Buckingham Budgeting
Published 4:52 pm Tuesday, January 29, 2013
BUCKINGHAM – It's that time of the year, again. Yes, it's budget time in Buckingham. And, to substantiate that, the board of supervisors gave its approval during the January 14 meeting for adjusting its meeting schedule to help ensure that the budget for 2013-14 is adopted according to the Code of Virginia.
Assistant County Administrator Karl Carter, who also serves as the county's financial officer, advised supervisors that because the board's April meeting is so early in the month, he was recommending that it be changed from the second Monday to the third Monday of the month, April 15. That meeting would include the required public hearing on the proposed budget and tax rates.
After hearing the suggested changes in the calendar, the board accepted a tentative calendar that calls for departments and agencies to make their budget presentations on Monday, March 11.
The calendar sets the board's first budget work session on Wednesday, March 20. A second work session, if needed, is scheduled for Thursday, March 21.
After the work session or sessions, the calendar calls for advertising the proposed budget and tax levies for public hearing in the newspaper on Fridays, March 29 and April 5.
According to the schedule, the board would consider adoption of the county's 2013-14 budget and tax rates on Monday, April 22.
Following the board's approval of the calendar, County Administrator Rebecca Carter emphasized that the dates are “tentative.” She explained, “Because a lot of our information rests on what the General Assembly does.”
At that point, Supervisor Cassandra Stish reminded that they had asked about having work sessions with the school board during budget preparation time.
Stish explained that she would like to see a work session scheduled with the school board before the budgets are “completely jelled.”
Carter noted that they were already in conversations with the school division. However, she said she would talk with Dr. Snead about it.
Noting the “crunch time” associated with the budget and the wait on the General Assembly, Carter added, “Sometimes when they (the school board) present their budget they really don't know what they are going to have. But, at least we could look at what they think they are going to have.”
Stish added, “What they think they are going to have and what they think their needs are going to be.” She concluded, “Open conversation with the school board, I think, is a good idea. I'd like to have more collaboration.”
Vice Chairman Danny Allen advised his fellow board members that Clyde Turner, whose term as the District 7 representative on the Buckingham County Industrial Development Authority expired on December 31, has agreed to serve for another term.
Subsequently, the board supported Allen's motion to nominate Turner for another term. Although supervisors make the nomination, the IDA representative is appointed by the Circuit Court Judge.
Supervisor Joe Chambers drew the board's full support with his nomination to appoint Ed Saunders as the District 6 representative on the Buckingham County Board of Zoning Appeals.
Likewise, when Supervisor Bill Talbert moved to reappoint R. Patrick Bowe as the District 3 representative on the planning commission, the board unanimously concurred.
Supervisors appropriated $5,000 to the police supply budget for the Buckingham County Sheriff's Office to cover the purchase of firearms.
A letter from Sheriff William G. Kidd, Jr. to the county administrator explained that his office received a $5,000 check from a donor who specified that the funds be used for the purchase of guns.
In the letter, Kidd explained that the check was given to the Buckingham Treasurer's Office to be deposited into the donation account until the firearms were purchased and received. He added that his office has received the guns.
Acknowledging the gift and expressing appreciation to the donor, Talbert offered, “This is a wonderful gift to the sheriff's office.”
County Administrator Carter shared that she has been researching and reviewing economic development incentive policies from other localities.
Noting that she provided supervisors with details that she believes should be in an economic development incentive policy, Carter said she felt they needed to have one in place.
Her written report to the board included that at minimum, the policy should contain goals and objectives, financial incentive tools and limitations, evaluation process, required documentation for the economic development application, performance standards, and monitoring and compliance.
“When I sit down at the table with a prospective economic developer, I need to know what the county is going to be authorizing me to offer,” said Carter.
She told the board, “I would like to work further on this if it is your desire to have one.” Carter said she would bring the information back to the board and would also share it with the industrial development authority.
Following her presentation, Supervisor John Staton moved, and the board unanimously agreed, to approve Carter's request to work on the economic development incentive policy package.
Responding to a request from Ellis Acres Memorial Park, supervisors unanimously agreed to continue to waive the monthly charge for water and sewer at EAMP during 2013.
In his written request, Wil Dean shared that services to the community are expanding at EAMP. He shared that Southside Virginia Community College is conducting GED classes at the park's community building; and, SVCC will be offering several culinary classes there beginning in January.
“These are two of our new initiatives to improve the quality of life for county residents,” wrote Dean. He added, “Ellis Acres is seeking the continued support of all entities to achieve the vision of a first class park for Buckingham County. Our continued success rests on the shoulders of all.”
Responding to a request from Assistant County Administrator Karl Carter, supervisors authorized a contract with Commonwealth Regional Council to assist with an application for the final phase of the VDOT Transportation Enhancement Grant at a cost of $1,200.
He explained that construction should be beginning soon for the first phase of the enhancement project in the courthouse area.
“We've already been approved for the second phase,” advised Carter, adding that this application would be for funding the project's final phase.
According to information in the board packet, the final phase would include new/improved sidewalks and crosswalks, improved ADA access, and other components from the courthouse 920 feet west along Route 60.
After Cater advised the board that she had provided a separate personnel committee report in the board packets, Talbert moved not to accept the recommendation of the personnel committee at this time.
During the discussion that followed a second by Chambers, Carter explained that the position was for an enforcement officer for the storm-water management program being mandated by the state. She said the county is currently mandated to come into compliance by July 2014. However, Carter added that legislation was introduced to extend that a year. “But there is a mandate to enforce it,” she stated.
Continuing, Carter shared that the board had talked about using that position to enforce other ordinances, too.
Noting a regional effort, Carter explained, “We are working on the preliminary plan through the Commonwealth Regional Council.”
She added that the locality has to have someone to manage and administer the program and perform inspections. Carter explained that the recommendation was to advertise for the position.
The county administrator clarified that the position did not need to be filled by April 1; but they do need to have the preliminary plan by April 1.
The motion not to accept the committee's recommendation passed with a four-to-three vote with Snoddy, Allen, Talbert and Chambers agreeing; and Stish, Staton, and Bryan opposing.
Continuing with her report, Carter updated the board on the renovation of the former county administration building, which upon completion will house the health department and social services.
She explained that social services would be temporarily relocating to the old Dillwyn Primary School on Route 15.
The move, said Carter, would begin on February 26. She advised that inmates from the Piedmont Regional Jail would be helping with the move. However, she noted that the secured files would be moved by social services' staff.
According to Carter, the health department should be occupying its new space no later than March 8. Then, construction would begin on the social services section, with completion anticipated approximately ten weeks later.
Carter added that the parking areas should be completed by the end of March and hard-surfaced once the asphalt plants reopen.
“And also at that time they will correct the problems with the parking lot here,” she stated
Advising the board that Tommy Ranson, building inspection official, passed the certification examination for erosion and sediment control inspector, Carter shared that means that both Ranson and Rebecca Cobb, planner and zoning administrator, are certified inspectors for that program.
Sharing that she talked with CRC's Mary Hickman earlier in the day, Carter said there is the possibility of a $25,000 planning grant through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development to help with the feasibility study on providing Internet service throughout the county.
She added, “And there is the possibility of up to a $200,000 grant to do the project.” However, Carter noted that as with most grants there are a lot of strings attached and qualifying factors.
Carter said Hickman would be scheduling a meeting with representatives from VDHCD to see if the county would be eligible to submit a grant application for the feasibility study.
Dr. Frank Friedman, President of Piedmont Virginia Community College, provided an annual update to supervisors.
Before beginning his presentation, he acknowledged Vera Cooke Merritt, Buckingham's “outstanding representative” on the PVCC Board.
He also complimented the county on its new auditorium. Describing the auditorium as “wonderful,” he told supervisors, “You should be very proud.”
Friedman said enrollment at PVCC this fall rose to 5,700. He added that 115 of those students were from Buckingham.
According to Friedman, PVCC opened two new satellite sites this year. The site in Greene County opened this fall with 150 students in its first semester students. The other site just opened in Charlottesville in the recently renovated Jefferson School.
Friedman shared that he is talking with Buckingham's school superintendent, Dr. Cecil Snead, about ways to expand courses offered to BCHS students who are ready to do college work.
At the conclusion of the report, Staton asked if PVCC would consider putting a location in Buckingham.
Friedman explained that several things would have to be considered. The first would be space. He added that the locations in Greene and at the Jefferson School were provided at no cost to the college. Secondly, he said they would have to see if there is enough interest.
“If we can't draw at least one hundred students a semester it just isn't going to work for us financially,” he stated. “Yes, if those conditions can work out, we would be interested.”
Concurring with a request by Stephanie L. Midkiff, commissioner of the revenue, the board approved a reimbursement of $4,643.87 to Solite LLC for an overpayment in taxes.
Supervisors appropriated $12,638 to the Clerk's Office of the Buckingham County Circuit Court. The money represented grant funds received for the purchase of record keeping supplies.
Aligning the county's mileage reimbursement rate with the state's, supervisors approved raising the rate from $0.505 to $0.525 cents per mile.
E. M. Wright, Jr., in his role as county attorney, provided an overview of the Memorandum of Understanding between supervisors and the school board for the county's use of the old Dillwyn Primary School.
Subsequently, supervisors authorized the county administrator or chair to sign the MOU.
Near the conclusion of the meeting when Chairman Snoddy asked if there were any other board matters, Talbert expressed his appreciation to Dr. Cecil Snead, school superintendent, for attending the BOS meetings.
“I think he has been to every meeting since coming to the county,” said Talbert.
Chambers shared that some of his constituents have been complaining to him about their Comcast service.
The county administrator said they would look into the franchise agreement to see if there is anything the county could do.
