[00:00:06]
[Call to Order / Moment of Silence / Pledge of Allegiance/ Agenda Adoption]
WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.WELCOME TO Y APRIL 2ND, 2026 BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETING.
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ELDER WELDON BLUNT, SENIOR OF ST.
PAUL HOLDING THIS CHURCH, DENVER, VIRGINIA, TO COME UP TO GIVE OUR INVOCATION, ELDER BLUNT.
GOOD LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE PLACED UPON THE COUNTY OF SIRI.
WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR THE BOARD FOR SUPERVISORS AS THEY CONDUCT MATTERS OF BUSINESS FOR OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITIES.
WE ASK THAT YOU GUIDE THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS IN THE SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE, FAIRNESS, RIGHT THOUGHT AND SPEECH.
PLEASE BE WITH OUR SUPERVISORS THROUGH THEIR DELIBERATIONS AND HELP THEM TO BE WISE IN THEIR DECISION MAKING FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.
THOSE WHO HAVE PLACED THEIR TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN THEIR LEADERSHIP.
IMPART YOUR SUPREME WISDOM UPON ALL ACTIVITIES SO THAT THEIR AFFAIRS MAY REACH A SUCCESSFUL AND PRODUCTIVE CONCLUSION.
THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR SOURCE TODAY AND ALWAYS.
I NOW OFFICIALLY CALLED THE FEBRUARY, EXCUSE ME, APRIL 2ND, 2026, BOARD OF SUPERVISOR MEETING TO ORDER.
I NOW ASKED FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
I'M NOW ASK IF WE ALL PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEASURE OF ALLEGIANCE.
OUR PLEASURE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE FOOT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC IN WHICH IT STANDS WHEN NATION UNDER GOD IN THE FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR HONOR BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE YOUR AGENDA IN FRONT OF YOU.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AGENDA? HEARING NONE.
I WILL NOW ASK FOR A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
ELLIOT, SECONDED BY MR. DREW THAT BE APPROVED.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
I NOW ASK MADAM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE ROLL CALL SUPERVISOR.
THANK YOU MADAM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
MR. CHAIR, IT MIGHT, UH, IF I MAY, MAY I TAKE JUST A FEW MORE BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH THE AGENDA ITEMS IN THE MEETING PERTAINING TO, UH, MR. COHO PROCEED PERTAINING TO YOUR, YOUR, NO, EXCUSE ME.
UM, SORRY, WHAT'S YOUR, WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE PERTAINING TO, I'M SORRY.
WHAT IS IT PERTAINING TO? JUST, UH, THANK YOU.
AND, AND ANOTHER ITEM I'D LIKE TO BRING UP REAL, REAL QUICKLY BEFORE WE GET INTO THE REMAINING PART OF THE MEETING CIRCLE.
IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN HOLD OFF UNTIL, UM, BOARD COMMENT OR I WOULD, DOES IT NEED TO, I WOULD ASK THAT WE DO THIS NOW.
UM, MR. UH, CALHOUN, I WOULD ASK THAT IF WE COULD, UM, JUST HOLD OFF FOR ONE SECOND PLEASE.
LET US GET THROUGH THE CONSENT ITEMS AND IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T MIND BEFORE WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME TIME BEFORE THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[Consent Items ]
YOU HAVE YOUR CONSENT ITEMS BEFORE YOU.I WOULD NOW ASK, UM, HAVE YOU ALL HAD THE TIME TO GO OVER THE CONSENT ITEMS? ONE BEING A RESOLUTION FOR THE PROCLAMATION OF FOR THE NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS' RIGHTS WEEK NUMBER TWO, RESOLUTION FOR THE S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM.
NUMBER THREE, THE RESOLUTION DECLARING APRIL AS S COUNTY CLEANUP.
MONTH NUMBER FOUR, APPROVAL OF DRAFT MINUTES BOARD OF SUPERVISOR WORK SESSION MARCH 4TH, 2026.
NUMBER FIVE, APPROVAL OF DRAFT MINUTES BOARD OF SUPERVISOR WORK SESSION MARCH 5TH, 2026.
NUMBER SIX, FISCAL YEAR 2020 6 27.
LOCAL CHOICE RENEWAL NUMBER SEVEN, RESOLUTION OPPOSING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LEGISLATION.
[00:05:01]
NUMBER EIGHT, EMERGENCY SERVICE GRANT, VDM 95,000 VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FIRE PROGRAMS $25,270.NUMBER NINE, THE RATIFICATION OF CONTRACT WITH AXON ENTERPRISES.
AND LASTLY, NUMBER 10, THE BUDGET AMENDMENT CLERK FULL OF CIRCUIT, EXCUSE ME, CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURTS RECORDS PRESERVATION GRANT, 39,620 ARE, EXCUSE ME, 9,500.
MS. ROBS 9,500 ON ITEM NUMBER EIGHT AS FAR AS EMERGENCY SERVICE GRANT, VDM ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSENT ITEMS? MR. CHAIR? MR. DREW, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, PULL ITEM NUMBER TWO FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.
MR. DREW WOULD LIKE TO PULL CONSENT ITEM NUMBER TWO, UH, FROM THE CONSENT ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT? NO QUESTION MR. CHAIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT CONSENT ITEMS EXCLUDING NUMBER TWO FOR DISCUSSION.
THE REMAINDER WE ASK THAT WE WOULD APPROVE THOSE CONSENT ITEMS. DR.
ELLIOT JUST MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS WITH, UH, HOLD OFF ON CONSENT ITEM NUMBER TWO.
SECOND BY MR. HARDY THAT WE APPROVE CONSENT ITEMS HOLDING OFF ON CONSENT ITEM NUMBER TWO.
MOTION PASSES LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[2. Resolution - Surry County High School Girls Basketball Team ]
WE HAVE A CONSENT ITEM ON NUMBER TWO, RESOLUTION FOR THE SARA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM.I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE COACH AND SOME OF THE ASSISTANT COACHES, UH, PLAYERS PRESENT TONIGHT.
I'LL ASK IF, UH, WE COULD HAVE MR. DREW, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, IF YOU COULD READ THE RESOLUTION TO OUR, OUR AUDIENCE WITH US TONIGHT.
UM, IT IS MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION TO THE SURRY COUNTY LADY COUGARS.
UM, AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF SURRY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD IN THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURTROOM OF SURREY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER ON THURSDAY, APRIL 2ND, 2026, ALL ARE PRESENT.
UM, THIS IS IN RECOGNITION OF SURREY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL LADY COUGAR'S BASKETBALL TEAM, WHEREAS THE SURREY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL LADY COUGAR'S BASKETBALL TEAM UNDER, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF HEAD COACH WILHAM JOHNS AND HIS DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF HAVE DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL SKILL, TEAMWORK, AND DETERMINATION.
AFTER COMPLETING THE REGULAR SEASON AS FIRST TEAM, ALL TRIBE RIVERS, DISTRICT CHAMPIONS WITH AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD OF 20 WINS AND ONE LOSS.
WHEREAS THROUGH THEIR HARD WORK, DEDICATION AND SPORTSMANSHIP, THE LADY COUGARS HAVE EARNED A DISTINCTION OF ADVANCING TO THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT.
AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT THEIR SEASON, THE LADY COUGARS PLAYED WITH CLEAR EYES, FOUR HEARTS AND UNIMAGINABLE AMOUNTS OF FORTITUDE.
THEIR MENTAL STA STAMINA AND ATHLETIC PROWESS NEVER WAVERED FROM THE MOMENT THEY FIRST HUSTLED ONTO THE COURT INTO THE FIGHT BUZZER BUZZ AS THEY OUTLASTED, OUTPLAYED AND ULTIMATELY OVERPOWERED THEIR COMPETITION.
AND WHEREAS THE LADY COUGARS ARE COMPRISED OF THE FOLLOWING, TALENTED ATHLETES, DEBRE, NEWBIE, MICHAELA, DREW, ANAYA, JOHNS JALYN, WARREN, LONDON, JUDKINS, KAMIYA SUMMERS, KIMBERLY SCOTT, SKYLAR GANNIS, ARIA HARRELL, ADDISON ROGERSON, AND JUAN JUANNA JOHNSON.
AND WHEREAS THE LADY COUGARS HAVE BEEN SUPERBLY COACH AND INSPIRED BY HEAD COACH WILL JOHN WILHEM JOHNS, WHO HAVE BROADENED THE PLAYERS' KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME AND REFINED THEIR SKILLS AND EXECUTION.
AND THEY CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON THE LEGACY OF THE SUPERIOR PLAY AND TRUE SPORT SPORTSMANSHIP FORGED BY THE TENACIOUS AND TED SPIRIT OF EACH TEAM MEMBER.
AND WHEREAS THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WILL CARRY THEIR UNFORGETTABLE MEMORIES, THEY MAY, ALONG THEIR WAY TO CHAMPIONSHIP STATUS, WHETHER IT BE THE LONG HOURS IN THE WEIGHT ROOM OR THE GRUELING PRACTICES, AS WELL AS THE LESSONS OF HARD WORK, DEDICATION, AND PERSEVERANCE LEARNED DURING THE AMAZING SEASON THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES AS THEY ARE CONSTANTLY FLOODED WITH THE FEELING OF GREATNESS THAT COMPANIES BEING A CHAMPION.
AND WHEREAS THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF SURREY COUNTY WISHES TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEND EXCELLENCE, ESPECIALLY THAT DISPLAY BY THE SURY COUNTY LA LADY COUGARS BASKETBALL TEAM.
AND IT, AND IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT WE CONGRATULATE THIS ELITE GROUP OF STUDENT ATHLETES AND HEAD COACH WILLIAM JOHNS, WHO HAVE BROUGHT HONOR TO SURREY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL AND TO THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SURY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY CONGRATULATES THE SURREY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL LADY COUGAR'S BASKETBALL TEAM FOR THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ADVANCING TO THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE STATE TOURNAMENT.
AND NOW THEREFORE IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HEREBY COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE THE SURREY COUNTY LADY COUGARS AS FIRST TEAM ALL TRIBAL RIVERS DISTRICT CHAMPIONS, DEBRE NEWBIE,
[00:10:01]
TRIBAL RIVER PLAYER OF THE YEAR, FIRST TEAM ALLSTATE AND FIRST TEAM ALL REGION.MICHAELA DREW, FIRST TEAM ALL REGION AND HEAD COACH WILHAM JOHNS AS TRIAL RIVER COACH OF THE YEAR, DEBRE NEWBIE, MCKAYLA DREW ANAYA JOHNS WERE SELECTED TO THE TRIAL RIVER'S FIRST TEAM IN HONORABLE MISSION RECOGNITION WENT TO JALYN WARREN, LONDON JENKINS, AND KAMAYA SUMMERS BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ORIGINAL OF THIS RESOLUTION BE DELIVERED FORTHWITH TO HEAD COACH WILLIAM DAWNS.
AND THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE SPREAD UPON THE RECORDS OF SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPTED THIS SECOND DAY OF APRIL, 2026.
AND I PRESENT TO THE SURREY COUNTY LADY COUGARS THIS AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT AND RECOGNITION.
LET'S GIVE THE LADY COU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
WE, WE HAVE THEM HERE WITH US TONIGHT LATE.
AND GENTLEMEN, COULD YOU PLEASE COME UP PLEASE.
WE HAVE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
JUST WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
GOOD JOB, LADIES JOB, SIR, WE GOTTA GET A, WE GONNA GET A PICTURE? MM-HMM
LET'S, LET'S GET A PICTURE WITH THESE, UH, CHAMPIONS, FUTURE CHAMPIONS RIGHT HERE.
I, RIGHT HERE BEFORE THEY TAKE THE SEAT, I WANT THESE LADIES TO KNOW HOW PROUD I OUTSTANDING YOUNG AND REMEMBER THIS, THIS IS OUR ESSAY WINNER, INTERNATIONAL ESSAY.
SO NOT ONLY THEY, BUT THEY ARE ACADEMIC AND SO WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF THESE YOUNG LADIES.
IT WILL BE STATE CHAMPION, ABSOLUTELY
UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
UM, ALSO, THIS IS NOT OUR FULL TEAM.
WE HAVE, UH, FOUR GIRLS THAT PLAY SOFTBALL.
SO THEY HAVE A SOFTBALL GAME TODAY.
AND WE HAD ANOTHER YOUNG LADY THAT HAD PRIOR OBLIGATION, SO THEY'LL TRULY BE BEST.
UM, WE ONLY HAVE ONE SENIOR THAT GRADUATES FROM THIS TEAM, SO EVERYBODY RETURNS.
SO WE LOOK, THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT.
ONE OF THE YOUNG LADIES THAT AREN'T, ISN'T, UM, PRESENT WITH THE TEAM TONIGHT ISN'T PRESENT WITH US BOARD MEMBERS.
MS. HARRELL IS ACTUALLY TRAVELING WITH THE SOFTBALL TEAM, BUT SHE'S A PART OF THIS TEAM AS WELL.
SO WE JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, MS. HARRELL AS WELL IN HER ABSENCE.
AND LADIES, CONTINUE UP THE GREAT WORK.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING OUT ALL LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PATIENCE WITH THAT.
NOW, MR. CALHOUN, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT PRIOR TO OUR, UM, BOARD COMMENTS.
MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I HAVE A, UM, A FEW ITEMS. UM, FIRST, UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE CLAREMONT, DENVER AND SURREY FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND ALSO THE EMS DEPARTMENT AND SURREY RESCUE SQUAD FOR THE SERVICE IN SURREY COUNTY.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, I TRULY THANK THOSE VOLUNTEERS FROM SUR CLAREMONT FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT RESPONDED TO A WOOD WOODED AREA FIRE THAT OCCURRED ON MY ROAD THIS TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
THEY WERE ABLE TO CONTAIN AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE IT COULD REACH THE NEARBY STRUCTURES AGAIN.
THE SECOND ONE, UM, DEAR MEMBERS OF THE, UH, UM, DEAR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M ROTTING TO FORMALLY RESIGN FROM MY POSITION AS A MEMBER OF THE SURREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
EFFECTIVELY IMMEDIATELY THIS DECISION COMES AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
I NO LONGER HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE BOARD'S ABILITY TO OPERATE IN A FAIRLY RESPECTFUL AND TRANSPARENT
[00:15:01]
MANNER.SPECIFICALLY, I HAVE CONCERNS REGARDING LACK OF FAIR ELECTION PROCESSES FOR THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN POSITIONS.
THE REPEATED DISREGARDS OF MOTIONS I HAVE MADE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COUNTY, WHICH ARE OFTEN IGNORED AND NOT RESPONDED TO, AND THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT AND TIMELY MANNER, UH, TIMELY INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR INFORMED DECISION MAKING.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF SURY COUNTY.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE STEPPING ASIDE IS THE APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION AT THIS TIME.
MS. COHEN, ARE YOU FINISHED WITH YOUR COMMENTS? I'M DONE, YES, SIR.
AND, UM, AS FAR AS JUST FOR CLARITY FOR YOUR LETTER OF RESIGNATION, IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING? YES.
IS THAT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, MEANING RIGHT NOW OR AFTER THE MEETING? YES, SIR.
BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE A RESIGNATION LETTER HERE FROM MR. CALHOUN.
UM, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE, MR. CHAIR? DO? YES.
DO WE NEED A, EXCUSE ME, MR. KAUNG? OH, EXCUSE ME.
MR. UH, ELLIOT, DO WE NEED A MOTION TO ACCEPT HIS, UH, MR. CHAIRMAN? YOU DO NOT.
[Public Comments ]
UH, PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE THREE, THREE PUBLIC COMMENTS.FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT COMING FROM ROBERTO HAMILL FROM CLAREMONT DISTRICT.
I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'LL ASK, UH, I WOULD BE THE TIMEKEEPER TONIGHT.
UM, GOOD EVENING, MS. ROBS, PLEASE.
UH, TONIGHT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT, UH, PER VIRGINIA STATE CODE 58.1 3 3 21, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT TO EQUALIZE REAL ESTATE TAXES BY REDUCING THE RATE CHARGED.
IT APPEARS THAT MAY BE AVOIDED BECAUSE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHOSE NOT TO EQUALIZE THE RATE LAST YEAR, WHICH IMPACTS THE OVERALL INCREASES GOING FORWARD.
NONETHELESS, THE EXCESSIVE REVENUES GENERATED DUE TO THE COUNTYWIDE OVERALL, 10 PLUS PERCENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AND THE 71 PER 100 SHOULD BE REDUCED TO APPROXIMATELY 65 CENTS PER HUNDRED.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NEIGHBORING COUNTIES ARE ALSO CONSIDERING THIS AVENUE AT THIS TIME AS WELL.
THE ROUTE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TOOK LAST YEAR TO REBATE $200 TO THE, FOR THE PRIOR YEAR EXCESS WAS NOT DISTRIBUTED FAIRLY AS MANY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WERE IMPACTED DID NOT RECEIVE THE BENEFIT WHILE MANY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WERE NOT IMPACTED DID.
THIS IS NOT A UNIFORM APPLICATION.
ALSO, IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THERE HAVE SOME ADJUSTMENTS FOR SOME OF THE ERRORS IN THE PRIOR ASSESSMENTS, AND IN MANY CASES, THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING YET ANOTHER TAX INCREASE.
UM, THE FACT THAT THE ERRORS WERE SO EGREGIOUS SHOULD WARRANT A FULL REVIEW OF THE ASSESSMENTS AND A REFUND TO THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS.
IT ALSO APPEARS THESE REVISIONS MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED IN A PUNITIVE NATURE.
ONCE AGAIN, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE OFFERING TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ALL OF THE RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE DONE, EVEN THOUGH OUR RESEARCH WAS ATED IN A VERY SMALL AREA, IT SUPPORTS THE NOTION THAT THE SAME PRACTICE WERE PROBABLY UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
CLAREMONT, WE ASK, WOULD YOU PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
LAST YEAR WE HAD A RE, UH, REAL ESTATE REASSESSMENT THAT AMOUNTED TO AN OVERALL TAX INCREASE OF 12.15%.
THERE WAS NO INCREASE IN MOST AGRICULTURAL OR TIMBERLAND AND MOST HOUSES PREVIOUSLY ASSESSED AT OVER 350,000.
IN FACT, HOUSES PREVIOUSLY ASSESSED UNDER 350,000 HAD IT INCREASE OF 18 TO 20%.
TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, THE INCREASE WAS BASED ON AN INACCURATE NONUNIFORM, AN INCONSISTENT REAS REASSESSMENT.
AS I HAD POINTED OUT BEFORE, I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS NO REASSESSMENT THIS YEAR.
SO THE PREVIOUS INACCURATE ASSESSMENT IS BEING USED AGAIN TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THERE WAS NO TAX INCREASE BECAUSE THE RATE DIDN'T INCREASE IS MISLEADING.
VIRGINIA LAW REQUIRES THE TAX RATE TO BE EQUALIZED UNLESS PUBLIC HEARING IS HELD, THE EQUALIZED RATE WOULD'VE BEEN 65 PER 100.
BUT, BUT BY NOT EQUALIZING THE RATE, YOU INCREASED THE TAX RATE BY 6 CENTS PER 100 AND GENERATED ROUGHLY 1,000,080 9,000 EXTRA DOLLARS AND INCREASE TAXES.
[00:20:01]
$166 FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD IN THE COUNTY.THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE SHOULD BE DICTATED BY FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THE COUNTY, NOT BY THE VALUE OF THE REAL ESTATE.
THE REASSESSMENT SHOULD BE EQUALIZED UNLESS THERE IS A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
I HAVE NOT LOOKED CLOSELY AT THE BUDGET, BUT ONE ITEM THAT JUMPS OUT, WE HAVE A STUDENT TEACHER RATE OF 8.49 TO ONE.
THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS A RATIO OF SIX TO ONE.
THE STATE AVERAGE IS 14 TO ONE.
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL IS 20 TO ONE.
IF WE ADJUSTED THE STATE AVERAGE, WE WOULD HAVE, WE WOULD SAVE ROUGHLY $2,144,000.
UH, THAT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS PAYING SOME OF THE DEBT THAT WE HAD.
NEXT WE HAVE MS. SUSAN CARVELLO OF CLAREMONT DISTRICT.
I'LL ASK THAT YOU PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
SUSAN VELO CLAREMONT DISTRICT.
FIRST, I WANNA RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE STRONG COLLABORATION THE COUNTY HAS SHOWN WITH THE TOWNS.
THOSE PARTI PARTNERSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT AND MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I APPRECIATE THE MEETING THAT THEY HAD WHILE LOOKING OVER THE BUDGET INFORMATION.
I'D LIKE TO BRING ATTENTION TO AN IMPORTANT GAP THAT IS PROPOSED IN, IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE ABSENCE OF A CLEARLY IDENTIFIED PLAN OR FUNDING FOR THE COUNTY'S FOUR H AND AG EXTENSION PROGRAM.
AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, I WORK AT FARMERS UNITED IN TOWN AND I'M CLOSELY AFFILIATED WITH MANY FARMERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE OF THAT, I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW OFTEN RESIDENTS RELY ON OUR EXTENSION SERVICES FOR MORE THAN A YEAR.
NOW, THE EXTENSION OFFICE HAS NOT HAD A DEDICATED SPACE.
THIS HAS CREATED ONGOING CHALLENGES AS THE AG EXTENSION AGENT HAS HAD TO FIND TEMPORARY LOCATIONS TO MEET WITH FARMERS AND CITIZENS FOR CERTIFICATIONS, CONSULTATIONS, AND REGULAR MEETINGS.
THESE ARE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND THE LACK OF THE, OF A STABLE, ACCESSIBLE LOCATION MAKES IT HARDER FOR BOTH THE OFFICER AND THE PUBLIC.
THE WORK OF FOUR H IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT.
IT PROVIDES YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE SKILLS THAT EXTEND FAR BEYOND THE CLASSROOM THROUGH FOUR H YOUTH GAIN EXPERIENCE IN AGRICULTURE, SCIENCE, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING, HELPING SHAPE RESPONSIBLE CAP CAPABLE ADULTS AND STRENGTHENING THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTY.
OUR AG AGENT, AG EXTENSION AGENT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN MAKING ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE FROM ASSISTING FARMERS WITH BEST PRACTICES AND CERTIFICATIONS TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES, YOUTH PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION.
THIS POSITION IS A VITAL RESOURCE.
HOWEVER, IT'S DIFFICULT TO CONSISTENTLY PROVIDE THESE SERVICES WITHOUT A PERMANENT PROFESSIONAL SPACE.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT A MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING FOR EXTENSION PROGRAMS IS SUPPORTED THROUGH STATE AND FEDERAL RESOURCES, MEANING THE COUNTY'S INVESTMENT IS RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO THE OVERALL BENEFIT THESE SERVICES PROVIDE.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BY ENSURING THAT THE EXTENSION IS PROPERLY INCLUDED AND SUPPORTED IN THE BUDGET WITH A DEDICATED LOCATION.
INVESTING IN EXTENSION IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR YOUTH FARMERS AND THE LONG-TERM STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN I'D LIKE TO ASK ONE OTHER QUICK QUESTION, THE 15 SECONDS.
THE VIDEO THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIVE FOR THESE MEETINGS, IT'S NOT LIVE.
AND I KNOW PREVIOUS MEETINGS HAVE NOT BEEN LIVE ALSO.
SO COULD YOU CLARIFY IF THESE MEETINGS ARE LIVE, NOT LIVE OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM TO BE POSTED? THANK YOU MR. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU CITIZENS FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THAT ENDS OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
[Public Hearing ]
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT, BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC HEARING.UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT WILL BE HELD ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATES FOR THE TAX YEAR 2026 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, 2027, BUDGET PLANNING PURPOSES.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO STAFF, MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MS. PERKINS, AND TO ALL ASSEMBLED.
[00:25:01]
THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATES FOR TAX YEAR 2026 FOR BUDGET PLANNING PURPOSES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, 2027.UM, YOU ALL HAVE A, UH, WAS SHARED A COPY OF THE ADVERTISEMENT IN YOUR AGENDA PACKET.
AND THAT WILL, UM, OF COURSE OUTLINE ALL THE RATES, UM, THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED FOR THIS YEAR.
THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE BEING PROPOSED AT 71 CENTS PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE.
AND THERE IS ALSO NO CHANGE IN THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE AT $3 AND 75 CENTS PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE.
ALL OF THE RATES REMAIN THE SAME.
THERE IS ONE CHANGE AND THAT IS WITH THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND THAT IS SLATED TO CHANGE FROM 33% TO 31%.
UM, AND WITH THAT STATED, UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT IS ALL I HAVE UNTIL THE, UH, BUDGET PRESENTATION, UM, LATER ON THE, IN THE AGENDA.
UM, I GUESS THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WOULD ADD, UM, OF COURSE, UH, THIS YEAR AS DONE IN LAST YEAR, UM, BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN THE DUE DATE FOR OUR PERSONAL PROPERTY, WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS WHERE WE ARE, UM, LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET A LOT EARLIER IN TERMS OF ADOPTING THE TAX RATES.
UM, THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO PREPARE A BUDGET BASED ON, UM, THE CURRENT REAL TAX RATE OF 71 CENTS, WE DID ADVERTISE FOR BOTH THE PERSONAL PROPERTY AND THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE AT THE 71 CENTS.
I'LL NOW OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
CITIZEN, WHEN SPEAKING ON PUBLIC COMMENT, I ASK THAT YOU STATE YOUR NAME, WHAT DISTRICT YOU REPRESENT.
DIANE CHEEK, UH, THE SUR DISTRICT.
UH, AS YOU MAY ALL KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW.
UM, I BELIEVE WE'RE ALL IMPACTED FINANCIALLY FROM THE WORLD EVENTS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH.
SOME ARE, IT'S VERY SEVERE FOR, SO I, FOR THIS YEAR, I REQUEST THAT THE BOARD GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO HAVING A REAL ESTATE TAX OF AT LEAST 69 CENTS AND BRINGING A BUDGET IN THAT CAN SUPPORT THAT AMOUNT.
ARE THERE ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS? ASK THAT YOU STATE YOUR NAME, WHAT DISTRICT YOU RESIDE IN, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
SUSAN VELO CLAREMONT DISTRICT REVIEWING THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
TRADITIONALLY, A REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND IS INTENDED TO PROTECT THE COUNTY DURING ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS OR EMERGENCIES.
WHILE I SUPPORT INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSITIONING THESE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE DEBT FOR THE YMCA PROJECT.
CAN THE BOARD CLARIFY HOW THIS ALIGNS WITH THE FUND'S INTENDED PURPOSE AND WHAT PLAN IS IN PLACE TO MAINTAIN OR REPLENISH ADEQUATE RESERVES? SO THE COUNTY REMAINS PREPARED FOR FUTURE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.
I ALSO HAVE ONE QUESTION REGARDING, IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT PROPOSING A DUE DATE CHANGE TO CLASSIFY MOBILE HOMES FROM PERSONAL PROPERTY TO REAL ESTATE.
HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE CITIZENS IN TERMS OF TAX DUE DATES FOR JUNE OF 26 AND PAYMENT EXPECTATIONS AND WHAT IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED ON THE COUNTY REVENUE FOR THE BUDGET OF 25 26 OR 26 27? IF THEY PAY IN JUNE, WILL THEY HAVE TO PAY AGAIN DECEMBER OF 26 OR BE GIVEN A DUE DATE OF DECEMBER OF 27, WHICH WOULD BE IN THE 27 28? JUST ASKING FOR A LITTLE CLARIFICATION FOR ANYBODY THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THAT.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS PERTAINING TO THE PUBLIC HEARING? HEARING NONE.
I'M NOW CALLED NOW, NOW OFFICIALLY CALLED THE PUBLIC PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.
IS THERE ANY COMMENTS FROM STAFF? UM, EXCUSE ME.
ANY COMMENTS FROM STAFF? MR. CHAIRMAN? YES, MS. PER, I'M SORRY, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
UM, IT'S CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARING, NOT EXCUSE ME, PUBLIC COMMENTS.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE LEGALLY COMPLIANT.
[00:30:01]
CORRECT.UH, WE ARE NOW OFFICIALLY CLO CLOSED.
DID I SAY THAT CORRECTLY AT THAT TIME? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THAT MS. PERKINS.
UM, ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM STAFF? YES.
UH, SO MS. PERKINS DID, UM, IN TERMS OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PERCENTAGE, I THINK I REVERSED THAT.
SO JUST WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT IT'S A CHANGE FROM 31% TO 33%.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND YOU DO HAVE, UM, IN YOUR BINDER A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION, UM, TO CONSIDER ADOPTING THE TAX RATES ON THIS EVENING.
UM, SO IT IS, UM, OF COURSE, UM, BOARD DISCUSSION PRIOR TO TAKING THE ACTION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT CLARIFICATION.
MS. ROLLS, BOARD MEMBERS, ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PUBLIC HEARING FROM TONIGHT ABOUT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE? MR. CHAIR? YES.
UH, HEARING THE COMMENTS FROM THE CITIZENS AS WELL AS IN THE, THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WANT THE CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WHERE I AM TAKING ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS NEAR AND DEAR TO HEART.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE WAS MADE, UH, BY MR. HAMEL STATED THAT, UH, THE RATIO DEALS WITH THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY.
AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BUDGET, YOU REALLY DON'T SEE EVERYTHING THAT IS REQUIRED TO RUN A COUNTY.
EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP, NOTHING HAS GONE DOWN.
SERVICES, THE REQUIREMENT FOR SERVICES THAT HAS GONE UP, WE TALK ABOUT AN EQUALIZATION RATE.
IF WE WERE TO DO AN EQUALIZATION RATE, THAT MEANS WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.
WHILE PRICES AND, AND EVERYTHING IS STILL GOING UP.
IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T FEEL THE PINCH AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU FEEL, WE FEEL IT AS WELL, BUT IT IS INCUMBENT UPON US TO KEEP THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD.
WE CANNOT BE AT A STALEMATE WITHOUT FUNDING TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT THE CITIZENS WANT.
WE HAVE A SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE ASKING FOR MONEY.
WE HAVE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR MONEY TO E TO DO A EQUALIZATION RATE AS TO WHAT YOU ALL ARE SUGGESTING WOULD TIE OUR HANDS NOT TO DO ANYTHING WHILE PRICES AND EVERYTHING IS STILL GOING UP.
IT TAKES MONEY TO RUN THIS COUNTY.
AND IF WE DON'T PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO THE CITIZENS, THEN WE ARE NOT DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE DO HEAR YOUR CRY.
WHEN WE DID THE REASSESSMENT LAST YEAR, WHEN WE HAD A SURPLUS, WE DIDN'T JUST HOLD ONTO THE SURPLUS MONEY.
WE GAVE THE CITIZENS A FIRST TIME REBATE THAT HAD NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.
AND IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T, AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST TRYING TO APPEASE.
NO, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
IT'S, WE DID THAT BECAUSE WE FEEL THE PAIN JUST AS YOU DO.
WE HAVE INCREASED THE SENIOR CITIZENS TAX RELIEF FUND, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UH, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX PERCENTAGE RATE FROM 33 TO 31.
AND WE DROPPED THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE LAST YEAR FROM $4 TO 3 75.
AND IT'S NOT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO GOE THE CITIZENS.
THE BUDGET IS A FLUID DOCUMENT.
WE HAVE CERTAIN THINGS THAT COME UP THROUGH THE YEAR.
I THINK, UH, IT WAS MISS, MISS, UH, COVELO OR MS. CHEEKS THAT TALKED ABOUT THE MONEY THAT WE PUT INTO TO THE CIP FOR UN UNEXPECTED, UH, SITUATIONS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THE FINANCE TO RUN THE COUNTY.
I JUST JUST PUT IT OUT THERE LIKE THAT TO YOU.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING TO HURT ANYBODY, BUT WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO, TO MAINTAIN THE SERVICES AND TO PROVIDE A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE S OF SUR COUNTY.
SO BASED UPON THAT, IF THE BOARD DOES NOT HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT HAS NOT CHANGED FROM LAST YEAR TO 71 CENTS FOR REAL ESTATE.
3 75 FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PERCENTAGE, UH, 33 FOR, UH, FROM 31 CENTS WITH NO CHANGES TO ANY OTHER TAX RATE.
ELLIOT AND SECONDED BY MR. DREW THAT WE APPROVE THE TAX RATE FOR A TAX YEAR 2026 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, 2027.
BUDGET PLANNING PURPOSES, RESOLUTION VIA THE RESOLUTION PRESENTED.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SAID MOTION? HEARING NONE, I'LL ENTERTAIN A ROLL CALL VOTE.
[New Business ]
[00:35:01]
ON OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE OUR NEW BUSINESS.WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM ON OUR NEW BUSINESS TONIGHT, AND THAT IS THE SU AREA AUTHORITY OPERATIONS AGREEMENT.
I WILL NOW TURN THIS PART OF THE MEETING OVER.
BACK TO STAFF? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN.
SO ONE ITEM, UH, AGAIN, NEW BUSINESS ITEM IS THE SU SERVICE AUTHORITY OPERATIONS AGREEMENT.
UM, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, UM, THIS WAS PRESENTED TO YOU BEFORE ON LAST YEAR, UH, BUT THE UBSTANCE SERVICE AUTHORITY DID PROVIDE A NOTICE TO THE COUNTY TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT AND ENTER INTO A NEW AGREEMENT AS IT WAS JUST STATED BY, UH, DR.
ELLIOT, SUPERVISOR ELLIOT, THAT THE COST FOR THE CONTRACT HAS INCREASED BASED ON THE COST FROM THE SOCIAL SERVICE AUTHORITY OPERATIONS INCREASING AS WELL.
SO WE WANTED TO BRING THIS, UM, AGREEMENT BACK TO YOUR ATTENTION FOR APPROVAL THIS AFTERNOON.
SO BASED ON THE, UH, PROPOSED CONTRACT FOR AGREEMENT FOR 2027, UM, THE OPERATION IS MAINTENANCE COST HAS INCREASED 4.29%.
ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, FEES SLIGHTLY INCREASED 3%, AND ROUTINE LAB FEES ALSO INCREASED BY 4%.
SO WE'RE ESTIMATING OVERALL A 4% INCREASE IN JUST A MONTHLY COST.
UM, THERE ARE ALSO, UH, CHANGES AS PERTAIN TO THE USE OF THE EQUIPMENT EACH AND EVERY TIME THE SUCH SOURCE AUTHORITY COMES OUT TO SERVICE OUR VARIOUS WATER UTILITIES.
THERE IS A COST FOR USING THEIR TRUCKS.
THERE'S A COST FOR THE PERSONNEL WHO IS COMING OUT SO THAT THOSE, UH, VARIOUS COSTS ALSO ARE SLATED TO INCREASE AS WELL.
SO OVERALL, THE ESTIMATED INCREASE IN THAT ANNUAL CONTRACT IS $10,000.
UM, BECAUSE THE CONTRACT DOES EXCEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT, UM, WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THIS NEW AGREEMENT EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2026.
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HEARD THE, THE REQUEST FROM STAFF.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUSSEX S SUSSEX SERVICE AUTHORITY OPERATIONS AGREEMENT? MR. CHAIR? YES.
WHAT WAS THE, THE TOTAL INCREASE AMOUNT OF IT ESTIMATED AT $10,000.
UM, AND THE ONE THING I WOULD ADD, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY, UM, MAJOR REPAIRS THAT MAY HAVE TO OCCUR.
UM, AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE COUNTY IS THE OWNER OF THE ING WATER UTILITY AND IF THERE IS A MAJOR REPAIR THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, UH, THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THAT.
SO, UM, JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT THE GENERAL MAINTENANCE FROM MONTH TO MONTH WITHOUT ANY EXTENSIVE REPAIRS ESTIMATED TO BE $10,000.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? BOARD MEMBERS? HEARING NONE, I WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM BOARD MEMBERS.
HOW DO YOU FEEL MR. CHAIR? SUPERVISOR? DREW, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE SERVICE AUTHORITY OPERATIONS AGREEMENT AS PRESENTED.
THERE'S BEEN A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY SUPERVISOR DREW, SECOND BY SUPERVISOR ELLIOT, THAT WE APPROVE THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN, UH, THE AGREEMENT WITH SUSSEX SERVICE AUTHORITY OPERATIONS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR SAID MOTION? HEARING NONE.
[Presentations]
MEMBERS, WE HAVE OUR PRESENTATIONS.WE HAVE TWO PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT, UH, ONE BEING, UH, FROM THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS PROPOSED BUDGET, AND THE SECOND ONE TONIGHT, UH, COME, WILL BE COMING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
I'M NOW TURN THE FLOOR OVER TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, I'M GONNA ASK THAT THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT COME FORTH, UH, FIRST TO PRESENT, UH, THEIR PRESENTATION.
UH, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
YOU GUYS, PLEASE COME UP FIRST.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CHAIR REPRESENTATIVES, COUNTY MANAGER, AND OFFICIAL PERKINS.
ON BEHALF OF THE SARA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE DIRECTOR, MRS. VALERIE PIERCE, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
MRS. PIERCE COULD NOT BE HERE THIS EVENING DUE TO TRAVELING, UM, FROM A MEETING, UM, FOR THE DEPARTMENT, BUT WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SHE IS IN SUPPORT OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
[00:40:01]
JUST TO SHARE SOME STATISTICS WITH YOU ALL.ACCORDING TO THE CDC, AT LEAST ONE IN SEVEN CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES EXPERIENCED CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT.
IN THE PAST YEAR, IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, NEARLY 3 MILLION CHILDREN WERE INVOLVED WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES NATIONALLY.
AND IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THERE WERE OVER 53,000 CHILDREN IN VIRGINIA WHO WERE INVOLVED WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES IN S COUNTY.
LAST YEAR, WE SERVED OVER 50 CHILDREN UNDER PROTECTIVE SERVICES.
THE DEPARTMENT ALSO SERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES.
ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TO GROW UP IN A SAFE, STABLE, AND LOVING ENVIRONMENT TO SUPPORT AND BRING AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION.
SRE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES WILL WEAR BLUE ON TOMORROW.
TOMORROW IS THE NATIONAL WEAR BLUE.
TODAY THE COLOR BLUE REPRESENTS THE NATIONAL SYMBOL FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AS WELL AS THE BLUE RIBBON AND OF COURSE, THE PEN WHEEL.
THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH IS PEN WHEELS OF POSSIBILITIES.
THE PEN WHEEL REPRESENTS THE HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SAFE CHILDHOOD EVERY CHILD DESERVES.
BECAUSE EVERY CHILD DESERVES SAFETY, LOVE, AND HOPE FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE.
THE SRE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO ITS MISSION TO PROVIDE SERVICES WHILE BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AS A COMMUNITY, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD'S FUTURE.
BUILDING STRONGER FAMILIES, A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR FAMILY WELLBEING IS OUR THING.
THIS YEAR WE NEED EVERYONE TO BE A VOICE FOR CHILDREN AND REPORTS THAT'S AFFECTED ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
REPORTS CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE AT +1 800-552-7096 OR CALL THE LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF SUPERVISOR, COUNTY MANAGER, AND OTHER OFFICIALS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
AND PLEASE JOIN US IN PLANNING A PINWHEEL GARDEN THIS YEAR TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT FOR PREVENTION AWARENESS, AND MOST OF ALL, THE NEXT GENERATION OF FUTURE LEADERS.
IN CONCLUSION, I PRESENT TO EACH OF YOU A BAG, WHICH IS LOCATED BY YOUR NAME TAG FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE DIRECTOR, MS. VALERIE PIERCE, TO HELP US BRING AWARENESS FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AWARENESS.
MONTH IN THE BAG IS INCLUDED, THE PEN WHEEL LAPEL PEN.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
LET'S GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
YOU, NOW YOU GIVE ME, UM, WHAT TO WEAR FOR TOMORROW.
BLUE IS THE COLOR TOMORROW, SO YES.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE OUR, UM, PROPOSED BUDGET PRESENTATION FROM OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MS. BINS.
I'M PULLING IN THE SCREEN, THE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
SO IT IS MY ESTEEM PLEASURE BOARD MEMBERS AND TO ALL THAT I ASSEMBLE TO PRESENT TO YOU THE FISCAL YEAR 26 27, UM, PROPOSED BUDGET, UM, FOR
[00:45:01]
SURREY COUNTY VIRGINIA.UM, THE OPENING STATEMENT, UM, TYPICALLY WILL SHARE, UM, JUST SOME GENERAL OVERVIEWS.
UM, THIS BUDGET I CAN SHARE WITH YOU WAS BALANCED, UM, BASED ON, UM, QUITE A FEW OF, UH, EXPENDITURE REQUESTS.
UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT WAS ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED.
UM, THERE WAS A DIS, UH, A REQUIREMENT TO REDUCE THOSE REQUESTS BY, UM, NEARLY $2 MILLION.
IT DOES REC, UH, RECOMMEND FISCAL RESTRAINT, UM, A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT AND OF COURSE, NECESSARY DECISIONS ON HOW WE ARE OPERATING AS A COUNTY.
UM, THE GOAL, OF COURSE WAS TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT TAX RATES, UM, IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE ALL AWARE OF IN TERMS OF RISING COSTS LIKE INFLATION AND HEALTH INSURANCE.
UM, THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS, OF COURSE, DEALING WITH OUR ONE VOLATILE REVENUE SOURCE FROM DOMINION.
UM, IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE DO HAVE A DISCIPLINE STRATEGY TO APPROACH OUR BUDGET, AND I DO BELIEVE IN ALL EARNESTY THAT THIS BUDGET DOES REFLECT THAT IN TERMS OF FUTURE INVESTMENTS, YES, IT HAS BEEN IN THAT DISCUSSION.
SO, UH, OF COURSE WE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
AND THE BUDGET DOES REFLECT THE FUTURE INVESTMENTS, UM, THAT THIS BOARD HAS APPROVED IN PRIOR ACTIONS.
UM, THE BUDGET DOES REFLECT SOME EFFICIENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN TERMS OF OUR ERP SYSTEM AND HOW WE WAS ABLE TO LEVERAGE, UH, SHARED SERVICES AND REDUCE DUPLICATION, WHICH DOES SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
UM, IN TERMS OF PROGRAMMING AND STAFFING, UM, THERE HAS BEEN SOME POSITION REALIGNMENT, AGAIN, TO AVOID DUPLICATION.
UM, OFTEN SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO DO THE UNPOPULAR THINGS BY DEFERRING CAPITAL PROJECTS, UM, AND FOCUSING ON PROACTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, SO WITH THAT STATED, I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE BUDGET DETAILS.
SO THE BUDGET GOALS AS IDENTIFIED IS TO MAINTAIN THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE COUNTY.
AND OF COURSE, THE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE INVESTMENTS.
YOU ALL HAVE ADOPTED THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE AND ALSO THE BUDGET DOES NOT CALL FOR ANY REDUCTION IN SERVICES.
IT DOES ALIGN RESOURCES, FUNDING WITH STAFF AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.
IT DOES CREATE THAT OPPOR, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR SYNERGY AND TO ADDRESS PROGRAM REDUNDANCY.
AS FAR AS OUR WORKFORCE, IT RECOMMENDS A 2.8% COST OF LIVING.
UM, OTHER LOCALITIES ARE DOING THREE, FOUR OR 5% COLA.
UM, THIS WAS RECOMMENDED AGAIN BASED ON, UH, THE REVENUES THAT WE DO HAVE, BUT IT ALSO HAS A PLAN TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE COMPRESSION BY USING SOME LONGEVITY METRICS.
UM, METHODOLOGY, AND I WILL SHARE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE PRESENTATION.
UM, THERE DOES INCLUDE SOME DEDICATED FUNDING TO CIP, UM, TO MEET NOT JUST THE SCHOOL NEEDS, BUT ALSO THE COUNTY NEEDS AS WELL.
SO IF YOU REMEMBER BOARD MEMBERS, YOU DID GO THROUGH A STRATEGIC PLANNING EXERCISE AND A LOT, UM, THAT GOES INTO THOSE STRATEGIC PLANNING EXERCISE DOES HELP GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET FOR, UM, OUR KINDA LEADERSHIP AND FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS.
UM, THE STRATEGIC PLANNING EXERCISE DID INCLUDE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION, UM, AS YOUR, ONE OF YOUR STRATEGIES, AGAIN, TO EXPAND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND STRENGTHEN THE TAX BASE SO THAT YOU ARE LESS RELIANT ON THAT SINGLE REVENUE SOURCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION TAXES.
UH, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WAS MENTIONED AS A, UH, AS A OBJECTIVE TO STRENGTHEN OF COURSE THE EDUCATION PIPELINE, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE HERE IN SURY COUNTY.
INFRASTRUCTURE READINESS, YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM, HOW THE INVESTMENTS AND WATER AND SEWER ARE CRITICAL, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR FORWARD, UM, THINGS IN THE COUNTY SUCH AS HOUSING AND BUSINESSES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO BE READY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
HOUSING, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT NEW.
UM, EXPAND AVAILABLE HOUSING OPTIONS AND SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE GROWTH.
UM, YOU TALKED ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ENHANCING NOT JUST OUR RECREATIONAL COMPONENTS, BUT ALSO TOURISM AND OF COURSE KEEPING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED, UH, IN OUR COUNTY.
UM, EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, UM, MAINTAINING THE SERVICES THAT WE DO PROVIDE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND A COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT.
WORKFORCE RETENTION, AND OF COURSE YOU ALL TALKED ABOUT THAT COUNTY AND TOWN COLLABORATION.
UM, AND YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY DOES HAVE SOME SEPARATE GOVERNANCE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, COLLABORATION WAS NEEDED, UM, IN THOSE AREAS TO HAVE EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
SO WITH THAT STATED BOARD MEMBERS DURING YOUR VARIOUS DISCUSSIONS, UM, IN TERMS OF A VISION, UH, SRA COUNTY WOULD BE A THRIVING RURAL COMMUNITY WITH STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE, DIVERSE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, ATTAINABLE HOUSING, AND HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE SUPPORTED BY THAT EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT AND STRONG COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.
[00:50:01]
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL, AS YOU ALL KNOW, UM, IN TERMS OF JUST RECOMMENDING THINGS, I DO RECOMMEND AT SOME POINT, UM, THE BOARD CAN CERTAINLY REVISIT THE STATEMENT, BUT ALSO RECOMMEND THAT AT SOME POINT YOU ADOPT YOUR FORMAL VISION STATEMENT.SO IN TERMS OF SOME POLICY IMPLI IMPLICATIONS, UM, FOR THE FUTURE, UM, CURRENT AND FOR THE FUTURE, UM, STRATEGICAL PLAN FOR DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS, UM, THERE IS A PLAN USED, UM, FOR THE REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND FOR PLANNED DEBT SERVICE.
WHEN I SAY PLAN, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, UM, NOT JUST IN THIS BUDGET.
THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN PRIOR BUDGETS AND IT'S ALSO YOU ALL AWARE, UM, DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS.
THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION AS WELL, PROVIDE ONGOING REVENUE TO FUND CAPITAL NEEDS THAT ARISE EVERY YEAR, BUT WHICH DO NOT MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR DEBT.
UM, AND ALSO, UH, INVESTMENT IN THE WORKFORCE, AS I MENTIONED, IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SUCCESSION PLANNING AND IN OUR ORGANIZATION, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S TAUGHT ABOUT, UH, TALKED ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ALL ACROSS OUR REGIONS, HOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SUSTAINABILITY, UM, FOR EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS.
UM, THE FREQUENCY OF THE REASSESSMENTS, AND I HAVE THE PARENTHESES THERE IN TERMS OF, UH, THE NEXT FOUR YEAR REASSESSMENT FOR TAX YEAR 2028, AND THAT WOULD BE ON THE NEXT SLIDE FOR YOUR REVIEW.
UM, REVENUE, UH, DIVERSIFICATION.
UM, THERE IS OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT BOARD CAN CONSIDER IN THE FUTURE.
UM, LARGE IN TAX, CIGARETTE TAX, UM, INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO ENHANCEMENTS, WHICH, WHICH WHICH WILL REQUIRE SOME COLLABORATION FROM OUR TREASURER IN TERMS OF HOW THE COUNTY CAN MAXIMIZE ITS INVESTMENTS ON THE REVENUES.
UM, AND THE FUNDS THAT WE, UM, HAVE IN OUR ACCOUNTS STRENGTHEN INTERNAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
UM, YOU ALL HAVE BEEN IN WORK SESSIONS WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT SHARE FINANCIAL SERVICES MODEL.
UM, REALIGNMENT OF GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE FOR, UM, SOCIAL SERVICES IS ANOTHER, UH, ONE TO CONSIDER FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
AND I DID MENTION, OF COURSE, THE BILLING OF MOBILE HOMES IN THE SUMMERVILLE REAL ESTATE AS A FUTURE POLICY, UM, IMPLICATION, NOTHING THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
SO THAT WAS A, UM, UM, I BELIEVE MAYBE A CONFUSION BY THE CITIZEN WHO SPOKE ON THAT.
THIS IS A FUTURE POLICY CONSIDERATION, WHICH WILL GIVE THE BOARD TIME ENOUGH TO, UM, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS NECESSARY.
AND OF COURSE THERE IS ANOTHER, UH, POLICY IMPLICATION, UM, THAT WE WILL DISCUSS TO DO THE RATE ADJUSTMENT, UM, FOR THE D WATER SYSTEM, WHICH IS A RECOMMENDATION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
SO, UH, THE CURRENT TAX RATE BOARD MEMBER IS 300, UH, 71 CENTS, 1 CENTS ON YOUR TAX RATE IS $380,000 ROUGHLY.
NOW, HOW IS THAT BROKEN DOWN? TWO THIRDS OF THAT COMES FROM PUBLIC SERVICE AND ONE THIRD COMES FROM, UM, THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE PAYING FOR, UH, WHO ARE PAYING THAT 71 CENTS.
SO AGAIN, 1 CENTS ON YOUR TAX RATE.
SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, ANY REDUCTION, YOU HAVE TO FIND REDUCTIONS OF $380,000, UM, FOR EACH 1 CENT IN YOUR TAX RATE.
SO THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, I THOUGHT IT WAS NECESSARY TO SHOW YOU AS TO HOW YOU COMPARE IN TERMS OF YOUR PEER COMMUNITIES.
UM, S COUNTY RIGHT THERE AT 71 CENTS, YOU CAN SEE WE ARE RIGHT THERE.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE THE FEW LOCALITIES THAT ARE BELOW UM, S COUNTY, BUT YOU CAN SEE, UM, YOUR PEER COMMUNITIES BOTH IN THE HAMPTON ROSE REGION AND, UH, THAT ARE, UH, ABOVE THE 71 CENTS, UH, PER $100 OF SAYS VALUE.
THE NEIGHBORING LOCALITY OF ALLER WHITE 77 CENTS PER 177 AND A HALF CENTS PER $100 PER CENTS VALUE.
AND THESE RATES MAY CHANGE AS THEY ARE, UH, DELIBERATING THEIR BUDGETS, BUT THESE WERE THE CURRENT TAX RATES AS OF NOW.
UM, SO, UM, IT, IT, I PUT THIS ON HERE, UM, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SHARE.
AND THE NOTE THAT YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM IS A QUESTION.
AND THE QUESTION IS, WHY DO COUNTIES INCREASE THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE BEYOND THE EFFECTIVE LOWER RATE AFTER A REASSESSMENT? SO WHY DID THEY DO THAT? IT'S THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.
IT IS INFLATION, IT'S UNFUNDED MANDATES, IT'S TEACHER PAY PRESSURES, IT'S AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY COSTS, IT'S SMALLER TAX BASE THAT SURRY COUNTY HAS IS LESS COMMERCIAL REVENUE THAT SUR COUNTY HAS IS NEEDED RESERVES AND THE UNCERTAINTY OF THAT ONETIME MAJOR REVENUE STREAM.
SO WHILE LOCALITIES MAY GO THROUGH THE EXERCISE, THERE ARE MANY, MANY WHO DO GO THROUGH THAT EFFECTIVE RATE EXERCISE, BUT RECOGNIZE THAT THEY STILL NEED TO EITHER MAINTAIN THAT RATE OR STILL INCREASE THAT RATE SEVERAL PENNIES BEYOND THAT EFFECTIVE LOWER TAX RATE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WAS KIND OF MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT ONE OF THE, UH, CITIZENS WHO SPOKE ON THAT.
SO I HAPPEN TO HAVE THAT THERE FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
OKAY, SO IN TERMS OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATES, WE WON'T GO OVER THAT BECAUSE WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT.
[00:55:01]
THAT SHOWS THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATES COMPARED TO YOUR PEER COMMUNITIES.AND AS YOU CAN SEE, SRA COUNTY AT $3 AND 75 CENTS AND YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BELOW THAT RATE.
AND, UM, ABOVE THAT RATE, JUST WANTED TO SHARE HOW YOU COMPARE TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.
NOW, UH, THIS IS A BUSY SLIDE, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS NECESSARY TO ALWAYS HAVE THIS HISTORY SO THAT YOU ALL CAN REFER BACK TO IT.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE AT THE 71 CENTS, UM, THE RATIO THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET IS AT A 97.8% RATIO.
SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? BOARD MEMBERS, WHAT THAT MEANS IS AN AUTOMATIC LOSS OF REVENUE FROM PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION TAXES.
UM, THIS AGAIN IS A FULL HISTORY GOING BACK TO 2005, AS YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS TAX RATES HERE IN SURYA COUNTY.
AND WHILE WE HAVE HAD 1 4, 2 4 REASSESSMENTS AND SOME PARTIAL REASSESSMENTS, THAT TAX RATE HAS REMAINED AT THE 71 SINCE.
UM, ANYTIME THAT YOU SEE THAT RATIO THAT HAS BEEN BELOW THAT 100%, THAT IS SIGNIFICANT REVENUE COST FOR THE COUNTY FOR THIS YEAR.
THAT IS $350,000 LOST IN REVENUE BY NOT HAVING THAT 100% ASSESSMENT RATIO.
SO ALREADY OUT OF THE BAT, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO BALANCE YOUR BUDGET FOR THE YEAR, YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY GONNA SAY, WELL, YOU'RE GONNA BE 350,000, THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
SO HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT UP? SO AGAIN, THAT IS VERY SIGNIFICANT AND THAT'S WHY BOARD MEMBERS, I'M SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE HAVING THOSE CONSISTENT CONVERSATIONS ON HOW WE DIVERSIFY OUR REVENUE, UM, TO, UM, FOR THOSE LOSSES THAT YOU SEE THERE.
OKAY, SO, UM, IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER REGARDING THE TAX RELIEF FOR THE ELDERLY AND VETERANS DISCOUNTS.
SO THIS IS MONEY THAT COMES OFF OF YOUR TAX ROLL.
SO AS FAR AS 2026, UM, THAT NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT 300,000, $300,000 ACCORDING TO THE COMMISSION OF REVENUE.
SO THAT'S APPROXIMATELY WHAT ABOUT 80 CENTS OF YOUR PENNY.
UM, THAT IS NO LONGER PART OF THE COUNTY'S TAX BASE.
AND OF COURSE THAT HAS TRIPLED SINCE 2020.
SO IN TERMS OF THE NET REVENUE DRIVERS, THE ACTUAL BUDGET IS, IS DECREASING BY 1,000,080 $3,000.
AND THAT IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE DRIVERS AND REVENUE, UM, THAT IS ATTRIBUTING TO THAT OVERALL DECREASE IN YOUR BUDGET.
UM, THE PRIMARY UM, FACTOR IS THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX AND OF COURSE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ONE TIME, UH, REVENUE THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM HAVING THAT JUNE 5TH TAX BILLING.
THAT IS NO LONGER GONNA BE THE CASE IN OUR NEW BUDGET.
SO THAT IS GOING TO BE A DEDUCTION THERE IN ADDITION TO THE $255,000 THAT YOU SEE LESS IN PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION TAXES.
SO, UM, THESE ARE SOME MAJOR REVENUE DEDUCTIONS AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO BACK AND BALANCE SOME INCREASES, NOT IN THE TUNE OF WHERE YOU SEE THE DEDUCTIONS, BUT TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
SO YOU HAVE TOTAL INCREASES OF ABOUT 267,000.
SO IN TERMS OF YOUR BREAKDOWN OF YOUR REAL ESTATE, UM, PROPERTY TAX COMPONENTS, UM, THIS IS THE PER PERSONAL, THIS IS THE PRO PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AT $29.6 MILLION.
IT IS A 4.1% DECREASE OVER YOUR FISCAL YEAR 26 BUDGET.
THERE'S ANOTHER, UM, BULLET POINT THERE FOR YOUR INFORMATION IS HOW MUCH OF REAL TAX REVENUE IS ASSOCIATED WITH SOLAR FARM REVENUE.
WE WANNA ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP TRACK OF THAT.
AND THAT'S ABOUT $1.9 MILLION, WHICH IS A PART OF THIS REAL ESTATE, REAL ESTATE TAX RATE NUMBER THAT YOU SEE HERE.
AS FAR AS BEING RECOMMENDED IN THE NEW YEAR'S BUDGET.
THESE ARE ALL YOUR OTHER REVENUE SOURCES.
YOU HAVE THIS INFORMATION, IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER THAT EXTENSIVELY, BUT JUST WANTED TO KIND OF SHOW YOU ALL OF THE OTHER, UH, LOCAL REVENUE, UH, SOURCES FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
AND UM, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, THERE IS A OVERALL DECREASE, EXCUSE ME, INCREASE OF $143,000 FOR TOTAL, TOTAL OTHER TAXES, FEES AND PERMITS.
REVENUE FROM THE USE OF MONEY AND PROPERTY, WHICH IS OUR INVESTMENT INCOME AND RENTAL AGREEMENTS THAT WE HAVE, IS SLATED TO INCREASE ABOUT, UH, $39,000.
AND WE ARE HOPING THAT WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE INTEREST INCOME AGAIN AS WE WORK TO, UM, HOPEFULLY MAXIMIZE ON OUR INVESTMENTS.
THIS IS STATE REVENUE BY CATEGORY.
UM, THE COUNTY RECEIVES THE MAJORITY OF HIS STATE REVENUE FROM THE STATE COMPENSATION BOARD.
UM, THAT AMOUNT IS SLATED TO INCREASE ABOUT $43,000 AND THAT'S BASED ON, UM, ANY STATE, THE STATE, UM, INCREASE THAT IS STILL UNDER REVIEW, BUT IS ESTIMATED, UH, $43,000 FOR THE STATE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL SALARY, UM, ADJUSTMENTS
[01:00:01]
TO, UH, COMP BOARD, UM, OFFICERS AND OR EMPLOYEES.SO THIS ROUNDS OUT YOUR GENERAL REVENUE SUMMARY AT 35.45 MILLION.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE PROPERTY TAX COMPONENTS, YOU CAN SEE 50%, 27% AND SIX PER, UH, 6% I BELIEVE THAT'S 83% OF YOUR REVENUE TAX BASE FROM YOUR GENERAL FUND IS COMING FROM YOUR TAXES.
AGAIN, THE NEED TO DIVERSIFY YOUR TAX BASE, THESE ARE ALL THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE CATEGORIES.
I WON'T GO OVER THOSE, BUT THE NEXT SLIDE WE WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU EXACTLY HOW THESE CATEGORIES OF, UH, GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES ARE BEING, UM, SPENT.
UM, BUT BEFORE THAT I DO HAVE A, A SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE DRIVERS, UM, IN TERMS OF THE EXPENDITURES.
EARLIER I INDICATED THAT THE REVENUE, UM, DECREASE BY 1.083 MILLION.
SO THIS IS THE CORRESPONDING SLIDE THAT SHOWS YOU EXACTLY THE NET, UM, DECREASES IN ALL OF THE EXPENDITURES AND THEY ARE LISTED HERE.
UM, THE REVENUE STABILIZATION FUND, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU DO HAVE A POLICY, UH, UH, THAT YOU ESTABLISHED THAT YOU WILL ALLOCATE 3 CENTS OF YOUR TAX RATE TOWARDS CIP BECAUSE OF CONSTRAINTS.
WE WERE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT FULLY THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S 386,000 LESS IN CIP, UM, THAT IS GOING TO BE PROPOSED FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ACROSS THE BOARD REDUCTIONS.
UM, THERE IS THE REALIGNMENT FOR PARKS AND RECREATION AS WE TALKED ABOUT OUR REALIGNMENT AND OUR RESTRUCTURING BASED ON OUR FUTURE INVESTMENTS.
AND, UH, THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS I WON'T GO OVER IN DETAIL HERE UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
BUT JUST KIND OF WANT TO GIVE YOU A OVERALL REVIEW OF WHERE THE ALL THE, UH, REDUCTIONS COME FROM.
I WILL MENTION ON THE RIGHT SIDE, UM, JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
UM, THE COLA AND THE LONGEVITY INCREASE ABOUT $290,000.
UM, THE HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASE, EVEN THOUGH WE WAS ABLE TO OFFSET THAT SUM, UM, $91,000 INCREASE SOME POSITIONS, UH, SHIFTING THERE.
AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE ALREADY APPROVED THE MOU WITH THE YMCA PARTNERSHIP AND THAT IS PLUGGED IN PER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF FINANCIAL TEAM AND THAT IS $400,000 THERE ACROSS THE BOARD ENGAGEMENT AND OTHER OPERATIONS.
SO NET APPROACH, IT DOES MAINTAIN CORE SERVICES.
WE'RE NOT REDUCING, UM, YOUR AMBULANCE SERVICES, YOU'RE NOT REDUCING YOUR LIBRARY SERVICES.
UM, YOU'RE NOT REDUCING THE STAFFING LEVEL FOR COOPERATIVE EXTENSION IN THIS BUDGET.
SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHETHER CITIZEN GOT THAT INFORMATION FROM.
UM, SO WE, UH, THOSE POSITIONS ARE STILL INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET AS WELL.
SO, UM, NEXT YOU HAVE YOUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES AT 35.4 MILLION THAT WAS JUST PRESENTED.
UM, THAT GIVES YOU YOUR TABLE, YOUR BREAKDOWN.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE NET, UM, REDUCTION IN YOUR GENERAL FUND, ABOUT $1.1 MILLION THERE.
AND THESE ARE YOUR OVERALL CATEGORIES, JUST SHOWING YOU THE TABLE OVERALL.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANNA BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION IS THIS IN YELLOW.
SO IN TERMS OF YOUR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES BOARD MEMBERS, YOUR ACTUAL OPERATIONS FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS ABOUT 16, FOUR $4 MILLION OF THAT AMOUNT AS YOU HAVE IN ANY BUDGET IN ANY COMMUNITY.
THE MAJORITY OF THAT WILL BE YOUR PERSONNEL COSTS.
SO OUT OF THAT 16.4 MILLION, ABOUT 9.9 MILLION OR 55% REPRESENTS YOUR WORKFORCE.
THAT REPRESENTS YOUR PERSONNEL, YOUR SALARY AND YOUR BENEFITS.
SO IN TERMS OF EXACTLY HOW MUCH THE JOURNAL FUND EXPENDING ON A ANNUAL BASIS, YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE THERE IS HOW MUCH WE ARE USING TO OPERATE THE VARIOUS AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY.
THIS IS ALL OF FUNDS THAT ROUND OUT THE TOTAL, UM, UM, BUDGET.
UM, FOR YOUR DEBT SERVICE FUND, YOU CAN SEE THERE, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT, THAT WOULD BE AN INCREASE.
UM, PUBLIC SERVICE, EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY, THE VPA OF SOCIAL SERVICES FUND, UM, $157,000 INCREASE BASED ON ADDITIONAL STATE AND FEDERAL REVENUES.
THERE IS NO RECOMMENDED INCREASE IN THE LOCAL FUNDING FOR, UM, UH, SOCIAL SERVICES NOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THEY ARE LEVELED LOCAL APPROPRIATIONS.
HOWEVER, THAT INCREASE REFLECTS ADDITIONAL STATE AND OR FEDERAL REVENUE THAT THE SCHOOL AND SOCIAL SERVICES ARE RECEIVING.
AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE, THERE'S YOUR OTHER FUNDS WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT COMMITMENT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AS THAT IS ONE OF YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES TO BE ABLE TO INVEST IN OUR TOWNS AND IN OUR, UH, COUNTY.
AND YOU CAN SEE THERE, THERE IS ANY, UM, INCREASE, EXCUSE ME, A DECREASE IN, UM, THE WATER AND SEWER FUND YOUR UTILITIES FUND BASED ON THE INCREASED REVENUE RATES THAT WE WANT TO PROPOSE FOR THE WATER SYSTEM.
SO WITH THAT STAFF SAID BOARD MEMBERS, UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BUDGET OVERALL WILL REFLECT A, UM, $265,000,
[01:05:02]
UH, INCREASE OVER FISCAL YEAR 2027.SO THIS IS THE JOURNAL FUND SUMMARY.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT'S JUST A BREAKDOWN OF SHOWING YOU THE PRIMARY, UM, TRANSFERS TO THE JOURNAL FUND MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF THEIR 35.45 MILLION.
UM, THESE, UH, SLIDES SHOWS THE WORKFORCE CHANGES FROM FISCAL YEAR 26 TO 27.
UH, WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN VERY STRATEGIC IN OUR EMPLOYMENT STRUCTURE HERE.
UM, SINCE 2025, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES FOR SURREY COUNTY HAS ACTUALLY DECREASED.
SO, UH, WE ARE BEING VERY STRATEGIC ABOUT, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE DO HAVE A STRONG WORKFORCE, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE RECOGNIZING THAT WE HAVE TO BE STRATEGIC IN OUR APPROACH WHEN POSITIONS BECOME VACANT.
UM, SO WITH THAT STATED, UH, WE HAVE ABOUT, UH, 11.7, 11.7% REDUCTION SINCE 2025 AT 102 EMPLOYEES.
THEN NOW THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET REC, UH, REP RECOMMENDS, UM, A REVISED EMPLOYEE ACCOUNT OF 90.5 EMPLOYEES.
SO THIS IS THE JOURNAL FUND EMPLOYEE ACCOUNT BY DEPARTMENT.
JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, FROM FISCAL YEAR 26 TO 27, THAT IS, UH, A NET OF 8.7%, EXCUSE ME, 8.75, UM, POSITIONS THAT ARE, UM, ADJUSTED IN THE NEW YEAR'S BUDGET.
NEXT, IN TERMS OF OUR CIP, UM, RIGHT HERE, BOARD MEMBERS, THIS IS YOUR INVESTMENT.
UM, THESE ARE, THIS IS A SLIDE OF SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED IN FISCAL YEAR 26.
UM, SO JUST WANTED TO KIND OF SHARE THAT AS A, UM, PREFACE TO THE CIP.
SO IN TERMS OF THE CIP IN TERMS OF WHERE THOSE TAX DOLLARS ARE GOING, UM, BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD THAT, AGAIN, THAT 3 CENTS THAT YOU HAVE TYPICALLY ALLOCATED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BUDGETS TO GO TOWARDS CIP SINCE 2000, $29.9 MILLION OF CASH INVESTMENTS.
CASH INVESTMENTS, NOT DEBT SERVICE.
SO I BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL HAVE A VERY GOOD TRACK RECORD OF UTILIZING, UM, ONE TIME CIP MONEY AND RESERVES, AND THAT 3 CENTS ON THE TAX RATE TO FUND YOUR CIP ITEMS. SO, AGAIN, AS DONE LAST YEAR, THE CIP BUDGET WILL BE A ONE YEAR APPROACH IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE HANDLING OUR CIP.
UM, OF COURSE YOU WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES NOW IN GOING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT ALL THIS VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS.
IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE REQUESTS THAT HAVE COME ABOUT FOR OUR CIP, UM, THIS BUDGET ALLOCATES ABOUT $794,000 TO SUPPORT SCHOOL AND CIP PROJECTS THAT I CONSIDER TO BE HIGH PRIORITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I NOTICE, UM, IS THAT SOMETIMES PRIORITIES CHANGE.
SO WE MAY HAVE AN ITEM THAT'S IN THE CIP, BUT BASED ON A NEED THAT MAY GET, UM, ALTERED OR ADJUSTED, AND WE FIND THAT WE HAVE TO BE AGILE IN OUR THINKING AND BE ABLE TO USE THE, UH, FUNDS WISELY TO ADJUST OUR CIP NEEDS.
SO WITH THAT STATED, THERE IS NO SPECIFIC, UH, ALLOCATION TOWARDS INDIVIDUAL ITEMS. JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKED FOR.
IN TERMS OF, UM, THE CIP THIS YEAR, IT IS NOT INCLUSIVE OF EVERYTHING.
UM, PUBLIC SERVICE FOR AN EXAMPLE, HAS ABOUT, UH, OVER, UH, UH, NEARLY $4 MILLION IN NEEDS.
UM, IN TERMS OF WANTING TO REPLACE, UH, BRUSH TRUCKS AND FIRE ENGINES.
UM, THOSE THINGS COST, UH, $3.5 MILLION FOR AN ENGINE AND $750,000 FOR BRUSH TRUCKS.
AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN HERE.
WE ONLY HAVE $794,000 ALLOCATED TOWARDS VARIOUS CIP ITEMS. UM, AND AGAIN, THAT INCLUDES COUNTY AND SCHOOLS, AND THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF CIP ITEMS. SO, WITH THAT STATED BOARD MEMBERS, THIS IS JUST A, UH, SLIDE THAT SHOWS SEVERAL OF YOUR HIGHLIGHTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW AS A COMMUNITY, WHILE WE ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF, UH, COMPLEX THINGS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE THE MOMENT TO AGAIN, RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT, UH, OUR COMMUNITY IS DOING, THE WORK THAT, UH, STAFF IS DOING.
UM, SO AGAIN, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME BROCHURE THAT WAS DONE AND SUBMITTED TO THE CITIZENS AT THE END OF 2025, TO BE ABLE TO REFLECT THOSE HIGHLIGHTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
UM, ONE OF THE SLIDES THAT I SHOWED YOU EARLIER WAS THE, UH, RENOVATION TO THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
IF YOU REMEMBER, YOU SAW THAT DOG ONE THERE.
[01:10:01]
AND, UM, I SEE THAT SHERIFF TURNER'S HERE, AND I WANNA TAKE A TIME BEFORE I FORGET TO RECOGNIZE THE ANIMAL CONTROL STAFF.WE HAD A VISIT FROM THE, UM, STATE VET OFFICE, AND GUESS WHAT? ZERO VIOLATIONS IT PASSED WITH 100% FLYING COLORS, AND THAT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN HERE.
SO WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO LET YOU HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO GO OVER TO SEE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND WE ARE VERY, UH, PROUD OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT OUR TEAM MEMBERS, UM, AND OPERATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS WAS ABLE TO MAKE.
AND WE ARE PROUD OF THE UPKEEP THAT'S BEING DONE BY THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS THERE.
SO WITH THAT STATED, UM, NEXT'S ACTIONS BOARD MEMBERS, UM, TONIGHT, OF COURSE WE ARE PRESENTING THE BUDGET AND I KNOW I WENT THROUGH IT FAIRLY QUICKLY.
UM, BUT AGAIN, WE'VE HAD WORK SESSIONS TO DISCUSS THIS.
UM, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S SCHEDULED 10 FOR THE 29TH.
IF SO, YOUR CHOOSING TO COME BACK IN APRIL, UH, AND MEET TO, UH, TO HAVE THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THEN OF COURSE, ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET FOR MAY 7TH.
UM, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY, UM, BUDGET PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT MS. ROLLINS, FOR THAT DETAILED PRESENTATION.
YEAH, VERY COLORFUL, VERY, UH, ATTRACTING.
BUT I THANK YOU FOR YOUR DETAILED PRESENTATION AND EXPLAINING TO US THE PROCESS AND EVERYTHING.
SO, UM, NEXT BOARD MEMBERS, WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH OUR, OUR MEETING WITH, UM, BOARD
[Board Comments ]
COMMENTS.UM, FIRST WE'RE GONNA, UH, HAVE MR. DREW WITH YOUR COMMENT.
UM, I ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS TONIGHT.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
UM, AND, AND YES, AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO ARE MAYBE WATCHING AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPERVISOR DREW, UM, SUPERVISOR, DR.
I, UH, JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME.
I PARTICIPATED IN OUR MEETING TONIGHT, AND I DO WANT TO THANK, UH, OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE REPORT THAT SHE GAVE.
I, I, I DO NOTE THAT, UH, IF ANYBODY WAS TAKING NOTE THAT GAVE CREDENCE TO, UH, MY COMMENTS, UH, WITH, UH, DEALING WITH THE TAX RATE, IT'S, IT'S ALMOST A, A, A IMPOSSIBLE JOB THAT THEY HAVE TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET AND GET US THE THINGS THAT WE NEED AT THIS PARTICULAR TAX RATE.
AND I JUST WANNA REITERATE TO THE CITIZENS THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROVIDE YOU THE BEST SERVICES THAT WE CAN.
A LOT OF TIMES THINGS ARE SAID AND PUT OUT THAT CAN CAUSE DISCORD AND DIVISION WITHIN THE COUNTY.
UH, BUT WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE COUNTY, NOT TO DECREASE THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND THESE ARE SOME HARD DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE, BUT WE ARE WILLING TO DO THAT AND GO TO THE BET FOR THE GREAT CITIZENS OF SUR COUNTY.
AND A GREAT WAY TO, UH, DISPEL THE DISCORDANT DIVISION IS TO COME OUT TO OUR FIRST FRIDAYS THAT WE GOT STARTING ON NEXT MONTH.
NEXT MONTH IS OUR FIRST FRIDAY WHERE WE CAN COME OUT AND JUST FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER AND, AND DISCUSS THINGS OVER IN A SILVER MATTER THAT WE CAN KEEP THE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD.
I'M ASKING ALL THE CITIZENS TO COME AND PARTAKE AND BE A PART OF OUR FIRST FRIDAYS EVENT BECAUSE IT IS A GREAT EVENT TO CREATE EVEN MORE UNITY IN THE COUNTY.
UH, HAVING SAID THAT, I YIELD TO YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I GOT A LITTLE LIST TONIGHT, SO BEAR WITH ME.
UH, I DO WANNA MENTION ON THE BUDGET PROCESS, THANK YOU, MR. ROLLINS AND STAFF FINANCE ALL INVOLVED.
UH, WE GETTING THAT STUFF PREPARED FOR THE BOARD AND THE CITIZENS.
UM, AS WE KNOW, I THINK THIS IS MY THIRD TIME, UH, THIRD YEAR ON THE BOARD.
SO, UM, IT'S ALWAYS SOME HARD NOS I UNDERSTAND.
AND, UM, I KNOW THE SHERIFF BEEN GETTING THE VEHICLES ABOUT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD.
SO, UH, BUT AGAIN, I, I KNOW HE UNDERSTANDS, UH, UM, WE CAN, WE CAN'T ARGUE.
WE WANT NOT ONLY SHERIFF AND ALL, ALL DEPARTMENTS, ACTUALLY, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOME HARD NOS.
UM, AND OUR SHERIFF FOR THE CITIZENS WHO I GUESS WILL EVENTUALLY LISTEN ONLINE OR KNOWS IN ATTENDANCE, YOU KNOW, UM, JUST, JUST DSS I'LL SPEAK ON LIKE, UH, UM, THEIR WORKFORCE IS MINIMIZED DUE TO, UH, BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AS WELL.
UM, PAY IS THE ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE, UH, ISSUES.
A LOT OF FOLKS COME HERE AND GET THE EXPERIENCE AND MOVE ON TO LITTLE, UH, UH, VARIOUS COUNTIES, UM, YOU KNOW, OTHER THAN SURY COUNTY FOR A HIGHER WAGE.
NOW, CAN I BLAME 'EM? NO, I CANNOT.
HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, WE GOTTA LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND UNDERSTAND, HAVE WE GOT, UH, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEE INCENTIVES TO KEEP FOLKS TRAVELING TO SURY COUNTY TO PROVIDE THOSE, UH, WONDERFUL SERVICES.
I'M GONNA GET ON, I'M NOT GONNA HOP ON EVERY DEPARTMENT, BUT IT IS THOSE KIND OF ISSUES IN EVERY DEPARTMENT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, MS. ROLLINS AND ALL INVOLVED AND FOUND OUT THEY DO A GREAT JOB, UM, MANAGING WHAT THEY HAVE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD.
UH, I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST TIME, UH,
[01:15:01]
DOING THIS SO YOU CAN, UH, UH, TAKE A SIDE WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE.WE, UH, VOTE NEXT MONTH, BUT, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND WE, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE AND, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALLY AGREE WITH EVERYTHING.
ABSOLUTELY NOT
UM, AND ONE THING I WILL NOTE, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE IS YOU BROUGHT UP THAT LIST OF, UH, COUNTIES, UM, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES AND THE REAL ESTATE TAXES.
ALL THOSE COUNTIES HAVE SOME THAT SURY COUNTY DOES NOT.
WE VALUE OUR AGRICULTURAL, UH, UH, FAMILY AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE.
SURY COUNTY DOES NOT CHARGE A FARM M AND T TO OUR, TO OUR FARMERS.
THAT'S A REDUCTION IN REVENUE.
PROBABLY A MILLION PLUS DOLLARS THAT ALL THESE OTHER COUNTIES ARE GETTING THAT WE ABSORBED THROUGH OUR REAL ESTATE TAX RATE AS CITIZENS, UH, SUCH AS COUNTY, UH, $2 43 CENTS, I BELIEVE IT WAS PER HUNDRED DOLLARS ASSESSED.
THAT'S MAJOR MONEY OUTTA WHITE COUNTY'S A DOLLAR 95 CENTS AT A 40% REDUCED RATE.
SO I UNDERSTAND HOW FOLKS ALWAYS WANT, YOU KNOW, A LOWER TAX RATE, BUT UNDERSTAND THAT THESE OTHER LOCALES GETTING REVENUES THAT, THAT, THAT WE DO NOT COLLECT BECAUSE WE VALUE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COMMUNITY.
SO THAT IS ALSO A HUGE SAVINGS THAT OUR FARMERS AND OUR AGRICULTURE FOLKS CAN, UH, YOU KNOW, CAN, UH, ENJOY AND PASS ON, YOU KNOW, FOR THIS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.
SO THAT'S WONDERFUL AND THAT I DON'T THINK THEY GET HARPED ON ENOUGH, UH, IN SURY COUNTY.
UH, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE LINE ITEMS WE KIND OF TAKE FOR GRANTED.
AND I IMAGINE THAT HAPPENED BACK IN THE DAY WHEN, UM, THE MEETING, UH, VECO FIRST STARTED WHERE WE DIDN'T NEED THOSE FUNDS, BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, MOST OF US HERE, MOST OF US HERE ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, READ MY LIPS.
IF WE DON'T GET SOME DIVERSIFICATION OF, UH, OF, UH, REVENUE, YOU KNEW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN, THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT HE SAID.
SO, UH, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, I WANNA ONCE AGAIN CONGRATULATE THE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM.
I ATTENDED, UH, SEVERAL GAMES, UM, SOME GREAT JOB THERE.
AND, UH, UH, WE'LL SEE 'EM AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
I DO WANNA, UH, I WAS, I WANNA SHARE THAT SUR COUNTY IS HAVING A JOB FAIR, THE 2026 JOB FAIR ON APRIL 15TH, UM, ZERO NINE TO 14 OR 2:00 PM UM, MS. GOLDIN, PLEASE CONTACT HER FOR MORE DETAILS AT 7 5 7 2 9 4 50 90.
SO I SEE A LOT OF FOLKS ON FACEBOOK MOVING TO THE COUNTY, HEY, LOOKING FOR SOME PART-TIME WORK OR SOME STEADY WORK.
UH, YOU MAY FIND SOME ALRIGHT.
UH, TODAY I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH OUR SENIORS.
I HADN'T BEEN AT ALL THIS YEAR, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT I WENT THERE TODAY.
THEY HAD A EASTER EGG HUNT AND, UM, THEY WERE ENJOYING SOME, UH, TREATS.
SO IT WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE, UH, PLEASURE TO GET UP THERE AND, UH, SEE OUR SENIORS AND, UM, AND FELLOWSHIP WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT.
UM, LAST MONTH, MYSELF, UH, CHAIR AND, UH, MR. HARRISON HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH OUR US CONGRESSWOMAN, UH, MCCLELLAN AND WAVERLEY TO DISCUSS OUR NEEDS FOR SURY COUNTY.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER AND KNOW, I DON'T, I DON'T PLAY THE POLITIC GAME WHEN IT COMES TO SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO GIVE US MONEY.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE WANNA PLAY THAT GAME, NOT ME.
IT DON'T MATTER IF SOMEBODY'S, UH, LOOKING OUT FOR SURY COUNTY, I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE 'EM.
UM, AND MR. HARRISON IS, UH, HIGHLY INVOLVED WITH THAT, GETTING THE GRANTS, UH, SUBMITTED TO MAKE SURE WE, UH, RECEIVE THOSE FUNDS.
UM, WE DIDN'T DISCUSS IT, BUT IT IS ON OUR AGENDA PACKET ON CONGRESS TO MR. PHELPS AS WELL FOR IS, UH, RECENT RECOGNITION.
UM, I DID, UH, I, I WAS TALKING TO MR. BILLY THOMPSON TODAY FROM SIR, UH, POWER STATION REFERENCED SOMETHING TO HER DIFFERENT.
HEY MAN, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO, UM, MR. PHELPS FOR ME, BECAUSE THAT IS A BIG DEAL IN THE EP WORLD.
UH, HATS OFF, UH, TO YOU FOR THAT.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT, UH, ONLY FIVE CITIZENS WERE HERE TONIGHT TO ATTEND, UH, THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.
UM, I WISH IT COULD HAVE BEEN BEFORE THE, UH, TAX RATE.
MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY TAX RATE HAS TO BE WHAT THAT IS, BUT, UH, THAT'S NOT HERE OR THERE.
HOPEFULLY WHEN THE, THE VIDEOS LOAD UP ONLINE, IT MOST CAN SEE AND HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING.
UH, IT'S NOT CHEAP, IT'S NOT EASY.
AND, UM, I'LL QUOTE THE GREAT POET, JOSEPH CARTINA, BETTER KNOWN AS FAT JOE
YESTERDAY'S PRICE IS NOT TODAY'S PRICE.
THANK YOU ALL BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, AS ALWAYS, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
ALL MY CITIZENS THAT ARE PRESENT, UM, CITIZENS THAT ARE HOPEFULLY VIEWING US ONLINE.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES OR NOT, BUT WE ARE, UM, LOOKING INTO, IS LOOKING INTO, UM, WHY, IF IT IS THE CASE.
[01:20:01]
IS NOT BEING SHOWED ON TONIGHT, HOWEVER, UH, WE JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU GUYS AWARE THAT WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.SO THANK YOU YOU FOR, UM, BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION.
UM, BUT AGAIN, UM, I WOULD JUST AGAIN, LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE AGAIN FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
UM, TODAY STARTS THE SEC, WELL, EXCUSE ME, APRIL 1ST, UH, SECOND QUARTER.
UM, UH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, UH, HERE WE ARE IN, UH, IN APRIL.
UH, SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY WAS JUST JANUARY AND WE, UH, HEADED THREE WEEKS FR UH, FREEZING, UH, ICE ON OUR DRIVEWAYS, RIGHT? UH, HERE IT IS.
NOW WE ARE SEEING, UH, THE, THE TREES AND THINGS STARTING TO BLOOM.
UH, THAT POLLEN'S KICKING SOME OF OUR BUTTS, UH,
SO YEAH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT IS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR, BUT ALSO TOO IT'S BUDGET SEASON TOO AS WELL, RIGHT? AND, UH, I DO WANT TO, UM, UM, JUST ACKNOWLEDGE STAFF, MS. ROLLINS AND ALL WHO HAD INVOLVEMENT ON PRESENTING THE BUDGET PRESENTATION ON TONIGHT, KNOWING THAT I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME, UH, LONG NIGHTS AND EARLY MORNINGS AND EVEN SOME, UH, OVER THE WEEKEND WORK TO GET THE BUDGET PRESENTED BEFORE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT, UM, AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY EVERYTHING OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAD SAID, BUT I DO AGREE WITH MUCH OF THAT WAS, WAS STATED TONIGHT.
AS FAR AS PRICES HAVE INCREASED, WE HAVE TO LOOK AS FAR AS THE, THE, THE BIG PICTURE, UH, THE BIG THINKING PICTURE OF FAR AS, UM, WHERE WE SEE OUR COUNTY MOVING FORWARD AND ENSURING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OUR CITIZENS.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU, UM, STAFF FOR THAT.
UM, ACKNOWLEDGING THE GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, YOUR HARD WORK.
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK LADIES.
UM, I WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, HE LEFT OUT, BUT ELDER WELLTON BLUNT, THAT IS, UH, MY PASTOR.
SO I JUST WANT TO GIVE HIM, UH, A QUICK SHOUT OUT, UM, AND APPRECIATE HIM, UH, FOR HIS PRAYER AND ALL HIS PRAYERS THAT HE HAS, UH, PRAYED ON ME AS WELL.
UM, SHERIFF, MR. UM, WELL, SHERIFF, I WANNA JUST ACKNOWLEDGE YOU HERE TONIGHT AND OTHER STAFF HERE.
UM, I SEE WE HAVE OUR, OUR FORMAL, UH, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES, MS. LEWIS, THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT AS WELL.
AND, UH, WE HAVE OUR DUN COUNCILMAN, UH, MR. BIRD IN THE BACK.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT AS WELL.
UM, MISS, MISS, UH, MISS, UH, RENEE CHAPLIN, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND, AND ATTENDING TONIGHT.
UM, BUT I, I DID WRITE UP HERE, WE, WE HAVE HIM UP HERE.
I GUESS THIS, UH, MAY BE A GOOD, UH, SEGUE IN A SENSE, UH,
UM, I'VE, I'VE KNOWN MR. PHELPS PRIOR TO SITTING IN THIS POSITION, AND I REMEMBER MY FIRST DEALINGS WITH HIM.
HE WAS OUT AND ABOUT TRYING TO, UM, UH, ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS WERE, WERE INTACT.
SO I REMEMBER HIM WHERE HE WAS GOING AND, AND COMING, AND NOW I STILL KNOW HIM TODAY.
HE'S STILL ROCKING AND ROLLING.
SO I, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND DILIGENCE ON THAT.
UM, I'M GONNA LET, UM, STAFF TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.
BUT BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO STAFF, I JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, ALSO TOO, THE COLLABORATION MEETING THAT WE HAD, UM, UM, A FEW WEEKS AGO, I THINK THERE WAS A, UM, IT WAS MS. ROLLS ACKNOWLEDGED IT ON OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE WANTED TO, UM, HAVE THAT MEETING TO GET ALL THE, UM, ELECTED OFFICIALS AT ONE ROUND TABLE TO REALLY, UH, IDENTIFY AND, AND SEE WHERE THERE ARE AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY AND COLLABORATION.
UM, SEEING HOW WE CAN GROW TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY.
UH, WE HAVE ROUGHLY 6,500 CITIZENS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
HEARING THAT, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, ARE, ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SIRI.
I THINK THAT IS, IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THOSE MEETINGS TO PRETTY MUCH SEE WHAT EVERYONE'S THINKING AT ONE TIME.
AND ALSO TOO, TO SEE HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
UM, I, I'M, I THINK THAT WAS A GREAT PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
LOOK FORWARD TO MAYBE HAVING SOME MORE, MAYBE NOT AS LARGE ON A LARGE SCALE AS THAT, BUT PERHAPS WITH THE DIFFERENT MAYORS TO JUST CONTINUE THAT CHAIN OF COMMUNICATION AND SHOWING THAT WE HAVE THE BEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR CITIZENS.
UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WANTED TO THANK AGAIN EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
[County Administrators Report ]
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO OUR, UM, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT, CELEBRATING THE EMPLOYEE ACHIEVEMENT, THE ONE AND ONLY MR. RAY PHELPSSO, YEAH, I DO HAVE THAT ON YOUR SCREEN.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, THIS SHOWING, UM, AND MR. FELT HAS SHARED THAT, UH, AT THE CONFERENCE, UM, AND HE CAN, UH, CERTAINLY HAVE AN AWARD, IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOU CAN BRING THAT UP.
SO YOU CAN JUST SHARE THAT WITH, UM, WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, YOU HAD INDICATED, OF COURSE, UH, YOUR APPRECIATION AND I'LL LET YOU SHARE THAT TO OTHER FOLKS WHO WORK WITH THE, UH, WITH THE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
SO IF YOU WANT TO SHARE THAT, THAT WE CAN DO THAT IN THIS TIME.
GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS, MS. ROLLINS.
UM, SO IT WAS TRULY AN HONOR TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD FROM THE, UH, VIRGINIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, OUR SYMPOSIUM, UH, FOR THE TOP PREPAREDNESS
[01:25:01]
PROGRAM OF THE YEAR FOR THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.SO, UH, WE HAD SOME TOUGH COMPETITION.
THERE WERE SEVEN JURISDICTIONS, UH, ARE INVOLVED, UH, A LOT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA VCU AND, AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT WAS A PRETTY FIERCE COMPETITION.
UM, THIS AWARD WAS BASED ON THE EXTREME AMOUNT OF WORK TRAINING AND PREPARATION FOR THE 2025 OPEX DRILL, UM, WHICH IS THE VIRGINIA OPERATIONAL EXERCISE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE, OUR READINESS TO RESPOND TO A NUCLEAR INCIDENT IN SUR COUNTY.
ALL RIGHT, SO THIS DRILL HERE WAS MY FIFTH DRILL.
UM, SO, UH, EVERY TIME WE DO A DRILL, I LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
WE TWEAK SOMETHING, WE CHANGE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, TECHNOLOGY CHANGES AND, AND WE TRY TO ADAPT AND CHANGE WITH IT.
UM, IT WAS TRULY A TEAM EFFORT.
THIS AWARD WAS, I MEAN, IT TRULY WAS.
BUT THE, THE ONE THING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT OVER AT THE EOC WHERE OUR EOC STAFF CONTINUES TO COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.
THEY'RE DEDICATED TO THIS PROGRAM.
UM, WE, WE TRY TO HAVE FUN, AS FUN AS WE CAN.
IT, AS, AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THERE DURING THE DRILL, IT CAN GET INTENSE, UM, DEPENDING ON IT'S AN AIRPLANE.
UM, BUT OUR STAFF HAS ALWAYS, UH, RISEN, UH, TO A ABOVE EVERYTHING AND HAS COME THROUGH AND, AND EXCELLED IN EVERYTHING.
UM, SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY STAFF.
UH, THE, AND, AND THE MAJORITY OF 'EM I'VE HAD FOR ON THERE FOR FIVE, FIVE DRILLS.
THE MAJORITY OF 'EM, THEY'RE, OCCASIONALLY WE GET A NEW ONE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO THANK MY STAFF FOR THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE TO SURREY COUNTY AND TO THE EOC AND TO ME AND, AND MAKING THIS PROGRAM A SUCCESS.
GIVE MR. UH, ROUND OF APPLAUSE EVERYONE.
YES, THE, UH, SUPERVISOR ELLIOT.
I KNOW I HAVE BEEN ON AT LEAST FOUR OF THOSE AX DRILLS WITH MR. PHELPS, AND I JUST WANT TO PERSONALLY TIP MY HAT TO MR. PHELPS.
THE PROGRAM IS, IT IS, IS AMAZING TO SEE BECAUSE WE HAVE PERSONNEL FROM EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE COUNTY WORKING TOGETHER.
I MEAN, IF YOU COULD JUST SEE IT FROM SOCIAL SERVICE TO PARKS AND REC, EVERYBODY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO IN CASE WE HAVE A NUCLEAR INCIDENT AT, UH, DOMINION AND MR. PHELPS, HE'S AT THE HAM OF THAT.
HE'S PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER, ANSWERING TO THE STATE OFFICIALS THAT COME DOWN ALL THE QUESTIONS.
AND MR. PHELPS IS ON TOP OF IT.
SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO SAY MR. PHELPS JOB.
AND WE DO HAVE ONE MORE, UM, RECOGNITION TO, UH, DIRECTOR HUMAN RESOURCES.
SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT MS. DESIREE CREIGHTON BARNEY, WHO HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE HIGH PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.
AND SHE HAS EARNED HER MASTER'S CERTIFICATE.
SO WE ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE HER.
AND YOU DO HAVE, UM, AT YOUR STATION, UM, WE DID PASS THE RESOLUTION FOR APRIL BEING CLEANUP MONTH, BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO, UH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTRA DAYS IN APRIL TO CLEAN YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND THERE ARE THE DATES RIGHT THERE FROM SOLID WASTE, UM, AND RECYCLING.
AND, UM, ALSO OUR EMPLOYEES WILL BE CLEANING UP AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT STATED, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
I DO WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN, TO THANK ALL OF THE TEAM LEADERSHIP HERE IN SHERRY.
UM, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. HARRISON AND MR. BROWN, AND ALL OF THE, UH, TEAM LEADERS WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN WHAT I THOUGHT THIS YEAR WAS PRESENTING, UM, BUDGETS THAT WERE NOT FULL OF, UM, A LOT OF FLUFF YOU SAY, AND, AND, AND DEPARTMENTS PRETTY MUCH, UH, YOU KNOW, PRESENT WHAT IT IS THAT THEY FEEL THAT THEY NEED.
UM, SO A LOT OF THE, UM, UM, INCREASES WE STILL COULD NOT TACKLE IN TERMS OF THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I THOUGHT EVERYBODY DID AN AMAZING JOB.
AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE UTILIZED OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TO ENTER OUR BUDGET.
SO WE STILL GOT A LITTLE BIT WAYS TO GO IN THAT, BUT THAT WAS CERTAINLY LESS INTENSIVE, UM, PROCESS.
SO KUDOS FOR, UM, BRINGING THAT ON AND, AND CREATING THAT EFFICIENCY IN OUR ORGANIZATION.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE, MR. FELS AND ALSO MS. CHAPLIN, UM, FOR BEING HERE, CHEF TURNER, UH, WE DID ENJOY THE, UM, APRIL, UH, SPRING FEST, UM, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS, UH, WINTER FEST AT THE SAME TIME,
UM, BUT UH, THAT WAS VERY, UM, ENJOYABLE.
[01:30:01]
PLUS INITIATIVE, UM, IN ADDITION TO OUR SOCIAL SERVICES AND OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR PUTTING ON A GREAT EVENT, UH, FOR THE COMMUNITY.IT WAS, UM, UH, IT WAS VERY NICE AND GOT A CHANCE TO STILL JUST ALWAYS RELAX A LITTLE BIT AND ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY.
I'M SURE YOU ALL ENJOYED THOSE OF YOU WERE THERE.
YOU, YOU ALL GOT LUCKY 'CAUSE I COULDN'T BE THERE.
PRIOR ENGAGEMENTS WOULD'VE HAD CLAM OUT THERE AND BIG NUMBERS, BUT WE'LL GET YOU NEXT YEAR
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MS. ROLLINS FOR YOUR REPORT BOARD MEMBERS.
[Reports]
WE NOW HAVE, UH, OUR REPORTS.ONE BEING THE BUSINESS LICENSE REVENUE MEMO, THE SECOND ONE BEING THE BLACKWATER REGIONAL LIBRARY DIRECTOR'S REPORT, MARCH, 2026.
AND THE THIRD ONE BEING THE FO YEAR REQUEST SUMMARY FOR TWO TWO THOU MARCH, 2026.
I ASK THAT YOU ALL READ THOSE AT YOUR, YOUR LEISURE.
UM, FOR YOUR INFORMATION PURPOSES, I THINK IT WOULD BE, UM, UM, APPROPRIATE IF, UH, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE HAD THAT, UM, RESIGNATION TONIGHT.
IF I COULD ASK MS. PERKINS IF SHE COULD, UM, UH, GUIDE US AS FAR AS BOARD MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS WITH, UM, THE SERIES, UM, DISTRICT'S VACANCY.
AND, UM, I'M GONNA APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DATES OUTLINED EXACTLY SINCE, UM, THIS JUST HAPPENED.
UH, BUT SO TWO PHASES TO THIS PROCESS.
UM, THE FIRST IS WE ARE REQUIRED TO FILE A WRIT OF ELECTION WITH THE CIRCUIT COURT.
THAT HAS TO BE, UM, FILED WITH THE CIRCUIT COURT WITHIN 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF VACANCY.
SO THAT WOULD BE APRIL THE 17TH.
UH, WHEN THAT HAS TO BE FILED, UH, WHAT THAT WR OF ELECTION DOES IS IT REQUESTS A SPECIAL ELECTION, UM, THAT SPECIAL ELECTION THERE, THERE ARE TIMING REQUIREMENTS IN THE VIRGINIA CODE.
UM, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A QUICK COMMUNICATION WITH OUR REGISTRAR, MS. WHITE.
AND IN TERMS OF THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE, UH, APPROACH, BECAUSE SURREY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION.
IT WOULD BE TO HAVE THE SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE DATE OF THE GENERAL ELECTION, WHICH IS NOVEMBER THE THIRD.
UH, WE DO IN FACT HAVE A PRIMARY THAT'S SCHEDULED IN AUGUST, BUT PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE, A SPECIAL ELECTION IS NOT ABLE TO OCCUR THE SAME DAY AS A PRIMARY.
UM, AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION COMING UP ON APRIL THE 21ST, BUT THAT IS WAY TOO QUICK A TURNAROUND TIME.
UH, SO MY, MY REQUEST, UH, THIS EVENING, BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER MEETING BEFORE THAT DEADLINE DATE OF APRIL THE 17TH, WOULD BE THAT YOU AUTHORIZE, UM, YOU AUTHORIZED THE FILING OF THE WRIT OF ELECTION WITH THE CIRCUIT COURT AND THAT WE, UM, WE REQUEST THAT THE HEARING BE HELD ON THE GENERAL ELECTION DATE OF NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026.
SO THAT'S PART ONE OF THE PROCESS.
PART TWO OF THE PROCESS IS, UM, THE BOARD, UH, IS REQUIRED TO APPOINT AN INDIVIDUAL TO FILL THE VACANCY.
UH, THAT VACANCY CAN BE FILLED BY A QUALIFIED VOTER IN THE SURREY DISTRICT, AND THE APPOINTMENT MUST OCCUR WITHIN 45 DAYS OF THE VACANCY.
AND I, I HAVEN'T, THAT'S THE MATH I HAVEN'T DONE.
UM, BUT WE'VE, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE, LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
UM, THIS INDIVIDUAL WOULD SERVE UNTIL THE SPECIAL ELECTION, SO WOULD SERVE UNTIL NOVEMBER 3RD, AND THEN WHOEVER WAS ELECTED ON THAT DATE WOULD IMMEDIATELY TAKE OFFICE, UM, SIMILAR TO MR. DREW'S EXPERIENCE.
UM, SO HE, HE CAN ALSO PROBABLY ADVISE US ON HOW THIS, HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS.
UM, WHAT WE DID, UH, LAST YEAR WAS, UM, WE DID PUT OUT A, YOU KNOW, UH, I'M GONNA CALL IT AN ADVERTISEMENT, UH, FOR LACK OF A LACK OF A BETTER WORD, THAT ENCOURAGED, UM, OR ASKED FOR APPLICANTS FROM THE SURREY DISTRICT TO FILL THE VACANCY.
AND, UM, WE HAD, YOU KNOW, ANY, ANY RESIDENT OF THE SURREY DISTRICT WHO WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD FOR AN INTERIM APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD FROM THAT DISTRICT UNTIL A SPECIAL ELECTION.
UM, AND THEY SUBMITTED THAT, AND IT'S A, IT'S A LETTER OF INTEREST.
I PREVIOUSLY SAID AN, AN APPLICATION, BUT IT'S A LETTER OF INTEREST.
UM, AND THEN IF YOU ALL WILL RECALL, WHAT WE DID WAS, UM, WE GATHERED THOSE, THOSE CANDIDATES, UM, WE WENT INTO CLOSED SESSION.
WE DISCUSSED A, UM, IT WAS NARROWED DOWN, UM,
[01:35:01]
TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SUBMITTED LETTERS OF INTEREST MET ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS, THE PRIMARY ONE BEING THEIR, THEIR, UM, VOTER IN THE, IN THE SURREY DISTRICT.AND THEN, UM, THE CODE REQUIRES THAT, UM, WE ACTUALLY ANNOUNCE AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO HAVING A, A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SELECTION OF WHO IS GOING TO FILL THAT INTERIM SPOT.
SO SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THAT, WE HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, WE HAVE TO HAVE A PUB, EXCUSE ME, WE HAVE TO, AT A PUBLIC MEETING, UH, NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, AT A PUBLIC MEETING.
WE HAVE TO ANNOUNCE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED.
UM, AND WE DID CONDUCT INTERVIEWS LAST YEAR SO WE CAN, WE CAN FOLLOW A VERY SIMILAR PROCESS.
UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HAVING JUST HAD THAT EXPERIENCE.
AND THEN, UM, AND THEN YOU ALL GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE, MAKE THE DECISION ON WHO YOU WOULD LIKE TO, TO APPOINT, UM, TO FILL THAT INTERIM VACANCY UNTIL AGAIN, THE, THE GENERAL, THE WEALTH, THE SPECIAL ELECTION, WHICH WILL BE HELD THE SAME DAY AS THE GENERAL ELECTION.
UM, DOES, DOES THAT KIND OF GIVE YOU ALL ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR, FOR NOW ANYWAY,
I, YOU MIGHT, WE MIGHT NEED TO GET A CHEAT SHEET.
FORGOT WHAT, UH, BUT THAT'S A LOT, A LOT OF INFORMATION TO REMEMBER, BUT I, BUT I, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU FOR, UH, GIVING NOT ONLY THE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT ALSO THE CITIZENS, UM, UNDERSTANDING AS FAR AS THE PROCESS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT MS. PERKINS.
UM, BUT IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY, YOU DO NEED AN ACTION ITEM, UH, FROM THE, UM, BOARD TONIGHT.
UM, AS FAR AS BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE HEARD THE REQUEST FROM MS. PERKINS TO, UH, AUTHORIZE STAFF TO, UH, SUBMIT A WR OF ELECTION WITH THE, UH, CIRCUIT COURT, EXCUSE ME, CIRCUIT CLERK, CIRCUIT COURT, TONGUE TWISTER, RIGHT?
UM, AND ALSO TO HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER THE THIRD, 2026.
AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THE COURT ULTIMATELY MAKES THE DECISION ON THE DAY, BUT WE CAN RECOMMEND A DAY.
SO I, I WOULD, I WOULD REQUEST THAT WHEN YOU AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PROCEED WITH FILING THE WRIT OF ELECTION, YOU INDICATE WHAT DAY YOU WOULD LIKE THAT ELECTION TO, TO OCCUR.
AND THEN AGAIN, IT'S ULTIMATELY UP TO THE COURT.
MR. DREW, I MOVE THAT WE AUTHORIZE STAFF TO SUBMIT A WRIT OF ELECTION TO THE CIRCUIT COURT WITH A RECOGNITION RECOMMENDATION OF A DATE OF NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026, UM, THE GENERAL ELECTION DATE.
IS THERE A SECOND I'LL, IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MR. DREW, PROBABLY SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR HARDY, THAT WE AUTHORIZED STAFF FOR THE WRITTEN ELECTION TO THE CIRCUIT COURT, UH, FOR A RECOMMENDED DATE FOR NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 FOR OUR SPECIAL ELECTION.
UM, THERE IS NO OTHER AGENDA ITEMS, UM, ON, ON OUR LIST TONIGHT.
LEMME MAKE SURE I HAVE NO BACK PAGE
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST AGAIN, WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TO TONIGHT.
TONIGHT, LET'S MAKE SE STRONG BY WORKING TOGETHER AND LOVING ONE ANOTHER.
I'LL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION, UH, FOR ADJOURNMENT UNTIL OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON APRIL THE 29TH FOR OUR, UM, HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET.