and delivered to the representatives of the Province of Prato on this day, March 30, 2002. _______________ Agenda Item No. 2. Work Session: FY 2002-03 County Operating Budget. Issues from Prior Work Sessions. Mr. Tucker said staff had come up with several scenarios to consider when finalizing the budget. He handed to the Board members copies of those options (Option #2 and Option #3 are not set out in their entirety in these minutes). BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FY 2003 OPERATING BUDGET, MARCH 25, 2002 - Revised = OPTION #1 - Delay Hire + Decal @ $3.00 and E-911 @ $2.00 (3.8 % Salary) County General Fund Recurring One-Time Beginning Board Reserves 405,597 850,000 Less: County Executive Adjustments Agency Request - SHE to provide funding increase @ 2.5% 941 MACAA Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program funding 32,656 FICA for Parks & Recreation Summer P-T employees 33,242 Commonwealths Attorney - continue full salary for 1 staff 12,000 = Commission on Children & Families 1,766 Adjust Benefits for Senior Planner (1/2 yr) 1,900 Subtotal - Subtract 82,505 -0- Plus County Executive Resource Changes Parks & Recreation Fees Increase (Increase entry fee $1) 35,000 Plus Board of Supervisors Resource Changes Increase vehicle decal fee by $2.00 (All General Gvt) 225,000 225,000 = Increase E-911 surcharge by $0.36 to $1.75 for Fire Disp 220,968 220,968 Increase E-911 surcharge by $0.25 to $2.00 for operations 153,450 153,450 Court Security Fee $5 per conviction (net) 70,000 Provide Tourism funds for ACE/other 450,000 450,000 Subtotal - Add 1,049,418 669,418 450,000 Net Ending Reserves 1,027,510 1,300,000 Recurring One-Time Board of Supervisors Funding Initiatives for Discussion Cost Funding Funding = Increase Compensation by 1.8% (to 3.8%) 410,000 410,000 Administration 1.0 FTE Budget Analyst 1 (Oct 1 hire) 54,225 39,731 1,250 Registrar Salary Supplement 4,044 4,044 Public Safety Adjusted request for Regional Jail operations & Op Reserve 152,731 52,731 100,000 Adjusted request for BRJDC 26,370 26,370 1.0 FTE Fire/Rescue Trainer (Jan 2003 Hire) 45,189 22,595 1.0 FTE Police Officer (Jan 2003 Hire) 72,750 21,375 38,000 Fire Dispatch Center Cost (Option 2) 219,000 219,000 Human Development Commission on Children & Families 18,000 18,000 VJCCA Contingency 87,600 87,600 Parks and Recreation Library 24,100 24,100 Community Development 1.0 FTE Senior Planner (Jan 2003 Hire) 65,068 28,329 8,410 TJ Soil & Water Conservation 1,811 1,811 ACE (Tourism Fund) 450,000 450,000 ACE (General Fund) 550,000 550,000 March 25, 2002 (Adjourned Meeting) (Page 3) BOARD CONTINGENCY RESERVE 100,000 Additional Initiatives Funded 2,093,288 941,716 1,253,630 Remaining Board Reserve Fund (recurring revenues) 85,794 Remaining One-Time Revenues for non-recurring needs 46,370 Before discussing this option, Mr. Tucker mentioned that Mr. Koleszar had talked with Board members and he (Mr. Koleszar) and Ms. Thomas have also talked about having a 3.8 percent salary increase considered. Mr. Tucker said Option 1 contains the delayed hiring that was discussed last Wednesday. It shows a $3.00 increase in the decal fee instead of $3.50. It shows a $2.00 fee for the E-911 surcharge with 36 4 going to Fire Dispatch and 25 going to Operations. Added is a $5.00 Court Security fee for all convictions 4 which must be used for court security; a revised figure of $70,000 is shown. However, these are one-time funds because the bill as written to expire next year. The Sheriff said the Sheriffs Association is urging the = Governor to sign the bill, but sign it without that sunset clause. Mr. Tucker said all of the items the Board had requested be added have been added. One thing the Chairman of the School Board told Ms. Thomas is that they can fund the 3.8 percent increase for classified employees within existing revenues. Any reductions they make would include increasing class size. They do not expect the Supervisors to share the decal fee with them. This option does not show any sharing of the decal fee with the School Board which is the reason the increase was changed from $3.50 to $3.00. Mr. Tucker said there are a couple of additions to this option. One is a request from the Registrar for a salary supplement of $4044. This was added due to suggestions by Board members through E-mails. Added is a contingency for VJCCA of $87,600 taken from one-time funds. Staff had a request from the TJ Soil & Water Conservation District of $1811.00 and that has been added. Staff also added a Board Contingency Reserve of $100,000. He said that even with the increases mentioned today, there will still be $85,794 left in recurring funds, and $46,370 left in one-time revenues. Mr. Thomas said the Board has more in recurring revenues because of the School Board Chairmans suggestion that all of the decal fee increase be kept by the Board. She said he thinks the = School Board can give their classified employees a salary increase of 3.8 percent, and their teachers a salary increase of 3.3 percent by changing things within their budget. That would be class size, and other things. The reason they are distinguishing between teachers and classified is that WorldatWork showed that the County was a good deal below market for classified employees. WorldatWork actually said it would take an increase of 5.8 percent to get classified employee salaries at market. She said 3.8 percent is the minimum Mr. Koleszar believes he can get the School Board members to stick with for classified employees. He actually thinks the County should try to do better than that because of market. He would like to try for 4.3 percent. She did ask him if the School Board gave its employees 4.3 if it could be funded within their budget. He did not say they could. Mr. Dorrier asked what this does to commonality. Ms. Thomas said Mr. Koleszar is trying to keep all members focused on commonality, but that is School System to General Government commonality, not teachers to classified. Since these salaries are out of whack in terms of market, the School System is A@ really worried about their principals who are considered classified employees. About fifty percent of the countrys principals are going to be retiring within the next four years or so, and that is where schools across = the nation are getting nervous about hiring and keeping principals. In the time of good employment opportunities, it is hard to get bus drivers and some other classified employees, so it is a whole range of occupations that are considered classified. The School System recognizes the problems with salaries falling below market. They would like for this Board to do at least 3.8 percent in order to keep the commonality. Mr. Rooker asked what increase WorldatWork showed for classified employees. Mr. Tucker said they do not make a distinction between teachers and classified. When the County went to WorldatWork prior to September 11 preparing for the joint meeting with the School Board in October, they showed that 4.3 percent would be necessary. After September 11, things changed and they did another survey and that is when the figure of 3.3 percent came about. In November, staff took that 3.3 percent figure to both Boards, but the Boards said to build the budget on two percent and then look at comparative localities, which was done. He said the 3.3 percent was the figure that WorldatWork settled on, and that is the figure chosen by staff. Mr. Rooker asked if it was assumed that if classified salaries were increased by 3.3 percent, it would begin to close the gap. Mr. Tucker said that is correct. Mr. Martin said if there is no movement toward closing that gap this year, then based on the agreement out of the Compensation Committee, there will be a bigger gap next year. This would only be a small step toward closing that gap. Mr. Tucker said if a 3.5 percent increase were given, it would maintain the current level. Slides on last Wednesday showed that the County is at 97.5 percent of market for classified. As part of the final recommendation, staff said that over the next year or two it would develop a plan to close that gap. One March 25, 2002 (Adjourned Meeting) (Page 4) thing that can be considered is giving an increase now, and then in January giving another percent, that would be half the amount needed for a full year. Right now one percent would cost about $226,000. In January, only $115,000 would be needed. Mr. Dorrier asked when the County last increased the decal fee. Mr. Tucker said he thinks it was in 1997. Mr. Dorrier asked the amount of the increase. Mr. Tucker said it was $2.00 for typical passenger cars. Mr. Dorrier said the suggestion is to increase it by $3.00 now. Mr. Tucker said this is a way to increase revenues, but it is the Boards choice. = Mr. Rooker asked about the MACAA Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program recommendation for $32,656. He asked if that amount is in addition to what has been recommended for MACAA. Ms. White said it is not. An error was made by not including this funding in the budget. Mr. Tucker said the Board has not yet discussed changing anything on the expenditure side of the budget, only revenues have been discussed. Staff did make a change by delaying the hiring date for new employees. Two police officers are included in the budget, as is the fire/rescue trainer. The budget analyst position was moved to an October hire date, and the two senior planner positions have been moved to a January, 2003 hire date. Mr. Martin said he has no problem with Option #1 with the 3.8% salary increase. But, he does know that Mr. Dorrier has a concern about increasing the amount of the vehicle decal fee by $3.00. Ms. Thomas said she had sent a very long E-mail to Mr. Tucker in which she asked which new expenses are automobile related, and the answer was $2.5 million but that figure included fire and the one new policeman. But, even if that amount were cut in half, a lot of expenditures are related to automobile usage. That helped her think the decal fee is okay. Mr. Perkins said he did not like Option #2 which includes a one-cent tax rate increase. Mr. Dorrier agreed. Mr. Tucker said this option was written because Ms. Thomas, in an E-mail, had suggested a one- cent tax rate increase to offset the expenses at the Ivy Landfill. Mr. Rooker asked the amount in the budget for those expenses. Ms. Thomas said it is $465,000. Mr. Dorrier asked when the $1.0 million for the ACE program would actually be appropriated. Mr. Tucker said it would be appropriated in July. Mr. Dorrier said the ACE process is very long. Mr. Tucker said the funds would not actually be spent until near the end of the fiscal year. Ms. Thomas said those are one- time funds so it does not help to postpone that appropriation. Mr. Tucker said the amount would not change no matter when the money is spent during the year. Mr. Dorrier said the money would be drawing interest as long as it is not spent, so he wonders if that money can be made to work for you. Mr. Tucker A@ said it will be invested, and the County will be earning interest on that money. Mr. Dorrier asked if that is factored in. Mr. Tucker said all interest earned is factored in as part of interest income, but that amount is already accounted for in revenue projections. Ms. Thomas said the consensus is that Option #2 which included a one-cent tax rate increase is off of the table for discussion. Mr. Tucker said Option #3 is in reference to Ms. Thomas discussion with Mr. Koleszar as to what it = would take to get a 4.3 percent salary increase in order to close the gap with market a little more. This is the same as Option #1 but causes a deficit of $32,206. Mr. Rooker asked if this would pick up any of the School Boards expenses. Mr. Tucker said no. =A@ Ms. Thomas said they are not even sure they can find the funds to do this. Mr. Rooker asked if it is assumed that the Board will fund $1.5 million for the Baker-Butler start-up expenses. Mr. Tucker said that is correct. Mr. Rooker asked if when the School Board says they can find the money for the increase to 3.8 percent, that assumes they will not get the $400,000 in additional one-time moneys they asked for. Mr. Tucker said that is correct. They can find the money in several ways. Some of it is in the reserve funds they have now. They may need to change class sizes. They may need to reduce some programs. Mr. Martin said he thinks they can find more than $200,000 in salaries because of the salary lapse figure they use. A lot of the older teachers have left, and there are many vacant positions. Mr. Tucker said they do not seem to be too concerned with the recommendation for a 3.8 percent salary increase. Ms. Thomas wanted to talk theoretically about having a 4.3 percent increase in January, and a 3.8 percent increase in July. She said the 4.3 percent gets the County closer to market, but you cant buy A= anything with what you havent gotten. Would it get the County closer to market if it gave the 4.3 percent =@ even if it did not occur until January, or would it be better to just be straight forward and do the 3.8 percent in July? Mr. Tucker said he talked about a January increase because staff will not know until possibly August what the true market figure will be. At this time, the numbers are based on what school systems are requesting for increases, and the increases proposed by administration. It is not known what increase will ultimately be funded. In July or later, staff would run another survey to see what was actually funded. Ms. Thomas said that was not her question. She thinks what the Countys market for comparative = March 25, 2002 (Adjourned Meeting) (Page 5) governments does is useless information if the County is going to use the WorldatWork market as they define it. Mr. Tucker said WorldatWork did not define it at 4.3 percent, but went back to 3.3 percent. Ms. Thomas said market is what they find the next time they do a survey, and not particularly what the comparative 30 agencies do. Mr. Martin said that is not correct, it is both. He said the WorldatWork recommendation was used to make the projection. Then market is determined after all budgets have been adopted. That is where the comparative market is determined because it is a solid number that WorldatWorks number is compared to. = He said an issue for him is that there are a lot of people even in Charlottesville who although they are not being laid off from work, are not getting increases. He does not think it looks good to the general public to give the whole 4.3 percent increase. He would rather do the 3.8 percent increase if the Board can decide on the correct decal fee. Mr. Dorrier said there would be $225,000 from the decal. If there is some way to raise the money without raising that fee, he can accept the rest of Option #1. He thinks the 3.8 percent increase upholds the Boards commitment to the Schools and it is in line with what the County can afford. = Mr. Perkins asked what would happen if the decal fee were raised by only $2.00. Mr. Tucker said each $1.00 equals $75,000. It would decrease the remaining Board Reserve to $10,794. Mr. Dorrier said he could agree to $2.00. Mr. Martin said he thinks the entire Board should be in agreement. Mr. Tucker said if the Board chose to do anything for salaries in January, the Boards Contingency = Reserve or one-time moneys would have to be used. Ms. Thomas said she thinks there needs to be a contingency because of the uncertainly about State revenues. The County has heard from a few agencies as to how they are being impacted by state changes, but has not heard from all. Mr. Dorrier said this is the first time the decal fee has been changed in about five years. Mr. Tucker said that is correct. Mr. Rooker said the change in the E-911 surcharge only gets the County even on expenses. Mr. Tucker said the surcharge has not been increased since it was first adopted back in the early 90s. Ms. Thomas asked if the 800 MHz radio system is completely funded. Mr. Tucker said yes. It is a A@ capital expense. Mr. Rooker asked if there is a fee on cell phone usage. Mr. Tucker said there may be in the future. Ms. Thomas said the County was a leader in the State in getting a cell phone tax, but the General Assembly reduced the amount and has been reducing it year by year. Mr. Martin asked if that was in the legislative packet because he does not remember ever seeing it. He said that in his family they have two telephone lines, but they also have four cell phones. Ms. Thomas said she does not remember seeing this in the notes from David Blount. She remembers that the County thought it was on to a good thing, but the State started cutting it back. Mr. Rooker asked about sales tax revenues for the first part of the year. Ms. White said staff does not have an update on those, but she thinks they are close to what was expected. Mr. Tucker said the only thing that is not known is the amount of ABC Profits from the State. Mr. Martin said that for the purposes of a public hearing, he will offer motion to go with Option #1A which includes a $2.00 increase in the decal fee, an increase in the E-911 surcharge from $1.39 to $2.00, a Court Security Fee of $5.00 per conviction, and the other additions listed in Option #1. The motion was seconded by Mr. Rooker. Ms. Thomas said the Board has to also set the tax rates for the public hearing. Mr. Davis said whatever rate is advertised can always be lowered, but not increased without an additional advertisement and public hearing. Mr. Tucker said staff had assumed that the tax rates would not change. Roll was called, and the motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: Mr. Martin, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Rooker, Ms. Thomas and Mr. Dorrier. NAYS: None. ABSENT: Mr. Bowerman. Mr. Davis reminded the Board that the County Code must be amended in order to raise the decal fee and the E-911 surcharge. A public hearing is required on each. However, the Board is not restricted to the amount of increase set out in Option #1A for these two fees, the amount of the increase could still be changed before that public hearing is advertised. __________ Setting of Tax Rates for Public Hearing. Mr. Perkins said he would offer motion to advertise for public hearing a real estate tax rate of 76 4 per one hundred dollars of assessed value and $4.28/$100 of assessed value for personal property, including machinery and tools. The motion was seconded by Mr. Martin. Roll was called, and the motion carried by the following recorded vote: March 25, 2002 (Adjourned Meeting) (Page 6) AYES: Mr. Martin, Mr. Perkins, Mr. Rooker, Ms. Thomas and Mr. Dorrier. NAYS: None. ABSENT: Mr. Bowerman. __________ Mr. Rooker said the Board has not taken any action on the 3.8 percent salary increase. Ms. Thomas said she thinks it is important to say to the School Board that staff will develop a plan to close the gap for classified employees. If it is possible to do something in January, the Board is open to that possibility. Mr. Dorrier said he thinks it should be stressed that this Board also adheres to the principles of commonality. Mr. Tucker said he thinks that is the indication that Ms. Thomas got from Mr. Koleszar. It would be helpful for the School Board to know that if anything can be done in January, they need to look now at how they would fund that increase. Whatever changes they make in order to find the revenues necessary to fund the 3.8 percent increase, they would also need to look for revenues to fund the 4.3 percent in January. Ms. Thomas said if the School Board is thinking long-term, she believes they will be thinking that the entire increase from the decal fee went to General Government and ask if that means it will always go to General Government. In recent years, new local revenues that were not intended for a special fund (such as the E-911 surcharge) have been split with 60 percent going to the schools, and 40 percent going to Local Government. Mr. Rooker said he thinks this Board needs to be careful about how it communicates to the School Board its thoughts about the 4.3 percent increase. He said that before January the idea will be discussed again after survey numbers are known. He does not want it to be taken as a done deal. Mr. Tucker said A@ another meeting will be needed with the School Board in October or November about salaries for the next fiscal year and that would be the time to have the data available for a decision about an increase in January. Mr. Perkins said looking at the market survey for the counties makes him think that the State should be part of Albemarles common market. Mr. Martin said that never came up during the Committees == deliberations. Mr. Bob Brandenburger said there were things other than school systems and localities which were used to determine common market. For instance, the Martha Jefferson Hospital and A@ University Health Services were included in the summer survey. There was no further discussion at this time. __________ Ms. Thomas said the Italians are visiting this weekend and she expects to see some of the Board members on Thursday evening and Saturday evening for some of the events which have been planned. She said one day Maurice Cox and his wife will be escorting these people around the City. Mrs. Cox has translated what the various offices would be called in Italian. On Friday at noon they will be in the County Office Building to talk about student/teacher exchanges. Mr. Dorrier asked if Albemarle County presents gifts. Ms. Thomas said they will receive a packet of gifts which the City and County will present jointly. The $2000 appropriation in the budget helps pay for gifts and the dinners. The gifts include things like Made in Virginia jams, White Hall wine, and the City is giving A@ Poggio a Caiano a couple of books autographed by local authors because they are setting up a new village = library. The County did not have a similar gift for Prato so the Clerk is looking for a framed photograph of the Albemarle County countryside for that purpose. __________ Ms. Thomas thanked staff for all of their hard work during this budget process. _______________ Agenda Item No. 4. Adjourn. With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m. ________________________________________ Chairman Approved by the Board of County Supervisors Date: 09/11/2002 Initials: LAB March 25, 2002 (Adjourned Meeting) (Page 7)