* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [1. ROLL CALL] [00:00:07] CALL THE MEETING. ORDER. ROLL CALL. SORRY, MY APOLOGIES. MR. LEE. HERE. MS. EBRA BONNER. HERE. MR. DOOLEY? HERE. DR. MOORE? HERE. MR. CHAVIS HERE. FIVE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT. OKAY. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE SOME MEMBERS THAT NEED TO READ SOME. I'LL GO FIRST AT THE APRIL 2ND, 2024 MEETING OF THE DIY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I, CASEY M DOOLEY INTEND TO VOTE ON THE TAX RATE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024. THE TAX RATE WILL DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR THE DEITY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. I AM EMPLOYED BY THE DEITY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THE TAX RATE AFFECTS THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DEITY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND I'M ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRANSACTION FAIRLY OBJECTIVELY AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. ALRIGHT, I'LL READ A STATEMENT AT THE APRIL 2ND, 2024 MEETING OF THE DENWOOD COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I MARK E. MOORE. INTEND TO VOTE ON THE TAX RATE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024. THE TAX RATE MAY DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY IS APPROPRIATE TO THE DENVER COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. MY WIFE IS EMPLOYED BY THE DENWITTY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. THE TAX RATE MAY AFFECT ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DENWITTY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, AND I'M ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSACTION FAIRLY OBJECTIVELY AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AT THE APRIL 2ND, 2024 MEETING OF THE DENWITTY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I, DANIEL D. LEE, INTEND TO VOTE ON THE TAX RATE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024. THE TAX RATE MAY DETERMINE HOW MUCH MONEY IS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEITY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. MY WIFE IS EMPLOYED BY THE DENDY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. THE TAX RATE MAY AFFECT ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF DEWINE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, AND I AM ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRANSACTION FAIRLY OBJECTIVELY. AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. I AM EMPLOYED BY THE APPOMATTOX RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT. AS SUCH, I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY DISCUSSION PERTAINING TO THE APPOMATTOX RIVER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD. THANK YOU. OKAY, [2.A.Tax Rate For Calendar Year 2024] WE'RE HERE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON TAX RATE FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024. MR. VILLE AND MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, JUST AS A A REMINDER, UM, AT YOUR YOUR MARCH 20TH MEETING, WE HAD A DISCUSSION UNDER, UNDER MY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR COMMENTS ABOUT WHERE YOU ALL WISH TO ADVERTISE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT. PUBLIC INPUT IN REGARDS FOR THE, UM, THE TAX RATES FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR. UM, IF YOU RECALL, UH, I SUMMARIZED AT THAT MEETING AND JUST WANTED TO DO IT AGAIN TONIGHT. UH, THAT, THAT WHEN YOU FINISHED YOUR BUDGET PROCESS THIS YEAR, UM, YOU WERE LOOKING AT ABOUT 1.8 TO $1.9 MILLION OF NEW EXPENSES. AND THAT'S AFTER YOU, YOU HAD MADE YOUR TRANSFERS TO YOUR SPECIFIC AREAS LIKE THE SCHOOL SOCIAL SERVICES. UM, THAT'S, THAT'S GIVING ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES A, UH, A 3% INCREASE. AND THAT'S, AGAIN, A COMBINATION OF BETWEEN A STEP, STEP ADJUSTMENT IN A SMALL COLA THAT WOULD MATCH WHAT THE, THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA IS DOING FOR OUR, OUR STATE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES AND, AND THE STAFF. UM, AND, BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE SPECIFICALLY, UH, FUNDING THAT WAS TO NEW INITIATIVES, SPECIFICALLY TO, UH, MANY OF WHICH I'M REFERRING TO AS PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED RELATED ITEMS THIS YEAR. UH, SO JUST AS A RECAP, YOU KNOW, ONE OF YOUR, YOUR LARGEST INVESTMENTS THIS YEAR IS AN INVESTMENT INTO A SECOND YEAR, UH, STAFFING PLAN TO YOUR FIRE AND EMS. UH, AND WHAT THIS DOES IS IT GETS, UH, FIREFIGHTERS CROSS-TRAINED IN EMTS, UH, STATIONED AT INE, UH, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT WILL HAVE OUR, OUR FOLKS THERE. WE ALREADY HAVE A, A PARAMI PARAMEDIC SQUAD OUT THERE, BUT IT WOULD GIVE US FIRE AND EMS OUT OF THAT FACILITY. UH, PRESENTLY WE ALREADY HAVE STAFFING HERE AT COMPANY ONE IN THE VILLAGE OF DIMITY, AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IT AS WELL IN, IN MCKINNEY. SO BEING ABLE TO STAFF AT THAT END OF THE COUNTY ALLOWS, UM, ONE BETTER RESPONSE TIMES TO WHAT IS THE MOST CONGESTED PART OF THE COUNTY. UH, AND THEN SECONDLY, IT, IT ALLOWS, UM, AGAIN, COMPANY ONE WHO WAS THE ONE THAT WAS HAVING TO BE DISPATCHED TO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO REMAIN HOPEFULLY HERE AND ONLY BACKFILL WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED. UM, WHEN COMPANY ONE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE NORTHERN END OF THE COUNTY, THE THE MCKINNEY AREA WOULD COME BACK AND SUPPORT THE CENTER PART OF THE COUNTY, UH, NO LONGER WOULD THAT BE NECESSARY UNLESS IT WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. SO YOU WOULD, YOU'D BE ABLE TO KEEP FIRE AND EMTS NOW ALONG THAT ROUTE ONE CORRIDOR [00:05:01] ALL THE WAY FROM THE, THE NORTHERN MOST PART OF DEWIN COUNTY DOWN TO THE, THE TOWN OF MCKINNEY. UM, WHICH WE FELT LIKE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, TO, TO PUT FORWARD TO YOU ALL. UH, ANOTHER INITIATIVE THAT, THAT HADN'T BEEN FUNDED YET, UH, WHEN WE DID THE BUDGET WAS SPECIFICALLY TO OUR DEY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS THERE, UH, WE, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE HAVING, AND YOU SAW THIS IN YOUR BUDGET MEETINGS, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TURNOVER WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND, AND LOOKING AT A WAY TO, TO ADDRESS, UH, COMPENSATION IMMEDIATELY, UM, FOR, FOR OUR QUALIFYING INDIVIDUALS IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT A $5,000 INCREASE PER, PER EMPLOYEE. AND AGAIN, IN ADDITION TO THE STEP, THE STEP IN THE COLA WOULD TAKE PLACE, AND THEN 5,000 AND APPROPRIATELY PUTTING THEM ON THE SCALE WHERE THEY WOULD NEED TO BE. AND THIS IS SEEN AS A STOPGAP MEASURE. UH, AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE ALREADY MOVING FORWARD WITH THE, THE PUBLISHING OF A NEW RFP TO, UM, FOR A NEW CLASS AND COMPENSATION PLAN THAT WOULD BE DONE, UH, FOR THE COUNTY. AND I THINK YOU SAW FROM, UH, MS. LEE, OUR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, UH, JUST THE, THE VOLUME, NOT JUST IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT, BUT IN THE COUNTY WHEN WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME TURNOVER AT AN UNPRECEDENTED HIGH AMOUNT. UH, SO FIRE AND EMS, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, MEHERON, UH, AS THE CHAIRMAN OF MEHERON RIVER REGIONAL JAIL. UM, AND CHAIRMAN, UH, CHAVIS IS ALSO, UH, A MEMBER OF THAT AS WELL AS SHERIFF ADAMS. YOU KNOW, WE WERE SEEING PRETTY BIG INCREASES THIS YEAR, UH, FROM THE JAIL. UH, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, A TRUE UP THE, AND, AND WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO PAY THERE ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND HALF A MILLION DOLLARS, UM, FOR THAT. SO THAT WAS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. AND WE DIDN'T INCLUDE PREVIOUSLY ANY INCREASES TO THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN SOME OF OUR DRAFT NUMBERS. AND, AND EARLIER TODAY, IN YOUR BUDGET WORKSHOP, YOU SAW, UH, A MAN TO MAN OR COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY STEP UP, UH, BEFORE YOU AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE A LITTLE DETAIL ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. AND AGAIN, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STAFFING ISSUES THAT SHE'S HAVING, AS WELL AS SOME NEED FOR SUPPORT. SO YOU, YOU SAW THIS AS A COMMON THEME THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET. AND SO WHEN WE LOOKED AT WHERE YOU POTENTIALLY WANTED TO ADVERTISE TONIGHT FOR A HEARING, YOU ALL SETTLED ON 84 CENTS. AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A 5 CENT POTENTIAL INCREASE FROM THE 79 CENTS THAT WE'RE PRESENTLY DOING. THAT'S, THAT'S JUST ON REAL ESTATE, MOBILE HOMES, MINERAL LANDS, AND PUBLIC SERVICE. IT'S NOT ON, YOU DIDN'T ADJUST ANY OTHER OF YOUR TAX RATES. SO AGAIN, FOR TONIGHT, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT, THAT NEARLY 5 CENTS. AND I TALKED TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LAST MEETING, AND THE AVERAGE, AVERAGE HOME IN DIMITY COUNTY IS, IS AROUND $200,000. WHAT WE THINK WE'LL KNOW MORE AFTER THE NEXT, NEXT REASSESSMENT, SPECIFICALLY WHERE THAT IS. AND AGAIN, AT A, AT A, AT A 79 CENTS TAX RATE VERSUS AN 84 CENTS TAX RATE, YOU KNOW, I I WAS LOOKING AT HOW MUCH THAT WOULD COST MORE PER MONTH FOR THAT AVERAGE HOME. AND, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER IT WAS $8 AND 33 CENTS WAS THE, WAS THE AVERAGE. NOW AGAIN, THAT, THAT'S 200,000. IF YOUR HOUSE IS WORTH 400,000, IT DOUBLES IF IT'S 800,000 MORE THAN THAT, RIGHT? SO I JUST WANTED TO PUT IT INTO SOMEWHAT OF A, OF A PERSPECTIVE FOR YOU ALL, AND AGAIN, FROM WHAT YOU ALL INDICATED TO US, THAT, UM, YOU FELT LIKE THAT 84 CENT WOULD BE WHAT YOU WANTED TO SOLICIT COMMENT ON TONIGHT. AND AGAIN, UM, IF, IF YOU DECIDE TO GO LOWER THAN THAT, IF TONIGHT YOU CAN, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN GO BELOW 84 CENT, JUST KNOW EVERY TIME YOU DROP IT ONE PENNY THAT'S ABOUT $258,000 OF ADDITIONAL CUTS. SO YOU'RE AROUND 1.9 TO $2 MILLION WORTH OF REQUEST. WITH THE 5 CENTS, YOU'RE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A 1.29 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE. SO EVEN, EVEN AT A 5 CENT, UM, SOME THINGS STILL HAVE TO BE CUT, RIGHT? AND WE, WE WOULD BE WORKING THROUGH THAT AS A STAFF. UM, I, I'M, I KNOW I'VE BEEN SOLICITING COMMENTS FROM YOU ALL ON, ON ITEMS THAT YOU FEEL LIKE ARE IMPORTANT. UM, BUT WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN THE BUDGET. UH, NO YEAR IN ANY YEAR. DOES ANYBODY EVER GET EVERYTHING THEY'RE ASKING FOR? RIGHT? UM, ONE OF YOUR BIG, UM, BLESSINGS THIS YEAR WAS THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM CAME BACK AND ASKED FOR LEVEL FUNDING. AND THAT'S THE FIRST TIME. AND, AND THAT I CAN REMEMBER THAT, THAT, THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENED. SO THIS COULD HAVE BEEN COMPOUNDED A LITTLE BIT WORSE, UM, IF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAD HAD NEEDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING. SO UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT, I THINK DR. WESTON INDICATED IT'S JUST UNDER 4.2 MILLION THAT THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, UM, BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S GONNA DO. IT'S BEEN, BEEN RUMORED THAT THE, THAT HE MADE VETO THE WHOLE BUDGET BILL AND JUST PUT BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE BACK IN A ROOM, SEE IF THEY CAN GET A, [00:10:01] YOU KNOW, A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY. IF NOT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND, AND WORK THAT OUT. UM, BUT WE BELIEVE WORST CASE SCENARIO, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL STILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND, AND THEREFORE THEY'RE NOT, NOT REQUESTING IT FROM THE COUNTY THIS YEAR. SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, I DID WANT TO TELL YOU BEFORE WE HAVE THE HEARING IN CASE ANYBODY WANTS TO COMMENT ON THIS. REMEMBER, YOU'RE, YOU'RE DOING YOUR TAX RATES, BUT YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING AT TAX RELIEF. AND WHEN WE ORIGINALLY PUT THE AD FOR THE TAX RELIEF, NOW REMEMBER, UM, THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF RELIEF AND PERCENTAGE THAT YOU WOULD GET FOR YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY. UM, WE HAD ADVERTISED 32 CENTS, AND AGAIN, THIS, THIS IS OPPOSITE OF YOUR REAL ESTATE RATE, RIGHT? I MEAN, 32%. SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN GO UP AND SO, BUT YOU CAN'T GO DOWN WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR PERCENTAGE, UM, UNLIKE THE TAX RATE THAT ONCE YOU GO UP, YOU CAN GO DOWN, RIGHT? BUT FOR YOUR TAX RELIEF. AND THEN TODAY IN WORKING WITH THE COMMISSION REVENUES OFFICE AND THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, MS. HOWARD CAME BACK TO ME BEFORE THE MEETING WHEN, UM, IN THIS RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU WE'RE LOOKING AT 33%. AND WE BELIEVE NOW THAT CAN GO UP HIGHER TO 34%. JUST STAY WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY, PRESENTLY. AND THIS IS BASED ON SOME BETTER INFORMATION THAT WE, WE'VE GOTTEN TODAY FROM THE, UH, COMMISSIONER OF THE REVENUE AND TREASURY, MS. HARTON. SO WE WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE, INSTEAD OF IT BEING THE 32 THAT WAS ADVERTISED, WE'D LIKE TO KEEP IT AT THE 34%, UH, RELIEF RATIO. SO, MS. CHAIRMAN, AT THIS TIME, AGAIN, IT'S JUST SOLICITING PUBLIC COMMENTS. UM, AND AGAIN, IT'S FOR THE, THE, THE OVERALL 2024 CALENDAR YEAR AS THE RATES AS ADVERTISED. OKAY? WE'RE OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING. HAS ANYONE SIGNED TO SPEAK? YES, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE HAVE CHRIS RIZZO. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING. UH, CHRIS RIZZO, NORTH DI WOODY. UM, BEFORE I START, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY ON BEHALF OF, I'M SURE EVERYBODY ON THIS SIDE, Y'ALL, TO WELCOME BACK MR. LEE. REALLY GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK HERE. THANK YOU. UM, I THINK Y'ALL KNOW WHERE I, I STAND ON ON THIS. UM, I PRETTY MUCH MADE IT CLEAR IN THE PAST THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY SCHOOLS AS WELL AS FUNDING TO KEEP UP OUR COUNTY SERVICES. SO I SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO, THE REVENUE YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TONIGHT. I PERSONALLY DON'T OBJECT TO PAYING MORE TAXES FOR NEEDED SERVICES. HOWEVER, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER ANY POTENTIAL REVENUE TO DEFER SOME OF THE COSTS AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT NEEDED FROM A TAX INCREASE. TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, UH, WHEN THE LILY POND SOLAR PROJECT WAS REJECTED, NEGATIVE INFORMATION ON THAT PROJECT WASN'T BASED ON FACTS. BUT SINCE THEN, EEX HAS MET EVERY DEMAND THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND THEY'VE RESUBMITTED THE PROJECT. SO I THINK THAT IS NOW A CHANCE TO KEEP THE TAX RATE DOWN SOME FOR RESIDENTS OF DEM WITTY WHILE STILL MEETING THE NEEDS, UM, THAT THE COUNTY HAS. THE SOLAR PROJECT WOULD PROVIDE ENOUGH REVENUE OVER THE FIRST FOUR YEARS TO COVER THE ENTIRE PROPOSED 6 CENT TAX RAISE IN THE PROPERTY TAX. IN ADDITION TO THAT, UM, IT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE DIM WIDY COUNTY INCOME FOR 45 YEARS, UM, FROM BASICALLY PROFIT SHARE AND, AND INCREASED TAXES THAT ENERGETICS WOULD PAY THE UP THE UPCOMING INCREASE IN PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS COMBINED WITH THE TAX INCREASE WE'LL PUT BURDEN ON, ON DIMITY TAX PAYERS, TAXPAYERS. AND IT'S UP TO YOU ALL TO LIMIT THAT WHEN OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE CAN OFFSET, UH, SOME OF THE NEEDED INCREASE. SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU, PLEASE DON'T LET DISTORTED FACTS PREVENT RESIDENTS FROM GETTING THE TAX RELIEF AS POSSIBLE. UM, I THINK THAT, UH, IF YOU WERE THINKING OF HOLDING OFF ON THE FULL INCREASE THIS MONTH, AND I WOULD SAY PASS A SOLAR PROJECT NEXT MONTH TO GET THE EXTRA REVENUE THAT YOU NEED, IF YOU'RE FOR THE INCREASE THAT'S GOOD FOR DIM WITTY COUNTY, PASS THAT SOLAR PROJECT, YOU'LL GET ADDITIONAL FUNDING. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GET THE FINAL BUDGET, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET EVERYTHING THAT'S NEEDED. SOME THINGS ARE GONNA BE CUT, YOU'LL HAVE TO LESS THINGS THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT WITH THAT MONEY. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE? BOB SHANNON? UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. GOOD EVENING. UH, AND I JOINED EVERYBODY THAT'S, UH, MENTIONED THIS TO YOU, MR. LEE. CONGRATULATIONS ON COMING BACK AND THANK YOU SO [00:15:01] MUCH TO SEE IT COMING ALONG. SO, UM, UH, FIRST WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR MY PARENTS. I DID NOT PLAN TO SPEAK TONIGHT, AND MY WIFE SAID IF I DID, SHE WAS GONNA LEAVE. BUT I SAID, WELL, I'LL APOLOGIZE. AND SHE SAID, OKAY, HOPEFULLY THAT WORKED. UM, I JUST, UH, MY NAME IS BOB SHANNON AND, UH, I'VE LIVED HERE IN THE PAST. I USED TO OWN A HOME ON COURTHOUSE ROAD, AND MY WIFE AND I MOVED AWAY FROM THE COUNTY IN 2020 DURING THE COVID THING, UH, UP TO RICHMOND, MAINLY TO BE CLOSER TO OUR FAMILY. UM, BECAUSE THEY WERE, I HAVE, WE HAD ELDERLY PARENTS AND WE NEEDED TO BE CLOSER TO THEM, SO WE SOLD OUR HOUSE, BUT I STILL OWN PROPERTY IN THE AREA. SO THAT SAID, WHEN WE SOLD THE HOUSE AND MOVED TO RICHMOND, WE KIND OF HAD HIGH HOPES FOR WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING WAS GONNA BE THE FUTURE. AND WE MOVED BACK TO DOWNTOWN RICHMOND. AND WE'RE FROM THE RICHMOND AREA. WE'RE REALLY FROM MIDLOTHIAN, THAT'S OUR HOME. UH, SO WE MOVED BACK TO RICHMOND TO A PLACE THAT I HAD LIVED IN. IT WOULD'VE, IT WAS MY FOURTH TIME AND MY WIFE'S THIRD TIME RIGHT IN DOWNTOWN, AND THAT'S WHERE WE SPENT THE SUMMER. AND, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, AND YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD SOME OF THIS, IT WASN'T A GOOD YEAR, IT WAS A BAD YEAR FOR A LOT OF US, FOR A LOT OF REASONS, BUT PART OF IT IN RICHMOND WAS WE JUST FELT THERE WAS A HANDS-OFF APPROACH TO A LOT OF PROBLEMS GOING ON THAT IN, IN THE AREA. SO THAT WAS SOMETHING KIND OF NEW TO US AND KIND OF VERY DISHEARTENING. AND IT HAS AFFECTED US BECAUSE WE SAW NIGHTLY THINGS THAT WE REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE. SO WE LIVED THERE A YEAR AND THEN WE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE REALLY WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THIS. IT'S NOT FOR US. SO WE MOVED OUT TO CHESTERFIELD BACK HOME, OUT TO THE WESTCHESTER AREA, LIVED THERE FOR TWO YEARS, AND, UH, IN AN APARTMENT. UM, IT WAS VERY CONVENIENT. A LOT OF GREAT THINGS OUT THERE, GOOD TO BE HOME. BUT ONE THING WE SEE IN CHESTERFIELD, WE, AGAIN, IT'S SORT OF A HANDS OFF WITH RESPECT TO, TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND, AND WE EVEN SEE IT, NOTICE IT YESTERDAY GOING THROUGH THERE. THERE'S, YOU KNOW, LICENSE PLATE EXPIRATIONS THAT AREN'T DEALT WITH. I MEAN, IT REALLY HITS, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF BAD. SO, SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO NOTE. AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS SOMETHING THAT I JUST HEARD IN THE NEWS RECENTLY, AND THAT WAS, I THINK CHIEF ENGLISH, AND I MIGHT BE WRONG ABOUT THIS IN HENRICO COUNTY. AND THEY WERE KIND OF TALKING ABOUT THEIR APPROACH IS SORT OF A BACK DOWN, WE'RE NOT GONNA GO OUT. I DON'T KNOW ALL THE FACTS, IT'S JUST WHAT I HEARD ON THE RADIO. SO MY POINT IS, WE'RE BACK IN DENWOODY BY CHOICE AND WE'RE RENTING AND WE'RE VERY GLAD TO BE HERE. AND WE, OF THE REASONS WE'RE BACK IS BECAUSE WE FEEL, YOU KNOW, WE FEEL THAT YOU ALL, AS FAR AS PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TRY TO DO A GOOD JOB. SO ALL I WANTED TO SAY IS THAT'S IMPORTANT, BECAUSE IF YOU START TO, I THINK IF YOU START TO LET IT SLIP, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE LIKE THE BROKEN WINDOW EFFECT. AND ALL I WANTED TO SAY WAS, YOU KNOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL ABOUT THE FUNDING OF THIS, BUT I DO THINK THAT FUNDING FOR THE SHERIFF, AND OF COURSE PUBLIC SAFETY IS CRITICAL TO QUALITY OF LIFE HERE. AND, AND I JUST, I WASN'T GONNA SAY THIS, BUT I'M GLAD I DID BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. I HAVE NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP. ENCLO THE PUBLIC HEARING. OKAY. BOARD, WHAT IS YOUR PLEASURE? WELL, I'LL START THE COMMENT. UM, YOU KNOW, THE LAST 12 YEARS WE'VE BEEN BLESSED IN DENWITTY COUNTY. UM, WE'VE HAD PROSPERITY, WE HAVE GOOD, HAVE HAD GOOD TIMES. UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE HAVE ALL RECOGNIZED IN THE LAST YEAR IN OUR HOUSEHOLDS IS THE WORD INFLATION. UM, AND INFLATION IS JUST NOT IN YOUR OWN HOME. INFLATION IS INVOLVED WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALSO. AND IN ORDER FOR US TO MAINTAIN THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AND IMPROVE THE SERVICES AS WE GO FORWARD, IN PARTICULAR PUBLIC SERVICE, UH, FOR OUR FIRE, EMS, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OTHER THINGS, UM, WE'RE AT A CROSSROADS. UM, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, THE FIRE, UM, DEPARTMENT THAT IS IN MITOKA WILL BE MOVING THREE MILES AWAY. SO THE HELP THAT WE GET ALMOST ON A WEEKLY BASIS FROM OUR FRIENDS IN CHESTERFIELD COUNTY WILL EITHER BE DIMINISHED OR VERY LIMITED, UH, FOR THE NORTHERN SECTOR OF DENVER WITTY COUNTY. AND WHEN I LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, BOTH MS. BONNER AND I, OUR DISTRICTS ARE IN THAT PART OF, IT'S IN THAT NORTHERN SECTOR. AND IT IS, UM, VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO IMAGINE THAT A FIRETRUCK COMING FROM DENWITTY WOULD HAVE TO COME TO THE NORTHERN END TO RIVER ROAD TO PUT OUT A FIRE OR AN AMBULANCE MAY [00:20:01] HAVE TO COME FROM DENWITTY, HEAVEN FORBID IT HAVE TO COME FROM MCKINNEY TO, UH, TO THE NORTHERN END. SO WHEN WE LOOK AT, UH, THE STAFFING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IN INE, UM, THE INCREASE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT BASICALLY PAYS FOR THAT STAFFING. EVERYTHING ELSE WILL PAY FOR THE OTHER THINGS, THE INFLATION THAT WE HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE REST OF THE BUDGET. UM, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE ARE AT AN INFLECTION POINT. UM, I THINK ALL OF US HAVE GONE THROUGH THREE DAYS OF MEETING WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THIS COUNTY. WE HAVE HEARD THE, THE NEEDS AND THE DESIRES FROM OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AS WELL AS THOSE, UH, INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS, UM, THAT RUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS, UM, OUR COURT SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE STAYING AT THE RATE THAT WE'RE AT TODAY. WE WILL HAVE TO CUT SERVICES IF WE DO NOT IMPROVE THE REVENUE LINE. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THE INCREASE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING THIS EVENING. ANYONE ELSE? I, I'D JUST LIKE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS MAKE THE STATEMENT, THIS ISN'T MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR AND, AND WITH, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME SINCE NOVEMBER, UM, IT ESPECIALLY WASN'T A, UM, GREATEST TIME OF THE YEAR, UM, WITH THIS BUDGET PROCESS. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, AND WHAT KIND OF TROUBLES ME ABOUT THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, UM, YOU KNOW, PART OF IT, THEY HAVE A SURPLUS, BUT I ROAD SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA COMPARED TO NORTH CAROLINA, IT'S HARD. SO WE'RE NOT GETTING MONEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GETTING A BANK FOR A BUCK, UM, WITH THINGS THAT THE STATE HANDLES. AND, AND SO WITH INFLATION THAT IS OUT OF OUR CONTROL, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO RAISE TAXES FOR THE FIRST TIME. BUT IF WE CAN GET SOME PUBLIC SAFETY BANG FOR A BUCK OUT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND, AND CERTAINLY NEVILLE RAISED TAXES WITHOUT AN THE END IN SIGHT, UM, WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND RESCUE SQUAD HAS SAVED DEWINE COUNTY TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF MONEY UP UNTIL NOW. AND VOLUNTEERISM IS, IS, UM, I UNDERSTAND WHY, BECAUSE THE, THE REQUIREMENTS OF EDUCATION AND, UH, TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY AND, AND THE DANGER, UH, INVOLVED CERTAINLY ALL PLAY INTO TO A PERSON'S DECISION TO CUT BACK ON VOLUNTEERISM. UM, BUT THE COUNTY HAS TO PROVIDE A SERVICE, UM, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. UM, SO I FEEL LIKE THIS TAX INCREASE CERTAINLY, UM, ADDRESSES SOME OF THE PROBLEMS. IT IT STILL LEAVES STAFF WITH, UM, SOME HARD DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE AND, AND FEEL LIKE, UM, WE'VE GOT THE PERSONNEL TO, TO HELP US MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE. SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE THE, THE TAX RATE IS WARRANTED. I, I DON'T KNOW THAT I LIKE IT, BUT, UH, CERTAINLY I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO. MR. ANYONE ELSE? YEAH. UM, I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY FIRST YEAR ON THE BOARD AND BEING FACED WITH RAISING TAXES THE FIRST TIME IS NOT IDEAL, UH, TO SAY THE LEAST. HOWEVER, UH, I'VE BEEN THE BENEFIT OF A LEVEL TAX RATE FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS AS A CITIZEN. AND I SEE FIRSTHAND THAT OUR STAFFING IN OUR COUNTY IS HURTING. UM, WE HAVE FOLKS THAT ARE DOING THE JOB OF, OF TWO AND THREE PEOPLE AND WE'RE, A LOT OF 'EM ARE BURNOUT. MM-HMM . AND SO WE HAVE GOT TO BE COMPETITIVE IN OUR SALARIES. WE'VE GOTTA BE COMPETITIVE WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT. AND I BELIEVE THIS WILL HELP US NOT JUST IN PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT IN OTHER STAFFING ALSO, WHETHER IT'S PARKS AND REC OR JUST OTHER DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD. AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, UH, I, I SEE IT AS A NECESSARY EVIL. OH YES, MS. BOB. UM, UH, I DO AGREE WITH THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AND, UH, FOR THE CITIZENS A LOT OF TIMES, UM, THEY DON'T SEE WHAT ACTUALLY GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. WE'VE HAD STAFF TO, UM, WORK NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS TO TRY TO GET THINGS DONE. AND, UM, THE, THE CITIZENS DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY WANNA [00:25:01] MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE DONE IN ORDER AND IN A TIMELY MANNER. AND WE HAVE PEOPLE HERE THAT THEY ARE WORKING BECAUSE THEY LOVE THE COUNTY, THEY'RE WORKING BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE THINGS DONE. AND UM, AGAIN, AS AGAIN AS, UH, ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS SAID 12 YEARS, WE'VE BEEN HERE 12 YEARS AND, UH, WE HAVE NOT RAISED TAXES. THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES HAVE DONE THAT, BUT WE DID NOT AND WE WERE MAINTAINING WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO. BUT, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY IS, IS DEFINITELY IMPORTANT. YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOUR, UM, YOUR PEOPLE ARE THERE TO COME FOR FIRE, UH, THE RESCUE SQUAD AND UH, OF COURSE, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THESE, UM, THESE JOBS AND ALSO OTHER POSITIONS THAT ARE NEEDED, WE WOULD LIKE TO FUND IF, IF WE CAN AND MOVE FORWARD. SO, UM, IT TOOK SOME TIME, BUT WE, UM, LOOKED AT THIS AND DECIDED TO, UM, GO WITH THE INCREASE IN TAX SO THAT UM, THINGS CAN STILL RUN AND UM, AND BE, AND BE MAINTAINED IN THE COUNTY. SO I DO AGREE ON THE INCREASE AS WELL. WELL, I AGREE WITH EVERY WHAT I'VE, EVERYBODY'S SAID AND LIKE YOU SAY, 12 YEARS, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE WE HAD TO HAVE A BUMP. YEAH. AND, UM, SO IT'S TIME TO, TO MAKE A DECISION. SO MR. CHAIRMAN, IF IT'S THE, THE BOARD'S DESIRE, WE JUST NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED WITH THE MODIFICATION OF THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF RATE AND BEING AT 34%. SO AS PRESENTED WITH THAT MODIFICATION, IF THAT'S WHAT YOUR DESIRES TO DO, WOULD LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION, I'LL SO MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION WITH THE ADDITION OF, OF THE 34% TAX RELIEF FOR QUALIFIED MOTOR VEHICLES. MR. THAT GOOD MR. TYLER? THAT'S GOOD. OKAY. YOU'LL NEED TO READ THE WHOLE RESOLUTION, OKAY? OKAY. DO I HAVE A SECOND? WE MADE THE MOTION TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION AS THE 34 DOWN FRONT. YES. OKAY. YEP. MM-HMM. SO SECOND. ROLL CALL. SECOND. MR. LEE. AYE. MS. EBRA BONNER. AYE. MR. DOOLEY? AYE. DR. MOORE? AYE. MR. CHAVIS? AYE. ALL VOTING? AYE. WELL THANKS EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AND I HAVE A MOTION FOR CHAIRMAN. SO MOVED. SECOND ROLL CALL MR. LEE. AYE. MS. EBRA BONNER AYE. MR. DOOLEY? AYE. DR. MOORE? AYE. MR. CHAVIS AYE ALL VOTING AYE MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.