[00:00:04]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THIS, UH, BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING.
IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STAND, WE'LL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, THEN WE'LL GET THE MEETING STARTED.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH HE STANDS.
ONE A NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE OVERALL.
[A. Public Hearing: FY 2024-2025 Budget - Alisa Scott]
TONIGHT I'M GONNA READ THE PUBLIC SPEAKING CONDUCT.ALL COMMENTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE NOT TO THE AUDIENCE.
WE CONSIDER THAT SPEAKER BE SUPPORT, COMMENTS MADE BY SPEAKER.
POSTERS MEANS VISUAL DISPLAY COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PERMIT.
THIS DOES NOT INFORMATION OR MATERIAL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL.
ANY PETITION, ANYONE WHO VIOLATE THE HEARING TO BE DR.
DALEY, ARE YOU OR THANK YOU MA'AM.
UH, THIS BUDGET TOTAL IS THE ONE THE SUPERVISORS BEGAN WORKING ON WITH THE DEPARTMENTS.
UH, THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY.
DEPARTMENTS STARTED WORKING IN MID-NOVEMBER, PUTTING IT TOGETHER, AND THE BOARD HAD JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, UH, VERY SPECIAL EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY RENDEZVOUS TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND REVIEW ALL THE NUMBERS IN HERE IN APRIL, MARCH, APRIL AND MAY, WE HAVE REVIEWED THOSE NUMBERS AND WAITED FOR THE STATE.
WE HAVE A TOTAL BUDGET OF $191 MILLION PROPOSED PRIMARILY GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES OF 71 MILLION, STATE REVENUE OF 56,000,036 OR 56,000,030 6 MILLION OF INNER FUND.
INNER FUND INCLUDES THE TRANSFERS FROM OUR GENERAL FUND TO THE SCHOOL FUND.
SO THAT 28 MILLION, OUR EXPENDITURES BACK THAT UP FOR THE GENERAL FUND IN PROPOSED GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES OF 69 MILLION.
OTHER LOCAL REVENUES OF 18 MILLION, 7 MILLION FROM THE COMMONWEALTH AND 3 MILLION APPROXIMATELY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
YOU CAN SEE THE DOMINANCE IN THAT CHART OF THE GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES ON YOUR LOCAL REVENUES.
THAT'S WHERE YOUR MONEY COMES FROM.
IS THAT, UH, CHART OVER ON THE END TWO REVENUE ENHANCERS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ON THE IS NUMBER ONE, THE SANITATION FEE, THE NEED TO INCREASE THE SANITATION FEE TO REDUCE THE SUBSIDY.
AND NUMBER TWO IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A SALES TAX FOR A CIGARETTE TAX, EXCUSE ME, CIGARETTE TAX TO BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR.
AND THOSE THAT WILL BE COMING BACK, MR. HAM WILL HAVE A DRAFT OF THAT FOR YOU THE END OF THE MONTH.
OUR EXPENDITURES, UH, GENERAL GOVERNMENT IS 5 MILLION.
THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALMOST 18 MILLION.
HEALTH AND WELFARE IS NINE, ALMOST 10 MILLION.
EDUCATION IS 28.6 MILLION, AND DEBT SERVICE IS 11.6 MILLION.
THAT INCLUDES 10 MILLION FOR SCHOOL DEBT AND 1 MILLION FOR THE COUNTY.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE, IF YOU ADD THAT LITTLE BLUE AT THE TOP OF THE BAR IN THE CENTER, THAT PUTS THE SCHOOL DEBT ON THE SCHOOL EXPENDITURES.
AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THE SCHOOL EXPENDITURES TOTAL COMPARE, UH, LOCAL DOLLARS COMPARE TO THE REST OF IT.
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BEING ALMOST 40 MILLION.AND THE NEXT HIGHEST LEVEL IS PUBLIC SAFETY AT 18 MILLION.
AND BUDGET IMPACTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET ARE 1.3 MILLION FOR NEW POSITIONS IN FIRE AND RESCUE, $1,150,000 TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE OFFICE AND COMMUNICATIONS 400,000 TO MATCH STATE FUNDS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.
500,000, POTENTIALLY A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH THE BOARD NEEDS TO KEEP THAT SECOND 500,000 IN MIND FOR THE MANDATES FOR THE CSA, THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES ACT AND 250,000 FOR THE COUNTY SHARE OF EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE SCHOOL FUNDING REVENUES, PRIMARILY THE GENERAL FUND, THE COMMONWEALTH AT 38 MILLION FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT 5 MILLION, AND THEN CAFETERIA FEES AT THREE AND A HALF MILLION.
AND YOU CAN SEE THERE THE STATE FUNDING FOLLOWED BY THE LOCAL FUNDING FOLLOWED THEM DOWN AT THE BOTTOM THERE, THE FEDERAL AND THE CAFETERIA FUNDING EXPENDITURES S DOMINATED BY INSTRUCTION AT 58 MILLION AND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AT 8 MILLION.
SO YOU SEE THE BAR AND THEN ALL THE OTHER THINGS IN THE SCHOOL BUDGET DWINDLE DOWN BELOW FROM THERE.
SCHOOL FUND REVENUE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS IS $1,307,000 500 THERE FOR, AND THAT'S FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WILL CARRY FORWARD ON THEIR CA SCHOOL FACILITIES.
THE AIRPORT IS $394,000, PRIMARILY HANGAR RENTALS AND FUEL SALES.
AND DOWN BELOW THE COST, THE BIG COST IN THAT 298,000 IS FUEL PURCHASES.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR THE COUNTY IS $400,000.
250 TRANSFERRED FROM OTHER FUNDS AND 150 FROM PRIOR YEAR.
AND THAT 400,000 WILL BE USED FOR FIRE AND RESCUE.
THE ASSETS FUND IS $1.2 MILLION AND THAT INCLUDES 140,000 FOR THE ELECTION SCANNERS THAT THE BOARD APPROVED PURCHASE OF LAST WEEK, 138,000 FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, 746,000 IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND 190,000 IN E 9 1 1.
THAT INCLUDES 216,000 FOR DEBT.
IT INCLUDES $448,000 FOR OPERATIONS AND 55,000 FOR RENTAL INCOME.
AND THAT IS OUR PRIMARY SUMMARY OF THE BUDGET.
BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC ITEMS IF WE CAN.
SO, UM, STARTING WITH THE REVENUE, IS THERE ANY CARRYOVER FROM FISCAL YEAR 24 THAT WE'RE MOVING INTO FISCAL YEAR 25? NO, MA'AM.
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT WE SPENT ALL THE MONEY, ALL THE REVENUE FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.
I'M SAYING THAT TWO YEARS AGO THE BOARD HAD 17 MILLION IN THE UNRESTRICTED RESERVE AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PUT 4 MILLION OF THAT INTO THE LFK PROJECT AND THAT THAT 4 MILLION THEN MOVED OUR TOTAL AS THE AUDITOR TOLD YOU DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 13 MILLION.
SO WE WILL NOT TAKE MONEY OUT THIS YEAR, THIS CURRENT YEAR.
WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE TAKING ANY MONEY FROM THE RESERVES.
AND MIGHT REMEMBER MR. JAMISON POINTED THAT OUT
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TO US IN JANUARY THAT THERE WAS THIS MONEY POTENTIAL THERE.BUT WE WILL NOT TAKE THAT AND WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE NEED TO REBUILD THAT RESERVE BACK ABOVE THE 15%.
SO I KNOW THAT WE, UH, FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, WE HAD ABOUT $3 MILLION THAT WE HAD IN THE BUDGET THAT CAME FROM RESERVES.
AND WE HAVE NOT SPENT THAT $3 MILLION IN FISCAL YEARS.
SO THAT MONEY IS GOING BACK INTO THE RESERVES, THAT MONEY GOES BACK INTO THE RESERVE.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT WILL BE BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE LOOKED, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THE ESTIMATES ON THE REVENUES, THE TAX INCOME WAS LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED.
AND SO WE ANTICIPATED WE WERE GOING TO BE APPROXIMATELY 2 MILLION LOWER IN TAX REVENUES BETWEEN REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY THIS YEAR THAN WHAT THE BUDGETED ESTIMATE.
SO THE RESERVE TRANSFER WAS OUR CUSHION.
AND WE WON'T, WE ARE NOT GONNA HAVE TO TAKE THAT BECAUSE OUR EXPENDITURES ARE GONNA COME IN LOWER.
BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT WE WILL HAVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THREE AND A HALF TO PUT IN THE RESERVES BECAUSE OF THE LOWER TAX REVENUES.
SO, UM, ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE, UH, THE PRESENTATION, EVERYTHING IS BASED ON ADOPTED VERSUS PROPOSED, BUT THERE'S NOTHING TALKING ABOUT ANY ACTUAL, ACTUAL COSTS THAT WE CAN COMPARE OUR PERFORMANCE FROM LAST YEAR.
OKAY, IT SAYS ADOPTED REVENUE, ADOPTED OR PROPOSED REVENUE.
WELL, THAT'S IN YOUR MONTHLY REPORT, MA'AM.
RIGHT? THAT'S A MONTHLY REPORT.
SO IT'S NOT IN IT'S NOT IN THIS, IT IT IS IN HERE, RIGHT? IT IS IN YOUR BUDGET.
THE, THE LINE ITEMS. WELL, IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO SEE THAT COMPARISON ON IT'S IN YOUR LINE ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE AND ARE POSTED.
I DID NOT PUT IT HERE BECAUSE THIS IS TOO CROWDED ALREADY.
THIS IS MORE CROWDED THAN IT NEEDS TO BE, BUT THEY ARE ALL HERE.
AND THOSE ACTUAL, THEY'LL BE UPDATED THIS COMING MONTH.
AND THOSE ACTUALS ARE ONLY THROUGH YEAR END APRIL, SO IT'S MISSING TWO MONTHS.
SO WE'LL HAVE MAY, MAY AND JUNE NOT PART OF IT AND WE'LL HAVE JUNE UNTIL JULY.
SO WHAT IS YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL THAT, DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT IS GONNA BE LEFT OVER OR WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.
NO, I DON'T HAVE A CONFIDENT NUMBER AT THIS POINT.
UH, THERE'S TOO MUCH THAT IN THE FALL THE AUDITOR HAS TO MOVE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR FORWARD.
SO THE AUDITOR HAS TO MOVE IT BACK TWO MONTHS AND THEN THERE ARE EXPENDITURES THAT THE AUDITOR WILL MOVE FORWARD.
A LOT OF TAXPAYERS THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE PAID BOTH PORTIONS OF THEIR TAXES IN DECE IN JUNE.
SO THEY'VE ALREADY PAID THEIR DECEMBER TAXES AND THE AUDITOR HAS TO TAKE THAT MONEY OUT OF THIS YEAR AND MOVE IT FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.
AND I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH DATA TO BE ABLE TO SERIOUSLY SAY HOW MUCH WE'RE GONNA BE PUSHING BACK AND HOW MUCH WE'RE GONNA PUSH FORWARD.
SO I GUESS, IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT IF THERE'S ANY CARRYOVER FROM FISCAL YEAR 24, IT'LL GO INTO OUR RESERVES? ABSOLUTELY.
SO THIS IS BASED ON, SO ANY, ANY MONEY THAT'S GOING TO GOES INTO THE RESERVE AND IT STAYS IN THE RESERVE UNTIL THE BOARD AT SOME POINT DECIDES TO TAKE IT OUT.
AND WE WANNA PUT THAT 2 MILLION BACK FIRST.
I JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND, SINCE WE RAISED TAXES AND ALL, JUST WANNA YES MA'AM.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT, UM, AND REMEMBER THOSE ARE FROM THE BOX.
THERE'S NO, YOU'VE, YOU'VE LOOKED AT ALL THE LINES IN HERE AND IF YOU CAN FIND A LOT OF FLUFF, I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU.
OH YEAH, I HAVE THE QUESTIONS RIGHT HERE.
SO YOU, YOU CAN MOVE ANYTHING, TAKE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE
[00:15:01]
THAT GOING LINE ITEM BY LIGHT ON THIS IS A VERY GOOD BUDGET, VERY TRANSPARENT BOARD.WORKED VERY HARD AT IT THOUGH.
YOU GUYS WORKED VERY, VERY HARD.
THERE WASN'T MUCH THAT I HAD TO PICK ON.
IT'S YOUR BUDGET, SO IT SHOULD BE DONE RIGHT.
IT, IT'S, IT WAS DONE VERY WELL.
DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS, MR? OH YEAH, I DO.
UM, OKAY, SO I HAVE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS FOR, FOR DIFFERENT ORGAN, UH, DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WANT, HOW, HOW I SHOULD DO IT.
SHOULD I JUST GO THROUGH 'EM OR DO WE WANNA WAIT FOR PUBLIC HEARING OR? WELL, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS BASICALLY FOR THE PUBLIC INPUT.
UM, HOW MANY QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? 'CAUSE WELL, I'LL TRY TO PUT IT IN A NUTSHELL.
UH, I, I'LL START WITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
UM, I KNOW THAT EARLIER IN FEBRUARY, I, I THINK THESE SOUND LIKE QUESTIONS.
WOULDN'T THESE QUESTIONS BE BETTER ASKED OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS? I MEAN, OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, IF YOU, THIS MEETING IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PUBLIC MA'AM, AND THEN THE, THE BOARD DOESN'T TAKE ANY ACTION.
WE DON'T TAKE ACTION UNTIL, SO FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, AND THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, I WILL NOT ANSWER, ASK MY QUESTIONS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, SEND THEM TO US.
WE'LL BE GLAD TO GET YOU AN ANSWER.
WELL, AGAIN, I THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW WHAT MY QUESTIONS ARE AS WELL.
YOU CAN READ THEM BECAUSE THEY, YOU KNOW, THERE THEY MAY BE SOME QUE THINGS THAT I SEE THAT THEY MAY BE ASKING THEMSELVES AND WONDER WHY WE DIDN'T BRING THEM UP FOR DISCUSSION.
WELL REMIND YOU THAT YOU DID GO THROUGH THESE BYLINE ITEM AND THIS IS YOUR BUDGET.
I, I'M NOT ASKING TO REDUCE THE BUDGETS, I'M JUST ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE BUDGET.
SO I'LL ASK ONE MORE QUESTION AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON.
SO WHEN WE PUT, UH, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS CAME TOGETHER AND PUT THEIR BUDGETS, SEE ARE WE GOING TO HA HAVE WE, UM, HAS THE BOARD BEEN PRESENTED WITH ALL THE PROJECTS THAT THE FUNDING IS GONNA COVER, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, ASSET REPLACEMENT? WELL MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION.
IF YOU REMEMBER AFTER YOU LOOKED AT ALL THE REQUESTS, YOU HAD A GAP OF $18 MILLION AND WE HAVE CUT THAT DOWN IN VARIOUS STAGES AT TIME TILL WE ARE BALANCED.
BUT EVERYTHING THAT WAS ASKED FOR IS IN THE BUDGET.
AND IF YOU LOOK BACK AT YOUR BUDGET SHEETS UNDER REQUESTS, YOU FIND EVERYTHING THAT WAS ASKED FOR AND THEN UNDER PROPOSED IS WHAT THE BOARD HAS CHANGED IT TO.
SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU'VE REDUCED IT OUT OF.
I'M TALKING PROJECTS SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
AND SO YEAH, IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE NOT IN HERE, THEN THEY, THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH MONEY FOR THEM.
SO THERE'S NO OTHER PROJECTS TO BE DONE EXCEPT THE MONEY THAT'S HERE AND DURING THE, UH, DEPARTMENT PUBLIC HEARINGS, ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, THAT WAS THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, THESE ARE MY PROJECTS THAT I'M GONNA BE WORKING ON AND THIS IS WHAT MY BUDGET'S GONNA COVER FOR.
THEY HAD EIGHT WEEKS EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT
AND JUST AN OPTION, I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE YOUR QUESTIONS, WE COULD ALWAYS HAVE THEM PUT, UM, SURE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING FROM, UM, THE PUBLIC, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO ADHERE TO OUR PUBLIC HEARING ROUTINE.
SO SAYING THAT I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MR. HENDERSON, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? UH, YES MA'AM.
FIRST UP IS JOHN LUNDBERG, AND JUST A REMINDER, IF YOU WOULD SAY YOUR NAME AND THE DISTRICT THAT YOU LIVE IN AND I DO, WE DO HAVE A THREE MINUTE, UH, LIMIT, BUT I TRY TO BE RESPECTFUL IF YOU'RE NEAR THE END.
SO IF YOU'LL LET ME KNOW THAT IF THE BUZZER RINGS, I APPRECIATE IT.
I LIVE AT 2 0 3 PEACHTREE COURT IN FRONT ROYAL.
TONIGHT, I WISH TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC SCHOOL PORTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 WARREN COUNTY BUDGET.
[00:20:01]
IF DR.BALLINGER WERE HERE, AND I'M NOT SURE HE IS, I WOULD STATE TO HIM IN THE STRONGEST TERMS POSSIBLE THAT HE SHOULD SIGNIFICANTLY CUT HIS OPERATING FUND EXPENDITURES FOR THE COMING YEAR, NOT INCREASE THEM.
BALLINGER IS AWARE THAT I OF A DETAILED YEAR LONG STU OF A DETAILED YEAR LONG STUDY OF THE COST OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN WARREN COUNTY THAT I CONDUCTED IN FISCAL YEAR 22.
BEFORE THE START OF THAT FISCAL YEAR, I ASKED HIS STAFF FOR A SINGLE FIGURE OF HOW MUCH MONEY HAD BEEN BUDGETED FOR THE COMING YEAR IN FIVE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
1, 402 TEACHERS, 2 35, ADMINISTRATORS, 3 298 DISTRICT EMPLOYEES OTHER THAN TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, FOUR BENEFITS AND FIVE NON-LABOR COSTS.
I WAS GIVEN THE DATA I REQUESTED, PLUS I WAS TOLD THAT I'D BE NOTIFIED AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR HOW MUCH MONEY WAS ACTUALLY SPENT IN THESE FIVE CATEGORIES.
AT THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 22, HIS STAFF GAVE ME A DETAILED 48 REPORT, 48 PAGE REPORT, THE TOTAL COST TO TAXPAYERS IN FISCAL YEAR 22 TO EDUCATE 5,000 KIDS IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHEN YOU ADD THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT OF $10 MILLION TO THE DISTRICT'S OPERATING FUND EXPENDITURES WAS $80,269,899, AN AVERAGE OF 16,200 PER STUDENT PER YEAR.
INGER WAS HERE, I WOULD SAY, SIR, THAT'S A MIND BOGGLING FIGURE.
FAR, FAR MORE THAN A COSTA FAMILY TO SEND ANY CHILD IN WARREN COUNTY TO ANY PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY.
WHAT WAS MORE DISTURBING, I WOULD SAY TO DR.
BALLINGER ABOUT THE $80 MILLION FIGURE WAS THAT ONLY 32% WAS SPENT ON TEACHER SALARIES.
BALLINGER WAS THE OTHER MONEY SPENT.
YOU ARE NOT APPARENTLY A GOOD MANAGER, NOR ARE YOU APPARENTLY A GOOD CUSTODIAN OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
YOU FREQUENTLY OBFUSCATE A FANCY WORD THAT MEANS YOU CONFUSE, WHICH SHOULD BE FAIRLY EASY TO EXPLAIN.
WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLEARLY TOP HEAVY WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND THERE ARE OTHER HUGE HIDDEN COSTS THAT MUST BE IDENTIFIED AND ELIMINATED.
ALSO, THREE YEARS AGO YOU PROMISED TO LOOK INTO WHY 23% OF WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN WERE NOT ATTENDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THERE'S LITTLE EVIDENCE YOU DID THIS, YOU CERTAINLY HAVEN'T MADE PUBLIC TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE RESULTS OF ANY INVESTIGATION YOU CONDUCTED.
IT'S WELL KNOWN IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT THE REASON FAMILIES ARE FLEEING PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THE HORRIFIC DISCIPLINE AND CURRICULUM PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN THESE SCHOOLS.
MY THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO GO INTO DETAILS ON THOSE TWO PROBLEMS. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, I WISH TO STATE CLEARLY.
BOLLINGER'S REQUEST FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR NEXT YEAR IS AN OUTRAGE.
TELL HIM TO CUT THE COST OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN WARREN COUNTY, NOT INCREASE IT.
DON'T ALLOW HIM TO SPEND ONE PENNY MORE NEXT YEAR THAN HE SPENT LAST YEAR.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
ANYONE ELSE? MR. HENDERSON, NEXT UP IS REBECCA HUDSON.
HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS REBECCA HUDSON.
I AM THE CO-PRESIDENT OF THE WARREN COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE TEACHERS AND STAFF OF WARREN COUNTY.
I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT AND EDUCATOR IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE PARENT OF A WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT.
I'M VERY CONCERNED BY THE DECISION TO PROVIDE NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATORS OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL'S BUDGET.
BECAUSE OF THE DECISION TO FLAT FUND THE SCHOOLS, OUR SCHOOL BOARD HAS NEEDED TO CUT ANOTHER $2.4 MILLION FROM THEIR BUDGET.
EACH BUILDING WILL HAVE TO FUNCTION ON THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS LAST YEAR.
EVEN THOUGH THE COST OF MOST THINGS HAVE GONE UP, HAVING TO DO THIS WILL NOT HELP OR SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS.
EVEN WITH THOSE MEASURES, THE SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO CUT ANOTHER $981,112.
TO DO THIS, THEY WILL NEED TO ELIMINATE THREE NEW POSITIONS.
THOSE POSITIONS WOULD'VE PROVIDED AN ADDITIONAL AGRICULTURE TEACHER FOR OUR STUDENTS, A READING SPECIALIST WHO WOULD'VE HELPED OUR TEACHERS IMPLEMENT THE NEW LITERACY ACT THAT GOES INTO EFFECT NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
AND AN ADDITIONAL ELEMENTARY TEACHER THAT WOULD'VE WOULD HAVE REDUCED CLASS SIZES AND MADE FOR BETTER TEACHING AND LEARNING CONDITIONS.
LOSING THOSE POSITIONS IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TEACHERS OR THE STUDENTS AT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
[00:25:01]
HAVE BEEN CUT, THERE IS STILL A NEED TO CUT THE BUDGET BY ANOTHER $702,569.THERE IS NOWHERE LEFT TO CUT EXCEPT THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF THE TEACHERS AND STAFF OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THIS IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHERS OR STAFF.
THE SCHOOL BOARD NOW HAS TO LOOK AT RAISING INSURANCE RATES IN A WAY THAT WOULD REDUCE THE INCOME OF MOST TEACHERS AND VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE ANY INCREASED PAY FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF THAT HAVE A FAMILY.
IN FACT, SOME TEACHERS MAY ACTUALLY MAKE LESS MONEY NEXT YEAR IF THESE CUTS TAKE PLACE.
TEACHERS WHO HAVE ALREADY SIGNED THEIR CONTRACTS MAY NEED TO BE NOTIFIED THAT THEY WILL NOT BE GETTING THE SALARIES THEY EXPECTED DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING.
THIS DOES NOT SUPPORT THE TEACHERS AND STAFF OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IT IS NOT WHAT IS IN THE BE, IT IS NOT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I IMPLORE YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION TO FLAT FUND THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL'S BUDGET.
PLEASE FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT THE TEACHERS AND STAFF OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT THE VERY LEAST, SUPPORT THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TEACHERS AND STAFF.
THE CURRENT DECISION TO FLAT FUND OUR BUDGET IS HARMFUL TO THE TEACHERS, STAFF, AND STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY.
EXCUSE ME, BUT I HAVE ALLERGIES SO I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS.
UM, JANET FOX, MONO SMITH, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT, WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1973.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND YOUR DECISION ON FUNDING THEIR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE 20 24 20 25 PROPOSED BUDGET HAS AN INCREASE OF $4,635,248.
WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET WILL SEE NO INCREASE IN THEIR FUNDS FROM THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
LEVEL FUNDING IS A TECHNICAL WORD FOR NO MORE, NO LESS PROPERLY FUNDING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUST ALWAYS BE A PRIORITY.
THANK YOU TO OUR VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND GOVERNOR YAKIN FOR MAKING VIRGINIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS A PRIORITY IN THIS YEAR'S STATE BUDGET.
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO RETAIN OUR EXPERIENCE DEDICATED HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES AT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
OUR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HAVE OPTIONS.
FREDERICK COUNTY, NANOR COUNTY, AND OF COURSE NORTHERN VIRGINIA WILL WELCOME THEM WITH OPEN ARMS. WE DON'T LET THEM KNOW HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THEM.
COMPETITIVE SALARIES, AN ENCOURAGING WORD, WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS RETAINING YOUR GREAT WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF.
OUR 5,000 PLUS STUDENTS THAT ATTEND WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL EACH YEAR DON'T HAVE OPTIONS FOR 13 YEARS OF THEIR LIVES.
THIS IS WHERE THEY WILL LEARN, PLAY, MAKE LIFELONG FRIENDS, AND GROW INTO PRODUCTIVE ADULTS.
THESE STUDENTS HAVE HOPES AND BIG DREAMS FOR THEIR FUTURES AND THEY DESERVE THE SAME QUALITY EDUCATION THAT ALL THE PREVIOUS WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED.
THE VERY BEST EDUCATION THAT OUR WARREN COUNTY TAX DOLLARS CAN PROVIDE.
THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS SOME VERY HARD DECISIONS AHEAD OF THEM.
WHAT TO CUT OR POSSIBLY WHO TO CUT AS SOME TEACHING POSITIONS MAY HAVE TO BE ELIMINATED.
IN MAY, THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ISSUED A RESOLUTION THAT STATED IN PART WHEREAS THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE STUDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY AND THE TEACHERS THAT SERVE THEM.
THIS IS A VERY TRUE STATEMENT.
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS OR IN THIS CASE, OUR TAX DOLLARS CAN SPEAK MUCH LOUDER THAN WORDS.
PLEASE THANK LONG AND HARD AND RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION ON FUNDING OUR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE STUDENTS' FUTURES DEPEND ON THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION THEY RECEIVE FROM OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN AUGUST, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO VISIT THE SCHOOLS NUMBERS AND REPORTS.
DON'T TELL THE STORY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WHEN YOU SEE THE GREAT WORK BEING DONE BY OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS AT OUR SCHOOLS.
SOME OF YOU MIGHT CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT OUR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO SKYLINE WARREN COUNTY'S CLASS OF 2024.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GREAT THINGS THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR YOU.
MY NAME IS MEGAN BUD AND I LIVE IN THE FORK DISTRICT.
MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WORK FOR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT ARE STUDENTS IN WARREN COUNTY.
I DIDN'T WANNA SPEAK TONIGHT, BUT I'VE BECOME INCREASINGLY DISCOURAGED BY THE NARRATIVE THAT THIS BOARD AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN SPREADING ABOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
[00:30:01]
FEW MONTHS, I'VE WATCHED YOU SAY THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE FAILING AND DON'T DESERVE MONEY.I'VE SEEN RESPECTED STAFF MEMBERS VERBALLY ATTACKED OVER BUDGET BUDGETARY DISCUSSIONS AND I KEEP HEARING ABOUT SUPPOSED WASTE WITHIN THE BUDGET.
THAT IS FAR FROM WHAT I SEE AND EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY.
I'VE SEEN YOU SAY YOU SUPPORT THE 3% RAISE TO TEACHERS AND I'M GRATEFUL, BUT YOU LEAVE OUT THAT THIS ISN'T FROM YOU, IT'S FROM THE STATE AND IT'S A MINIMUM REQUIRED TO GET THE FULL FUNDING.
YOU DISREGARD HOW YOUR LEVEL FUNDED BUDGET WILL IMPACT THAT RAISE WHEN INSURANCE RATES GO UP SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND WHEN TEACHERS DO NOT HAVE THE SUPPLIES NEEDED TO DO THEIR JOBS, WARREN COUNTY LOSES A HUGE AMOUNT OF STAFF TO HIGH HIGHER PAYING COUNTIES YEARLY.
WE KNOW WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH SOME OF THOSE, BUT WHEN THE SMALLER NEIGHBORING COUNTIES CONTINUE TO DO MORE TO BRIDGE THE GAP, WE FALL FARTHER BEHIND.
ASIDE FROM TEACHER PAY, INFLATION OF NEEDED MATERIALS WILL IMPACT WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ABLE TO DO.
IN ONE YEAR, WE WILL HAVE 600 COMPUTERS THAT CAN'T BE USED WITHOUT OPENING US UP TO SECURITY BREACHES.
BUT YOUR LEVEL FUNDING PROVIDES NO RE REFRESH CYCLE FOR AN ALREADY UNDERFUNDED DEPARTMENT.
MY CLASSROOM IS OFTEN 40 DEGREES IN JANUARY BECAUSE OF AN OLD AND FAULTY HVAC SYSTEM AND THERE AREN'T ENOUGH FUNDS TO REPLACE IT.
I WILL SAY THE MAINTENANCE GUYS ARE WONDERFUL TO GET THAT FIXED QUICKLY, BUT IT HAPPENS DAILY.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, I'M ON THE PTO FOR MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL AND WE WERE ASKED TO PURCHASE PAPER BECAUSE THEY WERE COMPLETELY OUT.
MY OWN SCHOOL WAS FEELING THE PRESSURE OF PAPER USE AND INCREASE COST TO PURCHASE MORE.
ASK YOURSELF HOW YOU EXPECT AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER TO BE EFFECTIVE WITHOUT PAPER.
WHICH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD MAKE MORE CUTS BECAUSE YOU THINK THERE'S WASTE? STOP PLACING BLAME ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND START RECOGNIZING YOUR OWN REFUSAL TO IMPLEMENT TINY TAX INCREASES ON A SCHEDULE TO ACCOUNT FOR FUTURE NEEDS.
I'M BEGGING YOU TO REEVALUATE YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET AND FIND A WAY TO GIVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM EVEN, UM, JUST PART OF THE REQUESTED IN INCREASE NEEDS.
UH, NEXT STEP IS CAMERON WILLIAMS. THANK YOU MADAM CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS CAMERON WILLIAMS AND I LIVE IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'D LIKE TO STATE THAT I'M MORE THAN HAPPY WITH THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.
AS I'VE STATED PREVIOUSLY IN MY COMMENTS BEFORE, THE BOARD INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT OUR TOP PRIORITIES AND NECESSARY FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOL BUDGET, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN DISAPPOINTING AND COUNTLESS RUMORS AND INACCURACIES ARE SWIRLING.
I'M PLEASED THAT THE BOARD HAS DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BUDGET.
ENSURING THAT THE TEACHERS GET RAISES WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN LOCAL FUNDING IS A GREAT STRIDE IN ENSURING THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE WITH THE MONEY THE COUNTY APPROPRIATES.
HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE SCHOOL BOARD PUTTING AGRICULTURE TEACHERS AND RAISES ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK INSTEAD OF CUTTING TIES WITH ESS OR CUTTING ADMINISTRATOR SALARIES IS NOTHING MORE THAN AN ATTEMPT DESPITE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND AVOID ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT'S A POOR ATTEMPT AT GARNERING A REACTION TRYING TO CALL A BLUFF THAT SIMPLY ISN'T THERE.
SOME INDIVIDUALS HAVE RECENTLY COME BEFORE THE BOARD TO CRITICIZE THE ATTEMPT AT FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, EVEN BRINGING UP THAT VIRGINIA IS BEHIND NEW YORK OF ALL PLACES AND SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS AT THE SAME TIME.
THEY'VE DEMEANED THE GRADUATION RATE OF HIGH SCHOOLS IN VIRGINIA, BUT DESPITE ONLY HAVING A THIRD OF THE FUNDING, VIRGINIA SCHOOLS HAVE A GRADUATION RATE ALMOST 10 POINTS HIGHER THAN NEW YORK.
THIS HERE IS A PERFECT, IS PERFECT EVIDENCE THAT EVEN IF YOU GIVE THE SCHOOLS WHATEVER THEY WANT, WITHOUT QUESTION, IT WON'T IMPROVE PERFORMANCE OR EFFICIENCY ONE BIT.
THE ONLY WAY TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE IS TO DO EXACTLY WHAT THIS BOARD DID.
TAKE ACTION LEVEL FUNDING AND PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY.
THE ONLY WAY TO PROGRESS IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND I'M INCREDIBLY, INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL THAT THIS BUDGET IS ENSURING THAT EVERY TAXPAYER DOLLAR IS ACCOUNTED FOR.
IN SUMMARY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR EXCELLENT WORK.
THIS BUDGET CYCLE, YOU'VE CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, PUT NECESSARY SERVICES FIRST, AND ENSURED THAT WASTEFUL SPENDING, PARTICULARLY ON OUR FAILING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IS ADDRESSED.
I HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, QUITE WELL, HAD MY ISSUES WITH THE TAX INCREASE, BUT I STILL APPRECIATE THE FINAL BUDGET AND ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO LET COOLER HEADS PREVAIL AND NOT GIVE IN TO THE RADICAL LOBBIES THAT WANT NO ACCOUNTABILITY, NO RESPONSIBILITY, AND NO CAP ON THIS BUDGET.
UH, THAT'S IT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP.
[00:35:01]
TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? I, Y'ALL KNOW MY NAME SARAH DOWNS.I LIVE IN NORTH RIVER DISTRICT YEAR AFTER YEAR.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THE CHILDREN OF OUR COUNTY AND YET YEAR AFTER YEAR, LOCAL FUNDING TO OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM HAS REMAINED FLAT.
WHY HAVE WE NOT RAISED LOCAL FUNDINGS TO OUR SCHOOLS IN FOUR YEARS? ABSOLUTELY.
I AGREE WITH RAISING TAXES AND FUNDING NECESSARY SERVICES, BUT TO NOT EVEN OFFER A SMALL INCREASE IN FUNDING TO ACCOUNT FOR INFLATION IS UNREALISTIC AND UNACCEPTABLE TO ME.
I PAY MY TAXES ASSUMING AT LEAST SOME OF THE INCREASE GOES TO THE SCHOOLS AND YET NOTHING.
IN MARCH I ADVOCATED FOR THE RAISE FOR TEACHERS NOT REALLY REALIZING THAT THE 3% RAISE WOULD BE NOT ONLY EATEN BY CHANGES TO HEALTH INSURANCE, BUT ALSO AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER NECESSITIES.
ADDING A NEW READING SPECIALIST OR A NEW AGRICULTURE TEACHER IS NOT A CHRISTMAS LIST ITEM.
IN APRIL, I CAME TO YOU EXPLAINING THE DECREASE IN FEDERAL FUNDING AND THAT DECREASE IS LARGE $1.4 MILLION.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE ESTIMATED.
THIS IS SOMETHING I CAME AND WARNED YOU ALL ABOUT AND YET YOU DID NOT ANTICIPATE NOTHING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.
AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THAT SYSTEM REALLY CAN BE COMPARED TO A CHRISTMAS WISHLIST.
THE EXPENSES THAT WILL BE CUT THIS YEAR WILL BE EXPENDED EVENTUALLY, AND IF THEY AREN'T, THE LACK OF FUNDING FOR WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCREDITATION ISSUES, STAFFING SHORTAGES AND MORE.
AND MY FATHER-IN-LAW TAUGHT ME THIS.
A LACK OF INVESTMENT NOW IS AN EXPENSE WITH INTEREST AND INFLATION INCURRED IN THE FUTURE AND OR A CONTINUATION TO FAIL TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN, THEIR EDUCATORS, AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS IN THIS COUNTY.
AND MY ADVOCACY FOR INVESTING IN CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTY WILL NOT CEASE.
ANYONE ELSE AT THIS TIME? I HOW DO YOU DO? MY NAME IS THOMAS RAN.
I'M FROM THE SHENANDOAH DISTRICT AND I'VE COME TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
WE'RE GONNA BE A LITTLE BLUNT.
UM, THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT YOU BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A LOT TO LOOK AT.
THIS AGAIN, SPECIFICALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE EDUCATION BUDGET.
UM, SUCCESS SHOULD BE REWARDED AND FAILURE SHOULD BE PUNISHED.
IF I DON'T DO A GOOD JOB, MY CLIENT WILL FIRE ME.
IF I DON'T GET MY WORK IN ON TIME, MY CLIENT WILL FIRE ME.
IF I DON'T KEEP THE CASE ON TRACK, MY CLIENT WILL FIRE ME.
WHEREAS THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO EXCEED THE STATEWIDE ACCOUNTABILITY BENCHMARK OF 75% ON TESTINGS BETWEEN READING MATHEMATICS AND OTHER SUCH THINGS.
AND 10,000 FAMILIES HAVE MOVED INTO WARREN COUNTY IN THE LAST DECADE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN FEWER STUDENTS AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.
A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT HOW THEY SHOULD GET MORE MONEY FOR FEWER STUDENTS.
WHEREAS MY CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOLS THAT COST A FRACTION OF WHAT THE WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS SPEND ON EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT AND GET A BETTER EDUCATION.
ME BEING HIGHLY EDUCATED MYSELF UNDERSTAND WHAT THE BENCHMARKS OF EDUCATION ARE AND WHAT A TRULY EDUCATED PERSON LOOKS LIKE.
AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING GRADUATED FROM THIS INSTITUTION.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE AN ARCHAIC INSTITUTION THAT HAVE CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO EDUCATE STUDENTS TO A MINIMUM STANDARD FOR DECADES.
AND RATHER THAN HELD THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE, THEY SIMPLY REDUCE THE STANDARDS.
WE'VE GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE BASEMENT LOW ON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, UH, EDUCATE, UH, READING MATHEMATICS, HISTORIC AND POLITICAL CIVIC EDUCATION.
AT THIS POINT, IT'S BECOME CLEAR TO ME AT LEAST THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL'S PURPOSE IS TO TEACH THE STATE RELIGION OF RADICAL EGALITARIANISM SEXUAL LIBERATION AND OTHER UNHINGED PROMETHEAN PROGRESSIVE BELIEFS.
AND TO ENSURE THE CONFORMITY OF THE STUDENTS TO THOSE BELIEFS.
IT IS A HUGE WASTE OF TIME AND OF MY MONEY.
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS CARE A LITTLE TO NOTHING ABOUT EDUCATING STUDENTS
[00:40:01]
REGARDING THE RICHEST AND SUPPLYING COMPLEXITY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION AND THE WESTERN CANON AND AMERICAN HISTORY.BECAUSE LEARNING THOSE BEAUTIFUL THINGS INOCULATES ONE AGAINST THE POLITICALLY POLITICAL IDEOLOGY.
THEY'RE SO VERY ATTACHED TO THE CRAZIEST THING THAT THEY THINK IS THAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO PROPAGANDIZE OUR CHILDREN AND MISEDUCATE THEM AND THAT IT IS JUST AND RIGHT, THAT WE AS TAXPAYERS ARE FORCED TO PAY FOR IT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR AGREE WITH IT OR NOT.
WCPS REFUSES TO HOLD ITSELF ACCOUNTABLE.
THEIR SUPERINTENDENT HAS REFUSED TO ATTEND MEETINGS, UH, WITH THE, WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THERE HAS BEEN ACTIVE ARGUMENT AND, UM, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ACTUALLY OVERSEE THE SCHOOLS.
I SEE THAT MY TIME IS RUNNING OUT, SO I'M GONNA JUST JUMP AHEAD AND JUST SAY, THE TEACHERS WORK FOR US.
IF THEY'RE NO LONGER ACCOUNTABLE OR COMFORTABLE WITH THE DEMANDS OF PARENTS OR GRATEFUL FOR THE FUNDING THAT WE D TO GIVE THEM, THEY'RE WELCOME TO FIND ANOTHER SCHOOL MORE SUITED TO THEIR TEMPERAMENT AND PREFERENCES.
AND WE CAN HIRE STUDENTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY GONNA ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WILL AND UNDERSTANDING OF PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS OF WARREN COUNTY.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? HI EVERYBODY.
UH, SCOTT LLOYD, 1 1 4, 9 HAPPY RIDGE DRIVE.
UM, HERE IN TOWN, I, UM, ONLY HAVE A FEW WORDS TO TO SAY.
UM, AND THAT IS, UH, BASICALLY I DON'T, I DON'T SUPPORT A BUDGET THAT NECESSITATES A TAX INCREASE AND I DON'T SUPPORT ANY BUDGET THAT SUPPORT, UH, NECESSITATES A TAX INCREASE.
UM, AND AS, AS A VOTER, I PICK CANDIDATES WHO ARE NOT GOING TO INCREASE SPENDING AND WHO ARE NOT GONNA INCREASE TAXES.
AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, THIS BOARD IS A BOARD WHO HAS VOTED TO INCREASE TAXES AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE HURTING FINANCIALLY FROM INFLATIONARY PRESSURE ON THEIR BUDGETS.
AND, UM, BUT THERE'S, IT'S POSSIBLE TO REVERSE COURSE AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO DO SO.
UM, FURTHER SCRUTINIZING HIS BUDGET IN ORDER TO, UM, IDENTIFY FURTHER SAVINGS TO, UM, HEAD IT, UH, DIRECT US ON A PATH TOWARD REVERSING THE TAX INCREASE IS THE PATH THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? GOOD EVENING, ANNE MIRANDA.
IT'S A SAD DAY WHEN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM CHOOSES TO WEAPONIZE ITS TEACHERS AND EVEN WORSE ITS STUDENTS TO TRY TO PLAY AN UNDERHANDED AND DECEPTIVE PR GAME WITH TAXPAYERS USING LOCAL MEDIA AS THEIR ACCOMPLICES AS A PRODUCT WHERE MAYBE I SHOULD SAY A VICTIM AND SURVIVOR OF THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM MYSELF.
I RECOGNIZE THESE TACTICS ALL TOO WELL.
TUG AT THE HEARTSTRINGS OF PEOPLE WITH THE WAR CRY OF, BUT THINK OF THE CHILDREN.
WHY DO YOU HATE EDUCATION? IN ORDER TO GUILT PEOPLE OF GOODWILL INTO SHAKING OUT WHAT'S LEFT OF THEIR POCKETS AND MAKING THEM THINK THAT IT'S THE STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATION WHO ARE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THAT.
WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS HAD A CONTINUOUS INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE TO SHOW FOR THAT.
WE HAVE SCHOOLS WHO STILL DON'T MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS, WHICH ARE BAD ENOUGH AS IT IS.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS GETTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS MORE THIS YEAR FROM THE STATE, WHICH SHOULD COMFORTABLY PAY FOR AN INCREASE IN TEACHER SALARIES.
SO WHY DO THEY NEED TO SQUEEZE MORE MONEY OUT OF WARREN COUNTY RESIDENTS? THE ABYSMAL STATE OF OUR NATIONAL EDUCATION IN COMPARISON TO OTHER COUNTRIES WHO SPEND LESS PER STUDENT SHOULD BE PROOF ENOUGH THAT THROWING MORE MONEY AT A SYSTEM DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS DEMONSTRATED A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT ALLOWS THEM TO CONTINUE ABUSING FUNDS WHILE COWARDLY SHIELDING THEMSELVES BEHIND THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF WARREN COUNTY WHO ARE FED UP.
I'M DEMANDING THAT THE BOARD FREEZE THE COUNTY BUDGET AND NOT GIVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM A SINGLE CENT.
MORE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY HAVE HAD TO TAKE OUT LOANS AND SKIP MEALS IN ORDER TO PAY THEIR TAXES.
WHILE OUR BUSTED SCHOOLS GET FANCY TENNIS COURTS AND ADMINISTRATORS SALARY INCREASES, THEY HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO PAY THEIR TEACHERS WITHOUT HAVING TO BULLY THE COUNTY INTO GIVING THE FAT CATS MORE MONEY.
AND THE MEDIA CAN CONTINUE SPINNING THIS LIKE THEY'VE BEEN DOING, BUT YOU CAN'T CONTINUE TO HIDE THE TRUTH AFTER IT HITS PEOPLE'S POCKETBOOKS AND LIVELIHOODS.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? HALA.
[00:45:01]
CREEK.YOU KNOW, I AM AGAINST THE RECENT TAX INCREASE AND ANOTHER POTENTIAL ONE, BUT I WANTED TO GO OVER SOME NUMBERS BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS PEOPLE, UH, THAT ARE SERVING THE INTEREST OF THE, UH, THEMSELVES AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT'S GOTTEN LIKE LIZZO FAT.
UM, IT'S GOTTEN WAY OUTTA CONTROL.
I WANNA LAY OUT SOME NUMBERS HERE.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, 2018 PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPENDITURES FOR THE COUNTY.
55 MILLION 2019 56 MILLION 2020 57 MILLION.
I CAN'T FIND ON THE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE.
YOU GUYS SHOULD PROBABLY LOOK INTO THAT.
BY 2023, IT'S INCREASED TO 67 MILLION.
SO WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH THAT MONEY? HOW ARE THEY STILL FAILING OUR CHILDREN? HOW ARE THEY STILL FAILING TO MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS IN FOUR OUT OF 10? THE SCHOOLS NOW, THEY WANNA TAKE THE MONEY AWAY FROM THESE OFFICERS BACK HERE.
THAT'LL HELP THEM IF THEY EVER RUN TO ANY SORT OF EMERGENCY.
THAT'S WHO THEY WANNA TAKE THE MONEY FROM RIGHT NOW.
AND NOW YOU GOT A SUPERINTENDENT WHO DOESN'T EVEN SHOW UP WHEN THESE CALLED TO MANDATORY MEETINGS.
HE DOESN'T SHOW SHOW UP WHEN IT COMES TO THE, THE ACTUAL BUDGET, UH, PROPOSAL MEETING.
HE DOESN'T SHOW UP AT THE AUDIT.
HE DOESN'T TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.
AND HE'S, AND HE'S, I I FEEL LIKE HE'S DISRESPECTING THE PEOPLE BEHIND HIM HERE.
AND IT'S HORRIBLE TO WEAPONIZE THESE TEACHERS, UM, AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINS AGAINST THE TAXPAYERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S SAD 'CAUSE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET CUTS.
WHAT CUTS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? THERE HASN'T BEEN A SINGLE CUT TO, TO THE, UH, EXPENDITURES OF WHAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY GAINED AT ALL THAT EVERY YEAR THEY'RE GOING UP.
THEY'RE GETTING MORE MONEY EVERY YEAR.
SO WHERE'S THE CUTS? I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SO, UH, I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THE TAXPAYERS STOP BEING DISRESPECTED.
UH, I THINK UH, PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE TAKING OUT LOANS TO GET BY, WHEN THEY'RE TAKEN OUT, UM, WHEN THEY HAVE TO SKIP MEALS TO PAY THEIR TAXES, IT'S GONE WAY TOO OUTTA HAND.
IT'S NOT GONNA BE REMEDIED BY THROWING MORE MONEY AT IT.
THEY'VE GOTTA GET THEIR HOUSE IN ORDER.
SO I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO PLEASE HOLD THE LINE.
DO NOT INCREASE THE LOCAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE SCHOOL WHATSOEVER.
THEY'RE GETTING ANOTHER $4 MILLION THIS YEAR FROM THE STATE.
THAT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE PASSIVE OF WHAT I JUST LAID OUT.
THERE'VE BEEN TIMES WHERE THEY'VE ONLY GAINED ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS AND THEY'VE BEEN FINE.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? SECOND CALL.
MY NAME IS ADAM, DISTRICT ADAM BITNER.
I'M IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT AND I HEAR THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT US RAISING OUR TAXES.
OF COURSE WE NEED TO WEIGH VERY HEAVILY ON RAISING OUR TAXES, BUT WHY DOES IT HAVE TO COME DOWN TO SLAPPING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM'S WRIST? THE REASON WHY I ASKED THIS QUESTION IS BECAUSE WHAT BRINGS INCOME INTO AN AREA? WELL, GOOD SCHOOLS DO.
WE HAVE GREAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS THAT PROVE WE HAVE GREAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA, BUT IN ORDER TO BRING MORE PEOPLE TO WARREN COUNTY AND THEREFORE BOLSTER OUR TAX INCOME, YOU WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD WORK WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO IMPROVE THOSE BUDGET NUMBERS.
HOWEVER, WAY, WAY IT NEEDS TO GO.
YOU KNOW, JUST ULTIMATELY TAKING IT AWAY AND SAYING, OH YEAH, SOMEBODY ALREADY SAID IT.
WE'RE GONNA USE THE CHILDREN AS A SHELTER, HOWEVER THEY'RE OUR FUTURE.
CORRECT? WE WOULD WANT A NICE BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY, IN WHICH CASE OUR YOUTH ARE THE LARGE PART OF IT.
SO THEM BEING BETTER EDUCATED, THEM HAVING BETTER RESOURCES.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A STREET SWEEPER THAT GOES ALL OVER TOWN HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK? YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT VARIOUS DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE CAN GO AHEAD AND REDUCE BUDGETS ELSEWHERE AND ALSO GIVE THE SCHOOL PART OF WHAT, WHAT, WHAT THEY NEED.
WE MAY NOT NEED A NEW TENNIS COURT, HOWEVER, THERE ARE HOLES ELSEWHERE AND THERE ARE PLACES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
LET'S CONSIDER ALL ASPECTS OF THE FUTURE OF WARREN COUNTY.
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? SECOND CALL.
[00:50:02]
THIRD AND FINAL CALL.WE TAKE NO ACTION ON UH, THIS ITEM.
IT WILL BE VOTED ON, UM, JUNE 25TH,
SO DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MADAM CHAIR IS SO MOVED.
WELL I APPRECIATE EVERYONE COMING OUT TONIGHT AND UM, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME BACK AND BE WITH US AGAIN JUNE 25TH.
THANK YOU ALL AND SAFE TRAVELS HOME.