[00:00:01]
[Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing on March 30, 2026.]
GOOD EVENING,AND WELCOME TO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS OF THE BOILER SUPERVISOR'S FISCAL YEAR 26 27 BUDGET, THE 2026 TAX RATE AND COUNTY CODE CHAPTER 38, AND APPENDIX A AMENDMENTS.
WE WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR COMING OUT.
THIS SHOWS THAT YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN YOUR COUNTY AND, UM, KUDOS FOR THAT.
IF YOU'D HAPPEN TO HAVE YOUR CELL PHONES ON YOU, WOULD YOU BE SO KIND TO SILENCE THEM OR CUT THEM OFF? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR, UH, INDULGENCE.
AND BEFORE I GO AND ASK FOR THE INVOCATION, I WANT TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
WE HAVE HAD AN EX, A BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, REMEMBER, AND, UH, I THINK SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE PARKS OF RECREATION BOARD AND THE NAME OF KAY RUSSELLS LEWIS.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR HER AT THIS TIME.
AT THIS TIME, IF YOU WOULD JOIN US, I'M GONNA ASK MR. CROCKETT TO GIVE US OUR INVOCATION AND REMAIN STANDING FOR OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
DEAR GOD, BLESSED US MEETING, ALLOW US TO DO OUR WORK.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A NEED FOR REMOTE PARTICIPATE.
I ACCEPT A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
SECOND THAT WE ADOPT OUR AGENDA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, LET IT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
BEFORE WE, UH, BEGIN OUR PUBLIC HEARING SECTOR, I'M GOING TO ASK IF, UH, SUPERVISOR ROBERT CROCKETT WOULD READ A STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD.
MEMBERS AND MEMBERS, UH, OF THE MA AUDIENCE.
UH, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FULLY SUPPORTS MAINTAINING THE TRA TRANSLATOR TELEVISION SERVICE, ENSURING THE FOUR CURRENT AVAILABLE CHANNELS, W-A-V-Y-W-T-K-R-W-V-E-C-W-H-R-O REMAIN AVAILABLE AT NO COST FREE TO ALL CITIZENS OF MACK COUNTY.
THE BOARD HAS IDENTIFIED THE FUNDING SOURCE TO PAY FOR THE UPGRADES AND CONTINUED SERVICE, AND THOSE FUNDS WILL BE ADDED TO THE, THE DRAFT BUDGET.
WE ALSO DIRECT STAFF TO EXPLORE ANY AND ALL POSSIBILITIES OF MAKING THE SERVICE EVEN BETTER.
THANK YOU MR. MR. USUALLY I DON'T LIKE TO HAVE A DISPLAY THIS TIME.
I'LL ALLOW IT BRIEFLY 'CAUSE YOU'VE DONE IT BRIEFLY.
AT THIS TIME, IF OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY WILL COME FORTH, UH, AND READ OUR PUBLIC HEARING RULES.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS.
THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
THE FOLLOWING RULES FOR PUBLIC HEARING WILL APPLY TO ALL THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT THE BOARD WILL CONDUCT THIS EVENING.
ALL PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK SHOULD SIGN THE REGISTER.
THE BOARD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THE LECTERN PERSONS ADDRESSING.
THE BOARD SHALL BE LIMITED TO FOUR MINUTES.
PERSONS ADDRESSING THE BOARD SHALL NOT USE INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE OR VERBALLY ATTACK.
ANY BOARD MEMBER OR ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SIGNS AND PLACARDS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE MEETING ROOM.
ANY PERSON WHOSE BEHAVIOR IS DISRUPTIVE SHALL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE MEETING ROOM.
PERSONS MAY NOT QUESTION INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISORS OR STAFF MEMBERS WITHOUT UNANIMOUS CONSENT OF THE BOARD PERSONS ADDRESSING.
THE BOARD SHALL LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE ISSUES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
A SPEAKER MAY RESERVE THEIR TIME BUT SHALL NOT DELEGATE THEIR TIME TO ANOTHER SPEAKER.
ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING CLIENTS WILL BE LIMITED TO 10 MINUTES.
AND IF ANY ATTORNEY SPEAKS UNDER THIS PROVISION, A REPRESENTATIVE HOLDING AN OPPOSING VIEW SHALL BE PROVIDED 10 MINUTES TO PRESENT THEIR VIEW AND THE CHAIR HAS THE RIGHT AND DUTY TO MAINTAIN PROPER ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE RULES.
AT THIS TIME, OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WILL COME FORTH TO DO A STAFF OVERVIEW OF THE PROPOSED TAX RATES IN FY 26 27
[00:05:02]
COUNTY BUDGET.THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MIKE MASON, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR.
SO AS THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ALLUDED, WE HAVE FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT.
THOSE HEARINGS ARE LISTED UP HERE.
WELL, THE FIRST HEARING IS THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED BUDGET, FOLLOWED BY THE CALENDAR YEAR 2026, TAX RATES AND FINALLY AMENDMENTS TO COUNTY CODE APPENDIX A AND SECTION 38 84.
UM, BEFORE WE GET GOING INTO, UH, AN OVERVIEW OF ALL THREE OF THOSE HEARINGS, UH, A COUPLE OF PRECURSORY REMARKS.
UM, BASICALLY JUST TO SHOW THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH, UH, VIRGINIA CODE.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THE, THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET, THE TAX RATES AND THE AMENDMENTS THAT I JUST SPOKE TO ABOUT CHAPTER REGARDING CHAPTER 38 84 IN APPENDIX A WERE ORDERED, PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BACK IN FEBRUARY ON THE 18TH TO BE EXACT, UH, THOSE REQUIRED PUBLIC NOTICES WERE ADVERTISED IN THE EASTERN SHORE POST ON MARCH 13TH AND MARCH 20TH.
AND THE CODE VIRGINIA REQUIRES THAT THE COUNTY HOLDS SEPARATE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR ADOPTION OF THE COUNTY BUDGET AND APPROVAL OF THE TAX RATES WHEN THERE IS A TAX INCREASE OR AN EFFECTIVE TAX INCREASE.
AND SO THIS PRESENTATION THAT I'M GIVING TONIGHT IS TO SERVE AS THE STAFF REPORT FOR ALL THREE OF THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
SO, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER ONE, FISCAL YEAR 2027, PROPOSED COUNTY BUDGET.
WE'LL START WITH THE BUDGET AT A GLANCE.
SO, UM, THE COUNTY BUDGET IS ROUGHLY 3.6% LOWER THAN WHAT WAS, UH, ADOPTED IN FISCAL YEAR 26.
UH, THE, THE MAJOR CHANGE IS OUR CAPITAL SPENDING, WHICH WAS, UM, OVER 8 MILLION.
'CAUSE WE HAD SOME LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN FY 26 THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN FY 27.
SO THERE'S QUITE A CONSIDERABLE DECREASE IN THE BUDGET.
UM, REGARDING CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, WE'VE ALSO, UH, GOT A DECREASE IN DEBT SERVICE BECAUSE WE ARE RETIRING SOME DEBT, UM, IN FY 26.
BUT OVERALL, OUR, OUR TOTAL BUDGET IS 86.1 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, IT'S DOWN, UH, 3.6 AS COM, 3.6% AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
AND AS REQUIRED BY THE CODE, THE BUDGET IS BALANCED.
SO, UH, A QUICK GLANCE OF WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM AND WHERE THE MONEY GOES.
WHEN, WHEN WE TAKE THESE KIND OF, UH, SNAPSHOTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL REVENUES COMING IN, WHETHER IT'S LOCAL FROM, FROM THE TAX BASE OR WHETHER IT'S FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OR ANY TYPE OF FEDERAL AID.
BUT AS MOST FOR, UH, VIRGINIA LOCALE IS WE RELY HEAVILY ON THE GENERAL PROPERTY TAX TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
UH, GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES ARE 55%, UH, OF THE REVENUES THAT THE COUNTY RELIES ON IN THE FY 27 BUDGET FOLLOWED SECONDLY BY, UH, COMMONWEALTH AID.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE THE MONEY GOES, AGAIN, THIS IS ALL, ALL REVENUES.
UH, THE LARGEST COMPONENTS ARE FIRST, UH, EDUCATION OR OUR, OUR LOCAL SUBSIDY TO THE AKIMA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND, AND SECONDLY, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY COMING IN AT AT 26%.
UH, WHEN WE DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AND WE SAY, OKAY, HOW DO, HOW DO THE LOCAL TAX DOLLARS GET SPENT IN AKIMA COUNTY? SO WHEN SOMEONE PAYS THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX BILL, THEIR REAL ESTATE BILL, HOW DO THOSE MONIES GET DIVIED UP? DIVVIED UP? AND AGAIN, THE OVERWHELMING, UH, MAJORITY OF, OF, OF WHERE TA LOCAL TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT OR IN, AND EDUCATION FILED AGAIN BY PUB PUBLIC SAFETY DEBT SERVICE IS A, IS A MINOR 4%.
AND THAT EVERYTHING ELSE LUMPED TOGETHER IS, IS 29%.
AND THAT EVERYTHING ELSE CAN BE EVERYTHING FROM, UM, PERMITTING TO, UM, INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS TO PARKS AND RECREATION, YOU NAME IT.
SO MORE ON SPENDING THE, THERE WERE SOME PRIORITIES THAT WERE SET, UM, IN DEVELOPING THE FY 27 PROPOSED BUDGET.
UM, AND THESE BUDGET, THESE PRIORITIES ARE, ARE LARGELY FOCUSED ON STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THAT THE BOARD HAS ENDORSED, UM, PREVIOUSLY.
SO WE ALWAYS START WITH LOOKING AT WHAT STRATEGIC PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED AND TRYING TO FIND FUNDING, UH, TO, TO, TO CONTINUE THOSE PRIORITIES ARE TO, TO START THEM UP IF WHATEVER, WHATEVER IS NEEDED THERE.
UM, THE COUNTY PROVIDES A MULTITUDE OF SERVICES AND, AND WE DEPEND ON OUR EMPLOYEES TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
SO RETAINING AND RECRUITING QUALIFIED WORKFORCE IS ALWAYS ONE OF OUR TOP GOALS WHEN WE PREPARE ANY BUDGET.
UM, OTHER PRIORITIES INCLUDE HONORING CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS, AGREEMENT AND MANDATES.
AND I WILL SAY THAT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, UH, THAT THE MANDATE COMPONENT IS LARGER THAN I'VE SEEN IN PAST BUDGETS.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AS WE DIG DEEPER INTO THIS PRESENTATION.
UH, ALSO IMPROVED EMPLOYEE AND CUSTOMER SAFETY, UH, MAKING SCHEDULED DEPOSIT TO THE COUNTY'S RAINY
[00:10:01]
DAY FUND.WE, OUR, OUR RAINY DAY FUND IS, DOES NOT MEET BEST PRACTICE LEVELS.
SO, UH, THE BOARD HAS ENDORSED, UH, A PLAN OF SETTING ASIDE ADDITIONAL MONEY EACH YEAR TO TRY TO GET TO THAT BEST PRACTICE LEVEL.
UM, MAINTAINING OUR INVESTMENT IN ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS, OUR EQUIPMENT, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, THAT'S ALSO, UM, ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES AS ADDRESSING INFLATIONARY DEMANDS ON PUBLIC SERVICE COSTS BECAUSE A LOT OF COSTS THAT THE PUBLIC IS DEALING WITH, UM, AND, AND IS IMPACTING THEIR, THEIR SAVINGS AND, AND, AND THEIR INCOME IS ALSO IMPACTING THE COUNTY, UH, SERVICE LEVEL, PARTICULARLY THE COST OF THOSE SERVICES.
SO, UM, UH, HERE'S SOME HIGH LEVEL, UM, COMPONENTS OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET.
NUMBER ONE, IT FREEZES THE NUMBER OF COUNTY EMPLOYEE POSITIONS.
THIS BUDGET DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY NEW, UH, POSITIONS.
A AS THE BOARD KNOWS THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE EXPENDITURES IN THE COUNTY BUDGET, JUST LIKE MOST LOCALITIES HAS TO DO WITH PERSONNEL AND AN ORDER TO CONTROL COSTS THIS YEAR, UM, WE HAD TO BASICALLY FREEZE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WERE AVAILABLE.
UM, THAT SAID, WE DO HAVE INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DIVISION BY, UH, $632,000 OR 2.7%, WHICH IS BASED ON THE COUNTY'S ESTABLISHED REVENUE SHARE FORMULA TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
UM, THE LOCAL SHARE OF THE DIVISION, IT, IT TAKES THAT UP TO 23.9 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, THAT, THAT FORMULA CONCENTRATES ON CERTAIN LOCAL REVENUES AND ALLOCATES NEW REVENUES, UM, BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE SCHOOL BOARD BASED ON THAT PERCENTAGE.
THE BUDGET COVERS INFLATION DRIVEN COSTS SUCH AS FUEL HEATING, OIL, ELECTRICITY, AND CONTRACT ESCALATORS FOR VARIOUS APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES THAT THE COUNTY CONSUMES.
IT ADDRESSES ALL NEW MANDATED COSTS AND THOSE CONTRACTUAL IN NATURE.
UM, UH, I WAS ALLUDING TO THIS EARLIER, BUT THERE'S OVER $565,000 IN NEW COSTS ANTICIPATING, UH, THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR THAT ARE LARGELY UNAVOIDABLE.
AND, AND I PROVIDED SOME EXAMPLES HERE, THINGS LIKE MANDATED VOTING EQUIPMENT, MANDATED LOCAL MATCH FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT SERVICES, THE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE ACT, JUVENILE DETENTION COST INCREASES.
AND THIS IS JUST TO NAME A, A FEW, THE, THE BUDGET SETS ASIDE, 3.3, 3.3 MILLION TO FUND ONE TIME CAPITAL, UM, OR CAPITAL, OR ONE TIME OPERATING SPENDING, MOSTLY FUNDED BY LAST YEAR'S UNASSIGNED THUMB BALANCE, AKA SURPLUS.
SO THOSE MONIES ARE GOING, THESE ARE PRETTY MUCH THE LARGER ITEMS THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT ON.
ONE IS A PRE PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND ENGINEERING FOR OUR NEXT CELL TO BE OPEN, UM, AT THE NORTH LANDFILL, UH, DEMOLITION OF, UH, A NUMBER OF ABANDONED STRUCTURES AT THE OLD NASA FERRY DOCK AND WISHERS POINT, UH, HEALTH DEPARTMENT ROOF REPLACEMENT, UH, LAND ACQUISITION FOR FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE NORTH LANDFILL SECURITY SYSTEM UPGRADES AT AT COUNTY FACILITIES AND COURTS.
A NEW AIRCRAFT FUELING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT ANIMAL KENNEL REPLACEMENTS AT THE RE REGIONAL ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY.
AND, AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A MANDATED COST, WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THAT.
AND THEN THERE'S A, A MISCELLANEOUS CRIME CONTROL EQUIPMENT FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
UH, THIS BUDGET DOES NOT RELY ON ANY ISSUANCE OF, OF DEBT.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY WHEN WE WERE ON THAT FIRST SLIDE AND IT SAID CAPITAL SPENDING, PAYGO, WHICH IS CASH BASIS AND CAPITAL SPENDING FINANCING THAT WAS ZERO, WE'RE NOT, UM, BARRING, UM, ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR FY 27.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT'S PROPOSED.
THE BUDGET DOES PROVIDE A 2% COST OF LIVING FOR ALL COUNTY AND STATE SUPPORTED LOCAL EMPLOYEES THAT ALIGNS WITH THE OUTGOING GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED COMMONWEALTH BUDGET.
UM, WE DON'T HAVE SOME, WE DON'T HAVE THE FINAL NUMBERS FROM THE STATE YET, SO THERE'S A CHANCE WE MAY NEED TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO ALIGN WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE.
UH, THE BUDGET ALSO REDUCES AN EXPECTED 28% INCREASE IN EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS TO 20% BY TRANSITIONING FROM THE CURRENT ANTHEM KEY CARE PLANS TO ANOTHER PLAN.
AND, AND MY COMMITMENT HAS BEEN TO THE WORKFORCE TO, TO MAINTAIN A QUALITY EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, UM, BUT JUST AT A MORE AFFORDABLE PRICE.
AND SO, UM, IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO BRIEF THE BOARD ON THE OPTIONS, IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT YOUR NEXT MEETING AFTER THIS ONE WILL HAVE A, YOU'LL HAVE A BRIEFING, UM, BUYER CONSULTANT ON DIFFERENT PLAN OPTIONS, AND WE WILL ASK THE BOARD FOR SOME ACTION AT THAT TIME.
SO, CONTINUING ON WITH WHAT'S ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THE BUDGET.
IN, IN THIS CASE, WE'RE PROPOSING USING 2 MILLION OF THE APPROXIMATELY 29 MILLION IN LOCAL FUNDS RETURNED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD IN FY 25 TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.
AND, AND THESE FUNDS ARE PROJECTED TO STABILIZE THE COUNTY EMS FUND THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2029.
[00:15:02]
SO JUST LET ME, UH, EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT, AND PARTICULARLY THIS CHART, WHAT THIS CHART SHOWS IS WHAT THE EXPECTED FUND BALANCE AND THE EMS FUND AND THAT FUND ACCOUNTS FOR ALL EMS SERVICES, UM, THAT WE PROVIDE.AND ALSO ON THE REVENUE SIDE IS, IS ACCOUNTING FOR ALL THE REVENUE ASSOCIATED WITH, WITH THE EMS TAX.
SO WHAT, WHAT THIS CHART INDICATES IS THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE IN THIS FUND.
IE EXPENDITURES ARE GROWING QUICKER THAN OUR REVENUE SOURCE.
UM, AND SO WE WERE EXPECTED WITH NO ACTION FROM THE BOARD TO JUST BARELY SKIM BY THROUGH FY 27, UM, WITH A POSITIVE FUND BALANCE.
BUT IN YEARS AFTER THAT, WE, WE GO INTO A DEFICIT SITUATION IF THERE'S NO NEW REVENUES IDENTIFIED, UM, SORT OF CULMINATING IN 2029 WITH A DEFICIT OF $2 MILLION.
UM, WHAT THIS $2 MILLION INFLUX, UH, AND ADDITIONAL FUNDS WILL DO IS BASICALLY BRING THAT $2 MILLION PROJECTED DEFICIT IN FY 29 TO ZERO.
SO, UM, AGAIN, THIS, THIS CHART IS BASED ON WITHOUT THAT $2 MILLION CASH INFUSION, UM, BUT WITH IT, IT, IT BREAKS EVEN HERE IN 2029 TO ZERO.
AND THAT GIVES THE BOARD SOME ADDITIONAL TIME TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR CONTROLLING COST, UM, NOT ONLY WITH EMS, BUT IN OTHER AREAS TOO.
SO, AGAIN, THE COUNTY'S, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET DOES MAKE THE NEXT SCHEDULED DEPOSIT TO THE COUNTY'S RA RAINY DAY FUND.
UH, AND JUST TO EMPHASIZE THAT OUR BALANCE THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE EVEN AFTER THIS, UM, THIS ALLOCATION IS STILL LOWER THAN WHAT, UM, THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION CONSIDERS A A BEST PRACTICE.
UM, THERE WERE SOME COST SAVING, UH, IDEAS IN THE BUDGET.
THERE WAS ONE REGARDING SUNSETTING TV TTV SURFACES THAT'S CROSSED THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE BOARD'S, UM, CONSENSUS THAT WAS MADE BEFORE WE GOT GOING INTO THIS PRESENTATION TONIGHT.
UM, THERE'S ALSO, UM, SOME COST SA UH, SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR SOLID WASTE CONVENIENCE CENTERS.
AND, UM, APOLOGIZE FOR THE SPELLING OF CONVENIENCE THERE.
BUT, UM, WHAT, WHAT THOSE COST SAVINGS ARE, ARE.
UM, RIGHT NOW THE CONVENIENCE CENTERS ARE ONLY CLOSED.
UH, THEY HAVE A DESIGNATED DAY THAT THEY'RE CLOSED, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THEY'RE ONLY CLOSED ON THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS.
UM, WHAT THIS BUDGET DOES IS IT APPLIES THE, THE NORMAL STATE HOLIDAYS FOR CLOSURE AT THOSE, AT THOSE CENTERS.
UM, AND, AND WE LOOKED AT TONNAGE FOR THESE DAYS, FOR INSTANCE, JULY 4TH.
TRADITIONALLY, WE'VE BEEN OPEN ON JULY 4TH, BUT FRANKLY, MOST PEOPLE ASSUME WE'RE NOT OPEN.
AND SO TONNAGE IS WAY DOWN ON THOSE DAYS 'CAUSE THEY EXPECT A COUNTY FACILITY TO BE CLOSED ON THAT DATE.
SO THIS IS SORT OF LOOKING AT THAT INFORMATION, LOOKING AT THAT DATA AND, AND AGAIN, KEEPING, UM, THE CONVENIENCE CENTERS ON THE SAME SCHEDULE OTHER THAN THE HOLIDAYS.
SO ON THE REVENUE SIDE, AND, AND THIS THIS, THIS TABLE'S IN THIS PRESENTATION TWICE, BUT WHEN WE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE REVENUE SIDE, WHAT WHAT'S GONNA PAY FOR ALL THOSE EXPENDITURES THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, UM, WE HAVE A CHANGE IN THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE AND, AND THE, THE CATEGORIES, THE TAX TYPES ARE THAT ARE, UH, HAVE A RED FONT, THEY'RE WHERE THE CHANGES ARE.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA KIND OF, SORT OF THEN FOCUS ON THOSE FOR A SECOND.
BUT, UM, RIGHT NOW OUR REAL ESTATE TAX RATE FOR FY 26 HAS, UH, 53.40 CENTS.
UM, THIS PROPOSED, UM, BUDGET AND, AND RATES TAKES THAT DOWN TO 0.486.
NOW THAT IS A DECREASE, BUT IT, THAT RATE IS STILL, UH, 1.30 CENTS OVER WHAT WE CALL AND WHAT IS TECHNICALLY A DEFINITION IN CODE.
THE LOWERED RATE, AND, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT THE RATE COMES DOWN, BUT IT'S STILL CONSIDERED A TAX INCREASE BY 1.30 CENTS.
UM, IT, THIS BUDGET PROPOSES INCREASE IN LANDFILL TIPPING FEE BY $5 OR 6%.
UM, IT RAISES ALL BUILDING AND ZONING FEES, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 2019.
UM, AND A RESPONSE TO SIGNIFICANT DECREASES IN PROJECTED PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION TAX REVENUE AND INVEST AND INVESTMENT INCOME, WHICH WE ARE PROJECTING, UM, CONSIDERABLE DECREASES IN GOING INTO FY 27.
SO THIS IS JUST QUICKLY WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR MAJOR PROPERTY TYPES, HOW THEY'RE CHANGING.
UM, THE PROPERTY TAX IS INCLUDING, UM, THE AMOUNT ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THAT 1.30 CENT, UM, TAX INCREASE THAT I REFERRED TO.
UM, LOCAL SALES TAX IS LARGELY, I'M SORRY, OTHER LOCAL TAXES IS LARGELY COMPRISED OF SALES TAX.
[00:20:01]
ARE, ARE FAR, FAIRLY MINOR.OTHER REVENUE, UM, INCLUDES, UM, INVESTMENT INCOME.
SO AGAIN, JUST SOME MORE COMPARISONS TO, TO LAST YEAR AND, AND WE WERE TALKING IN THIS PREVIOUS SLIDE, $2 MILLION SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, INCREASE FROM THE ADOPTED BUDGET TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND JUST NOTE THAT THAT $61 MILLION IS NOT ALL DISCRETIONARY.
A LOT OF THE REVENUE THE COUNTY RECEIVES IS RESTRICTED.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE STATE.
UM, THE, THE, UH, COMPENSATION BOARD THAT PAYS FOR THE COST OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES.
UM, THAT MONEY HAS TO BE USED FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE OFFICES AND JUST CAN'T BE, UH, REPURPOSED TO ANY GENERAL, GENERAL EXPENDITURE.
UM, AND, AND, AND, AND THIS AGAIN, IS JUST A CHART THAT REALLY TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS, IS TO LOOK AT THE DISPARITY BETWEEN REVENUES THAT THE COUNTY RELIES ON.
THIS GRAYISH PURPLISH COLOR IS, UM, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX AND THEN SALES TAX.
AND THEN IT DROPS OFF QUITE A BIT TO THE OTHER MAJOR REVENUE SOURCES.
SO AGAIN, JUST LIKE ALL OTHER LOCALITIES IN IN THE COMMONWEALTH, WE RELY HEAVILY, UM, UH, WITH BEING A COUNTY FOR, FOR REAL ON REAL ESTATE TAXES.
AGAIN, MORE INFORMATION ON, ON MAJOR REVENUES AND THE PROJECTED CHANGE.
AND SO THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE COUNTY BUDGET IN A NUTSHELL.
UM, NOW WE MOVE ON WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS TWO AND THREE, WHERE WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON THE TAX RATES.
AND AGAIN, THESE, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE HAVING THREE HEARINGS TONIGHT, WHICH WE'RE REQUIRED TO ALL THIS IS, IS REALLY BALLED UP INTO THE COUNTY BUDGET.
FOR INSTANCE, ALL THE NUMBERS I JUST PRESENTED RELY ON THE TAX RATE PROPOSAL THAT I'M ABOUT TO, UH, TO GO OVER.
SO AGAIN, SAME SLIDE AS A FEW MINUTES AGO, CONCENTRATING ON THE INCREASE IN THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE, UM, LANDFILL TIPPING FEE.
UM, ONE OF THE MAJOR, UH, DISCUSSION POINTS FOR FY 27 IS IT IS A REASSESSMENT YEAR FOR A REAL PROPERTY.
AND SO A A QUICK SORT OF, UM, OVERVIEW OF A PROPERTY REASSESSMENT IN, IN VIRGINIA, NUMBER ONE, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A REQUIRED SERVICE.
UH, THE PURPOSE OF A PROPERTY REASSESSMENT IS EQUITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND CODE OF VIRGINIA 58.1 32 0 1.
SO WE DON'T CHOOSE TO DO IT, WE HAVE TO DO IT.
UM, IT'S ALSO REQUIRED BY SECTION 82 96 OF MACK COUNTY CODE.
AND WHEN THOSE REASSESSMENTS ARE PERFORMED, UM, IN THIS, IN, IN THIS YEAR, 2026 REASSESSMENT IS, IS, IS JUST THE SAME AS PREVIOUS ONES.
IT, IT HITS ALL 41,000, 41,000 TAXABLE PARCELS, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE TAX EXEMPT.
UM, IN THIS CASE, THIS IS, THIS TABLE GIVES YOU, UH, A SUMMARY OF HOW THOSE VALUES WERE ADJUSTED AND, AND WHERE THEY FELL.
FOR INSTANCE, 41,000 PARCELS WERE IMPACTED BY THE REASSESSMENT.
SAME REAS OR SAME VALUE AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
4,343 OF THEM ACTUALLY DECREASED IN 22,000, UM, 212 INCREASE.
BUT HERE YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCES IN WHAT THE 2025 FAIR MARKET VALUE WAS AND WHAT THE 2026 ONE, UM, CAME OUT.
AGAIN, 0% CHANGE ON 14,000, UM, PARCELS.
AND THEN THE, THE ONES THAT DID INCREASE IT WAS AN AVERAGE OF 17%.
UM, WHICH IS WHY WE GET INTO DISCUSSION OF, OF THIS LOWER RATE.
UM, OVERALL, A 11.7% INCREASE IN VALUE FROM 2025, WHICH WAS THE, THE TAX YEAR LAST, UH, WELL, LAST YEAR'S TAX YEAR.
AND THE, AND THE REASSESSMENT WAS, WAS THE YEAR PRIOR TO THAT, UM, LAST REASSESSMENT 2024.
SO, UM, AGAIN, IF YOU, IF YOU WANNA DIVE INTO WHERE THIS 11.7% IS BY, UH, TOWN OR AN UNINCORPORATED DISTRICT, THIS IS THE CHART.
THIS CHART LAYS OUT THE CHANGE IN, IN VALUES IN ALL THE INCORPORATED TOWNS.
AND THEN IT, UH, SHOWS THE CHANGES IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY BY, BY, UM, BY DISTRICT.
UM, SO AGAIN, THE, UH, ANTI THE FAIR MARKET CHANGE IS 11.7%.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT 11.7%, THERE'S, UM, VIRGINIA CODE THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH.
[00:25:01]
PURSUANT TO A CODE OF VIRGINIA 58.1 33 21, WHEN WE HAVE A A A A REASSESSMENT THAT RESULTS IN A VALUE INCREASE, LIKE THE ONE WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE COM WE'RE REQUIRED TO COMPUTE WHAT'S CALLED THE LOWER TAX RATE.AND WHAT THAT RATE IS, IS BASICALLY IT TAKES THOSE NEW, UH, ASSESSED VALUES AND YOU HAVE TO CALCULATE A TAX RATE THAT WOULD PRODUCE THE SAME TAX LEVY AS A YEAR BEFORE OR NOT UP TO 101% OF THAT LEVY.
UM, SO IN, WHEN WE DO THAT, WHAT THAT LOWERED RATE COMES OUT AT AS IS 0.4730.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE AT, UM, 53.40 CENTS PER 100 OF ASSESSED VALUE RIGHT NOW.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THOSE NEW ASSESSED VALUES, AND WE DO THAT LOWERED RATE COMPUTATION, WE COME OUT WITH A TAX RATE OF 47.3 AND CODE REQUIREMENTS IS THAT IF THE RATE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS OVER THAT AMOUNT, THIS LOWERED RATE, THEN WE HAVE TO ADVERTISE IT AS A TAX INCREASE.
UM, THE FY 27 BUDGET RELIES ON A TAX RATE OF 48.60 CENTS PER 100 OF ASSESSED VALUE.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS, UH, 1.30 CENTS HIGHER THAN WHAT THAT LOWER TAX RATE IS.
THIS CHART OVER TO THE RIGHT, IF YOU'RE LOOKING, UM, ARE INTERESTED IN HOW WE RANK WITH, UM, OUR PEER GROUP AND OUR PEER GROUP IS COMPOSED OF A NUMBER OF SIMILAR LOCALITIES AND POPULATION AND SIMILAR DEMOGRAPHICS WE HAVE CUSTOMARILY.
AND EVEN WITH THIS RATE CHANGE HAD BEEN IN THE VERY BOTTOM, UM, COUPLE OF COUNTIES, UH, HERE WE ARE RANKED, UM, HIGHEST TO LOWEST OF THE PEER GROUP.
AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA FOR, FOR MAYBE SOME LOCALITIES THAT YOU RECOGNIZE, UM, HERE'S NORTH HAMPTON AT 70.50 CENTS AS COMPARED TO MIMA AT 48.6.
AND IF YOU WENT TO, UM, EVEN THOUGH IT'S, IT'S NOT A VIRGINIA LOCALITY, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT OUR NEIGHBORS, YOU GO ACROSS, UH, THE NORTHERN BORDER AND LAND IN WORCESTER COUNTY.
WORCESTER COUNTY'S COMBINED REAL ESTATE TAX RATE IS 90 SOME CENTS, UM, PER 100 OF ASSESSED VALUE.
THEY HAVE A LOCAL, UM, TAX FOR THE COUNTY.
AND THERE'S ALSO A STATEWIDE REAL ESTATE TAX.
SO AGAIN, RELATIVE SPEAKING IN THIS REGION AND EVEN ACROSS VIRGINIA, OUR TAX RATE IS VERY LOW.
SO WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF A 1.30 CENT INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE? SO IT'S BASICALLY IT, IT'S $13 INCREASE IN YOUR TAXES PER $100,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET YOUR TAX BILL, IF YOU WANT TO KIND OF FIGURE OUT WHAT, WHAT IT'S GONNA BE, JUST LOOK AT YOUR VALUE, UM, LOOK AT YOUR AS YOUR ASSESSMENT NOTICE, AND THAT'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA FOR WHAT, UM, ADDITIONAL TAXES YOU WOULD PAY IF THIS RATE WAS ADOPTED.
NO CHANGE IN THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
UM, UM, NO CHANGE IN THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE IS PROPOSED.
THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE, UH, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT, UM, PERCENTAGE.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT CHANGE IS DESIGNED TO EQUATE, UH, HOW MUCH REVENUE THE COUNTY GETS FROM THE STATE TO APPLY TOWARDS LOWERING PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES.
UM, WE HAVE TO ADJUST THAT, THAT WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE P-P-T-R-A RATE, UM, PERIODICALLY BASED ON WHATEVER THE VALUES THE AVERAGE VALUE IS IN PERSONAL VEHICLES IN, IN THE COUNTY.
UM, SO THIS YEAR WE NEED TO DROP THAT, UM, FROM 31% TO 29% BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO IT, WE START SUBSIDIZING A STATE PROGRAM.
SO AGAIN, SORT OF FOCUSING ON WHAT, WHAT'S CHANGING OR AT LEAST WHAT'S PROPOSED TO CHANGE, UH, THE LANDFILL TIPPING FEE, UH, FROM 80 TO $85.
AND AS A REMINDER, THE TIPPING FEE ARE, THE FEES ARE THE PRINCIPLE FUNDING SOURCE FOR OPERATION OF THE SOUTH TRANSFER STATION IN NORTH LANDFILL.
AND, AND THIS PROPOSED INCREASE IS NEEDED TO COVER NOT ONLY OUR CURRENT COST, BUT CONSTRUCTION OF OUR, OUR NEXT CELL TO ACCEPT WASTE, WHICH IS WE, UH, REFER TO AS CELL EIGHT.
AND TO ACCEPT, UM, AND TO ACCEPT WASTE AND CLOSURE COSTS OF EXISTING CELL SEVEN.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN CELL SEVEN.
WE NEED TO BE PLANNING FOR OUR NEXT CELL EXPANSION, WHICH, WHICH WILL BE CELL EIGHT.
AND, AND THESE TIPPING FEES ARE NEEDED TO DO THAT IN ADDITION TO THE CLOSURE COST OF CELL SEVEN.
'CAUSE THERE'S MANDATED COST ASSOCIATED WITH CLOSING AN EXISTING, UH, LANDFILL CELL.
AND SO WE HAVE TO COMPLY AND, AND IT'S TYPICALLY ONE OF THE LARGEST CAPITAL EXPENDITURES THAT THE BOARD APPROVES OUTSIDE OF, UM, OF, OF MAYBE SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT, UM, WELL THIS GOES BACK WHEN WE WERE IN, UH, A HEAVY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PHASE, BUT IT'S, IT'S ONE OF THE LARGER CAPITAL EXPENDITURES WE NORMALLY HAVE TO ADDRESS.
UH, BUILDING AND ZONING FEES AGAIN, UM, 10% INCREASE.
[00:30:01]
INCREASE IN FY 19 AND, AND THE IDEA BEHIND THE BUILDING PERMIT, SPECIAL USE PERMIT, ALL THESE PERMITS ARE SUPPOSED TO COVER THE COST OF STAFFING, COST OF ADVERTISING, ALL THE FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE DEPARTMENT.AND WITH RISING COSTS, THEY, THEY DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.
SO, UH, AN INCREASE WAS NEEDED THERE.
THE THIRD PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WAS FOCUSED ON, UM, AMENDMENTS TO AIMA COUNTY CODE, UM, PARTICULARLY APPENDIX A IN SECTION 38 84, THIS WAS REAL, REALLY ALMOST A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM TO SOME EXTENT BECAUSE WHAT MU MUCH OF THE REVISIONS TO APPENDIX A WERE TO MAKE THAT APPENDIX INTO A ONE STOP SHOP TO SEE ALL THE COUNTY'S FEES.
AND SO, UM, PREVIOUSLY THERE WERE CERTAIN FEES EMBEDDED IN DIFFERENT ORDINANCES, UH, A LOT OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED OR TO BRING THOSE ALL IN-HOUSE INTO APPENDIX A AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME RECOGNIZE THAT TIPPING FEES ARE PROPOSED TO GO UP AND SO ARE BUILDING AND ZONING FEES.
UM, AND, AND HAVING THEM ALL CONSOLIDATES HELPS IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY WHERE SOMEONE CAN GO AND, AND SEE THEM ALL IN ONE, ONE FAILED SWOOP.
SO THAT, UM, CONCLUDES MY REMARKS.
UM, A A COUPLE OF, UH, JUST REMINDERS THE BOARD IS PROHIBITED FROM ADOPTING THE ADVERTISED BUDGET TONIGHT.
VIRGINIA CODE SAYS YOU GOTTA WAIT SEVEN DAYS.
SO, UM, I WILL ASK THE BOARD BEFORE THEY CONCLUDE THEIR MEETING NIGHT TO THINK ABOUT WHEN THAT NEXT BUDGET, UM, MEETING IS GONNA BE TYPICALLY, UM, YOU WOULD SCHEDULE A MEETING SEVEN DAYS, UM, FROM THIS DAY, WHICH WOULD BE APRIL 6TH, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S CERTAINLY THE BOARD'S, UM, PREROGATIVE.
UM, IF AS, AS AN ADDITIONAL REMINDER, ANY CHANGE IN THE TAX RATE THAT RESULTS IN A RATE HIGHER THAN THE ONE ADVERTISED FOR PUBLIC HEARING WILL REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING.
SO, UM, THAT CONCLUDES, UH, AGAIN, MY PRESENTATION.
THIS CAN BE, YOU CAN GO OUT TO THE COUNTY WEBSITE IF YOU WANT A COPY OF THIS.
UH, TINA HAS ALL THE SIGNATURES FROM ALL THE PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT, THE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
UH, A COUPLE OF JUST QUICK REMINDERS, THESE MICS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES YOU'RE TYPICALLY USED IN THE BOARD CHAMBERS IN MACK.
SO IF YOU DO SPEAK, UM, PLEASE REMEMBER TO TURN, UM, PUSH THE BUTTON AND MAKE SURE THE GREEN LIGHT'S ON OR FOLKS IN THE BACK MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD BEFORE I START THE PUBLIC HEARINGS QUESTION? SURE, GO AHEAD.
MR. PARKS, UH, ONE AND I, I'M MR. MASON, IF WONDERFUL JOB, CAN YOU PULL YOUR MAGIC EIGHT BALL OUT AND TELL ME IF THE, IF IS THERE A WORST CASE ESTIMATE OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN WITH THE STATE BUDGET AND HOW THAT COULD IMPACT US? OR DO WE HAVE ANY SENSE OF THAT? UH, THERE ARE A PARTICULAR, THERE'S SOME PARTICULAR LEGISLATION WE'RE CONCERNED WITH.
UM, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS LEGISLATION THAT EVERY LOCALITY SEEMS TO, AT LEAST THOSE OUTSIDE OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, UM, AND, AND SOME OF THE MORE POPULATED URBAN AREAS IS, IS CONCERNED.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ANYONE'S GUESS AS TO WHAT THAT WILL ULTIMATELY COST.
BUT NOT ONLY WILL IT COST MORE FOR I LIKELY LABOR, IT'LL ALSO COST A LOT MORE IN LEGAL FEES AND ADMINISTRATION COSTS.
THERE'S ALSO PROPOSED LEGISLATION, UM, REGARDING CANNABIS THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S, THAT'S LEGISLATION THAT IS LARGELY MANDATED.
YOU WILL NOT HAVE AN OPTION TO OPT OUT OF THIS AS HOW SOME OF THIS LANGUAGE IS PROPOSED.
AND I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE LAST WEEK OR SO TO SEE WHAT TYPES OF, UM, CHANGES MAY HAVE BEEN PROPOSED.
UM, BUT, UH, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE AREAS THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT AND, AND COULD CAUSE US TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND, AND REALLY AMEND THIS BUDGET TO ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.
OKAY, MR. DE GEORGE, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION.
THE OTHER REMAINING $27 MILLION THAT IS IN THE GENERAL FUND OR, RIGHT? YES, RIGHT NOW IT IS.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, THIS BUDGET DOES NOT ADDRESS THAT MONEY.
IT ONLY ADDRESSES 2 MILLION OF IT.
ALL I KNOW IS I JUST DID A QUICK SUMMARY.
$27 MILLION EQUALS ABOUT $2,000 PER HOUSE SOLD FOR ACK COUNTY.
IF MY NUMBERS ARE CORRECT, THAT'S, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE CITIZENS.
AND, UH, I KNOW, I KNOW THAT MY DREAM IS THAT WE WOULD RETURN THAT MONEY TO THE CITIZENS TO BE USED IN A TIME WHERE THINGS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE.
I KNOW IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN, BUT I HAD TO PUT IT OUT THERE.
CONCERNING THE $27 MILLION, UH,
[00:35:01]
I WAS REVIEWING THE, UH, THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE, UH, SUPERINTENDENT'S, UM, UH, REPORT TO US CONCERNING THAT 29 POINT HALF MILLION DOLLARS.AND WHEN YOU TAKE THE 2 MILLION THAT WE ARE BRINGING BACK, LEAVES YOU 27 AND HALF, HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ENCUMBERED BRINGS THAT DOWN TO LIKE 15 TO 16 MILLION.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CON THE RENOVATION OF MACK PRIMARY IS UNDERWAY.
WE CAN'T STOP, WE CAN'T STOP THAT.
WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE GYMS BEING BUILT AND SOME AT SOME OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WE CAN'T STOP THAT.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S CONTRACTED.
SO THAT BRINGS THAT DOWN TO LIKE 15 OR 16 BILLION.
AND ALSO GOING THROUGH THE, UM, THE REPORT THAT THE SCHOOLS, UH, HAD, HAD PUT FORWARD.
I'LL USE, UH, MR. TARS AN EXAMPLE.
HERE WE ARE, WE ARE BUILDING, UH, GYMS FOR SCHOOLS HERE ON THE MAINLAND.
AND IN THAT REMAINING 15 MILLION IS 3 MILLION FOR SHTE SCHOOL.
I WOULD IMAGINE MR. TAR IS GONNA BE PRETTY UPSET IF WE DECIDE TO TAKE $3 MILLION AWAY FROM SHING TIS GYM WHEN WE'RE BUILDING ALL THESE GYMS OVER HERE ON THE MAINLAND.
UH, 1.6 MILLION OF THAT IS FOR TEXTBOOKS.
I THINK WE NEED TO PAY FOR TEXTBOOKS.
SO, SO THE NUMBERS I CAME UP WITH, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, THAT'S ALREADY REALLY, I WOULDN'T SAY CONTRACTED TIED, BUT WHEN YOU LOWER IT DOWN TO 15 TO 16 MILLION AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S PROJECTED AHEAD WITH THOSE FUNDS, YOU HAVE LIKE 6 MILLION LEFT, AND WE ARE TAKING 33 AND A THIRD PERCENT OF THAT 6 MILLION.
SO I THINK, UH, IT'S, THERE'S NOT $27 MILLION JUST SIT IN THERE.
SO, UH, JUST, JUST, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, MADAM CHAIR.
ANY OTHER PERSON THAT'S NOT GONNA START THE PUBLIC HEARING? GO AHEAD MR. I'M SORRY, MR. MASON.
AS, AS WE SEGUE INTO THE PUBLIC HEARING, I DID WANNA SHARE ONE THING.
WE, THE, MY OFFICERS RECEIVED A LOT OF CALLS, UM, PARTICULARLY ON TRANSFER TV, AND WE'VE DONE OUR BEST TO, TO KEEP TRACK OF THOSE.
AND ANYONE WHO SUBMITTED WRITTEN COMMENTS, UM, FOR INSTANCE, BY EMAIL, EVERYTHING WE'VE RECEIVED, WE PUT OUT ON BOARD DOCS FOR YOU TO SEE.
AND THAT INCLUDES, UM, TWO PETITIONS THAT WE RECEIVED.
AND, AND FOR THE RECORD, I'LL, I'LL JUST GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS, UM, SO THAT YOU HAVE THAT, UM, TO, UH, UTILIZING YOUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.
BUT, UM, IN, IN TOTAL, WE RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 110 CALLS, UM, CONCERNING TRANSLATOR, THE TWO PETITIONS, UM, TOTALED, UH, 200 AND, UH, 74 SIGNATURES.
UH, WE HAD, AGAIN, THOSE ALL THE SIGNATURES HAVE BEEN SCANNED ARE AVAILABLE ON, UM, BOARD DOCS.
UM, STAFF DID, UH, HAVE SOME QUITE LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH MANY OF THE FOLKS WHO CALLED IN AND, UM, MOST CITIZENS WERE, WERE VO VOICING THEIR CONCERN WITH, WITH, UM, LOSING THIS, THAT SERVICE AND THE COST THEY WOULD, WOULD HAVE TO BE INCURRED TO GET SOMETHING ELSE.
UM, SO IN, IN ANY CASE, UM, ALL THAT INFORMATION IS OUT ON YOUR, UH, AGENDA, ON BOARD DOCS, YOUR ONLINE AGENDA, AND WE QUANTIFIED EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD AND MEMORIALIZED THAT INTO, UM, YOUR AGENDA RECORDS.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB, THANK YOU STAFF.
AND AS I LOOKED AT, AT, AT THE PETITIONS, IF I COULD JUST ADD EVERY LOCALITY FROM ELECTION DISTRICT ONE TO, WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ONE, BUT FROM ELECTION DISTRICT TWO ON DOWN TO NINE, THERE WERE PERSONS FROM EVERY LECTURE DISTRICT, UH, THAT WAS ON THAT PETITION.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE NOTE OF THAT.
I LOOKED SPECIFICALLY AND BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS THE OUTCRY AND, AND I JUST WANNA THANK STAFF FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE.
I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
NUMBER ONE, UH, PROPOSE BUDGET F 26 27 COUNTY BUDGET.
AND THE FIRST PERSON I'M ASKED TO SPEAK IS DR.
UH, JENNIFER, I ALWAYS WANNA MURDER YOUR NAME.
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD, COULD YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS AGAIN, PLEASE? YES, IT'S DR. JENNIFER MILLER.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FIRST, UM, ON THE CARRY FORWARD FUNDS.
SO WITHIN THAT 29000002.8 IN STATE CONSTRUCTION FUNDS HAS BEEN INCLUDED.
2 MILLION ALL IN GRANT MONEY HAS BEEN INCLUDED, AND 2.5 THAT THE COUNTY GAVE THE SCHOOLS TO COMPLETE THE MIMA PRIMARY SCHOOL.
THAT WOULD TAKE THE TOTAL OF THE CARRY FORWARD FUNDS
[00:40:01]
DOWN TO 21.7 MILLION INSTEAD OF 29.THOSE FUNDS ARE, WERE GIVEN BY THE STATE.
THAT'S, THOSE AREN'T COUNTY FUNDS, THOSE ARE STATE FUNDS THAT WERE GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS CLEAR, UM, THAT THOSE, THOSE SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED.
THE CARRY FORWARD SHOULD INCLUDE THE MONIES FROM THE COUNTY.
UM, WHEN WE WERE TALKING IN THE PRESENTATION THAT JUST HAPPENED, IT LOOKED LIKE, ACCORDING TO THE PRESENTATION, EMS IS BALANCED FOR 2027.
SO IF WE DON'T TAKE 2 MILLION FROM THE SCHOOLS, THAT THAT WOULD BE BALANCED, THAT WOULD GIVE THE COUNTY A YEAR TO, UM, EXPLORE OTHER REVENUE STREAMS TO, TO FUND A ENTITY THAT IS NOT OPERATING WITHIN THEIR BUDGET.
UM, WHEN WE ARE TAKING 2 MILLION FROM THE SCHOOLS, IT LOOKED TO ME, ACCORDING TO THE PRESENTATION, THAT WE WOULD BE TAKING THAT 2 MILLION AND PUTTING IT IN THE EMS CARRY FORWARD FUNDS FOR 28 AND 29.
AND SO I, I AM A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO WHY WE WOULD TAKE SCHOOL CARRY FORWARD TO PUT IN EMS CARRY FORWARD, NOT EVEN FOR THE 2027 SCHOOL YEAR.
UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO STATE THAT WHEN FUNDING IS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE SCHOOLS, YOU ARE DECREASING THE SCHOOL'S ABILITY TO COMPLETE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN.
THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE HVAC, UM, HEAT, AIR, AIR CONDITIONING.
WE CANNOT OPEN SCHOOLS IF OUR BOILERS ARE DOWN.
WE HAD THAT PROBLEM AT MACK ELEMENTARY.
THOSE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THAT CARRY FORWARD MONEY.
THE GYMS, UM, AS MR. CROCK HAS SAID, THOSE ARE IN THAT CARRY FORWARD MONEY.
IF WE DON'T DO THE CHIN TI GYM, UM, I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT.
UM, SO NOW I'LL MOVE INTO THE PORT THAT I HAD PREPARED FOR TONIGHT THAT WAS JUST EXTRA 'CAUSE I DID NOT KNOW THAT THAT WOULD BE DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
UM, SO IN REGARD TO THE SCHOOL'S FY 27 PORTION OF THE BUDGET, AND ON BEHALF OF ACK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR DILIGENCE, AND YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
WE FULLY RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHT OF THE DECIS, OF THE DECISIONS BEFORE YOU AND THE RESPONSIBILITY YOU BEAR IN STEWARDING PUBLIC RESOURCES WHILE ADDRESSING THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR COUNTY.
YOUR COMMITMENT TO THOUGHTFUL DELIBERATION AND COLLABORATION DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED.
AS A DIVISION, WE REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION TO EVERY STUDENT WE SERVE WHILE OPERATING WITH FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND TRANSPARENCY.
THE FUNDING DECISIONS MADE THROUGH THIS PROCESS HAVE A DIRECT AND LASTING IMPACT ON INSTRUCTION, STUDENT SUPPORT, WORKFORCE STABILITY, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
THESE INVESTMENTS ARE FOUNDATIONAL NOT ONLY TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SCHOOLS, BUT TO THE LONG-TERM VITALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE PROGRESS TAKING PLACE ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS AND REMAIN FOCUSED ON ADVANCING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, STRENGTHENING SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT, AND ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY AT EVERY LEVEL.
THIS WORK HAS STRENGTHENED THROUGH STRONG GOVERNANCE AND PARTNERSHIPS, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP WE SHARE WITH THIS BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE TI YOUR TIME THIS EVENING AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND FUTURE OF MACK COUNTY.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WORK TOGETHER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, MR. ROBERT BUNTING, STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE.
UH, I DON'T NEED TO BE THAT CLOSE.
ROBERT BUNTING, PAINTER VIRGINIA.
ALRIGHT, I'M SPEAKING TO YOU TONIGHT AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC AND INDIVIDUAL WHO WORKS AND PAYS TAXES IN AKIMA COUNTY.
THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT NINE OF AKIMA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS.
AND AS A PARENT OF A CHILD ENROLLED IN AKIMA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND A PARTICIPANT IN AKIMA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION YOUTH ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. DESPITE RELOCATING TO THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA AT AGE AFTER AGE 30, I'VE MADE THE SHORE OF MY HOME AND I CONTINUE TO PUT MY HEART TIME, ENERGY, AND EFFORTS INTO IT.
THAT BEING THE CASE, I'M PERSONALLY INVESTED IN THE EXPERIENCES OF THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS, MY CHILDREN, MY FRIENDS, AND MY COLLEAGUES HERE.
METTE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION HAS FACED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES SECURING SPACE AND TIMES TO UTILIZE THOSE SPACES FOR INDOOR ATHLETIC PROGRAMS. RECENT PROCEDURAL CHANGES HAVE MADE WHAT FEW REMAINING PROGRAMS WE HAVE FISCALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FACILITATE AT THIS TIME.
ULTIMATELY, MACK COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION IS IN NEED OF A MULTIPURPOSE FACILITY.
WE HAVE THE GROUNDS, THE PLANS, AND THE SUPPORT OF THE
[00:45:01]
COMMUNITY TO HAVE SUCH A FACILITY DEVELOPED IN MACK COUNTY.IN THE MEANTIME, IF THERE COULD BE SOME CONSIDERATION OR MANEUVERING TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE BARELY HOLDING ONTO, IT WOULD BE A BLESSING.
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DESCRIBE THE DISAPPOINTMENT IN MY CHILD'S FACE WHEN YOUTH BASKETBALL WAS CANCELED JUST ONE MONTH AGO.
ADDITIONALLY, THE ADVISORY COMMISSION WAS CONTACTED BY NUMEROUS PARENTS WHO SHARED SIMILAR SENTIMENT.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
WE HAVE THE STATISTICAL DATA AVAILABLE THAT SHOWS THE POSITIVE IMPACT YOUTH PROGRAMS AND A HEALTHY PARKS AND RECREATION BODY HAS ON A COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN BE REMEDIED.
PLEASE UTILIZE WHAT RESOURCES YOU HAVE AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO DO SO.
ALRIGHT, OUR NEXT SPEAKERS, MR. RON WOLF, CAN YOU BE SO KIND TO STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM? YES.
I LIVE IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN AS A WOMAN, VIRGINIA MADAM CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UH, I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT, UH, THAT YOU AFFORDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
ALTHOUGH MY GOOD FRIEND AND FORMER COLLEAGUE, MR. CROCKETT, TOOK A LITTLE AIR OUTTA MY BALLOON BY ALREADY SAYING THAT THE TRANSLATOR TV, THAT WAS THE ATTENTION
BUT, UH, I CAME HERE IN 1975 AS A HISTORY TEACHER IN MACK COUNTY.
SO HISTORY'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SHARE ONE HISTORICAL EVENT 20 YEARS AGO OR SO WHEN I WAS SITTING WHERE YOU ALL SAT ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
I CAME UP WITH THE GREAT IDEA DURING BUDGET DELIBERATIONS, AS YOU ALL ARE FACING TONIGHT, THAT WE'RE SPENDING AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY ON TRANSLATOR TV.
AND AS I RODE AROUND THE COUNTY, IT BECAME VERY APPARENT TO ME THAT EVERYONE IN AKIMA COUNTY HAD A SIX OR EIGHT FOOT DIAMETER DISH THAT THEY WERE RECEIVING A TV SIGNAL FROM.
SO MY SUGGESTION TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR WAS, MAYBE WE OUGHT TO CUT THE TRANSLATOR OFF AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY USING IT.
WELL, I FOUND OUT IN A HURRY THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.
AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE, AND AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE STILL USE IT TODAY.
SO, AGAIN, MR. CROCKETT, I KNOW YOU STOLE A LITTLE BIT OF MY THUNDER.
BUT I AM VERY, VERY PLEASED THAT THE BOARD SAW THE VALUE, UH, FOR THE CITIZENS OF ACK COUNTY AND LEFT THE TRANSLATOR TO INTACT.
IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN AND YOUR RESIDENCE, PLEASE.
UM, SUE ASTILL HARTON, VIRGINIA.
UM, AND I'M GONNA ECHO WHAT MR. WOLF SAID.
UM, I THINK THAT, I IMAGINE THAT THE BOARD HAD NO IDEA HOW MUCH, UM, REACTION THEY WOULD GET FROM THIS SEEMINGLY INNOCUOUS, UH, CHANGE.
BUT I THINK WHAT IT SHOWS ME IS THAT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY WHO, UM, EITHER FOR CONVENIENCE OR IN MOST CASES FINANCIALLY, UH, CAN'T AFFORD ANYTHING BUT YOU KNOW, RABBIT EARS OR AN ANTENNA.
AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE ELDERLY AND THE POOR, AND WE NEED TO KEEP THEM IN MIND.
EVEN AS WE MOVE EVEN FASTER INTO THE TECHNOLOGICAL AGE, THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO NEED BASIC SERVICES AND WE NEED TO, UM, MAINTAIN THAT AND, AND, UH, KEEP THEM IN MIND.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING THIS DECISION.
WHAT'S THE RUSSELL NAME? SORRY? HARVEY.
LET KNOW IS CHARLIE RUSSELL'S, UH, BROTHER.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE THINK HE'S MY FATHER.
AND BULL FEATHERS HAS BEEN THE, IN THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS BUSINESS ON EASTERN NORTH
[00:50:01]
NOW FOR 49 YEARS.UH, IN OF COURSE, GOOD PEOPLE HERE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR, AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING THIS THE WAY YOU ARE.
WHAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS, IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR SO, OUR OFFICE AND OUR STORE HAVE BEEN GETTING NUMEROUS CALLS ABOUT TELEVISION RECEPTION AND ANTENNAS.
NOT ONLY FROM PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN AFFORD THEIR DISH NETWORK ANYMORE, THEIR DIRECT TV OR THEIR CABLE, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING AWAY WITH THAT AND GOING TO STREAMING SERVICES AND CAN NO LONGER GET THEIR LOCAL TV.
SO IT GOES BEYOND THE FACT THAT JUST, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T AFFORD THIS.
UH, WE, WE'VE GOT PEOPLE IN ALL PARTS OF THE POPULATION THAT IF THEY'RE NOT RELYING ON IT NOW, I THINK THEY WILL, ESPECIALLY SINCE NOW THAT WE'VE POINTED A BIG ARROW AT IT,
UH, SO AGAIN, IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS, WE'VE PROBABLY GOTTEN A DOZEN CALLS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAYING, UH, I'M GETTING RID OF MY CABLE TV, I'M GETTING RID OF THIS, AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT A TELEVISION ANTENNA? AND IF YOU LIVE SOUTH OF OAK HALL AND YOU KNOW, THE WORTH OF PAINTER, BASICALLY THE ONLY CHOICE YOU HAVE TO GET CONSISTENT SERVICE IS THROUGH THE TRANSLATOR.
SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. THOMAS CLARK.
HI, MY NAME'S THOMAS CLARK, UH, WILDS ISLAND, VIRGINIA.
UH, I OWN AQUI FARM ON CHIN CREEK ISLAND, THOMAS COVE, AQUI FARMS. WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS 20 YEARS, 26 YEARS.
UH, I WAS READING ABOUT THE LAND USE PROGRAM THAT THE FARMERS HAD, AND I WAS PUT IN CONTACT WITH, UH, THE DIRECTOR OF LAND USE VALUE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM AT VIRGINIA TECH.
AND I DO BELIEVE SHE STAY, SHE'S THE ONE THAT DECIDES WHAT THE LAND USE IS FOR MACK COUNTY.
SHE INFORMED ME THAT, UH, THERE IS A SPECIFIC CODE IN VIRGINIA, UH, WHICH DEALS WITH AQUACULTURE AND SMALL FARMS. THE MINIMUM USE, UH, THE MINIMUM LAND AREA IS 15 ACRES TO GET INTO THE LAND USE PROGRAM OR THE FARM.
WE HAVE A FIVE ACRE, UH, SECTION IN THIS, UH, SPECIAL LAND USE PROVISION, UH, OF CODE OF VIRGINIA 58.1 DASH 32 30.
I I STARTED THIS LITTLE ADVENTURE IN 2024.
UM, IT SEEMS AS IF THERE IS A SPECIAL USE FOR AQUA FARMS, HORTICULTURES, SMALL FARMS THAT ARE UNDER FIVE ACRES.
UH, IT MUST BE SOMETHING IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE OF VIRGINIA TO WANT TO KEEP THE SMALL FARMS TO PUT IT IN THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.
THE ONLY THING REQUIREMENT IS, IS FOR YOUR LOCAL JURISDICTION, THIS BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO ADOPT IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO ASK YOU.
THERE ARE FIVE SMALL AQUA FARMS. NOW, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY HORTICULTURES OR OTHER LITTLE FARMS IT IS, BUT THERE ARE FIVE AQUACULTURES.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WATERFRONT PROPERTY HAS A PREMIUM, UH, TAX BASE.
AND ANY HELP THAT WE CAN GET ON OUR FARM AS FAR AS TAX RELIEF WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
AS Y'ALL SEE, EVERY BUDGET IS A STRUGGLE AT THIS POINT IN OUR LIFE.
UH, AND TI NOT ONLY DO WE GET MIMA A THANK YOU CARD, BUT WE GET ONE FROM TI ALSO
SO WE'RE JUST ASKING TO KEEP THIS IN CONSIDERATION AND KEEP US UNDER ADVISE AND TRY TO HELP US OUT ANY WAY YOU CAN.
OUR, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KELLER SINGLETON OR KEVIN KEL.
HEY, HOW YOU DOING RENITA? UH, THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR BOARD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU'ALL.
YOU GUYS HAVE SAVED ME, SAVED MY
[00:55:01]
SEC FOOTBALL HABIT ON A, B, C FOR THE FALLS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THATTHERE WOULD'VE BEEN NO WAY I COULD'VE GONE A, B, C WITHOUT THAT.
YEAH, I DUNNO IF MY THREE YEAR OLD'S GONNA FEEL THE SAME, BUT I'M HAPPY.
UM, ANYWAY, I I JUST LIKE TO BUILD UPON TOMMY CLARK'S COMMENTS CONCERNING, UH, THE ORDINANCE.
UM, UH, SPEAKING FROM, UH, AGAIN, KELLEN SINGLETON T UM, SPEAKING AS ADVOCATE FOR AGRI AND SMALL FARMS, UH, I URGE YOU CONSIDERED, UH, AN AMENDMENT TO ITS LAND USE ORDINANCE ACCORDING TO SECTION 58.1 3, 2 3 3 DETERMINATIONS TO BE MADE BY LOCAL OFFICERS BEFORE ASSESSMENT OF REAL ESTATE UNDER ORDINANCE, UM, AKIMA COUNTY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RURAL WORKING LANDSCAPE.
THE COUNTY'S OWN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS PLENTY, THAT THE MIMA COUNTY IS A RURAL PLACE, AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HERE SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH AN ADD VALUE TO OUR RURAL ECONOMY WHILE PRESERVING OUR AGRICULTURAL FOREST AND COASTAL AREAS.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD DO.
THIS IS NOT A RADICAL CHANGE, IT'S A PRACTICAL UPDATE THAT USES AUTHORITY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALREADY GAVE TO LOCALITIES.
STATE LAW LETS THE COUNTY SET THE LAND MINIMUM USE OF LESS THAN FIVE ACRES FOR REAL ESTATE USE FOR AQUACULTURE.
ADOPTING THAT OPTION WOULD SIMPLY ALLOW MIMA TO RECOGNIZE THE REALITY OF MODERN AND SMALL SCALE AGRICULTURE AND SHELLFISH FARMING ON THE SHORE.
AND I THINK THE FACTS ON GROUND SUPPORT THIS CHANGE.
ACCORDING TO TWO OTHER 22 CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE, UND COUNTY HAS 254 FARMS AND 81,233 ACRES OF FARMS JUST IN, JUST AS IMPORTANT ONE 11 OF THOSE FARMS ARE UNDER 50 ACRES.
26 FARMS WERE ONE TO NINE ACRES, AND 85 OF THOSE FARMS WERE 10 TO 49 ACRES.
THE CENSUS ALSO REPORTS THAT 88% OF THE FARMS ARE FAMILY FARMS. IN OTHER WORDS, SMALL AND FAMILY SCALE OPERATIONS IN AREN'T MARGINAL HERE.
THEY'RE PART OF THE BACKBONE TO CROMAC AGRICULTURE.
ABAS ALSO WANT TO VIRGINIA'S LEADING AGRICULTURAL COUNTIES.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT IN 2022 AT RATE 30 IN VIRGINIA FOR MARKET VALUE, AGRICULTURE, PRODUCT SOLD INVESTOR PRODUCTION WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE COUNTY'S SECOND LARGEST DRIVER OF FARM INCOME.
AT THE SAME TIME, AGRICULTURE'S NOT SOMETHING FOREIGN IN AKIMA COUNTY AS PART OF WHO WE ARE.
THE COUNTY'S COMPREHEND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAYS THE MARINE INDUSTRY HAS ALWAYS PLAYED A STRONG ROLE IN AAC AND LIFE IN A AKIMA COUNTY, AND DESCRIBES AQUACULTURE AS A GROWING PART OF THIS, THAT TRANSITION.
THE PLAN NOTES THAT IN 2010, THE VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCE COMMISSION HAD ISSUED 153 OYSTER AQUACULTURE PERMITS.
AND 116 CLAN AQUACULTURE PERMITS SHOWING GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE MAKING LIVING ON THE EASTERN SHORE WATERWAYS.
THE PLANT COSTS FOR FISHING AND A CULTURE AS A CULTURALLY INVALUABLE TRADE, THAT LOCAL INDUSTRY IS REINFORCED BY WATER REGIONAL ECONOMY.
THE STUDY IN THE EASTERN VIRGINIA SHORE FOUND THAT A CULTURE ADDED SUBSTANTIAL REGIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND EMPLOYMENT.
AND THE INDUSTRY DEPENDS ON THE PROTECTED RURAL LAND AND CLEAN WATERS THAT DEFINE THIS PLACE.
THE CURRENT FIVE ACRE THRESHOLD CAN UNINTENTIONALLY SHUT OUT EXACTLY THE KIND OF OPERATIONS WE SAY WANT MORE OF YOUNG FARMERS, BEGINNING FARMERS, SHELLFISH GROWERS, ESPECIALLY PRODUCERS AND FAMILIES TRYING TO KEEP A FEW ACRES OF PRODUCTIVE USE.
INSTEAD OF SELLING OUT OR SITTING IDLE, ADOPTING THIS ORDINANCE WOULD BE BETTER ALIGNED.
THE COUNTY'S LAND USE POLICY WITH STATE LAW AND WITH REAL STRUCTURE OF SMALL SCALE PRODUCTION HERE.
UH, AND THE BENEFITS FAR OUTWEIGH POTENTIAL COSTS.
FIRST, WILL PROVIDE TAX RELIEF TIED TO ACTUAL PRODUCTIVE USE, WHICH WILL HELP SMALL AQUACULTURE AND FARM OPERATIONS SURVIVE VOLATILE MARKETS, STORM RISKS, LABOR COSTS, AND RISING LAND PRESSURE.
SECOND, IT WOULD KEEP WORKING LANDS AND WORKING WATERFRONTS RELATED ENTERPRISES IN LOCAL HANDS, ESPECIALLY FOR SMALLER OPERATORS WHO DO NOT HAVE HUNDREDS OF ACRES BUT DO HAVE REAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
THIRD, TO SUPPORT NEW AND BEGINNING PRODUCERS, THE 222 CENSUS REPORTS 162 NEW AND BEGINNING FARMERS IN AIMA COUNTY.
AND IF YOU WANT THE NEXT GENERATION TO STAY HERE, LOCAL POLICY HAS TO FIT THE SCALE AT WHICH MANY PEOPLE ACTUALLY START.
I'LL LET YOU FINISH YOUR FINAL START.
THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR FOURTH OF RESTRAINT.
THE COUNTY'S LONG TERM RURAL IDENTITY BY SUPPORTING BUSINESSES THAT ARE ROOTED IN THE EASTERN SHORES LANDSCAPING WATERS INSTEAD OF PUSHING SMALL PRODUCERS TOWARDS CONVERSION OR EXIT.
AND FINALLY, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE.
AKIMA COUNTY VALUE IS NOT ONLY LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION, BUT ALSO SMALLER FAMILY OPERATIONS TO PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE, DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY, AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES WORKING.
THIS IS PRO FARM, PRO WATERMAN, PRO SMALL BUSINESS AND PRO RURAL MEASURE.
UM, I EXPECTEDLY, UH, ASK YOU TO ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE AND GIVE SMALL A CULTURE FARM A FAIR CHANCE TO QUALIFY FOR THE SAME LAND USE FIRM THAT ALREADY EXISTS TO RESERVE PRODUCTIVE LAND IN THIS COUNTY.
[01:00:04]
STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM.UH, PAUL BROTHERS GROTON TOWN.
UH, THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING THE TRANSLATOR.
IN FACT, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER EXPANDING IT TO CARRY THE SUB CHANNELS OUT OF THE FOUR NORFOLK STATIONS.
I THINK THAT WILL MAKE THE PROGRAM A LOT MORE POPULAR WITH THE VOTERS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY SUB CHANNELS THOSE STATIONS HAVE, BUT I KNOW EACH OF THEM HAS AT LEAST TWO.
UH, AS FAR AS, UH, FUNDING THE SYSTEM, I DON'T KNOW KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE CONSIDERED APPROACHING THE STATE.
THE THE THREE COMMERCIAL STATIONS CARRIED FOR SOME ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IT DOES EXPAND THEIR MARKET.
IT DOES HELP WITH THEIR ADVERTISING REVENUE, AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ASKED TO HELP SUPPORT THE PROGRAM A LITTLE BIT.
ALSO, THE TOWERS, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE BEING USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE OR NOT, BUT I WOULD THINK, UH, SPACE COULD BE LEASED ON THOSE TO CELL PHONE CARRIERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IN FACT, I BUILT OUR OWN ANTENNAS OUTTA SCRAP LINE AROUND THE FARM SO THAT WE COULD PULL 'EM IN.
THERE ARE ALL THE PERSONS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL PERS UH, PERSONS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC HEARING? NUMBER ONE, I CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.
NUMBER ONE, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO IS, UH, PROPOSED CALENDAR YEAR 26TH TAX RATE.
THERE ISN'T ANYONE THAT HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? I CLOSE.
UH, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER TWO, PUBLIC HEARING NUMBER THREE, HEARING AMENDMENTS TO SCHEDULE A AND SECTION THREE EIGHT, UH, 84 OF, UH, MACK COUNTY CODE.
NO, AGAIN, NO ONE HAS, UH, SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
IS THERE ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? I CLOSE THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
I I WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT AT THIS TIME.
OUR ACCOUNT ADMINISTRATOR IS GONNA COME FORTH.
I ASK OUR, MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU GET YOUR CALENDARS, UH, READY.
'CAUSE I THINK HE NEEDS A DATE, WHICH OPPOSED? UH, APRIL 6TH WOULD BE SEVEN DAYS FROM HERE.
UM, FROM, FROM THIS DATE, UH, APRIL THE SIXTH.
EVERYBODY FROM, UM, MADAM CHAIR? YES.
MR. UH, I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK AT MY TOWN, UH, COUNCIL HEARING ON THAT NIGHT.
AND MADAM CHAIRMAN, I HAVE A CONFLICT WITH SUE ALSO.
AND I HAVE A CONFLICT AS WELL.
I JUST NOTICED MADAM CHAIRMAN.
WOULD THERE BE ANY HARM IN US HAVING THE, UH, THE VOTE AT OUR REGULAR SCHEDULED, UH, BOARD MEETING ON THE 15TH? ON THE 15TH THAT, UM, THAT WOULD PRESENT A FEW PROBLEMS WITH? OKAY.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, MAY I ASK WHAT IS THE LAST DATE WE CAN DO IF WE CAN'T DO THE SIXTH? WHAT IS YOUR LAST DATE THAT WE WON'T HAVE PROBLEMS? WELL, LET'S, LET'S WORK OFF THE SIXTH THEN.
HOW ABOUT THE SEVENTH
UM, IT'S, I'LL USUAL, I'LL CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR BOARD AGENDA MEETING, BUT I, WE COULD DO IT AFTERWARDS OR WHATEVER.
WE COULD DO IT ON THE EIGHTH, MR. MASON.
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO RELOCATE THEN.
IS THAT A PROBLEM? YEAH, THEY, THAT'S TYPICALLY A PLANNING COMMISSION NIGHT, BUT IT'S THE BOARD CHAMBER.
SO YOU HAVE RIGHT OF REFUSAL HERE.
HOW ABOUT, HOW ABOUT THE NINTH? OKAY.
YOU COULD, UM, THE PLAN COMMISSION TYPICALLY MEETS AT SEVEN.
IF YOU MET AT FIVE, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO CONCLUDE, UM, BY SEVEN.
IS THAT A PROBLEM WITH YOU? MR. PARKS MAKE IT UP.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, WHAT DATE WAS THAT? THAT'S APRIL THE EIGHTH AT FIVE.
IS THAT FINE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE? THANK YOU.
OH, HOLD, HOLD, MR. I ASK MY QUESTION.
DIDN'T WE HAVE A PERSONNEL MEETING ON THAT DAY?
[01:05:01]
I'M SORRY? WAS IT THE, DID YOU SAY THE EIGHTH? THAT'LL BE EARLIER THAT DAY.THAT'D BE THREE O'CLOCK, RIGHT? YEAH, THREE O'CLOCK.
SO I'M HERE ON APRIL THE EIGHTH AT FIVE.
APRIL THE EIGHT, FIVE IN, IN THE BOARD.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, MR. UM, MASON, IS THAT IT? NO, MA'AM.
NOTHING ELSE? COUNTY ATTORNEY, YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO, MA'AM.
MADAM CHAIRMAN, IT'S BEEN MOVED PROPERLY.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR THAT BE KNOWN BY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? AND THAT MOTION HAS CARRIED.