[00:00:03]
ALL RIGHT, SHOULD WE GET STARTED? HI.
UM, THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME DOING THIS, BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE, SO, SO IF I SCREW UP ANYTHING, JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE BREAK AND I'LL COME BACK AND TRY TO FIX IT.
I, UM, I AM VERY HONORED TO BE BACK SERVING AS YOUR INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
UM, AND I HOPE, UM, IT WON'T BE TOO LONG.
I THINK THE BOARD IS, UH, GOING TO START INTERVIEWING VERY SOON, AND THEY HAVE SOME GREAT CANDIDATES.
SO, UM, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES, BUT I'LL BE HERE AS LONG AS THEY NEED ME.
UH, SO, UH, TONIGHT, I GUESS I'LL BETTER HOLD THIS.
SO THIS IS ONE OF OUR, UM, TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
UM, THE NEXT TOWN HALL MEETING IS THURSDAY THE 27TH.
THAT'LL BE AT THE RESIDENCE INN AT THE NOTCH.
AND THEN ON MARCH 31ST, UH, WE'LL BE, UM, AT THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING FOR THE DISTRICT TWO AND THREE, UM, 27TH, THE FOUR, FOUR, AND FIVE.
I'VE ALWAYS RECOMMENDED TO PEOPLE THAT COME TO ANY OF THE, UH, TOWN HALLS TO GO TO ALL THREE OF THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT AND PEOPLE IN EACH DISTRICT HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS OR WANTS, AND IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR WHAT, WHAT THE OTHER, THE OTHER END OF THE COUNTY WANTS.
UM, SO AS I, AS YOU KNOW, I'M THE INTERIM COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND WHAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT TODAY, WE'RE GONNA LOOK BACK A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN I'M GONNA GO FORWARD AND LOOK AT THE BUDGET GOING AHEAD.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, UM, THIS SLIDE, THIS IS OUR GENERAL FUND EXPENSES FROM 2018 THROUGH THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 25 AND 26, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE ACTUALS YET FOR 25, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE GROWTH IN OUR BUDGET IN, IN A FEW YEARS.
SO, UM, MOST OF THE, MOST OF OUR GROWTH HAS BEEN IN PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS WHERE PEOPLE TELL US THEY, THEY WANT OR NEED, UM, GROWTH.
AND WE HAVE, DURING ALL THIS TIME, WE HAVE KEPT THE TAX RATE AT 53 CENTS.
OF COURSE, THE ASSESSMENTS GO UP EVERY YEAR, AND, UM, WE'VE BEEN USING THAT TO KEEP OUR, UM, BUDGET BALANCED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDE, THE THICKER BLUE LINE IS GLAND, AND YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER LOCALITIES HAVE GONE UP AND DOWN A LOT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
UM, ONLY AMELIA IS BELOW US IN TAX RATE, BUT WHAT I THINK IS, UM, TELLING ABOUT GLAND IS WE'VE BEEN VERY STEADY OVER THE YEARS, AND I THINK IT SHOWS IN OUR, UH, AAA RATINGS AND THE WAY OUR COUNTY IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST RUN COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY.
SO THAT'S THAT STEADY, UM, TAX RATE IF YOU, IF YOU WISH.
UH, HERE'S THE BOARD AND I'LL INTRODUCE 'EM NOW.
UM, BEHIND YOU THERE IS JONATHAN CHRISTIE.
HE IS THE, UH, SUPERVISOR FOR THIS DISTRICT, DISTRICT ONE.
JAKE IS HAND NOW, IS, UH, TOM, UH, WINFREY, WHO IS WITH IN DISTRICT FOUR, UH, DISTRICT, UH, FIVE, FOUR IS CHARLIE.
THREE FOR TOM AND FOUR FOR CHARLIE.
IT WAS A WHOLE NEW BOARD, A DIFFERENT BOARD LAST TIME I WAS HERE, EXCEPT FOR, UH, DISTRICT TWO IS NEIL AUER, AND HE'S NOT, NOT HERE, UH, TODAY.
SO HOW DOES THE BOARD WORK ON THE WORK, THE BUDGET? DID I MISS SOMEBODY? YES.
I MISSED
SO WE HAVE TWO JONATHANS, ONE ON EACH END OF THE COUNTY.
UM, AND LET'S SEE IN THE BACK, I'LL GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE HIM AS WELL.
WE HAVE THE SHERIFF, STEVEN CREE IS IN THE BACK.
OUR, UH, FIRE CHIEF IS BACK THIS WAY, EDDIE FERGUSON.
AND WE HAVE OTHER MEMBERS, TONY GORDON, MIKE WATKINS, AND BLAKE
WE'RE SAFE TONIGHT, SO WE CAN STAY TILL IT, TILL IT GETS DARK.
SO THE BOARD RECEIVES THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS OR REASSESSMENTS FROM THE ASSESSOR'S OFFICE.
THEY SET THE BUDGET PRIORITIES.
UH, WE GATHER FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS OR
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AT, UH, VENUES LIKE THIS OR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.AND THEN THE BOARD APPROVES THE TAX RATES, THE ADD VALANT TAX, AND ANY, UH, BUDGET RELATED ITEMS. SO THE PRIORITIES ARE USUALLY CONSISTENT WITH THE BOARD STRATEGIC PLAN.
UH, WE ALWAYS TAKE A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND EXPENDITURE.
UM, WE SEEK EFFICIENCIES WHERE WE CAN TO CUT COST, EXPAND PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE LEVELS, AND WE HAVE DONE THAT OVER THE YEARS.
MEET OR EXCEED ALL THE FINANCIAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS, MAINTAIN A COMPETITIVE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.
AND THAT'S BECOME DIFFICULT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE WE DON'T NECESSARILY COMPETE WITH AMELIA AND PA AND LOUISA.
WE COMPETE WITH ENRICO IN CHESTERFIELD.
A LOT OF OUR EMPLOYEES LIVE IN THOSE AREAS, AND THEY DRIVE THROUGH A GOVERNMENT CENTER LIKE OURS ON THE WAY TO GLAND.
SO WE, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PAY THEM A FAIR WAGE.
UM, AND WE SUPPORT POSITIONS AS WE CAN WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, ADDING POSITIONS.
THIS, THE UTILITIES RATE IS SELF-SUSTAINING.
THEY PAY FOR ALL OF THEIR ENHANCEMENTS, UM, THROUGH, UM, UH, FEES FOR UTILITIES.
SO AGAIN, THE PROCESS ONGOING, WE LISTENED TO RESIDENTS.
THEY FORMAL PROCESS DIDN'T START, UM, LAST WEEK.
IT STARTED BACK IN OCTOBER WHEN THE BOARD MEETS WITH DEPARTMENTS AND THE ADMINISTRATION MEETS WITH ALL COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND ALL CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS MEET WITH SCHOOLS.
UM, AND FOR BOTH OPERATIONAL BUDGET AND, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
AND THEN WE MEET WITH THE BOARD TO ESTABLISH PRIORITIES.
UH, WE LOOK AT ALL THE REVENUE SOURCES THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET, UH, PROCESS, UH, PROPERTY TAXES, ALL THE LOCAL TAXES, STATE AID, FEDERAL AID, CHARGES FOR SERVICES AND FEES, AND ANY GRANTS THAT WE MAY HAVE.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THE BUDGET IS IMPACTED BY INFLATION, POTENTIAL RECESSION.
WE ALWAYS HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR OUR, UM, YOU KNOW, RISK TO THE COUNTY.
UM, WE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE, UH, CONTINUED TO TRY TO SUPPORT, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE COUNTY.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALSO PROVIDES LEGISLATION.
SOMETIMES THAT CATCHES US BY SURPRISE, 'CAUSE IT COMES AT THE LAST MINUTE JUST BEFORE WE PUT THE BUDGET TOGETHER.
USUALLY, SOMETIMES AFTER THE FACT.
UM, WE HAVE A GROWING COMMUNITY IN AN AGING POPULATION AND INCREASED CALLS FOR SERVICES, PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING FROM THE COMMONWEALTH CAN VARY.
AND WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT EDUCATION.
THOSE THINGS CAN IMPACT OUR BUDGET.
TYPICALLY, UH, HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS HAVE, HAVE INCREASED EVERY YEAR.
WE ARE ACTUALLY STAYING FLAT, SO THAT WAS A BIG SURPRISE TO US.
UM, AND AGAIN, WE NEED TO MAINTAIN COMPETITIVE SALARIES WITH OUR NEIGHBOR LOCALITIES.
HERE'S THE REVENUES FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT FUNDS.
PROPERTY TAXES IS OBVIOUSLY OUR BIGGEST, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER REVENUES, LOCAL TAXES, PERMITS, AND LICENSE FEES, UH, AND SO ON.
SO THE, UM, ASSESSED VALUES THIS YEAR, WHICH IS OUR MAJOR CATEGORY IN 24, IT WAS 8.62 BILLION, UH, IN ASSESSED VALUES THIS YEAR IS 9.6 BILLION.
SO IT'S A 980 MILLION, UH, INCREASE.
OUR EXPENSES, UH, GENERAL GOVERNMENT EXPENSES, UM, FROM WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN 26 IS ON THE COLUMN THERE, THE VARIATION FROM 25 IS ON THE RIGHT.
AND IT'S, UM, WE'RE ASSUMING AT 10.2% IN OUR, UH, BUDGET PROPOSAL.
UM, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING IS UP, UM, EXCEPT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND DEBT SERVICE.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET OVER THE, UH, ADOPTED BUDGET FOR 25, THE VARIANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND IS ABOUT ALMOST 6 MILLION.
UH, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, 200,000 UTILITIES FUNDS 6 MILLION.
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KIND OF PAYS FOR ITSELF.SCHOOL FUNDS, UH, TWO, TWO PLUS MILLION, SO 5.2% AND CIP FUNDS ARE DOWN BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A MAJOR PROJECT THIS YEAR.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, UH, PROPOSED IS, UH, ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MILLION FOR FIRE AND RESCUE, 1.3 MILLION FOR INFORMATION SERVICES AND 1.7 MILLION FOR SCHOOLS.
UM, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT THOSE THINGS ARE, UM, WE CAN TALK AFTERWARDS.
UM, THE, UH, FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS, UM, PRETTY BIG.
AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TAX RATE AND WHAT WE DO, I KNOW, UM, SOME FOLKS HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT STABBING A SURPLUS.
THAT SURPLUS WE TYPICALLY APPLY TO THE NEXT YEAR'S.
UH, CIP WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BUILD.
ONE OF THEM, AND YOU SEE IT THERE ON THE JUDICIAL, IS A NEW COURTHOUSE.
AND, UM, WE HAVE ANOTHER 39 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FOR THE SCHOOLS.
AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
UM, EMERGENCY TECHNOLOGY WHERE WE'RE UPGRADING THE, UH, 9 1 1 RECORDING.
UM, THE SCHOOLS, WE, WE HAVE SOME CHANGES TO THE GULA MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
WE, THE, THE CHILLER AT THE SCHOOL IS, UM, 20 YEARS OLD, 10 YEARS OLD, HIGH SCHOOL, 21, 20, 20 YEAR, 21 YEARS OLD.
SO WE ARE ABOUT, WE'RE ABOUT TO REPLACE THAT.
WE NEED NEW EQUIPMENT FOR, UH, FIRE AND RESCUE, AND THAT TOTALS TO ABOUT TWO AND A A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN FACILITIES.
WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY GENERATOR FOR FIRE AND RESCUE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE IN THE PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR, AND WE'RE DOING SOME UPGRADES TO OUR SYSTEMS IN IT, AND THAT'S ABOUT $1.3 MILLION.
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE KEY ITEMS IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR? WE'RE INCLUDING A 3%, UH, COST OF LIVING SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR EMPLOYEES.
UH, WE'RE ADDING 11 POSITIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, SIX, AND FOR FIRE AND RESCUE AND FIVE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UH, WE'RE INCREASING THE SCHOOL CONTRIBUTION BY 6%, UM, OR 1.8 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE DOING IT ALL WITHOUT INCREASING THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE OR THE TAHOE CREEK TAX RATE OR THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE.
AGAIN, THE BUDGET SCHEDULE ON, UH, MARCH 11, UM, THE, UM, JOINT WORK SESSION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, THAT WAS LAST WEEK.
WE HELD A JOINT SESSION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD MARCH 24TH.
WE ARE TELLING YOU ABOUT IT HERE TODAY, THE 27TH AT, UH, RESIDENCE INN.
AND THE 31ST, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR OUR TAX RATE, TAHOE CREEK.
UH, BUDGET FEES WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 1ST, AND THEN ON, SO THAT'S THE LAST HEARING WHERE YOU CAN COME AND SPEAK ABOUT THESE ITEMS. OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL BE AROUND AND LISTEN TO ANY MAJOR THINGS THAT NEED TO CHANGE, BUT ON APRIL 15TH, WE ADOPT THE BUDGET AS, AS HOPEFULLY AS PROPOSED ON APRIL ONE, SOME COMMUNITY UPDATES.
AND I MAKE IT SARAH TO COME UP FOR SOME OF THE NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE AS YOU HEARD, I'VE BEEN HERE THREE WEEKS NOW.
SO SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE, ARE NEW TO ME.
BUT, UH, TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
WE HAVE A STUDY GOING ON AT 2 88 AND WEST CREEK TO SEE IF WE CAN ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC AT BROAD STREET.
WE HAVE A, A DIVERGENT DIAMOND INTERCHANGE PLANNED AND IN THE WORKS FOR ASHLAND ROAD OVER 64, UM, WE ARE MO THAT PLAN WILL MOVE THE CURRENT PARK AND RIDE THAT'S NORTH OF 64 TO JUST SOUTH OF THAT INTERSECTION.
AND THEN WE'RE ONCE AGAIN TRYING TO GET THE HACK ROAD REALIGNMENT TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU GET OFF ON, UM, AT THE ROCKVILLE EXIT AND YOU COME DOWN TO BROAD STREET AND YOU WANT TO GET ON HOCKET, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A RIGHT ONTO 50 AND THEN TAKE H ROAD, THIS REALIGNMENT.
WE WILL MAKE THAT, UH, A MUCH EASIER.
WE HAD A MEETING THIS MORNING TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE WAYS OF EXPEDITING THAT, THE DUAL DIAMOND INTERCHANGE.
UM, IF YOU'VE BEEN TO WHO'S BEEN TO SCIENCE
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CROSSROADS AND SEEN THAT THERE, OKAY.IT'S, IT WORKS REALLY WELL THERE.
I'VE, I'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THE POWER GOES OUT.
'CAUSE IT'S ALL DIRECTED BY TRAFFIC LIGHTS, BUT, UM, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE ANSWER YET.
UM, WE HAVE AN EXPEDITED SCHEDULE ON THIS BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, UH, ROCK PROJECT ROCKY WILL BE GOING LIVE ON ASHLAND ROAD, AND WE NEED TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE TRAFFIC THERE.
SO, UM, REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION WILL BE THIS SUMMER.
THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING ALSO THIS SUMMER, UH, PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED IN THIS WINTER.
AND THEN, UH, THERE WILL BE A DESIGN BUILT CONTRACT, HOPEFULLY IN 26.
AND WE EXPECT IT TO BE COMPLETED IN, UH, SUMMER OF 29.
SO THESE THINGS ARE, ARE NOT FAST.
AND I, I'VE TOLD PEOPLE BEFORE, SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE KIND OF COMING TO FRUITION NOW STARTED WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE BOARD IN 2011.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE WAY SOME OF THESE THINGS WORK.
UM, THE, IF YOU EVER TAKE THE OILVILLE EXIT IN THE EVENINGS AFTER WORK, AND I'VE, I'VE DONE IT BEFORE, IT'S A NIGHTMARE.
AND IF YOU, IF YOU'RE COMING A LITTLE TOO FAST, LIKE HAPPENED TO ME ONCE, UM, YOU ARE RUNNING TO CARS ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE REST AREA.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THAT, THE WAY THAT INTERSECTION IS, CARS HAVE TO STOP FOR ALL THE TRAFFIC.
SO WHAT WE'RE PLANNING THERE IS A ROUNDABOUT, UH, TO MAKE THAT EASIER.
AND THEN WE ALSO ARE PLANNING A, IF YOU'VE TAKEN THE ROUNDABOUT AT FAIRGROUNDS ROAD AND 5 22, WE HOPE THAT, UM, IN A FEW YEARS WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT DIRECTLY ALL THE WAY TO ROUTE SIX.
RIGHT NOW, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE ROUNDABOUT, GO TO ROUTE SIX ON 5 22, AND THEN MAKE A RIGHT TURN.
AND THAT WILL ALSO DO SOME OF THINGS AND SARAHS BACK THERE.
SO I BETTER SAY IT WILL OPEN UP A LOT OF POSSIBLE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA, IN THE COURTHOUSE WHERE IT'S NEEDED.
UM, THIS IS WHERE THE HACK ROAD ALIGNMENT WOULD BE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SMART SCALE, UH, PROJECTS COMING UP.
GLAND ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE MOST FUNDING FOR THE MOST PROJECTS IN THE ENTIRE STATE.
AND NEIL SAUER HAS BEEN, UM, A BIG PUSHER FOR THESE PROJECTS WITH HIS ROLE ON CVTA AND NOW JONATHAN.
UM, WE USED TO GET, WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE BORDER, WE USED TO GET ABOUT $80,000 A YEAR FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE IN GLAND.
AND THERE WAS ONE YEAR WHERE THE ELK ISLAND BRIDGE WAS KIND OF TAKEN OUT BY STORM AND IT COST US MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX IT.
SO THAT JUST WIPED OUT ALL OF OUR BUDGET.
AND THAT BUDGET ALSO GOES TO REMOVING SNOW.
SO, SO WE WERE IN A TIGHT, TIGHT BIND.
UM, BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING UP, UM, THAT I THINK ARE VERY GOOD FOR US.
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU BUY GAS LOCAL, AND THE REASON IS THAT THERE'S A TAX ON GASOLINE THAT, UH, IF YOU BUY IT HERE IN GLAND, IT COMES BACK TO US AND WE CAN USE IT FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
AND, UM, SO WE HAVE RECEIVED ALREADY 9.2 MILLION THROUGH THAT, UH, CENTRAL VIRGINIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S HUGE FOR US.
AS I MENTIONED, 80,000 BACK IN 2012 AND NOW 9.2 MILLION OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
IF YOU ARE HERE IN DISTRICT ONE, YOU PROBABLY DON'T CARE ABOUT THESE PROJECTS.
THIS IS OUR WATER MAIN IN THE, UM, I MEAN OUR WATER, SEWAGE AND WATER MAINS IN THE EAST END OF THE COUNTY.
UM, AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL PAID FOR WITH UTILITIES FUNDING.
UM, WE HAD A, A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD A MAJOR LEAK AND ONE OF THESE PIPES, AND WE'VE REPLACED THEM.
UH, THE WATER LINE UPGRADES ARE COMPLETE, THE SEWER CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE.
UM, AND WE'VE, SO WE'VE REALLY MET OUR NEEDS THERE.
AND, UM, WE STARTED REPLACING OUR GRINDER PUMPS, UH, IN THE FALL OF 2024.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON THE MASTER PLAN, UTILITIES MASTER PLAN.
I KNOW MR. LA HAS SOME QUESTIONS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT THAT.
WE HOPE TO HAVE IT, UH, COMPLETED THROUGH BY THIS SUMMER.
UH, THE CURRENT UPDATE WILL INCLUDE WATER SUPPLY ALTERNATIVES, EXPANDING SERVICES TO OILVILLE.
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ARE KIND OF OUT THERE.THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY APPROVED.
AND THEN IMPROVING OUR SYSTEM RESILIENCE.
WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF WATER LEAKS THIS YEAR, AND WHAT WE FIND IS THAT IF WE HAVE TO SHUT OFF A VALVE, WE END UP CUTTING OFF A LOT OF CUSTOMERS DOWN THE LINE.
SO WE WILL, WE LIKE TO HAVE A WAY TO WORK AROUND THOSE LEAKS SO THAT NOBODY IS WITHOUT WATER FOR VERY LONG.
UM, WE HAD, IF YOU RECALL, AND IF YOU GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AT THE END, I'LL BRING FOLKS HERE THAT ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH IT.
THERE WAS A WATER OUTAGE IN A FLOOD IN RICHMOND THAT GOT INTO THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY AND IT WAS FLOODED AND THE CITY DIDN'T REACT QUICKLY ENOUGH.
THEY EVENTUALLY WENT TO HENRICO, HENRICO KIND OF SAT ON IT FOR A LITTLE BIT 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE IMPACTED.
WE'RE PRETTY FAR AWAY FROM THE CITY, BUT WE GOT WATER FROM HENRICO.
SO WHEN HENRICO ISSUED A WATER BOIL, UM, WARNING, WE KIND OF HAD TO TAKE THE SAME ACTION.
SO, UM, I'M NOT SURE THAT IT WAS EVER AT RISK, BUT WE HAD TO TAKE ACTION.
WE DISTRIBUTED WATER TO CITIZENS, SO, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD DRINKING WATER.
AND, UH, WE STARTED THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS AS QUICKLY AS WE COULD.
UM, AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, I'LL BE GLAD TO COVER IT, BUT I KNOW IT DIDN'T IMPACT FOLKS IN THIS ROOM.
MOST FOLKS IN THIS ROOM, EXCEPT THOSE THAT LIVE IN THE EAST END OF THE COUNTY, FIREFLY BROADBAND.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE GOTTEN FIREFLY YET? ONE
SO HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR WE'LL HAVE A LOT MORE
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, UM, THIS CHART, THE BLUE AREAS ARE ALREADY IN SERVICE.
THE BEIGE, I GUESS, I'M NOT SURE, I'M NOT GOOD WITH COLORS.
THE BASE IS, UH, WHERE MAINLINE SPLICING IS HAPPENING.
IF YOU'VE DRIVEN AROUND GLAND, YOU'VE SEEN ON THE POWER POLES, YOU'VE SEEN COILS OF WIRE, AND THAT IS DOMINION HAS BEEN RUNNING THE, THE MIDDLE LINE.
AND SO THEY, THE MIDDLE MILE IS WHAT THEY CALL IT, AND THEY HAVE TO BRING IT DOWN TO THE GROUND AND CONNECT IT, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE APPROVAL FROM THE SEC FOR SOME OF THIS UNTIL RECENTLY.
SO THEY, IT'S STILL THERE ON THE POLES.
AND THEN AFTER THEY BRING IT DOWN TO THE GROUND, THEN FIREFLY OR WHATEVER SERVICE IS COMING TO THAT AREA AS FIREFLY PORT 80 AND RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC ARE DOING THE FINAL CONNECTION.
THE GREEN MEANS THAT IT'S ENGINEERING, IT'S IN THE ENGINEERING PROCESS, AND THE, THE, UH, PINK, WHATEVER THAT COLOR IS THERE IS, UH, THE, WHERE THEY'RE DOING THE, UH, DATA COLLECTION.
AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF THE SCHEDULE.
SO A LOT OF THESE FOLKS, AND THIS PROJECT WAS PAID WITH MANY DIFFERENT GRANTS.
SO YOU'LL HEAR OF THE VIDA RISE, UH, RECONNECT.
UM, AND SO IT, IT IS BEEN A CUMBERSOME THING.
WHEN I RAN FOR OFF OFFICE BACK IN 2011, I PROMISED BROADBAND AND IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT TAKES A WHILE.
UH, FIREFLY IS HAVING A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL ON MARCH 27TH AT 4:00 PM YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO FIREFLY VIRGINIA.COM TOWN HALLS AND YOU CAN SIGN UP AND YOU CAN PARTICIPATE ONLINE.
UM, THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE IN EITHER, UH, COMCAST SERVICE AREAS OR OTHER PROVIDERS AND UH, THAT WERE NOT CONNECTED BECAUSE COMCAST WOULDN'T COME PAST 500 FEET.
SO IF YOU HAD A LONG DRIVEWAY, THEY MIGHT NOT CONNECT YOU.
AND THOSE ARE, UM, GONNA BE CONNECTED FINALLY NOW, HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT, UH, UH, YEAR OR TWO NEW BUSINESSES.
UM, AND I'M GONNA ASK SARAH TO COME UP SO SHE CAN TALK SOME OF THESE THINGS, BUT A NEW MEDICAL IS A NEW MEDICAL, UM, FACILITY BY BANDITS RIDGE HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, BUT NOW THEY'RE ADDING A WINERY.
NEURO NEUROSURGICAL ASSOCIATES IS NEW HERE.
YELLOW CLUB, NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS.
UH, PA UH, PICKLEBALL AND TENNIS.
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UH, YOU CAN JOIN THEM.THE RICHMOND GASTROENTEROLOGY, I'VE BEEN HAVING, UH, SOME HEARTBURN PROBLEMS. I'M GOING TO SEE THEM ACTUALLY FRIDAY MORNING
SO SOME OF THESE THINGS HURT ME, SOME HELP ME, BUT, UM, MAYBE THEY CAN COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR ME.
AND THEN YOUTHFUL BEGINNINGS, UM, WHAT'S YOUTHFUL BEGINNINGS? SARAH, UH, S TEST.
SO BOTOX AND OH, VACCINE AND ALL THAT STUFF.
MAYBE I'LL SIGN UP WITH THEM TOO.
IN THE BEACHLAND COURTHOUSE AREA.
I MAY HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR THAT BEFORE THE GASTRO STUFF.
WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT, HOW YOU LOOK OR HOW YOU FEEL.
ALRIGHT, SO THEN SOME OF THE NEW THINGS, SARAH, YOU WANT, YOU WANNA COME OVER HERE? THE MICROPHONE WON REACH AND I'LL LET YOU TALK.
YEAH, SO FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, I
AND, UM, JUST TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THAT I DO HELPS OUR TAX REVENUES STAY IN
MY JOB IS TO RECRUIT COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT INTO THE COUNTY, WHICH DOES HELP EXPAND, UH, OUR TAX BASE, UH, BY PROVIDING MACHINERY, TOOLS, TAXES, BUSINESS, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, AND THEN COMMERCIAL VALUES ALREADY HIRED RESIDENTIAL.
SO, UM, IN GETTING INTO SOME OF THIS, SO WE HAVE SOME NEW INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS THAT ARE GOING ON ON ASHLAND ROAD.
IT'S 335,000 SQUARE FEET OF, UM, SPECULATIVE INDUSTRIAL SPACE ON ASHTON ROAD.
THEY ARE LEASING AND FOR SALES STARTING NOW AND SHOULD BE FULLY BUILT NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, PROJECT ROCKY.
UM, EVERYONE HAS HEARD OF THIS AT THIS POINT.
IT IS A MULTI-STORY E-COMMERCE FACILITY.
IT'S GONNA BE OPERATIONAL IN 2026.
UM, THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHICH PROMPTED THE ACCELERATED DIVERGENT DIAMOND.
UH, SO THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW.
AND THEN, UH, I 64 INDUSTRIAL PARK.
NOW THIS IS AT THE LOWVILLE INTERCHANGE.
THIS IS A 14 LOT SMALL INDUSTRIAL PARK.
IT STRADDLES THE GOLAND HANOVER LINE, SO THERE'S NINE LOTS IN GOLAND AND FIVE LOTS IN HANOVER COUNTY.
UM, AND THIS IS, UH, THE, THE LOTS WERE ANYWHERE BETWEEN FOUR TO EIGHT ACRES.
SO THESE ARE REALLY, UH, FOLKS THAT, UM, WANNA DO AN OFFICE WAREHOUSE THAT NEEDS A LAID OUT YARD.
AND THEN, UM, WE ALSO HAVE ITIES COMING IN MIDPOINT INDUSTRIAL PARK.
SINCE, UH, BROADBAND HAS BECOME AVAILABLE AT MIDPOINT, WE'VE REALLY SEEN A LOT OF, UH, MORE INTEREST DOWN IN THAT AREA.
SO THESE ARE TWO NEW BUILDINGS, UH, FOR SALE OF LEASE AND MIDPOINT.
AND THESE ARE GEARED TOWARDS, UM, SMALL BUSINESSES THAT NEED ALL THIS WAREHOUSES SPACE.
UH, AND THEN HG NEEDS, UH, THIS IS A, UH, MEAT PROCESSING FACILITY.
IT'S A VERY UNIQUE KIND OF AGRICULTURAL BASED FACILITY THAT IS COMING IN OFF OF HAYDENVILLE.
AND SO NOW OUR LOCAL FARMERS CAN HAVE A PLACE TO TAKE THEIR, UM, CATTLE AND HAVE A PROCESSED PACKAGED AND THEN THEY CAN PICK UP THE HEAT PER SALE.
PREVIOUS TO THIS, OUR LOCAL FARMERS WERE HAVING TO DRIVE AS MUCH AS TWO TO FOUR HOURS AWAY TO GET THEIR, UH, PRODUCT PROCESSED.
YES, MR. MISTY, IS THERE ANY TIMELINE ON THE ONE BEING OPERATIONAL? YES, THEY ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW, BUT GOING BE OPERATIONAL BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND, UH, SO THE CAPITAL WEST CENTER OVER THE LAST, I'M SORRY, WAS THERE ANOTHER QUESTION? YES, MA'AM.
THE NEW INDUSTRIAL BUILDING, THE AL UM, THESE ARE JUST SITES THAT THEY'RE GONNA, UM, SELL AND RENT, IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, THOSE ARE, UM, SPEC BUILDINGS OR
SO, UH, THERE'S A DEVELOPER WHO BUILDS 'EM AND THEN HE WILL EITHER LEASE THEM OUT INDIVIDUALLY OR HE WILL SELL THE ENTIRE BUILDING TO A A USER.
I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT BEFORE GLAND BROUGHT IN A DATA CENTER, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELL IN FOR THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION.
IT WOULD NOT BE A DATA CENTER.
UH, DATA CENTERS REQUIRE ADJACENCY TO TRANSMISSION LINES, AND THIS ONE'S A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR AWAY.
UH, SO FOR THIS PARTICULAR LOAN WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED THE DATA CENTER.
[00:30:01]
AND, UH, THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT HERE, YOU'LL SEE FROM 2017 TO 2024.THE REASON WHY WE HAVE THE LARGE JUMP IN 2021 WAS A LOT OF DEMAND FROM COVID 2020 WHEN 2021 HIT MARKET, KIND OF LET LOOSE A LITTLE BIT AND WERE ABLE TO SEE A LOT OF INVESTMENT.
A LOT OF THAT CAME FROM AVERY POINT AND THE COLLECTIVE APARTMENTS DR.
ISSUED IN 2025, YOU YOU MEAN? IT WASN'T THAT I WAS HERE, IT WAS
YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS? SURE.
SO GOING, UM, THE OTHER HALF THAT I AWARE IS I, UH, DIRECTOR FOR TOURISM AS WELL.
AND SO, UM, WE'VE HEARD MADE A PUSH RECENTLY TO GET, UH, VISITORS TO COME, UM, MUTUAL CITIZENS AND VISITORS OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY TO COME AND VISIT, UM, THE LOCATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN GLAND COUNTY, WE HAVE A GLANDS GUIDE, FOOD BEVERAGE AND FUN IS A, IF YOU SCAN A QR CODE, YOU'LL BRING UP A WEBSITE.
IT HAS A FULL LISTING OF ALL OF THE TOURISM ACTIVITIES.
SO YOU'VE GOT RESTAURANTS, YOU HAVE CRACK BEVERAGE MAKERS, YOU HAVE HISTORIC THINGS, YOU HAVE PARKS, YOU HAVE RIVER ACCESSES.
UM, JUST TO KIND OF KEEP IN MIND THAT THE FUN YOU DO, HUGE FUND.
UM, IN ADDITION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HUGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, WE HAVE WHAT IS KNOWN AS OUR OPEN REWARDS PROGRAM.
SO YOU CAN SIGN UP, SHOP AT CERTAIN LOCAL BUSINESSES HERE, INLAND COUNTY AND RECEIVE 5% BACK TO GO TO ANOTHER LOCAL BUSINESS.
SO WE JUST KIND OF, UM, IT, YOU KNOW, IT INCENTIVIZES FOLKS TO SHOP LOCAL.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE, UM, OUR
AND WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS LINED UP.
UM, THE BOARD WILL BE ADOPTING A BUSINESS RESOLUTION AT THEIR MEETING ON MAY 6TH, AND THEN THE BUSINESS APPRECIATION EVENT BE HELD AT MAY 8TH AT SPIRIT ROOMING.
AND THEN MAY 16TH, THE MUTUAL BUSINESS CENTER IS GONNA HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, EVERYBODY KNOWS ABOUT GLAND DAY.
IT'S A, AN EFFORT FROM THE GLAND DAY FOUNDATION THIS YEAR.
THE CONCERT WILL BE ON FRIDAY, MAY 16TH FROM FIVE TO 10:00 PM SATURDAY, AND PARADE STARTING AT 10:00 AM THERE'S STILL ROOM IF YOU WANNA SIGN UP WITH A FLOAT OR TO MARCH IN THE PARADE.
UM, PARKS AND RECREATION HAS BEEN WORKING ON A MASTER PLAN.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU, UH, PARTICIPATED IN, IN THE MEETINGS, HELP OUR, OUR PARKS AND REC, UH, DIRECTOR AND IF NOT YOU, YOU MIGHT GET A SURVEY WHERE YOU CAN, UM, RESPOND ON WHAT THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UH, FROM PARKS AND RECREATION IN THE COMING YEARS THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EVENTS, UH, AT TUCKER PARK.
WELL, STARTING WITH, UH, APRIL 19TH ON EASTER EGG HUNT, UM, THEN A NIGHT AT TUCKER.
WE HAVE SEVERAL CONCERTS IN APRIL, THE SLATE RIVER BAND IN MAY, EXIT 38.
AND, UH, JUNE PERMANENT VACATION, THAT'S WHERE I'LL BE BY THEN, PROBABLY
AND OUR, UH, DIRECTOR OF PARKS, TOM CO IS HERE.
IF YOU WANT TO ASK HIM ANY QUESTIONS OR MAKE SUGGESTIONS AT THE END OF THE MEETING, UM, HE'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM.
WE USUALLY DO A DOCUMENT SHREDDING AND HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION.
AND THIS YEAR WE'LL BE DOING IT ON JUNE 7TH AT THE GLAND, UH, FAIRGROUND PROPERTY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW WHERE THAT IS BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A FAIRGROUND BUILDING THERE FOR, FOR YEARS, BUT IT'S RIGHT BY THE FOOD LION, UH, SHOPPING CENTER AT, UM, 5 22 IN FAIRGROUNDS ROAD.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT YOU CAN BRING, HOW YOU CAN SERVE.
AND MICHELLE HERE HAS BEEN WORKING A LOT WITH GLE OVER THE YEARS.
UH, YOU CAN PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO US.
YOU CAN SUBMIT INTEREST IN SERVING AS A BOARD APPOINTEE TO A BOARD OR COMMISSION.
YOU CAN VOLUNTEER AT MANY DEPARTMENTS OF INTEREST.
YOU CAN SERVE ON A NON-PROFIT BOARD, COME TO TOWN HALL MEETINGS AND BOARD MEETINGS.
UM, WE OFFER A LOT OF PROGRAMS PARTICIPATE IF YOU CAN DONATE TIME, EXPERTISE, AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES, NOT TO THE COUNTY, BUT SOME OF THE LOCAL, UH, CHARITIES VOTE.
[00:35:01]
AND OF COURSE, IF YOU ARE SO INCLINED RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, UM, HOW YOU CAN SERVE.AGAIN, THERE ARE, THERE ARE THREE BOARDS THAT NEED, NEED, UH, PEOPLE NOW.
ONE IS A BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
THE, UH, LOCAL BOARD OF BUILDING CODE APPEALS, THE SIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE.
YOU'LL FIND ALL OF THESE ON OUR COUNTY WEBSITE.
AND THERE'S AN UPCOMING VACANCY IN THE GLAND POWER MUNICIPAL SERVICES BOARD.
AGAIN, IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, YOU CAN FIND IT.
THE SHERIFF NOW HAS AN APP THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DOWNLOAD AND YOU'LL GET NOTICE IS WHEN A ROAD IS CLOSED OR WHEN SOMETHING, UM, CRITICAL IS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTY, GOOSE UNDER A GLANCE, YOU CAN SIGN UP YOUR EMAIL AND YOU'LL GET NOTICES WEEKLY OR MONTHLY.
AND, UM, AND AGAIN, YOU CAN DO THAT ALSO THROUGH THE, UH, COUNTY WEBSITE.
UM, HERE'S A BARCODE AND THERE'LL BE IN THE HANDOUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP FOR THE SHERIFF'S APP.
IT'S, IT'S REALLY A, REALLY A GOOD APP CODE RED.
IF YOU SIGN UP FOR CODE RED, YOU'LL, YOU'LL GET NOTIFICATIONS ON ANY EMERGENCY, UH, SITUATIONS IN THE COUNTY.
SO, UM, I HOPE YOU DO THAT AND, UM, STAY INFORMED.
WE HAD SEVERAL OF THOSE RECENTLY WITH, WITH THE WINTER STORMS. AND HERE'S AN UPDATE.
UM, THIS IS COMPANY EIGHT FIRE STATION, WHICH IS ON SANDY HOOK, UH, ROAD AND WHITEHALL ROAD.
IT'S COMING, IT'S GOING FOR BID THIS FALL.
UM, I LOVE THE LOOK OF THE BUILDING.
THAT'S STILL A PRELIMINARY PLAN, BUT, UH, WE HOPE TO, UM, UH, WE HOPE FOR IT TO OPEN SOON.
IT'S LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY HOUSE.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO BE THERE.
UM, GLAND COUNTY, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU WENT TO THE GRAND OPENING FOR THE TRAINING CENTER, BUT WE HAVE A NEW FIRE BUILDING AND, UH, THE, THE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR EXCELLENCE IN VIRGINIA FIRE SERVICES, UH, FOR THAT STRUCTURE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, I'M SURE IF YOU CALL THE THE CHIEF, YOU CAN, UM, GET A TOUR AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY NOW COMPARED TO THE WAY IT WAS GLAND ANIMAL CARE IS DOING, STILL DOING A GREAT JOB SAVING ANIMALS.
UM, THEY, UH, THIS PAST YEAR THEY HAD 574 ADOPTIONS AND THE LIFE EXIT RATE, THAT'S THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT COME IN AND LEAVE THE SHELTER ALIVE, IS 96.6%.
AND WE, WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CALLS THAT THEY GET, THAT IS REALLY GRADED.
LAST YEAR THEY SERVED 2300 AND, UH, 69 CALLS FOR SERVICE AND HERE'S SOME OF THE ANIMALS THERE.
VINCENT VAN GATO IS, IT'S A CAT THAT'S THERE WAITING FOR, AND THE CUTTLEFISH IS A 2-YEAR-OLD FEMALE.
I SAW HER LAST WEEK WHEN I TOURED THE FACILITY AND SHE ALMOST WENT HOME WITH ME, BUT I CAN DO THAT AT THE MOMENT.
THE ADOPTION HOURS ARE POSTED THERE, 10 TO 4:00 PM TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
WE STREAM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETINGS FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
AND THE, UH, TIMES ARE SET AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
THEY SOMETIMES CHANGE FROM THREE TO TWO AND AND FROM SIX TO SEVEN DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH IS ON THE AGENDA.
KUMAR, IF YOU'LL COME UP, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS PLEASE HOLD YOUR QUESTIONS TILL THE END.
UH, AND WE'LL BE AROUND TO ANSWER THEM.
I NEED, LET ME PARDON THIS MOUTH.
YOU CAN, IT'S GONNA BE ON MY POCKET.
I'M THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO BE IN REGION ONE.
I'M GONNA USE MY TEACHER VOICE AND STAY AWAY FROM THAT THING IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH Y'ALL STREAMING, RIGHT? THIS, I THOUGHT THIS ONE WAS HER STREAMING.
GENTLEMEN, CAN YOU HEAR ME IN THE BACK? ALRIGHT THEN WE'RE GOOD.
THE BUDGETING PROCESS STARTS FOR
[00:40:01]
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OCTOBER.WE BRING IN ALL OF OUR BUDGET MANAGERS TO INCLUDE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO OUTLINE WHAT THEY PERCEIVE THEIR NEEDS TO BE FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL.
JUST BEFORE WE LEFT FOR WINTER BREAK, WE HAD A JOINT MEETING WITH THE SUPERVISORS.
IT WAS THE EARLIEST WE'VE EVER HAD IT IN THIS COUNTY AND REALLY SET US UP TO HAVE SOME PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
WE CAME BACK, WE HAD WEEKLY WORKSHOPS WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THOSE WERE PUBLIC AND VERY TELEVISED AND THOSE HAPPENED, I THINK WE HAD FOUR OF THOSE BEFORE I ACTUALLY PRESENTED THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND ULTIMATELY GOT THAT BUDGET PASSED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD ON THE 25TH OF FEBRUARY.
PRESENTED IT EARLIER THIS MONTH TO THE SUPERVISORS.
TONIGHT, I'LL GIVE YOU SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT.
I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T REINTRODUCE THE SCHOOL DIVISION.
WE ARE BUILT ON OUR CORE VALUES OF EXCELLENCE, CREATIVITY, COURAGE, HONOR, AND OPTIMISM.
THOSE CORE VALUES GUIDE EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
OUR CORE GOALS ARE TO MAXIMIZE EACH STUDENT'S ACADEMIC POTENTIAL, TO MAXIMIZE RESOURCES FOR INSTRUCTION, AND TO CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVE THE OVERALL CLIMATE OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
OUR VISION IS SIMPLE TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT.
AND SUPPORTING THAT VISION IS OUR MISSION OF MAXIMIZING THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY LEARNER.
PERSONALLY, I'M GUIDED BY ONE THING AS A COMPASS AND THAT'S THAT DECISIONS ARE MADE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS.
I WANNA SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A LONGITUDINAL LOOK AT OUR ENROLLMENT OVER TIME AT EACH OF THE SCHOOLS.
WE'VE GOT RANDOLPH HERE ON YOUR FAR LEFT, GOOCHLAND ELEMENTARY AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT SPIKE BIRD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HERE, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEN THE HIGH SCHOOL.
NATURALLY WE'VE REALIZED A SPIKE IN ENROLLMENT AT GLAND ELEMENTARY THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'VE OPENED A NEW FACILITY WITH A LARGER CAPACITY FOR STUDENTS AND WE'VE PULLED STUDENTS FROM EITHER END OF THE COUNTY TO SORT OF FILL THAT PROCESS OUT THROUGH REDISTRICTING.
SO AT THE TIME THAT WE RAN THESE NUMBERS, THERE WERE 509 STUDENTS AT GUC AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TODAY.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE OVER 520 STUDENTS AT THAT SCHOOL.
THESE NUMBERS INDICATE OUR ENROLLMENT ON SEPTEMBER THE 30TH.
THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT ENROLLMENT DATES IN SCHOOL, BUDGETING AND FINANCE, AT LEAST AS IT PERTAINS TO THE STATE.
ONE OF THOSE DATES IS SEPTEMBER THE 30TH.
THIS IS THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WE HAVE IN OUR CLASSROOMS ON THE LAST DAY OF SEPTEMBER.
THE MORE IMPORTANT NUMBER IS A NUMBER ON WHICH WE BASE OUR AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP.
AND THAT NUMBER IS CALCULATED ON THE LAST BUSINESS DAY OF MARCH.
SO THAT NUMBER GOES IN ON MONDAY TO THE STATE.
THAT NUMBER'S A LITTLE MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S THE NUMBER ON WHICH WE'RE REIMBURSED FOR ENROLLMENT.
OUR SEPTEMBER 30TH ENROLLMENT WAS 2,643 PUPILS.
I WANNA TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SUCCESSES OF OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
WE ARE AN APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL DIVISION.
WE'RE ONE OF 18 IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
SOME MAY WONDER, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE AN APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL DIVISION? DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU CONTRACT AND BUY A LOT OF APPLE PRODUCTS? NO, THAT'S NOT HOW YOU GET THIS.
THIS CANNOT BE BOUGHT IF IT COULD BE.
I GUARANTEE YOU THERE'D BE MORE THAN 18 IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
WE ARE AN APPLE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL DIVISION BECAUSE OF OUR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL INSTRUCTION.
WE ARE A LEADER IN THE REGION AND THE STATE WITH WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO WITH KIDS THROUGH THE UTILIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY.
SO MUCH SO THAT LAST FALL, WE WELCOMED EIGHT OTHER SCHOOL DIVISIONS FROM ACROSS THE STATE HERE TO SPEND A DAY IN GLAND TO WALK ALONG AND SEE WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ALONG THE LINES OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN OUR CLASSROOMS. FOR SEVEN YEARS RUNNING GLAND COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS EARNED THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE BEST IN THE METRO RICHMOND AREA.
THAT'S SOMETHING FOR WHICH WE SHOULD BE PROUD.
AND WE RANKED 12TH OUT OF 130 SCHOOL DIVISIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
THAT IS THE HIGHEST SINGLE YEAR RANKING THAT WE'VE HAD FOR OUR SCHOOL DIVISION.
WE'RE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS DIVISION.
AND ANY FRIDAY DURING THE SPRING, MOST FRIDAYS DURING THE SPRING, YOU CAN WITNESS A UNIFIED EVENT.
EITHER OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS PLAYING COMPETITIVE BASKETBALL OR LAST WEEK WE HAD A KICKBALL GAME THAT ENDED UP BEING POSTPONED AT THE HIGH SCHOOL TO SHOW THAT WE'RE GOOD FISCAL STEWARDS OF UH, PUBLIC RESOURCES.
FOR SEVERAL YEARS RUNNING, WE RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD.
THIS IS AN AWARD GIVEN BY THE GOVERNOR'S FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AND GOLIN IS ONE OF 10 SCHOOL DIVISIONS IN THE ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH THAT HAS HAD ALL OF ITS SCHOOLS ACCREDITED FOR OVER A DECADE RUNNING.
[00:45:03]
THE PROOF ARE IN OUR RESULTS.THESE NUMBERS INDICATE LAST YEAR'S PASS RATES.
SO THEY WOULD BE THE YIELDS FROM LAST SPRING'S TEST CYCLE CYCLE.
IN READING IN ENGLISH, WE HAD AN 82% YIELD, WHICH RATE US FIRST IN THE REGION OUT OF THE 10 SCHOOL DIVISIONS IN THE METRO RICHMOND AREA AND 14TH IN THE STATE.
HIGH DISTINCTION IN MATHEMATICS, WE HAD 83% PROFICIENCY RANKING A SECOND IN THE REGION AND EIGHTH IN THE ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
CONVERSELY, WE'RE RATED 72ND IN PER PUPIL FUNDING OUR ON TIME GRADUATION RATE, 98% ALMOST UNHEARD OF 98%.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE HAVE A 2% DROPOUT RATE.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS 2% OF OUR CHILDREN TAKE LONGER THAN THE ALLOCATED FOUR YEARS TO EARN A HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL.
THEY MAY NEED A SUMMER, THEY MAY NEED A SEMESTER, BUT WE GET 'EM ACROSS THE GOAL LINE.
BUT THE NUMBER THAT COUNTS FOR ON TIME IS 98 OUT OF EVERY 100.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE, WE'VE HAD A TREND OF SUCCESS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A BUDGET, THAT BUDGET SHOULD BE BASED ON NEEDS.
AND WE'VE GOT THREE BASIC STRATEGIC GOALS.
ONE IS INSTRUCTION AND LIFELONG LEARNING TO MAXIMIZE EACH STUDENT'S POTENTIAL AND PREPARATION FOR A SUCCESSFUL LIFE.
AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED $95,424 OF NEW EXPENDITURES UNDER GOAL ONE BECAUSE WE'VE PRESENTED THIS NOW I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY 200TH TIME AND A LOT OF YOUR FACES ARE FAMILIAR.
THIS IS A VERY PUBLIC AND FRONT FACING PRESENTATION, BUT $95,424 IN NEW INVESTMENTS UNDER GOAL ONE.
GOAL TWO, INCLUSIVE AND ENGAGING CULTURE TO CREATE AN ENGAGING AND RESPONSIVE EXPERIENCE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS INFORMED, INCLUDED, VALUED AND EMPOWERED.
THIS IS WHERE WE TAKE UP OUR 3% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, WHICH MR. ALVAREZ ALLUDED TO EARLIER.
THAT NUMBER MATCHES THE COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR ALL OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
WHEN YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THE 3% SALARY INCREASE FOR ALL STAFF, MINUS FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO US ANTICIPATED RETIREMENTS, WE GET A TOTAL INVESTMENT UNDER GOAL TWO, NEW INVESTMENT OF $713,534.
AND THEN THERE'S GOAL THREE, THE CARE THAT WE PUT INTO OUR FACILITIES, RESOURCES AND TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE AND SUPPORT THE INSTRUCTIONAL AND LEARNING NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF.
WE'VE GOT SOME, UH, CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE STRATEGICALLY TAKEN FROM THE CIP ENROLLED INTO THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET.
THOSE DOLLARS ARE REPRESENTED HERE FOR TOTAL EXPENDITURES UNDER GOAL THREE.
WE TAKE ON A PROCESS THAT WE REFER TO AS STRATEGIC ABANDONMENT.
THIS IS WHERE WE REALLY TAKE A GOOD FISCAL SELF-ASSESSMENT AND WE MAKE A DETERMINATION OF THOSE INITIATIVES, SUBSCRIPTIONS, THINGS OF THAT SORT THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET ALONG WITHOUT THIS YEAR.
WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY $662,558 IN SUCH ABANDONMENT INITIATIVES.
THEY COME THROUGH A REDUCTION IN TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTION AND REPAIR COSTS TO THE TUNE OF A LITTLE OVER $61,000 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
WE'VE REDUCED OVERHEAD FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS.
SOME OF OUR PRINTING YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED WITH THE FALL REPORT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FALL REPORT.
IT WAS A LITTLE DELAYED COMING OUT A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THAT IS NOW IN A DIGITAL FORMAT WHERE FOLKS CAN SCAN A QR CODE AND FLIP BOOK THAT WE'RE SAVING DOLLARS ON PRINTING FULL COLOR BOOKLETS LIKE WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
NOT TO MENTION THE MONEY THAT WE SAVE FOR POSTAGE MAINTENANCE LEASE GROUNDS CONTRACT A LITTLE OVER $25,000.
YOU ALL SEE THE NUMBERS THERE IN FRONT.
THESE NUMBERS ALSO INCLUDE MONIES THAT WE'VE LOST DUE TO FEDERAL GRANTS THAT WERE COVID ERA FEDERAL GRANTS THAT HAVE MET THEIR EXPIRATION.
WELL, WHY DO YOU INCLUDE THEM IN ABANDONMENT WHEN THE DOLLARS RAN OUT? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION THAT ONE MAY BE ASKING HIM OR HER HERSELF.
THE REALITY IS THE DOLLARS MIGHT HAVE RUN OUT, BUT THE THINGS THAT WE INVESTED THE MONEY FOR STILL ENDURE.
AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE STILL VERY MUCH NEEDS THAT WE'VE GOTTA COVER.
SO HERE'S THE SUMMARY OF OUR TOTAL INVESTMENT
[00:50:01]
GOAL.ONE, LIFELONG LEARNING A 0.5 FTE.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE NUMBERS.
THE TOTAL NEW INVESTMENTS REPRESENT $892,981.
I LEARNED OVER THE WEEKEND LATE THAT THERE MAY BE ADDIT AN ADDITIONAL 300, A LITTLE BIT OVER $300,000 ALLOCATED TO THE SCHOOLS.
THESE NUMBERS DO NOT REPRESENT THAT TOTAL.
YOU'LL NOTE THAT, UH, MR. ALVAREZ'S NUMBER WAS 1.8.
I'M GONNA BE TALKING MORE ALONG THE CONTEXT OF ABOUT 1.385.
THAT'S NOT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FLEECE OR MISLEAD YOU, IT'S JUST THAT THE INFORMATION'S EVOLVING AND COMING IN CONSTANTLY.
SO THIS IS HOW WE CATEGORIZE OUR SPENDING.
OVER 77% OF THE DOLLARS THAT I TALKED ABOUT GO DIRECTLY TO INSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY AND SUPPORT INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS AND ADDITIONAL 7% TECHNOLOGY, 9% OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, 7% TRANSPORTATION, AND A LITTLE OVER 6% FOR ADMINISTRATION AND HEALTH.
THE REMAINING 71.1% INSTRUCTION, WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR INVESTMENTS BY TYPE OF EXPENSE, 84% OF ALL OF OUR DOLLARS GO DIRECTLY TO SALARY AND BENEFITS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
84% OF THE ENTIRETY OF OUR BUDGET IS WHAT'S REQUIRED TO PAY THE PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
A LITTLE UNDER 8% IS FOR SUPPLIES AND TEXTBOOKS, 4% FOR MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES, AND UH, ABOUT 3% FOR CAPITAL OUTLAY.
SO WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR FUNDING SOURCES, WE BUDGETED BASED ON A PROJECTED A DM OF 25 20.
NOW YOU'LL NOTE THAT OUR SEPTEMBER 30 COUNT WAS 26 43.
YOU DO THAT ON PURPOSE, WE DO THAT ON PURPOSE.
THE LAST PLACE THAT I WANT TO BE AS A SUPERINTENDENT IS TO OVER PROJECT ENROLLMENT AND END UP IN A PLACE WHERE WE CAN'T BE MADE WHOLE AT THE END OF MARCH BECAUSE WE'VE OVER PROJECTED AND OUR ACTUAL DOLLARS THAT WE GET FROM THE STATE DON'T CONVEY.
SO WE BUDGETED FOR 25 20 A VERY CONSERVATIVE NUMBER.
WE ALSO BUDGET OUR STATE SALES TAX AT 97.5% TO GIVE US THAT EXTRA 2.5% FLUCTUATION IN THE EVENT THAT THINGS COME IN DIFFERENTLY THAN WE HAD HOPED.
SO THE WAY IT ALL SHAKES OUT, THIS IS, UH, FISCAL YEAR 25 APPROPRIATED DOLLARS FOR AN A DM OF 24 80.
THIS IS FISCAL YEAR 26 PROPOSED DOLLARS.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING A SLIGHT GROWTH OF NEARLY 6% IN STATE SALES TAX.
ALL OTHER STATE AID SLIGHT REDUCTION, MORE INFORMATION CAME OUT TODAY.
THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE AT NOON WHERE THINGS WERE OUTLAID, THAT NUMBER COULD CHANGE.
BUT BASED ON THE NUMBERS THAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A 0.2% REDUCTION IN ALL OF THE STATE AID AND ABOUT AN 11% REDUCTION IN FEDERAL AID.
SO THIS IS A GRAPH THAT SHOWS YOU OUR OPERATING REVENUE BUDGET.
WE'RE RECEIVING 31,129, I'M SORRY, $31,129,844 IN COUNTY TRANSFER, GIVE OR TAKE $300,000 OR SO, ABOUT $6.5 MILLION IN STATE GRANTS, ABOUT $4.3 MILLION IN SALES TAX REVENUE.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT SOME, UH, OTHER HERE THAT'S REPRESENTED AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT THAT.
OTHER, THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 1.3%.
WE HAVE SOME FAMILIES WHO PAY TO HAVE THEIR CHILDREN COME TO SCHOOL IN GLAND.
THEY DON'T LIVE HERE, THEY DON'T PAY TAXES HERE, BUT THEY PAY TUITION FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO COME TO SCHOOL WITH US IN ADDITION TO THOSE FAMILIES.
AND THERE ARE NOT MANY AND WE'RE WORKING TO BRING THAT NUMBER DOWN.
WE'VE RAISED TUITION OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
AND WE'RE NOT ACCEPTING STUDENTS WHO, WHOSE PARENTS DON'T PAY TAXES IN GLAND.
WE ALSO BRING IN REVENUE FROM FACILITIES RENTALS.
IF OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS WANT TO USE THE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, WE RENT THAT TO THEM.
SO THAT'S ACCOUNTS FOR THE 1.3% THERE FOR OTHER LOCAL DOLLARS.
AND THIS IS WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS WHEN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NEW INVESTMENT MATCHES THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
WHAT I'VE REPRESENTED TONIGHT INDICATES A BALANCE BUDGET BASED ON THE DOLLARS
[00:55:01]
AS THEY WERE ON FRIDAY.WE'LL DO AN AMENDMENT SHOULD, UH, THOSE OTHER DOLLARS THAT I'VE MENTIONED COME AVAILABLE TO US.
AND THAT IS SCHOOL FINANCE 1 0 1.
SO I WILL GIVE YOU A POP QUIZ, NOT SOMETHING THAT I'VE SAID TONIGHT, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE SAID IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
SO IN ORDER TO KNOW THIS, YOU HAD TO HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
WHAT'S THE LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEX OF GLAND COUNTY? YES MA'AM.
WHAT'S THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEX? ONE COUNTY CAN HAVE 0.8.
THAT MEANS AS THE COUNTY DETERMINES US, WE HAVE A HIGH ABILITY TO PAY FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AMONG OTHER THINGS.
AND THAT NUMBER RATE BASICALLY IS 80%.
THE STATE SEES THE LOCAL ABILITY TO FINANCE ITS SCHOOLS AND OTHER ENTITIES TO BE 80% OF THE OVERALL COST OF THOSE ENTITIES.
UM, THERE ARE SCHOOL DIVISIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA THAT HAVE LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEXES THAT ARE AS LOW AS 0.2 7.24.
SO CONVERSELY, THE STATE WOULD FIND ITSELF OBLIGATED TO PICK UP THE TAB FOR 76% WHILE THE LOW CAL WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR THE 24% IN THOSE AREAS.
SO GOLAND IS DEEMED TO BE A COUNTY OF IMMENSE WEALTH AND THAT'S HOW WE END UP WITH THE FORMULA THAT WE HAVE.
I OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE, UM, ALL IN VIRGINIA DOLLARS LAST YEAR THAT WERE GRANTED TO SCHOOL DIVISIONS TO HELP KIDS WHO HAVE DEFICITS THROUGH HIGH INTENSITY TUTORING PROGRAMS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
WHEN IT ALL SHOOK OUT, GLAND'S PORTION OF THAT MONEY WAS $264,000.
A COUNTY THAT BORDERS US TO THE EAST GOT $17 MILLION OF THAT SAME ALLOCATED POT OF RESOURCES.
I SAY THAT NOT TO SHUN THE COUNTY THAT LIES TO OUR EAST, BUT TO SHOW YOU THE PERCEIVED INEQUITIES AND HOW A HIGH LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEX VARIES FROM A PLACE THAT HAS A CONSIDERABLY LOWER LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEX THAT'S EITHER REMINDING ME TO SHUT UP OR TAKE MY MEDICINE
ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS FOR ME.
I MAY HAVE, I MAY HAVE KILLED IT.
I THINK HE SAID IT WAS JUST THAT THERE QUESTIONS? YEAH.
AH, SO, UH, WE HAVE SOME SHEETS IN THE BACK.
UM, AND YOU CAN TAKE A SURVEY ABOUT THE TOWN HALL MEETING.
UH, YOU JUST SCAN THE CODE AND IT'LL TAKE YOU TO, TO A RECOGNIZED SURVEY THAT OUR, UH, STAFF PUT TOGETHER.
UM, SO NOW ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNTY OR THE SCHOOLS IS STILL HERE.
MR. KAUFMAN, THE COUNTY HAS A SURPLUS CASH FUND, CORRECT? YES.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT TO THE FOLKS IN HERE AND WHAT IT'S USED FOR? YEAH, SO WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED BACK IN 2011, WE HAD A MAJOR ISSUE WITH DEBT, UH, THAT WE COULDN'T PAY.
AND SO THAT BOARD THAT I WAS WITH FOR EIGHT YEARS WAS VERY CONSERVATIVE.
SO WHAT WE DID, WE HAD TO FIRST FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEN WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS IS WE'VE USED A PAY AS WE GO KIND OF METHOD PAY AS WE BUILD IT.
SO WHAT WE DO IS, UH, WITH ANY SURPLUSES THAT WE HAVE, WE APPLY THEM TO THE NEXT YEAR'S CIP.
UH, WE RECENTLY LOWERED THE, THE, UH, SURPLUS, UM,
WE ARE STILL, I THINK THIS YEAR WE'RE A LITTLE, WE'RE GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT OVER 35.
UH, BUT WHAT WE WILL DO IF, UH, AND I DON'T THINK, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE TOO LATE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION THIS YEAR, BUT WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL SET THAT MONEY FOR EITHER PROJECTS THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR.
FOR SOME REASON THERE HASN'T BEEN, WE HAD A-A-C-I-P OR A MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO TALK ABOUT BUDGETS, BUT WE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A CIP WORK SESSION WI WITHIN THE COUNTY.
[01:00:01]
SO WE'RE GONNA DO THAT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO.AND WE'RE GONNA TALK BECAUSE WE HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE STATION COMPANY EIGHT.
WE HAD ISSUED BONDS FOR THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE BUILT.
WE HAD ISSUED THE BONDS ORIGINALLY THINKING COMPANY SEVEN, BUT THAT WAS PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA BUILD COMPANY EIGHT.
WE STILL HAVE TO BUILD COMPANY SEVEN.
WE HAVE A LOT OF UTILITIES NEEDS, FIRE AND RESCUE NEEDS.
AND SO WE ARE, UM, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF THERE'S OTHER FUNDING METHODS WE CAN USE RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE LIKED THAT APPROACH BECAUSE WE DON'T PUT ANY DEBT ON OUR KIDS.
UM, AND WE, WE INHERITED A LOT OF DEBT.
SO WE ARE, WE'RE HOPING NOW THAT MAYBE BY 2031 WE CAN ELIMINATE THE AT VALIUM TAX.
SO, UH, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS EXPECTED TO BE TILL 2040, BUT BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA AND SO ON, IT'S, IT'S, UH, GOTTEN BETTER.
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS, UM, HAVING A SURPLUS.
WE DIDN'T REALLY, WE DON'T REALLY PLAN IT, BUT WE KNOW WE, WE ESTIMATE OUR GROWTH AT A LOW LEVEL THIS YEAR.
COULD WE GO HIGHER? YES, WE COULD.
UH, BUT UM, I PREFER TO STAY CONSERVATIVE AND THEN IF WE GET A WINDFALL, WE'VE NEVER WASTED IT.
WE'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR WHAT WE, WHAT WE'RE SPENDING IT ON THIS, UH, COMPANY SIX FIRE STATION OUT HERE IN HAYDENVILLE.
WE PAID WITH CASH FROM MULTIPLE YEARS OF, UH, SURPLUSES.
SO HOW MUCH IS IN THE FUND RIGHT NOW? HOW MUCH IS IN THE FUND RIGHT NOW, CARLA? WELL, DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT FUND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE, WE HAVE ALLOCATED, ALLOCATED MONEY AND WE HAVE SOME UNALLOCATED MONEY IS LESS THAN 35% OF OUR, OF OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.
SO IN THE SUR THE ENTIRE SURPLUS CASH FUND, IF THE GENERAL FUND IS A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S ONLY $35 MILLION IN IT, CARLA? YEAH, RIGHT NOW THERE'S ABOUT $60 MILLION SITTING IN OUR TOTAL FUND BALANCE.
SO IT'S WELL ABOVE OUR 35% TARGET.
AND SOME OF THOSE ARE ALLOCATED TO FUTURE PROJECTS.
HOW MUCH, HOW MUCH OF THE $65 MILLION IS ASSIGNED? ASSIGNED? UH, I JUST LOOKED AT THE FIGURES TODAY, BUT MY HEAD AND FIGURES DON'T ALWAYS WORK.
WHAT DO WE HAVE ASSIGNED CARLA? OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, I DUNNO.
OKAY, SO IF I HAVE THE OPPORT, I CAN GET IT TO YOU.
IF I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE APRIL 15TH TO SHOW THE BOARD HOW THEY CAN REDUCE THE REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE TO THE EFFECTIVE RATE, WHICH IS 49 CENTS, BRING IT DOWN FROM 53 CENTS TO 49 CENTS, WOULD YOU AND THE BOARD ENTERTAIN LISTENING TO ME TO EXPLAIN HOW THAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT IMPACTING THE BUDGET? WELL, IF YOU WANT THE BOARD THERE, IT HAS TO BE A PUBLIC MEETING.
UH, WE, YOU COULD SPEAK AT THE APRIL ONE MEETING WHERE WE HAVE THE HEARINGS.
UH, IT MIGHT BE REALLY TOO LATE.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TOO LATE NOW.
WE'VE ALREADY PLANNED WITH THAT EXTRA MONEY WE'VE PLANNED ON FIVE NEW DEPUTIES, SIX, UH, FOLKS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, ONE ADDITIONAL PERSON FOR BUILDING INSPECTIONS AND UH, ONE, UH, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY.
SO THOSE POSITIONS WOULD THEN BE IN DOUBT, RIGHT? SO APRIL 1ST, FOR EXAMPLE, PUBLIC MEETINGS.
SO I, AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HAVE THREE MINUTES TO EXPLAIN A VERY COMPLICATED BUDGETARY IMPACT IN THE COUNTY.
SO MY QUESTION IS HOW DO I GO ABOUT COMMUNICATING BUDGET PLANNING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES TO THE COUNTY WHERE THEY COULD REDUCE THE TAX RATE? I CAN'T DO IT IN THREE MINUTES.
SO
YOU CAN, YOU CAN EMAIL ALL OF US.
I KNOW YOU'VE SENT SEVERAL EMAILS.
SEND US EMAILS, YOU CAN SEND IT TO ME AND I'LL GET IT TO THE BOARD OR SEND IT DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD AND, UH, TELL US WHAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IF I CAN SHOW YOU A WAY TO REDUCE THE REAL PROPERTY TAX RATE FROM 53 CENTS TO 49 CENTS, MAYBE NOT THIS YEAR.
'CAUSE THE RATE STAYS THE SAME ALL THE TIME YEAR AFTER YEAR.
SO IF I CAN SHOW YOU A METHODOLOGY TO DO THAT, YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU WOULD LISTEN, I WOULD LISTEN.
AND I THINK THE BOARD WOULD LISTEN.
I, I THINK, LIKE I SAID, WE WANNA HAVE A WORKSHOP AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE INVITED TO THE WORKSHOP.
NOW, USUALLY ON WORKSHOPS WE DON'T HEAR A LOT FROM THE PUBLIC, BUT WE COULD
[01:05:01]
AND WE, YES.SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES.
UM, SO I THINK YOU HAVE A BOARD THAT DOESN'T REALLY WANNA RAISE TAXES, BUT WHEN WE STARTED, WHEN I STARTED ON THE BOARD, WE WERE WORKING MOSTLY WITH VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.
SO WE HAVE INCREASED, WE MORE THAN DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS.
WE HAD A FEW, UM, WE DIDN'T HAVE QUITE ENOUGH DEPUTIES.
WE HAD, I REMEMBER, I WOULDN'T TELL EVERYBODY, BUT WHEN I WENT THROUGH GLE, UH, THE, THE SHERIFF TOLD US THAT WE HAD BASICALLY ONE, ONE DEPUTY PER UH, PART OF THE COUNTY.
AND IT'S LIKE, OKAY, SO HOPEFULLY NOBODY ROBS ME 'CAUSE IT'LL BE A WHILE.
UM, SO WE HAVE GROWN THAT TO WHERE WE FEEL PRETTY, PRETTY COMFORTABLE, BUT IT'S STILL, THERE'S STILL GROWTH NEEDED.
APARTMENTS BRING MORE, MORE ISSUES.
SO WE HAVE, SO THEY'RE BUSIER.
UH, WE HAVE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT IS A LITTLE MORE RISKY FOR FIRE AND RESCUE AS WELL.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AMAZON FACILITY, I MEAN THE PRO PROJECT ROCKY FACILITY IS GONNA BE
UH, WE HAVE TWO NEW FIRE STATIONS THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE STAFFED.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND WHAT WE LOOK AT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLY.
BUT I'LL LISTEN TO YOU AND, AND UM, YOU KNOW, I WON'T BE HERE FOREVER, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE NEXT ADMINISTRATOR
UM, I KNOW A FEW YEARS BACK WE VOTED FOR THE
PART OF THIS BUILDING, AN AUXILIARY GYM AT THE HOSPITAL AND HAVE A DEDICATED WRESTLING ROOM AND KNOW THE COST OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS MORE THAN ANTICIPATED.
THERE JUST, NO DUNNO IF THERE'S ANY PLANS.
YEAH, SO THERE'S STILL MONEY IN THAT REFERENDUM AND THAT IS, UM, NOW WE HAVE TO ISSUE THOSE BONDS.
SO I THINK THERE'S 17, ALMOST 18 MILLION IN FROM THE REFERENDUM THAT'S STILL GONNA GO TO THE SCHOOLS.
AND PART OF IT IS GONNA GO TO MOVING CAREER TECHNICAL ED FROM THE CURRENT BUILDING, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING TO MOVE IT ON THE CAMPUS AND THEN TO DO SOME OF THOSE CHANGES THAT, THAT YOU MENTIONED.
I THINK RIGHT NOW, ARE YOU A WRESTLING COACH OR WRESTLING COACH? SO ARE YOU COACHING AT, AT THE OLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL? I HELPED COACH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UH, ALSO HELPED THE IN TEAM THIS YEAR DOWN.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS STILL BEING USED, BUT I SAW THE, THE MAT IN THE CAFETERIA.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'M SORRY I WENT WAY TOO LONG IN MY PRESENTATION, BUT I APPRECIATE, APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING.
UM, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS BACK HERE IF YOU WANNA CHAT.
THE FIRE CHIEF, THE SHERIFF, UM, PARKS.
YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? OH YEAH, AS WELL.
QUESTIONS FOR JONATHAN? CONCERNS, COMPLAINTS, ANYTHING? POTHOLES,
WHERE'S MR. REEVES? OH, POTHOLE BRUSH.
SO IF YOU HAVE BRUSH FROM THE STORMS THAT JUST HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY, WE WE'RE TAKING IT AT THE CONVENIENCE CENTERS AT NO CHARGE UNTIL THE 1ST OF APRIL.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY BRUSH, WE USUALLY DO THAT WHEN WE HAVE A MAJOR STORM AND MR. LYLE REMINDED ME ON SATURDAY.
SO IT'S ALL IN PROCESS AND SO IF YOU HAVE ANY BRUSH, BRING IT ON.
OTHER QUESTIONS? CARLA, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
THERE'S ACTUALLY, YEAH, SO IT'S A SCIENCE FAIR.
YEAH, THERE'S A PROPOSED FACILITY THAT'S, THAT HAS, THEY FILED AN APPLICATION, BUT THEY HAVEN'T, KIND OF A ROGUE MEETING TONIGHT, THEY DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND START CONTACTING CITIZENS AND I THINK THEY'VE CREATED MORE CONCERN THAN THEY, THAN GOODWILL
[01:10:01]
KNOW WHAT YOU, WHAT YOU CALL SOMETHING LIKE THAT.IT'S A BATTERY STORAGE FACILITY.
UM, AND OF COURSE WE HAVE CONCERNS BECAUSE THERE, I THINK IT'S 34 CONTAINERS OR CONTAINER SIZE BATTERIES THAT, UH, GO UNDER POWER LINE.
UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH, WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH THE, WITH THE OWNER OR THE DEVELOPER TO TRY TO PUSH IT OUT A LITTLE BIT AND TO GET MORE UNDERSTANDING AND MAYBE TRY TO GET THEM TO A, TO AN INDUSTRIAL PARK.
IS THIS OLD MILL, IS THAT YEAH.
THAT'S CLOSE TO YOU, ISN'T IT? TOO CLOSE.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE NEXT TO THE POWER LINES OR CLOSE TO THE POWER LINES.
SO PAY A KEEP IN TOUCH BECAUSE THERE'LL BE HEARINGS COMING UP AND ALL OF THAT, SO, OKAY.