Sets Up Adoption Vote for May 25
The Board of Supervisors considered a modified budget for the 2011 fiscal year at a worksession on May 18.
County Administrator Percy Ashcraft proposed a series of modifications to the Budget document that was first presented to the Board of Supervisors on February 23. The BOS walked through each proposed line-item change and tentatively approved the recommendation with a couple of proposed changes of their own.
This now sets up a vote on the FY 2011 Budget at the May 25 meeting of the BOS.
Ashcraft proposed a modified increase in General Fund revenues of $411,045, which included $187,868 in additional state funds than what was anticipated when then Budget was proposed on February 23. In addition, Ashcraft and Finance Director Fran Hatcher asked the BOS to raise the revenue estimates on personal property tax collections an additional $165,908.
On the General Fund expenditure side, Ashcraft proposed to include funding for three School Resource Officers that was not included in the original Budget proposal. Public School Division officials have informed Sheriff Tony Lippa that two of those positions would be funded out of the local appropriation to the Public School Division, and the other was proposed by Ashcraft to be paid for out of the General Fund. The proposal would restore the three officers to the duties within the school system.
Also proposed by Ashcraft was $61,860 to restore cuts to the Social Services Budget that is estimated to capture an additional $300,000 in matching funds. Money was found in part for this by reducing a full-time position to part-time in the Circuit Court Judge's budget and also trimming some other line items throughout the General Fund.
Ashcraft also included in his modified Budget $100,000 additional to the Public School Division, which would increase the local share from the County to $11 million. This amount had been discussed at the May 11 meeting of the BOS and is understood to be funding to assist with keeping the Governor's School open.
Ashcraft also proposed changes in the Utility Fund in order to continue it being a self-supportive enterprise fund. His proposal includes increasing the availability fees for sewer hook-ups by $1,500 to $8,500 and for water hook-ups by $1,000 to $8,000. This is estimated to generate $187,000 in additional revenue than what was proposed by Ashcraft on February 23.
Ashcraft also asked the BOS to increase the estimated number of new hook-ups for next year to 75 from the 65 he had proposed in the original Budget. This would generate $140,000 in additional revenue for the Utility Fund.
The total proposed new revenues for the Utility Fund are $179,500. Part of that increase would establish a reserve for the Utility Fund, as well as begin to pay back the $5 million debt the Utility Fund owes the General Fund dating back to 2004.
BOS members also agreed to eliminate funding for the Bluemont Concert Series, which captured $500. They also added back $12,500 to Caroline's Promise, which had been reduced in the original Budget proposal to concur with cuts to the majority of outside agencies.
Also added to the Budget was one position for the Summer Employment Program, which is to be paid for by private donations. Cost for one employee is $2,500.
The BOS also discussed personnel matters in Closed Session. Ashcraft is expected to have an announcement early next week regarding employee reductions in force, which combined with salary reductions for all employees will generate almost $1 million to balance the Budget.