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County presents balanced budget, schools still $600,000 out
11 CommentsPublished: March 24, 2010 By Michael Copley Having presented a balanced county budget for next fiscal year, the board of supervisors is now “watching the revenue picture from the state” and working with county staff to try to identify further savings, said District 1 Supervisor Joe Walton. “We’ll continue to watch the state and continue to look at what can be done locally,” said Walton. District 5 Supervisor Carson Tucker said “All board members are seriously trying find” additional savings. “We owe it to the public.” Finance Director Stephanie Davis presented the county’s proposed budget- $69 million- at a public hearing March 22. For now, the county is showing just over $19 million budgeted for education spending next year. In comparison to other localities, Davis said Powhatan is in a “very good position.” The majority of the audience at Monday’s budget hearing wore orange in support of Powhatan County Schools. Nearly 30 people spoke during the public comment period. Some commented on the proposed tax rate increase; most lobbied for addition funding for the school system. The numbers presented during that hearing are based on a proposed tax-rate increase of 9 cents. Because of diminished real estate assessments, the county will have to raise the tax rate to a revenue-neutral level of 80 cents to generate the same amount of money the 71 cent rate brought in this year. Residential property values are down 13.2 percent in the latest assessment. Because of those lower assessments, county leaders insist the rate increase would not mean higher taxes. A letter to the editor last week from resident Todd M. Rojcewicz, a member of Powhatan Taxpayers Alliance, noted that under the proposed tax-rate increase, property owners would have to pay the same amount of money for “a devalued property.” “That is the definition of a tax increase,” he wrote. District 2 Supervisor Marsell Bustos asked residents who attended a town hall meeting March 23 to think about whether they favor the increased rate- to provide the county the same amount of money as this year, he said- or a lower rate and additional cuts to the county’s budget – and “dramatic reductions in services.” Supervisors said the proposed rate increase was set as a ceiling; the rate the board votes to adopt April 12 could fall anywhere between 71 and 80 cents. “80 cents is not nailed down,” said Tucker. In a show of hands at the March 23 town hall meeting, the majority of residents there indicated they favor the 80-cent rate; Bustos said he expected more of a split. “I think we’re seeing the tax alliance is a very vocal and motivated group,” he said, but “I’m not sure” that group represents the general opinion in the county. School board member Jason Moore reported that the schools are still more than $600,000 from a balanced budget. The board of supervisors has yet to return $517,000 in surplus funds from last year that the school board requested recently in a letter to supervisors. Moore noted that the return of that money would cover the bulk of the shortfall the schools still face. Tucker indicated that money would likely be transferred back to the schools when the board of supervisors adopts the county’s budget April 12. The board of supervisors “is trying to be very, very careful about disbursement” of money, he said. As stated before by other supervisors, Tucker said any money returned to the schools during this budget process should not be used on recurring costs, and that it cannot be added into the school board’s base budget numbers next year. “We truly believe next year will be worse than this year, and there’s great trepidation that if we’re not very careful, we’ll be in a worse situation next year,” he said. “It’s not us against them.” The next budget meeting will be held March 31 at 7 p.m. in the Village Building auditorium. |
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Plain Common Sense of moseley Mar. 31, 2010, 11:21 AM
Personally i don’t think any county “EMPLOYEES” should have county cars or allowances to get to and from work, even the UMH!! LAW ENFORCEMENT should not be allowed to drive thier patrol cars home and to the grocery store when NOT on duty, park them when your shift is over and drive your personal car home, in a years time see how much money that saves in gas,tires,wear and tear,e.t.c. Firemen don’t drive the fire trucks home ? “EMPLOYEES” that’s who you all are “EMPLOYEES” of the tax payers of the county, you should try listening to them sometime !!!!!!!
resident of powhatan,va Mar. 29, 2010, 06:18 PM
ps I agree with you about the car allowance
resident of powhatan, va Mar. 29, 2010, 06:17 PM
Ms. Young You must remember Meara has been Super. for 20 plus years and supervises over 700 employees. Carolyn has 5-6 years experience and the county as 125 employees. The schools represent 60% of the budget, so those factors play into the salary.
concerned citizen of Powhatan Mar. 29, 2010, 05:14 PM
I feel the Superintendent’s salary is in line for her position and credentials. However, one needs to take a close look at some of the other positions in the county according to the data base. A couple of vocational teachers make 80K, Athletic Director makes 80K, etc. That is more than Assistant Principal’s. So… are we really talking about cutting positions and salaries? How about revisiting contracts! Inflated contracts were good during the days of plenty. Plenty is now gone!
sue young Mar. 29, 2010, 06:12 AM
Ok so the super of school has a different boss but I still don’t understand why she makes so much more than the county admin. who has more responsibilities to our county? who needs more experience? I am not saying Carloyn needs more money i just wonder why Dr. Meara needs so much in a time where money is tight. it still bugs me about the car and the monies allowed there. why do they need the car? How do you get to work.?
resident of Powhatan Mar. 26, 2010, 09:28 PM
To Sue Young The Super. of Schools does not work for the County Administrator. The County Administrator works for the BOS and the Super. of Schools works for the School Board The two positions are controlled by completely different masters. Only School Board can fire, hire or contract Super of Schools. Only BOS can fire or hire County Administrator.
homeowner of Powhatan Mar. 26, 2010, 03:58 PM
Let’s see if I understand, if the BOS and Governor were Democrats, everyone would be screaming about a 12.6% increase in real estate taxes from those tax & spend Dems . . . but it’s revenue neutral when they are all Republicans. Can’t any of them make the difficult decisions to cut the spending to the level of existing income?
sue young of powhatan Mar. 26, 2010, 08:39 AM
If you look at the new powhatan salaries and think a minute, the County Admin makes over 50.00 an hour and gets an additional 600.00 for a car,(108,929 per year + 600.00 a month ) and the school superintendent makes about 1/3 MORE than her boss (the county admin is the top dog in our county, right) at a salary of 142,594. plus an additional 600 dollars a MONTH for her car. if they just give up the cars we could actually afford to keep a teachers aide, or a bus driver or a cafe worker. they all make less than the car allowance alone… why can’t the admin and superintent drive there own cars and save a job or two? is not anyone concerned about the “working people in this county, if we get rid of them who is going to pay the tax increases? gets get it right for once…...
Sup man of shameville Mar. 25, 2010, 09:27 PM
This all brought to you by the same people that auction stuff off without letting their employees know about it. It was advertised in the TD not Pow Today. If that sounds familier well it should the same department did the same thing last year.
crc of powhatan Mar. 25, 2010, 09:34 AM
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