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AND, UM, WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR APRIL 14TH, 2026, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE WILL HAVE THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT, ONE ON THE BUDGET, ONE ON THE TAX RATES, AND THEN ONE ON AN ORDINANCE, UM, TO IMPOSE A CIGARETTE TAX.
AND AT THIS TIME, UM, I'D LIKE US ALL TO STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE PLANS APPEAR PLEDGE, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC, WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND WE'LL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
OKAY, THANK YOU ALL AND I WILL CALL THIS MEETING WOO TO WATER.
AND JUST TO, UM, GO OVER A FEW THINGS BEFORE WE GET STARTED.
UM, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE TURNING OUT TONIGHT.
WASN'T QUITE SURE HOW MANY PEOPLE WE WOULD HAVE, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE THIS AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE.
SO WE MOVED IT HERE BECAUSE IT SOMETIMES GETS TO BE STANDING ROOM ONLY IN THE GOVERNMENT CENTER.
SO TONIGHT IS YOUR NIGHT TO BE HEARD, AND WHEN YOU CAME IN, YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A BROCHURE THAT'S GOT INFORMATION THAT DR. MARTIN WILL GO OVER IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.
UM, THERE WON'T BE ANY PRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THE BUDGET THAT, UH, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO INTO THE GOVERNMENT CENTER AND TAKE ONE HOME AND LOOK AT IT, UH, AND THEN BRING IT BACK.
UM, YOU'LL HAVE A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON EACH OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES, UM, TO COME UP.
AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SAY YOUR NAME AND THE DISTRICT THAT YOU LIVE IN.
I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU ADHERE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, CODE.
THERE'S NO NEED TO BE DISRESPECTFUL, UM, USE OF LANGUAGE OR BEHAVIOR.
WE'RE ALL HERE FOR THE SAME REASON.
WE'RE WILLING TO LISTEN TO YOU.
WE KNOW THIS IS A VERY, UM, PASSIONATE THING TO WHEN TAXES ARE BEING CONSIDERED, ESPECIALLY AN INCREASE.
THERE'S NOT, NOT GONNA BE ANY DECISION TONIGHT.
WE'RE HERE TO LISTEN AND TOMORROW AT SIX O'CLOCK THERE'S ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING THAT WE'VE CALLED, UM, WHERE WE'RE GONNA SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS WHAT WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT.
THERE WON'T BE ANY, UM, VOTING TOMORROW NIGHT.
THE INTENTION IS JUST TO GO OVER WHAT WE'VE HEARD AND HOW WE CAN COME TO THE BEST BUDGET DECISION.
UM, ON APRIL 22ND, WE SHOULD BE VOTING ON THE BUDGET.
THERE WAS, UM, A MISTAKE ON THE ADVERTISEMENT THAT THE MOBILE HOME RATE WAS NOT, UM, INCREASED AS WAS THE REST OF THE REAL ESTATE.
SO WE HAVE TO RE ADVERTISE THAT AND WE WILL BE VOTING ON THAT AT THE APRIL 28TH MEETING.
I THINK I'VE GOT THAT RIGHT, DR. MARTIN.
[A.1. FY 2026-2027 Budget - Board of Supervisors ]
IS TO LISTEN TO YOU AND GIVE YOU THE TIME TO, UM, SPEAK YOUR CONCERNS AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND INCREASE.SO I WILL READ THE, UM, DR. MARTIN, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND, AND DISCUSS THE BROCHURE AND THEN I'LL READ THE PUBLIC COMMENT, UH, CODE OF CONDUCT.
UH, HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU HAVE A BROCHURE AND I'D LIKE JUST TO SUMMARIZE PIECES OF THIS.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, ON THE FIRST PAGE, YOU HAVE OUR PROPOSED BUDGET OF $103,922,923.
AND WHAT OUR CURRENT BUDGET IS, IS 93,440,000.
SO IN THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL, IT INCLUDES GENERAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND DEBT SERVICE.
AS YOU OPEN YOUR BROCHURE UP ON THE FAR LEFT HAND
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SIDE, UM, SO WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO ACTUALLY PUT ON HERE WHERE, WHERE DOES ALL THIS MONEY COME FROM? SO WE KNOW IN OUR BUDGET, OUR PRIMARY REVENUE SOURCES ARE REAL ESTATE TAXES OF AROUND 45, UH, PERCENT PERSONAL PROPERTY 21.AND IT GOES ON AND ON FROM THERE.
SO THE KEY TAKEAWAY REALLY IS THAT LOCAL TAXES MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTY BUDGET.
AS WE LOOK THIS, HOW ARE WE SPENDING THIS MONEY? AND YOU'LL SEE THIS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH INCLUDES FIRE, EMS, SHERIFF AND DETENTION IS ABOUT 25%.
UH, EDUCATION FOR WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS ABOUT 33%.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT IS, UH, 10.73% PARKS AND REC, AND IT GOES ON AND ON FROM THERE.
SO, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY AND EDUCATION REMAIN OUR COUNTY'S TOP PRIORITIES.
BUT LET ME STOP THERE FOR A MINUTE AND TELL YOU, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN THREE GOALS OF THIS BUDGET AND THOSE HAVE BEEN, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY EDUCATION AND, UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE'RE GONNA HIT ON ALL THREE OF THOSE IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION THAT YOU'LL SEE HERE TONIGHT.
UM, IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS, IT STARTED VERY EARLY IN THE FALL WHERE EVERY DEPARTMENT HEAD WHERE MET WITH THEIR DEPARTMENT AND THEY DETERMINED WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE, NOT THEIR WANTS, BUT WHAT THEIR NEEDS.
AND WHEN THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, WE BEGAN TO LOOK AT THAT.
WE HAD BROUGHT THE DEPARTMENT HEADS IN AGAIN AND WE MEASURED THEM WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE AGAINST THE PRIORITIES FOR THE COUNTY.
JUST REMEMBER PUBLIC SAFETY, EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO AS WE LOOK AT HOW THE BUDGET PRIORITIES ARE NOW, JUST KEEP THOSE THREE GOALS IN MIND.
UH, THE FIRST IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND FOR THAT, UM, FIRE AND RESCUE WILL BE GETTING, WE HOPE, SIX POSITIONS.
UM, THERE ARE, THERE'S GOING TO BE LIKE WITH MANY OF OUR COUNTY OFFICES, THERE IS AN INCREASE IN SALARY.
UH, WE HOPE THAT THOSE, UH, WILL RETAIN INDIVIDUALS AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS GOING TO GET THREE FULL-TIME.
AND THERE ARE SOME TECH TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES.
AS WE LOOK AT EDUCATION, WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT, UH, A LITTLE OVER $5 MILLION.
ONE OF THOSE IS JUST THEIR INCREASE, UH, THEIR COLA AND THEN THEIR STEP INCREASE.
UM, BUT THE MAJOR INCREASE HERE IS WHAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD ABOUT AND READ ABOUT IN THE NEWSPAPER.
AND THAT IS THEIR INSURANCE INCREASE THIS YEAR IS 23.7%.
NOW, ONE THING THAT THE BOARD REALLY CONCENTRATED ON AS WELL AS THE COUNTY STAFF IS WE HAD TO MAKE UP THEIR INCREASE BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL INVESTED IN OUR TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO LEAVE AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WE KNOW THAT EXPERIENCED TEACHERS, UH, MEANS INCREASED PERFORMANCE FOR STUDENTS.
SO I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION FROM EDUCATION WHERE YOU SEE THE ASTERISK NUMBER TWO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS, UM, THE STATE ASKED THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT TO CONSIDER.
SO ACCORDING TO HOUSE BILL 29, THEY HAVE PROPOSED A $1,500 BONUS FOR STATE RECOGNIZED, UH, INSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPPORT POSITIONS IF ACCEPTED, BECAUSE NOW THERE'S A CHOICE IF ACCEPTED, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO FIND $760,728, UM, AND THE SCHOOLS WOULD NOW BE IN CHARGE OF FINDING THAT MATCH.
SO, UH, RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION THAT'S BEING REQUESTED.
THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIND THOSE DOLLARS WITHIN THEIR BUDGET.
UH, REMEMBER ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF OUR BUDGET WAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO, UM, THIS IS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE COUNTY WHERE WE WANT AN INDIVIDUAL TO BEGIN TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, BRING BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY INTO WARREN COUNTY.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IS WE WANT THIS INDIVIDUAL TO GO VISIT OUR CURRENT BUSINESS LEADERS.
WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT OUR CURRENT BUSINESS LEADERS AND, UM, THE INDUSTRIAL PEOPLE HERE, ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT AN EXPANSION? IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE CAN DO FOR YOU? UM, TO
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KEEP YOU HERE IN WARREN COUNTY, WE WANT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO STAY IN WARREN COUNTY.THIS PERSON WILL ALSO LOOK AT HOW ARE WE GOING TO PROMOTE AND GET PEOPLE TO COME HERE BECAUSE WE KNOW IF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THRIVES, OUR TAX BASE WON'T GO UP AND THERE WON'T BE A NEED TRULY FOR A TAX INCREASE.
ON ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THIS WILL BE FOR FUNDING OF DISPOSAL AND MAINTENANCE FEES INCREASES.
UM, AND IN TERMS OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND ASSETS, UH, WE HAVE IN THE COUNTY BUDGET, UH, TAKEN OUT ALL OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS AND WE'RE HOPING THAT ONCE THE AUDITS ARE DONE AND WE'RE PRETTY CLOSE IN HAVING THOSE AUDITS DONE ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, WE'RE HOPING TO USE THOSE EXCESS DOLLARS FOR OUR ASSET REPLACEMENT AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
SO WHY DOES ALL THIS MATTER? UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UM, WE ONLY WANT TO USE ONETIME FUNDS FOR ONE TIME EXPENSES.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE, UM, A SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO PAY FOR SALARIES BECAUSE USING YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT, THAT'S ONE TIME MONEY, SALARIES, ONCE YOU GIVE THE INCREASE, THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.
SO TYPICALLY IN A BUDGET, YOU ONLY USE THOSE ONE-TIME FEES FOR ONE-TIME EXPENSES LIKE REPLACEMENT OF ROOFS, UH, BUYING SCHOOL BUSES, UM, LOTS OF ONE-TIME EXPENSES.
ALRIGHT, SO AS YOU GO ON THE BACK, JUST SO YOU KNOW, UM, A TAX INCREASE OF 1 CENT EQUALS $750,000.
THAT'S HOW WE'VE CALCULATED IT.
SO THE CHANGE FROM OUR CURRENT BUDGET TO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET IN THIS SCENARIO IS 10,000,004 $82,923.
SO LET'S BREAK THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
AND, UH, WE, WE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT.
UM, A HOME ASSESSED AT $350,000 IN WARREN COUNTY WOULD SEE A CHANGE IN THEIR TAXES OF $175 EVERY SIX MONTHS.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
SO THIS BUDGET IS DESIGNED TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS TO MAINTAIN THE EMERGENCY SERVICES, UM, TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. UH, TO START LOOKING AT ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ARE GOING TO ADDRESS SOME INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND WE ARE LOOKING AT INCREASING OUR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
SO THE LAST PAGE, WHICH IS A PIE CHART, WHICH ALL LIKE PICTURES.
UM, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW OUR BUDGET IS ACTUALLY BROKEN OUT BY DEPARTMENTS, UH, KNOWING THAT EDUCATION IS THE LARGEST PART, BUT RIGHT BEHIND THAT IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO IT TELLS US WITHIN OUR BUDGET THAT WE REALLY VALUE, UH, THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO KEEP OUR, UM, CITIZENS VERY SAFE.
WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET.
MS. BROWN, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YEAH,
UM, ALL COMMENTS WILL BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, NOT TO THE AUDIENCE.
BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR FELLOW SPEAKERS.
THERE SHOULD BE NO APPLAUSE, BOOING OR OTHER AUDIBLE DISRUPTION TO THE PROCEEDINGS.
THROUGH A SHOW OF HANDS, THE CHAIRMAN MAY ASK FOR A SHOW OF SUPPORT FOR COMMENTS MADE BY SPEAKERS, CLACKERS POSTERS AND OTHER MEANS OF VISUALS.
DISPLAY OF COMMENTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED, UM, DURING THIS PROCESS.
THESE DON'T, UM, INCLUDE INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS AS PART OF A FACTUAL PRESENTATION.
THE BOARD WILL NOT TOLERATE PERSONAL ATTACKS ON ANYONE AND ANYONE WHO VIOLATES THE GUIDELINES MAY BE ASKED TO LEAD BY THE CHAIRMAN.
I MAY HAVE TO PULL IT UP A LOT CLOSER.
IS THIS MICROPHONE ON? YES, SIR.
DR. MARTIN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,
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MY NAME IS JOHN LUNDBERG.I LIVE IN THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I CAME HERE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON TO BE THE FIRST TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE UNCONSCIONABLE 20% INCREASE PROPOSED BY THE NEW MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, CHERYL COLORS, TONY CARTER AND HUGH HENRY.
I THINK I SPEAK FOR MANY IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IN THIS BUILDING TONIGHT.
MY MESSAGE TONIGHT IS EXCEEDINGLY CLEAR, NO NEW TAXES, NONE.
INSTEAD USE EXCESS MONEY YOU HAVE IN YOUR RESERVE FUND TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENSES FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AT WHICH TIME THE COUNTY'S DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS WILL BE REDUCED BY ALMOST $3 MILLION.
THAT MONEY PLUS ADDITIONAL REVENUE THE COUNTY WILL LEARN WILL MORE THAN OFFSET INCREASED COSTS.
ALSO, WHY HAS THE AUDIT OF HOW MUCH MONEY WARREN COUNTY RECEIVED AND SPENT IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, WHICH ENDED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO, NOT BEEN COMPLETED BY AN OUTSIDE AUDITOR AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS? HOW CAN YOU SAY TONIGHT OR THIS WEEK AND UNTIL YOU APPROVE THE BUDGET THAT YOU'RE GONNA SPEND QUOTE, UNSPENT MONEY FROM FISCAL YEAR 24 WHEN YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE AN APPROVED AUDIT FOR THAT YEAR.
MRS. COLORS, I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID AT THE MARCH MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
QUOTE, THIS IS A SHOT IN THE DARK IN CLOSING.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD OUR TAXES BE INCREASED BY 20% OR I DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD BE INCREASED AT ALL WHEN OUR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS SHOOTING IN THE DARK WITH OUR TAX MONEY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
IS THIS WORKING? UM, MY NAME IS LOUIS MOTON FROM NORTH RIVER DISTRICT AND UM, BASICALLY I FIND IT INTERESTING.
COMMENTS HAVE BEEN GOING AROUND.
UM, WE ARE WANTING TO SPEND MONEY FROM OUR RESERVES, YET WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S EXACTLY IN OUR RESERVES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MODEL OF WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE.
YET I HAVE SAT IN THE FINANCE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHERE THEY HAVE CALLED FOR A, UH, FORENSIC AUDIT AND THEN THE FORMER CHAIR WOULD COME TO SUPERVISORS REPEATEDLY ASKING FOR A FORENSIC AUDIT.
AND SUDDENLY WE ARE PROPOSING ONLY A SMALL TAX HIKE AND TO DIP IN OUR RESERVES WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS IN OUR RESERVES.
WE CAN'T JUST DEPEND ON OUR REVENUE ALONE.
WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF A TAGS BUMP.
I DON'T KNOW IF 10% IS GOOD AS A PERMANENT THING.
WE DO NEED SOMETHING TO GET US OVER THE EDGE AUDIT BEFORE WE START SPENDING MONEY THAT WE DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE OR NOT.
I'M SORRY I COULDN'T HEAR YOU.
SIA, I THINK YOU MAY HAVE TO REALLY PULL IT UP.
CLOSE MALE MAIA FROM HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I LIVE IN SHE FARMS. I CAN SEE NOW THAT THAT'S NORTH RIVER
ANYWAY, I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS AND ADDITIONAL TAX INCREASE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN, UH, LIKE A LOT OF THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE.
UM, I, I STILL WORK FULL-TIME AS A SALARIED EMPLOYEE FOR A LOCAL COMPANY.
MINE AND MY HUSBAND'S INCOMES ARE FIXED.
AND EXCEPT FOR THAT ANNUAL COST OF LIVING INCREASE THAT WE ARE BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO GET.
SO WHEN I HEARD THAT YOU WERE CONSIDERING ANOTHER TAX INCREASE, I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT, OKAY, WHAT CAN I DO WITHOUT? IS IT A STREAMING SERVICE LIKE NETFLIX,
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WHICH I DON'T HAVE? UM, IS IT FEWER TRIPS INTO TOWN? I LIVE 10 MILES OUT.IS IT FEWER DINNERS AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS? IT ALREADY COST ME.
LAST NIGHT WE ATE OUT AT ONE OF THE LOCAL PLACES.
IT COST $45 PLUS TIP AND WE DIDN'T EVEN ORDER MUCH.
UM, IS IT POSTPONING OR POSSIBLY GOING WITHOUT SOME EVERYDAY ITEMS LIKE GROCERIES? UM, AND COULD I START USING COUPONS AGAIN? ABSOLUTELY.
AND COULD I GIVE LESS TO CHARITIES, WHICH I ONLY GIVE TO CHURCH RIGHT NOW.
SO I KNOW I HOW TO DO WITHOUT.
UM, I'VE DONE IT DURING THE 1970S RECESSIONS AND AGAIN IN THE OBAMA YEARS, BUT THAT'S NOT MY POINT.
MY HUSBAND AND I WORKED AND SAVED TO HAVE THE MODEST LIFESTYLE THAT WE HAVE NOW.
WE LIVED ON A BALANCED BUDGET AND SELF AUDITED EVERY SIX MONTHS.
SOME OF THEM WERE PAINFUL, UH, TO JUST TO STAY WITHIN OUR INCOME.
LAST YEAR, OUR FAMILY BUDGET BY HIT WAS HIT BY A DRASTIC INCREASE IN ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUE.
THOSE ASSESSED VALUES ARE ARTIFICIALLY BASED ON A BULLISH HOUSING MARKET.
THIS MARKET COULD CHANGE AT ANY MINUTE.
THIS INCREASE CURRENTLY GIVING IT CURRENTLY DOES GIVE THE COUNTY ADDITIONAL TAX REVENUE.
BY THE WAY, MY HOUSE IS ASSESSED, I THINK UNFAIRLY AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN YOUR EXAMPLE.
SO IF YOU COULD TELL ME HOW MUCH I NEED TO ADJUST IN MY BUDGET, IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 30 BUCKS.
SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IN YOUR PAMPHLET THAT YOU HAVE STARTED THAT AUDIT, WHICH IS LONG TIME COMING.
UM, AND I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT, AND I HOPE IT DOES IDENTIFY WHERE THERE REALLY IS A DEFICIT OR OVERAGE AND I HOPE IT IDENTIFIES UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURES.
AND, AND SO THAT THE, AND IS THE DALE FARMS DISTRICT SANITARY DISTRICT BUDGET INCLUDED IN THAT BUDGET AUDIT? SO I'VE PARTICIPATED IN LARGE COMMUNITY BUDGET PLANNING, A THANKFUL BUT NECESSARY JOB.
NO COMMUNITY CAN SURVIVE AND PROSPER WITH TAX AND SPEND POLICY.
AND IT'S NOT EASY SAYING NO OR NOT YET, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR DEPARTMENTS COME TO YOU WITH THEIR NEEDS.
AND SO DON'T GET CAUGHT IN A BAIT AND SWITCH WHERE THEY SAY, HEY, I NEED 20 BUCKS, BUT REALLY ALL THEY NEED IS FIVE.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE DOING THAT AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK THOSE HARD QUESTIONS.
CAN OUR COMMUNITY REALLY AFFORD ANOTHER TAX INCREASE? I HOPE YOUR ANSWER IS NO.
I'M GREGORY SANNER, LIVE IN NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, NOW YOU GUYS ARE IN A HOT SEAT.
UM, I THINK LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE EDAI THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED BECAUSE WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO REALLY SUPPORT GOVERN THE EDA.
BUT THE EDA IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A BAD TASTE IN THEIR MOUTH FROM THE EDA, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE GET AGGRESSIVE WITH THE EDA IN WARREN COUNTY BECAUSE WE NEED MORE BUSINESS IN WARREN COUNTY.
AND I DID A LITTLE GOOGLE SEARCH TODAY AND I SEE THE SIGNS ALL OVER THE PLACE THAT SAY NO DATA CENTERS.
OKAY, I MYSELF DON'T WANT TO SEE A DATA CENTER.
BUT IF YOU DO A LITTLE GO GOOGLE SEARCH AND YOU FIGURE THE AVERAGE THAT A DATA CENTER WOULD PAY ON THE EQUIPMENT AND AN AVERAGE SIZE DATA CENTER, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX ALONE, THEY WOULD PAY $30 MILLION A YEAR.
WE, IN WARREN COUNTY, WE KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
WE, WE DO ENOUGH TO GET BY FOR THIS YEAR.
AND IT'S JUST THE SAME THING YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
BUT IF WE GET AGGRESSIVE WITH THE EDA AND WE TRY TO GET OR ALLOW AT LEAST ONE DATA CENTER OUT OF THE WAY, SURROUNDED WITH TREES, WHATEVER, GET THE REVENUE IN THAT THE COUNTY NEEDS, THE COUNTY IS GOING TO GROW WHETHER WE WANT IT TO OR NOT, IT'S NOT GONNA STOP.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD THAN 26 AND 27 AND 28.
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WE GOT MONEY IN THE UPCOMING BUDGETS BECAUSE THINGS ARE GONNA GET WAY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THEY ARE NOW.I DON'T WANT MY TAXES RAISED, BUT THE REALITY IS WE DON'T WANT TO GET RID OF OUR SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE WANT GOOD SCHOOL SCHOOLS FOR OUR KIDS.
I HOPE YOU COULD KEEP IT AT A MINIMUM, BUT A LOT OF US DO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION THAT, YOU KNOW, RUNNING THIS COUNTY IS STRESSFUL AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ARE NOT POPULAR.
SO THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING IS LET'S GET AGGRESSIVE WITH THE EDA AND REALLY PUSH THAT, YOU KNOW, LET'S, LET'S GET A REPUTABLE EDA ONE THAT THE CITIZENS CAN TRUST AND MAYBE SOME EDUCATION TO THE CITIZENS OF THE BENEFITS.
YOU'LL GET MORE BENEFIT OUT OF ONE DATA CENTER THAN YOU'LL GET OUT OF A THOUSAND RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF ALL THE KIDS THAT YOU'RE GONNA BRING IN TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE MORE STRAIN YOU'RE GONNA PUT ON THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THE MORE STRAIN YOU'RE GONNA PUT ON THE PUBLIC SERVANTS.
JASON RUFFNER, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
WE LIVE IN LAKEFRONT ROYAL AND WE EXPECT TO BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
IT'S 2.3 MILES AND FIVE MINUTES DOWNHILL FOR EMS TO GET TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE CHESTER GAP FIRE AND RESCUE STATION, THE STATION HERE IN TOWN.
AS MUCH AS WE RESPECT AND DEPEND UPON, THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE IS TWICE AS FAR AWAY AND WOULD TAKE TWICE AS LONG GET TO US.
WHEN CONSIDERING THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET, PLEASE VOTE TO RESUME SUPPORT FOR THESE LIFESAVING SERVICES FROM CHESTER GAP.
AS YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE, CHESTER GAP FIRE RESCUE HAS BEEN SAVING LIVES IN WARREN COUNTY SINCE THE 1960S.
THEY COVER MORE THAN 16 SQUARE MILES OF WARREN COUNTY AND THEY PROTECT MORE THAN 2000 RESIDENTS IN WARREN COUNTY, MORE THAN THEY DO IN HAN COUNTY.
MOST OF THEIR CALLS SEND THEM TO HOMES IN WARREN COUNTY.
WHEN THE TIME COMES THAT ANYWHERE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR IN PORT OF WOODS OR ALONG OUN ROAD OR ALONG, UH, HAR HARMONY, HOLLER ROAD NEEDS LIFESAVING EMS SERVICES.
THOSE MINUTES ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
SO PLEASE RESUME OUR COUNTY SUPPORT FOR CHESTER GAP'S.
EDWIN WRIGHT, 41 51 GOONIE MANDER LOOP IN BROWNTOWN.
I BELIEVE THAT EACH OF YOU STARTED DOWN THE ROAD THAT BROUGHT YOU HERE WITH GOOD INTENTIONS.
IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THOUGH THAT FORENSIC AUDITS ARE NOT DIFFICULT OR TIME CONSUMING TO COMPLETE UNLESS THERE IS FRAUD OR INCOMPETENCE SOMEWHERE IN THE, THE WORK OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE DONE IN PUBLIC.
WE SHOULDN'T BE INCREASING TAX RATES UNTIL YOU CAN SHOW HOW THE COUNTY HAS BEEN SPENDING ITS MONEY AND WHY IT NEEDS MORE.
LET'S INCREASE TAXES ON THE PEOPLE IN BUSINESSES IN OUR COUNTY WHO CAN ACTUALLY AFFORD TO PAY IT.
LET'S MAKE OUR SCHOOLS AMAZING AND SOCIAL SERVICES BREED ANYBODY WHO REALLY NEEDS THEM.
LET'S HIRE MORE FIREFIGHTERS AND BUILD MORE PARKS.
BUT YOU'VE MADE IT HARDER FOR US, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, TO KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON IN OUR COUNTY BY PUSHING INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS INTO CLOSE SESSIONS, POSTING AGENDAS AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND ADJUSTING YOUR MEETING TIMES TO WHEN FEWER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN EVEN ACTUALLY ATTEND.
IT LEADS ONE TO SPECULATE AS TO WHY, WHAT IS BEING HIDDEN FROM US WHEN PUBLIC OFFICIALS SIGN NDAS WITH CORPORATIONS OR DEVELOPERS HIDE INFORMATION AND CLOSE SESSIONS OR PROPOSE MAXED OUT TAX INCREASES WITHOUT EVEN BEING ABLE TO PRODUCE AN ACCURATE ACCOUNTING OF HOW YOU'VE BEEN SPENDING OUR MONEY FOR YEARS.
IT FEELS LIKE THOSE PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE WORKING FOR CORPORATIONS AND DEVELOPERS INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY PROTECTING US AND PROMOTING THE GOOD OF THE COUNTY.
I HOPE RATHER THAN BELIEVE THAT ALL THIS IS ACTUALLY BENIGN, I HOPE RATHER THAN BELIEVE THAT SOME GROUP OF SOMEONES IN THE SYSTEM IS JUST BAD AT IT AND THAT EVERYTHING IS ACTUALLY OKAY.
I BELIEVE THAT EACH OF YOU STARTED DOWN THE ROAD THAT BROUGHT YOU HERE WITH GOOD INTENTIONS, BUT WHEN YOU ZOOM BACK OUT AND LOOK AT ALL OF THIS, THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE TAX INCREASES, AND WHERE THE COUNTY IS ACTUALLY GOING FROM YOUR ROLE AS A CITIZEN NEIGHBOR, DOES IT REALLY SIT WELL WITH YOU? THANK YOU.
[00:30:06]
WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME? YES, SIR.JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, LOOK, I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET HUNDRED THREE, UH, BUT I HAVE MORE CONCERNS ABOUT THE METHOD OF WHICH ARRIVED AT THIS FIGURE.
I KNOW THAT DEPARTMENT HEADS COME IN AND PRESENT, UH, A BUDGET TO YOU, BUT THE BUDGET THAT I HAVE HERE HAS, UH, 35 LINE ITEMS. AND I DON'T THINK THAT YOU, DURING THESE, THIS BUDGET PROCESS, YOU HAD INFORMATION TO BACK UP EVERY NUMBER ON THESE LINE ITEMS AND, AND THERE'S, UH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT CONFIRMING HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT PAST YOU? DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO BE LEFT OVER CURRENT VISIT? UH, I THINK THAT'S, THERE'S NO OVERSIGHT ON HOW THE YEAH, BUT YOU SET THE BUDGET UP AND YOU GET THE DEPARTMENT HEADS JUST LIKE, THAT'S IT.
NO ONE ELSE THERE, NO OTHER, THERE'S NO OTHER METHOD IN PLACE TO GUARANTEE THAT THE MONEY IS SPENT FROM WHAT IT WAS.
I I KNOW THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS GIVEN $500,000 ABOUT FIVE, SIX MONTHS AGO, WHICH WAS ABOVE THEIR ORIGINAL BUDGET, AND NOW THEY WANT ANOTHER THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION DOLLARS.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE $500,000 WAS SPENT ON? I MEAN, I, I WANNA SUPPORT THE FIRE AND RESCUE, UH, BUT I DON'T WANNA GO BROKE.
AND YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT OR I THINK AWARD A CONTRACT FOR $200,000 FOR AN OUTSIDE AGENCY TO WORK ON THIS AUDIT WHEN IN FACT WE HAVE TWO DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY THAT SHOULD TAKING CARE OF THAT.
SO WHERE IS THAT MONEY AT IN THE, ON ITEMS HERE? THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE MY, I JUST, UH, I DON'T THINK THAT THE PROCEDURES FOR ALLOCATING THIS MONEY ARE NOT WHAT THEY WOULD BE IF IT WAS PRIVATE.
PRIVATE COMPANIES WOULD HAVE MORE IN DEPTH RESEARCH TO GUARANTEE THAT BUDGET IS RIGHT GOVERNMENTALITY TO COME IN TO A PRESENTATION.
IT'S ALL OPEN, BUT THERE'S NO END UP.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, SIR.
MIKE HILLARY, UH, SENATOR O SHORES.
UH, WHEN THE BOSS TOLD ME THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT MEETING, I, UH, HAD TO BE HERE AND I WANTED, I WANTED TO BE A LITTLE SMART WHEN I GOT HERE.
THE THING I, I CAME AT IT FROM A, A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, MAYBE THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
I LOOKED AT THE WARREN COUNTY DELINQUENT TAX DATABASE.
THERE'S ALMOST A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS OF UNCOLLECTED TAXES IN THERE.
AND I ASKED MYSELF TO ASK YOU, IS THERE A PROCESS FOR COLLECTING THAT? I MEAN, THAT'S COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF RAISING.
MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO RAISE IF WE GET WHAT'S OWED TO US.
AND I'M TALKING MULTIPLE YEARS AND MY PREDECESSOR HERE MENTIONING EDA, UH, IT FEDERAL IS LEADING THE 16 PAGE LIST OF DELINQUENT TAXES.
I I, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T PURSUE THAT A LITTLE.
AND UH, OBVIOUSLY THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE.
WE'LL HAVE TO RAISE TAXES AT SOME POINT, BUT WE'RE OWED A LOT OF MONEY.
AND, UH, I JUST PRESENT THAT TO SEE IF, UH, WE HAVE A PROCESS.
MELANIE SALAND, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I AM THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD REPRESENTATIVE.
I WANTED TO QUICKLY AND CONCISELY EXPLAIN WHY THE SCHOOLS NEED A SIGNIFICANT FUNDING INCREASE THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE GONE YEARS NOW WITHOUT RECEIVING THE MEALS TAX MONEY TO FUND FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES AS IS DUE TO US PER THE REFERENDUM VOTE OF 2003.
MINIMUM WAGE HAS INCREASED YEAR AFTER YEAR, DRIVING OUR SALARY EXPENSES UP.
OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS HAVE INCREASED ANNUALLY WITH THIS YEAR BEING THE WORST OF THE INCREASES AT NEARLY 25%.
THE INSURANCE RATES ARE GOING UP
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SIGNIFICANTLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE VALLEY DUE TO THE HIGHER RATE OF MEDICAL SERVICE COSTS IN OUR AREA.THANKS TO THE MONOPOLY THAT VALLEY HEALTH HOLDS ON OUR REGION, I'M ALSO THE CO-FOUNDER OF BIRTH LOCAL.
I HAVE ASKED SINCE 2018 FOR OUR TOWN AND COUNTY TO CHARGE VALLEY HEALTH A PILOT TO HELP OFFSET WHAT THEIR TAX EXEMPT BUSINESS COSTS THIS COMMUNITY, I HOPE IT IS CLEAR TO EVERY CITIZEN THAT VALLEY HEALTH IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE PROPOSED TAX INCREASE THIS YEAR.
I ASK THIS BOARD TO PLEASE PUT IN THE WORK TO HOLD VALLEY HEALTH ACCOUNTABLE ONCE AND FOR ALL AND START CHARGING THEM A PILOT SO THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE BURDEN BEING PASSED ALONG TO THE FAMILIES STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY IN THIS COMMUNITY.
WHILE I BELIEVE OUR SCHOOLS NEED A FULL FUNDING INCREASE, I ASK THE COUNTY TO GET THEIR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER BEFORE EXPECTING THE CITIZENS TO SOLELY FOOT THIS BILL.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE UNTAPPED AND UNCOLLECTED REVENUE STREAMS. THE VALLEY HEALTH PILOT IS JUST ONE OF THEM.
LAST YEAR THIS BOARD PASSED AN ORDINANCE ALLOWING AGRO AGRICULTURAL LANDOWNERS TO REZONE TO INDUSTRIAL USE AND GAVE THEM FULL DEFERENCE ON THEIR BACK TAXES.
THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GIVE AWAY FREE RIDES ON TAXES RIGHT NOW AND EXPECT US TO PICK UP THE DIFFERENCE.
THE BATTLEFIELD ASSOCIATION MADE A SEVEN FIGURE OFFER TO BUY THE VACANT LAND AT MCKAY SPRING PROPERTY, AND THIS BOARD HAS NOT EVEN ALLOWED THEM TO PUBLICLY PRESENT THEIR OFFER.
THIS LAND HAS BEEN FOR SALE OFF AND ON FOR ALMOST A DECADE, AND A MAJORITY OF IT IS IN THE FLOODPLAIN.
AND IT SEEMS UNFAIR THAT THE COUNTY WOULD IGNORE OVER A MILLION DOLLAR OFFER WHILE ASKING CITIZENS TO ACCEPT THE BURDEN OF SUCH A LARGE TAX INCREASE.
TO ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THE COUNTY IS A COUPLE YEARS BEHIND ON COMPLETING THEIR AUDITS AND PRIOR COUNTY AUDITS IDENTIFIED MATERIAL WEAKNESSES THAT LED TO FINANCIAL INTERNAL CONTROL FAILURES.
THE COUNTY HAS NEVER HAD A FULL FORENSIC AUDIT DONE TO PROPERLY ASSESS THE FULL SCOPE OF THE EMBEZZLEMENT FOR THOSE WATCHING AT HOME WHO MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE.
AN ANNUAL GOVERNMENT AUDIT IS A ROUTINE MANDATORY EXAMINATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS.
WHEREAS A FORENSIC AUDIT IS A SPECIALIZED TARGETED INVESTIGATION INITIATED WHEN FRAUD HAS OCCURRED.
I BELIEVE IT IS WORTH THE TIME AND EXPENSE TO DO THE FORENSIC AUDIT AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCIAL ISSUES ONCE AND FOR ALL.
IN CLOSING, I ASK THIS BOARD TONIGHT TO NOT TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT AND JUST TAX US LITTLE GUYS, BUT RATHER TAKE ACTION TO INVESTIGATE AND FIX THE FINANCIAL ISSUES IN THIS COUNTY AND MAKE THE BIG BOYS START PUTTING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE TAX BURDEN TOO.
HELLO, I'M ANDREW SCHMIDTKE, UH, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, JUST BRIEFLY ON DATA CENTERS, UH, VIRGINIA HAS MORE DATA CENTERS THAN ANY OTHER STATE IN THE UNITED STATES, SO I REALLY DON'T WANNA SEE ANY MORE DATA CENTERS.
CERTAINLY NOT ONE HERE IN WARNER COUNTY.
UM, BUT BRIEFLY JUST BEFORE THIS, UH, I GOT TO THIS MEETING.
I WAS SPEAKING WITH MY BROTHER MIKE, WHO OWNS, RUNS THE, UH, STRONG OAKS WOOD SHOP AND FRONT ROYAL EMPLOYEES ABOUT DOZENS, A DOZEN AND A HALF PEOPLE, OR AT LEAST HE DID.
'CAUSE ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AFTER THE WAR STARTED AND THE GAS PRICES STARTED GOING UP, HE SAW A, HIS, UM, SALES PLUMMET AND HE'S BASICALLY LOOKING AT HAVING TO SHUT DOWN.
UH, SO A TAX INCREASE AT THIS TIME SEEMS LIKE, UM, NOT A GOOD IDEA.
UH, I THINK HIS BUSINESS, SINCE HE IS DOING KIND OF LIKE, UH, LUXURY, UM, ITEMS IN THE SENSE THAT HE'S, UH, MAKES, YOU KNOW, CUSTOM FURNITURE OUT OF RECLAIMED BARN LUMBER, THAT THIS COULD KIND OF BE LIKE A, UH, CANARY IN THE MINESHAFT KIND OF BUSINESS.
AND IF THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE HIS BUSINESS IS GOING, OTHER BUSINESSES LIKE THAT COULD SUFFER AND THE ECONOMY COULD BE KIND OF FRAGILE.
AND SO I THINK LIKE, UM, A TAX INCREASE LIKE, AND WOULD NOT BE A GOOD IDEA AT THIS TIME.
MY NAME'S JAKE MEZA, UM, AT CREEK DISTRICT.
AND I'M SPEAKING TONIA AS WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON TOWN COUNCIL AND HAS HAD TO REVIEW BUDGETS LINE BY LINE, ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT SPENDING CUTS WHEN NECESSARY, I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO ASK THE STAFF TO JUSTIFY EXPENSES AND FIND EFFICIENCIES WHEN THE NUMBERS DEMAND IT.
THAT EXPERIENCE IS WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAST FIVE YEARS, IT'S CLEAR THAT WARREN COUNTY HAS RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL NEW REVENUE WITHOUT RAISING TAXES AT ALL.
BETWEEN 2020 AND 2025, REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENTS IN VIRGINIA INCREASED BY ROUGHLY 36%,
[00:40:01]
AND VEHICLE VALUES ROSE ABOUT 25%.THESE INCREASES ALONE HAVE DRAMATICALLY EXPANDED THE, THE COUNTY'S TAXABLE BASE.
BASED ON THE COUNTY'S OWN BUDGET DOCUMENTS AND STATEWIDE TRENDS, WARREN COUNTY'S GENERAL FUND REVENUE HAS GROWN BY AN ESTIMATED OF 15 MILLION TO 23 MILLION PER YEAR OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND THAT'S A MAJOR STRUCTURAL INCREASE IN REVENUE DRIVEN ENTIRELY BY RISE IN ASSESSMENTS, NOT BY TAX RATE CHANGES.
AND FOR TAXPAYERS, THE EFFECT IS THE SAME AS A TAX INCREASE.
WHEN ASSESSMENTS RISE, BILLS RISE, FAMILIES, SENIORS, WORKING RESIDENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PAYING MORE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
MANY HOUSEHOLDS ARE PAYING HUNDREDS MORE ANNUALLY THAN THEY WERE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.
THIS IS A REAL BURDEN AT THE TIME WHEN THE COST OF GROCERIES, INSURANCE, UTILITIES, AND HOUSING HAVE ALL GONE UP.
AND GIVEN THIS REALITY, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO ASK THE BOARD DIRECT QUESTIONS.
IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, HAS THE COUNTY MADE ANY SERIOUS EFFORT TO REDUCE COST? HAS THE BOARD ASKED DEPARTMENTS TO FIND EFFICIENCIES? HAS ANYONE, HAS ANYONE BEEN ASKED TO JUSTIFY SPENDING INCREASES? HAS THE COUNTY DONE WHAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN WARREN COUNTY HAS HAD TO DO, HEIGHTEN THEIR BELTS, PRIORITIZE NEEDS OVER, WANTS, AND MAKE HARD CHOICES? AND THAT BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER POINT THAT DESERVES ATTENTION.
WE'VE HEARD REPEATEDLY THAT RISING HEALTHCARE EXPENSES ARE ONE OF THE REASONS THE COUNTY NEEDS MORE REVENUE.
BUT I WANNA ASK A SIMPLE AND REASONABLE QUESTION.
HAS THE COUNTY EVALUATED THE EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE PLANS TO SEE WHETHER THEY ALIGN WITH INDUSTRY AVERAGES RATHER THAN GOVERNMENT NORMS? BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT WARREN COUNTY AND THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL HAVE HAD TO MODERNIZE THEIR PLANS, ADJUST COST SHARING, AND NEGOTIATE AGGRESSIVELY TO KEEP PREMIUMS MANAGEABLE.
THEY DO THIS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO RAISE TAXES TO COVER THE DIFFERENCE THEY HAVE TO OPERATE WITHIN THEIR MEANS.
YET THE COUNTY CONTINUES TO MODEL ITS HEALTHCARE PLANS AFTER GOVERNMENT SECTOR STANDARDS, PLANS THAT ARE OFTEN MORE EXPENSIVE, LESS FLEXIBLE AND INSULATED FROM MARKET PRESSURES.
AND IF THE COUNTY IS GONNA CITE HEALTHCARE INFLATION AS A JUSTIFICATION FOR HIGHER TAXES, THEN TAXPAYERS DESERVE TO KNOW WHETHER THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN THE SAME STEPS THAT PRIVATELY EMPLOYER, THAT PRIVATE EMPLOYERS HAVE TAKEN TO CONTROL OF THEIR COSTS.
AND FINALLY, I WANNA MAKE ONE SPECIFIC REQUEST.
BEFORE APPROVING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THE BOARD SHOULD PUBLISH A CLEAR ITEMIZED LIST OF ALL EXPENSE REDUCTION INITIATIVES THAT THE COUNTY HAS IMPLEMENTED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND SHOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE GENERAL FUND THOSE REDUCTIONS ACTUALLY REPRESENT.
THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY BENEFITED FROM MILLIONS OF NEW REVENUE BEFORE CONSIDERING ANY TAX INCREASES.
THE BOARD OWES THE PUBLIC A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF HOW THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE HAS BEEN USED AND WHAT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CONTROL THOSE COSTS.
TAX INCREASES SHOULD BE A LAST RESORT, NOT THE DEFAULT RESPONSE AND RISING EXPENSES.
AND FOR THESE REASONS, I URGE YOU TO REJECT ANY TAX INCREASES AND INSTEAD FOCUS ON RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF THE REVENUE THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY RECEIVED.
MIKE SANDS, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, I WASN'T PLANNING ON TALKING, BUT UM, I JUST PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER REALLY QUICK TO TRY AND COLLECT MY THOUGHTS.
UM, IT IS ABSOLUTELY INFURIATING HAVING TO HEAR THAT PEOPLE ON FIXED INCOMES MAY NEED TO MAKE CUTS IN THEIR HOME BUDGETS DURING THEIR TIME OF WHAT SHOULD BE RELAXATION AND REWARD YEARS WHEN WE HAVEN'T EXPLORED ALL OTHER, ALL OTHER OPTIONS.
WHEN WE PUT ANNUAL BUDGETS TOGETHER AT WORK, WE LOOK AT CUTS AND POTENTIAL PROFITS THAT WE MAY HAVE MISSED AND WE CALL THAT MONEY LEFT ON THE TABLE.
UH, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR VALLEY HEALTH TO PAY PILOT FOR YEARS.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, IT STANDS FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.
UH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, VALLEY HEALTH DOESN'T CONTRIBUTE TO COUNTY, UH, DOESN'T CONTRIBUTE TO THE COUNTY IN THE FORM OF TAXES, UH, BUT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LARGE PART OF THE PROPOSED TAX INCREASE.
UH, HOW ABOUT WE START THERE? WE ARE ALREADY FACING MASSIVE TAX HIKES AT THE STATE LEVEL UNDER THE GUISE OF MAKING THINGS AFFORDABLE.
SO PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WE CAN'T HANDLE ANY MORE OF THIS AFFORDABILITY.
UM, SIDE NOTE, THERE'S NO REASON TO ADD ANY DATA CENTERS OUT HERE.
UM, I THINK YOU HEAR PLENTY FROM PEOPLE THAT WANNA STAY HERE.
UH, THERE'S THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT SEEM TO BE FIGHTING FOR DATA CENTERS SOMEHOW PROFIT OFF IT.
SO IF, IF YOU'RE UNSURE ABOUT DATA CENTERS, JUST GO TO LOUDOUN COUNTY.
IT'S, IT'S HORRENDOUS, RIGHT? EVERYBODY'S LEAVING IN DROVES, SO THEY'RE BRINGING ALL THIS MONEY FROM THE DATA CENTERS FOR NOTHING.
SCOTT LLOYD FROM THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
MY PREPARED REMARKS ARE PROBABLY BEST SUITED FOR THE, UM, TAX INCREASED PORTION OF, OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT.
[00:45:01]
JUST MAKE A FEW POINTS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC, UH, DEVELOPMENT PART OF THE, THE, UM, THE BUDGET.AND I, I JUST WANNA MAKE A FEW POINTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT I, THIS IS PROBABLY THE LOWEST HANGING FRUIT WHEN YOU WANNA LOOK FOR, FOR CUTS.
UM, IF IT WAS WORKING, WE WOULD NOT NEED TO INCREASE THE BUDGET AND WE WOULD NOT NEED A TAX INCREASE.
WE'VE BEEN INCREASING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUDGET FOR SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
AND IF IT WORKED, IT WOULD BE PRODUCING THE REVENUE THAT YOU NOW SAY THAT YOU'RE, YOU'RE LACKING, UM, NOTHING PERSONAL.
BUT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T HAVE ANY SPEC SPECIAL COMPETENCE OVER LOCAL E ECONOMIES.
AND IN FACT, WHEN YOU ASK A GOVERNMENT TO DO SOMETHING, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT IT'S, IT'S NOT GOING TO TEND TO BE THE, THE BEST SERVICES YOU CAN GET, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU COMPARE IT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
THIS IS SOMETHING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
WE DO NOT NEED THE GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTING TO HOLD THE LOCAL ECONOMY'S HAND AND, AND DIRECT IT IN ANY DIRECTION.
UM, WHETHER IT BE TOWARD TOURISM OR, OR ANYWHERE ELSE, REALLY, WE JUST NEED THE LOCAL ECONOMY NEEDS THE GOVERNMENT TO STAY OUT OF ITS WAY TO REDUCE ITS TAXES TO MAKE THINGS EASIER ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
JUST A VERY BRIEF COMMENT ON THE DATA CENTERS.
IF YOU COULD SAY YOUR NAME AND DESK.
REGINA SCHMIDTKE, UH, NORTH, NORTH RIVER.
UM, SORRY, I WAS JUST ON THE DATA CENTERS.
I WAS JUST AT A GATHERING UP IN, I WANNA SAY IT WAS LOUDOUN COUNTY, UH, FREDERICK.
UM, AND BASICALLY I WAS TALKING TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THAT AREA AND THEY WERE SAYING THEY HAD MOVED.
I TALKED TO A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER AND A RETIRED PRINCIPAL AND THEY WERE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD MOVED OUT THERE AND BOUGHT A NICE PIECE OF PROPERTY OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND WERE PLANNING ON RETIRING THERE.
AND THEN A DATA CENTER MOVED IN AND THEY WERE LIKE, THE NOISE ALONE IS DRIVING THEM CRAZY.
AND THEY AND THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY, SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROPERTIES, WERE ALL THINKING ABOUT MOVING, MOVING OUT WEST TO GET AWAY FROM THE DATA CENTERS.
AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO COULD MOVE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.
THEY MOVED THERE AND NOW AS A RESULT, THEY DON'T WANNA LIVE THERE ANYMORE.
SO, DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, CONSOLIDATED WHATEVER FEELINGS I HAD ABOUT HAVING DATA DESCENDERS HERE.
ANYONE ELSE WANNA SPEAK? YES, SIR.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR HOLDING THIS FORM AND GIVING US CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND LISTEN AND LEARN.
I READ VERY CAREFULLY THE ARTICLE THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE PAPER TODAY AND I FOUND YOUR WORK, UH, VERY THOROUGH, VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING AND, UH, GOOD, GOOD WORK.
AS FAR AS, UH, OTHER SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SPOKEN HERE THIS EVENING, I APPLAUD AND REALLY, REALLY GOOD SPEAKERS HERE.
AND, UH, SO I WON'T HAVE TO REPEAT A LOT OF THE POINTS THAT THEY MADE.
UM, BUT A 21% TAX INCREASE OUT OF THIS WORLD, UH, PUTTING IT DOWN TO 10% YEAH.
BUT WITH THE RECENT REAL ESTATE TAX ASSESSMENT INCREASES HUMONGOUS PEOPLE LIKE MY WIFE AND MYSELF ON FIXED INCOMES.
WE'RE LITERALLY BEING TAXED OUT OF THE COUNTY OFF OF OUR LAND.
MY PERSONAL OPINION IS TIGHTEN THE BELT, NO NEW TAXES WHEN IT COMES TO VALLEY HEALTH WITH 150 MILLION OR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS CAMPUS ON 150 ACRES.
AND THEY'RE GETTING, DARE I SAY, A FREE RIDE.
LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES OR INSTANCES LIKE THAT WHERE YOU CAN GET THEM ON THE TAX ROLLS AND THEY CAN GENERATE THE INCOME THAT YOU NEED TO CONTINUE THE OPERATION OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP MY FEELINGS.
TRY TIGHTEN THE BELL AND NO NEW TAXES, PLEASE.
AND YOU CAN PULL THAT DOWN MA'AM, IF YOU NEED TO.
UM, CHRISTINE RA, UM, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, SO MY NEIGHBOR IN LAKEFRONT ROYAL, UM, GAVE YOU A LOT OF FACTS AND FIGURES, VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION, UM, ABOUT, UH, RETAINING THE CHESTER GAP EMERGENCY
[00:50:01]
SERVICES.SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE A PERSONAL STORY THAT WOULD MAYBE HELP YOU, UM, VISUALIZE AND SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE SERVICES.
UM, WHEN WE MOVED HERE YEARS AGO, UH, LOOKING FOR A HOUSE, ONE OF THE TOP FACTORS WAS HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO AN AMBULANCE? HOW CLOSE WILL AN AMBULANCE GET TO US? BECAUSE MY ELDERLY MOTHER WAS MOVING IN WITH US.
UM, WE WERE VERY BLESSED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO USE THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT LAST SPRING, INDEED, I HAD TO CALL 9 1 1 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE MY MOTHER WAS IN PAIN AND COULDN'T MOVE.
AND THE SPEED AT WHICH THOSE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS GOT TO MY HOME WAS INCREDIBLE.
WHEN YOUR LOVED ONE IS IN PAIN, EVERY MINUTE SEEMS UNENDING, BUT THEY WERE THERE VERY, VERY QUICKLY.
THEY GOT MY MOTHER TO THE HOSPITAL, SHE GOT THE CARE SHE NEEDED.
UH, I REALLY CANNOT EVEN PUT A DOLLAR VALUE ON THE SERVICES THAT WE RECEIVED THAT NIGHT FROM CHESTER GAP, BUT I KNOW YOU ALL DO KNOW THE DOLLAR VALUE OF THAT.
AND I WOULD JUST, UM, REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND THAT I HOPE THAT THOSE DOLLARS CAN REMAIN IN THE BUDGET AND YOU SUPPORT THE CHESTER GAP EMERGENCY SERVICES.
YOU CAN TILT IT BACK UP SO WE CAN.
I LIVE, UM, IF, IF YOU WANNA PULL IT BACK UP.
HOW ABOUT IF I SCOOCH DOWN? OKAY.
UM, DAVE MCGILL LIVE UP ON 1 41, UH, ARROW ROAD IN LINDON.
UM, HAVING BEEN AN ELECT, UH, ELECTED OFFICIAL ON A BOARD, LIKE WHAT YOU'RE, I COULD APPRECIATE THE TORMENT AND STRUGGLES YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
AND, UH, ON A SIDE NOTE PERSONNEL, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
NOW I'M GONNA GET INTO THE GOTCHA.
I MOVED OUT HERE AND FLED FAIRFAX COUNTY BECAUSE MY PROPERTY TAXES, FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT MY HOME IN, IN FAIRFAX COUNTY TO THE TIME I HAD TO FLEE, FAIRFAX COUNTY DOUBLED.
SO I WAS PAYING, I WENT FROM PAYING $5,000 A YEAR TO PROPERTY TAXES TO $10,000 A YEAR.
I MOVED OUT HERE SPECIFICALLY TO FLEE THAT, THAT NONSENSE.
NOW, NOW MY PROPERTY TAXES GOING UP AND ALMOST DOUBLED AGAIN.
AND I'M THINKING I'VE BEEN HERE SEVEN YEARS, THEY'VE GONE UP THAT MUCH.
WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH? AND HAVING DONE STUDIES ON THE COST OF WHAT THE LEGITIMATE COST OF GOVERNMENT, I KNOW THAT THERE'S CUTS.
I KNOW THAT YOU COULD DO CUTS.
21% INCREASE IS A SHOCK AND YOU'RE TAXING ME OUTTA MY HOME.
I MOVED OUT HERE SPECIFICALLY SO I COULD RETIRE AND I WANT TO INTEGRATE WITH THE COMMUNITY, BUT YOU'RE ALMOST GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE BECAUSE MY TAXES IS GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN'T AFFORD IT.
AND I, MY HOME IS PAID OFF, SO I HAVE TO PAY THIS EVERY YEAR.
AND I SAY I LOVE IT OUT HERE EXCEPT FOR ONE DAY OF THE YEAR WHEN I HAVE TO DROP OFF THAT BIG CHECK DOWN AT THE COUNTY FOR MY ASSESSMENTS FOR MY PROPERTY TAXES AND MY SANITARY DISTRICT.
SO I'D LIKE TO SEE MORE EMPHASIS THAT YOU REALLY TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE, AT THE AMOUNT OF BUDGET THAT'S GOING OUT THERE.
AND IF WE DON'T HAVE MONEY, YOU GONNA HAVE TO PRIORITIZE.
I ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY THAT COMES IN AND I HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE IN SIX YEARS AND IT'S COMING OFF OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR NINE MONTHS AND GETTING A NEW JOB AT A, AT A LOWER RATE.
UM, I HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH WHAT I GOT.
I CAN'T GO TO MY EMPLOYER SAY, I NEED $10,000 MORE TO COVER MY EXPENSES.
I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD PRIORITIZE AND BE REALISTIC 21% OR EVEN A 10% INCREASE.
THAT'S SIGNIFICANT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STUCK ON A FIXED INCOME.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU, I REALLY DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTY OF WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH.
ANYONE ELSE? HEY, MATTHEW BIRDIE.
I LIVE IN HAPPY CREEK, 1 38 TRENT TRAIL COURT.
HOW YOU GUYS DOING? YOU KNOW, I WORK FOR BREITBART.
I'VE HAD TO, UH, USE THAT EXERCISE THAT A LITTLE BIT RECENTLY IN THIS COUNTY.
UM, SO I MOVED HERE ORIGINALLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO LIVE IN A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY COUNTY, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.
I GOT A RULEISH PLACE AND IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC.
[00:55:01]
UH, IT'S BEEN A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FROM WASHINGTON, DC AND ALL THE SWAMP, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE SWAMPS WORKING ITS WAY OVER HERE A LITTLE BIT, UH, OR IT HAS, UH, OVER THE PAST DECADE.SO, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM HERE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE SAYING THAT THEY'RE NOT GETTING A PAY RAISE AND THEY ARE BEING TAXED OUTTA THE COUNTY.
I MEAN, THIS, THIS MAN I JUST SPOKE BEFORE IS A SAINT AND YOU GUYS ARE GONNA RAISE TAXES ON THESE GUYS THAT IT CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO STAY IN THE COUNTY, THAT CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
YOU GUYS HAVEN'T EVEN DONE YOUR HOMEWORK COMPLETELY.
YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE AUDIT.
YOU GOT A FORENSIC AUDIT THAT'S TAKEN, WHAT, LIKE EIGHT OR NINE YEARS OR HASN'T HAPPENED? WHY HASN'T A FORENSIC AUDIT BEEN DONE? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S SO HARD ABOUT GETTING THAT DONE.
I HEARD SOMEONE BEFORE SAY THEY COULD, THEY COULD DO THAT THEMSELVES, SO JUST HIRE HIM.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT TAKES EIGHT OR NINE YEARS TO DO THAT, OR IT TAKES TWO YEARS TO GET A, UH, GOVERNMENT AUDIT FINISHED.
I MEAN, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE TELLING ME, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RIGHT OR NOT, BUT THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU GUYS ARE GOING AGAINST STATE LAWS BY NOT RELEASING THESE AUDITS EVERY YEAR.
FOR THE SAKE OF ALL OF YOUR REPUTATION, I STRONGLY ADVISE THAT YOU GUYS GET THAT AUDIT DONE AND YOU DON'T INCREASE THESE TAXES OR YOU MIGHT BECOME A NATIONAL NEWS STORY.
HI, MY NAME IS AMBER MARTIN AND I LIVE IN THE FORK DISTRICT.
UM, I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT A TAX INCREASE WITHOUT A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COUNTY'S FINANCES.
THE COMBINATION OF THE COUNTY NEVER DOING A FORENSIC AUDIT AFTER, AFTER THE EDA EMBEZZLEMENT AND BEING MULTIPLE YEARS BEHIND ON AUDITS SHOWS THAT THERE WERE SOME, THERE WAS SOME IRRESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING THAT HAS HAPPENED YEAR OVER YEAR AND IS RATHER ALARMING BEFORE CONSIDERING A TAX INCREASE.
WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT OUR COUNTY MAY BE OVERLOOKING OR MISSING.
I UNDERSTAND THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY BATTLEFIELD OF FOUNDATION IS IN INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE MCKAY SPRINGS PROPERTY, WHICH HAS SAT FOR SALE YEARS AGO WITH LITTLE INTEREST AND HAS BEEN OFF MARKET FOR YEARS.
THIS IS A HARD SALE PROPERTY WITH IT BEING IN A FLOODPLAIN UNDERGROUND GAS TANKS AND MULTIPLE SEPTIC TANKS.
THIS WOULD BRING REVENUE TO A PROPERTY THAT IS CURRENTLY DOING NOTHING.
AND I DO BELIEVE THIS TYPE OF USE COULD ALLOW THE TOWN TO STILL MAINTAIN ITS WATER RIGHTS, WHICH AFTER A MEETING I HAD WITH SOME OF YOU, IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S A REALLY BIG TOP PRIORITY.
AT THE VERY LEAST, I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS OFFER SHOULD AT LEAST BE LOOKED AT AND CONSIDERED.
NEXT VALLEY HEALTH IS A LARGE NONPROFIT THAT DOES NOT PAY TAXES, BUT THE COUNTY CAN REQUEST A PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES.
THEY HAVE ALSO RECENTLY MOVED THEIR EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS TO A FOR-PROFIT THIRD PARTY COMPANY, WHICH RAISES FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN CONTRIBUTING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER ONE I'VE FOUND RECENTLY IS THAT THE CITY OF WINCHESTER DRAWS WATER FROM THE NORTH FORK ON THE WARREN COUNTY SIDE.
THEY GENERATE OVER $6 MILLION ANNUALLY IN REVENUE WHILE WARREN COUNTY ONLY RECEIVES AROUND $130,000 OF THAT.
THE GAP SUGGESTS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO, UH, PROPERLY, OH, I'M SORRY.
NET GAP SUGGESTS WE ARE NOT PROPERLY VALUING OUR RESOURCES.
LASTLY, ON THE DATA CENTERS, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN HOW THAT PLAYS OUT IN PLACES LIKE LOUDOUN COUNTY THAT HAS A VERY LARGE CONCENTRATION THIS YEAR, THEY STILL FACED A BUDGET, UH, SHORTFALL HAD A TAX INCREASE AND THEIR SCHOOLS WERE NOT FULLY FUNDED.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? CAMDEN WHITAKER, PRESIDENT OF THE WARREN COUNTY PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE FIRE AND RESCUE SYSTEM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND RECOGNIZING THE NEEDS OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULT POSITION YOU'RE IN, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHEN TAX INCREASES ARE MET BY UNDERSTANDABLE CONCERN FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THE ADDITIONAL SIX POSITIONS IS STILL A MEANINGFUL AND IMPACTFUL STEP FORWARD, AND THESE POSITIONS WILL HELP IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE CAPABILITIES, REDUCE STRAIN ON THE CURRENT PERSONNEL, AND ENHANCE THE LEVEL OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE NEED TO INCREASE THE A LS INCENTIVE PAY INVESTING IN THE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT, NOT ONLY INVEST IN YOUR PROVIDERS, BUT DIRECTLY IMPROVES THE PATIENT CARE AND OUTCOMES FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
YOU MUST STRIKE BETWEEN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND TONIGHT WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF THIS EFFORT AS A
[01:00:01]
POSITIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH YOU AND CONTINUE BUILDING A SYSTEM THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF BOTH OUR PERSONNEL AND OUR CITIZENS.
ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? HI, DAVID JENKINS, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I'M SORRY, COULD YOU SAY YOUR NAME AGAIN? COULDN'T.
DAVID JENKINS NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I DON'T WANNA BELABOR THE POINT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY MADE, BUT I, UH, MARRIED, I HAVE TWO KIDS, UH, ONE ON THE WAY.
I PAY MY TAXES BY THE CHURCH WORKS SIX DAYS A WEEK.
I DO EVERYTHING I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.
I GOT LIKE 75 CENTS IN MY BANK ACCOUNT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THAT'S JUST WHAT LIFE REQUIRES.
SOMETIMES I DON'T HAVE EXTRAS.
UH, I I DO EVERYTHING I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.
I KNOW FOR A FACT THE HOUSE WE LIVE IN NOW, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE TOO SMALL FOR A THIRD KID ON THE WAY.
UH, I, I GREW UP HERE AND I, UH, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE FRONT ROYAL, BUT THERE IS, THERE'S NO WAY THAT THE HOUSE WE LIVE IN CAN BE SOLD FOR THE AMOUNT THAT IT'S ASSESSED FOR NOW, UH, EVEN BEFORE THE NEW TAX HIKE, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE IF I CAN'T SELL THE HOUSE FOR THE AMOUNT IT'S APPRAISED FOR.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I SHOULD GET TAXED FOR IT FOR SURE.
UM, WE NEED A BIGGER HOUSE FOR A THIRD KID.
I KNOW GOD ALWAYS PROVIDES AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHO WE'RE LEANING ON THE MOST.
THAT, THAT I JUST, I'M 39 YEARS OLD.
I DO EVERYTHING I CAN JUST PLEASE CONSIDER THAT EVEN.
UH, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
ANYONE ELSE? I, EVERY TIME I GET UP HERE, I GET A HOAR.
MONTE SMITH, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO VISIT THE CHESTER GAP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MEET WITH CHIEF TODD BROWN AND HAVE HIM GIVE YOU THE TOUR.
UM, NOW THAT YOU'VE ACTUALLY SEEN THE STATION, THE EQUIPMENT AND MET WITH SOME OF THE PERSONNEL AND HAVE SEEN HOW THINGS WORK LOGISTICALLY, I AM SURE THAT YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW ESSENTIAL OF THE CHESTER GAP FIRE DEPARTMENT IS TO THE CITIZENS OF THE AREA.
MY BROTHER ALAN FOX WAS CRITICALLY INJURED ON DECEMBER 17TH, 2021 WHILE TRYING TO HELP SOMEONE WHO HAD DRIVEN THEIR CAR INTO A DITCH ON REMOUNT ROAD.
IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY SECONDS AFTER I'VE GOTTEN OFF THE PHONE WITH THE NINE ONE ONE DISPATCHER THAT I HEARD THE SOUND OF THE SIRENS OF THE CHESTER GAP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
THE CHESTER GAP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED IN RECORD TIME ABOUT THREE MINUTES.
I HAVE HEARD A LOT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT THE WARREN COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT STATION STAFFING REVIEW.
AND HOW MANY OF YOU MAKE YOUR DECISIONS BASED ON THE DATA, UH, LOOKING AT THE SITUATION REGARDING FUNDING FOR THE CHESTER GAP VOLUNTEER PAR FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW, I AM QUOTING MR. ROGER OVER HERE AND HIS RECENT ARTICLE FROM THE ROYAL EXAMINER, WHICH READ THOSE STATS DON'T INCLUDE WHAT WE'LL CALL THE FOX VARIABLE LIVES SAVED BY FIRST AND EARLY RESPONSE ARRIVAL FROM ACROSS COUNTY LINES.
IT SEEMS THE SAME TYPE OF VARIABLE SITUATION OCCURRED ON MARCH 20TH OF THIS YEAR WHEN MR. ERNIE BREEDEN OF WARREN COUNTY RESIDENT PARKED HIS TRUCK ON ROUTE 5 22 AND CALLED 9 1 1.
THE CHESTER GAP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED IN LESS THAN TWO MINUTES.
A HEART MONITOR, UH, REVEALED MR. UH, REDIN WAS EXPERIENCING A SEVERE HEART ATTACK.
GREAT JOB CHESTER GAP FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND WHAT, WHAT I'VE HEARD HE'S DOING FINE.
[01:05:01]
FIRST RESPONDERS 24 7 365 DAYS A YEAR IS WHAT THIS PROGRAM AT THE CHESTER GAP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES LOCATION MATTER RESPONSE, TIMES MATTER, MINUTES MATTER, SECONDS MATTER.THE PROGRAM MATTERS, BUT THE RAPPAHANNOCK WARREN COUNTY LINE DOES NOT MATTER.
PLEASE FIND A WAY TO FUND THIS ESSENTIAL PROGRAM.
THE DECISION YOU MAKE MAY SAVE ANOTHER, ANOTHER LIFE.
ANYONE ELSE WANNA SPEAK? THIRD AND FINAL CALL.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE CLOSED AND WE
[A.2. CY 2026 Tax Rates - Sherry Sours, Commissioner of the Revenue]
WILL MOVE ON TO THE TAX RATES.AND DR. MARTIN, I SEE MRS. SO'S NAME DOWN.
IS MRS. SERS HERE? IF NOT, UM, WHO'S GONNA TO SPEAK ON THIS ONE, SIR? YEP, WE WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I THINK EVERYONE HAS HEARD THAT THE PROPOSED RATE IS 10 CENTS AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME, MS. BROWN NADINE MAY SIGN UP FOR THIS ONE.
I AM IN THE SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, UH, I AM THRILLED THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN, UH, THEY'VE STOLEN A LOT OF MY THUNDER, BUT, UH, I'D LIKE TO MENTION A, A FEW FIGURES TO ILLUSTRATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT, UH, REDUCE THE PROPERTY TAX OR AT LEAST REDUCE THE RATE OF THE INCREASE.
UH, THE REVENUE PLAN FOR 26 27 IS 12.
WELL, 12 POINT A HALF TO 13 MILLION HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, ABOUT A 12% INCREASE.
THE CPI INCREASE IN THAT IN THAT YEAR IS 2.4%.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT BETTER THAN YOU KNOW, FIVE AND A HALF TIMES, UH, THREE QUARTERS OF THAT REVENUE, UH, INCREASE WILL BE FUNDED BY PROPERTY TAXES IF I'VE READ THE BUDGET CORRECTLY.
UM, AT LAST YEAR'S BOARD MEETING, IT WAS STATED THAT THE 2025 ASSESSMENT, WHEN ASSESSMENT WENT UP 25% VERSUS THE PREVIOUS ASSESSMENT IN 2023, THE BOARD, UH, REDUCED THE TAX RATE BY NEARLY 10%, BUT THE RESULT WAS STILL A 14% TAX INCREASE LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS WELL OVER TWICE THE, THE TWO YEAR INCREASE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FROM 23 TO 25 BETWEEN THE TWO ASSESSMENTS.
SO OUR PROPOSED 21% THIS YEAR FOLLOWS A 14% LAST YEAR.
UM, AND, UM, THE, UH, I SUSPECT ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF FOLKS ATTENDING TONIGHT CAN POINT TO INCREASES IN THEIR INCOME OF 14%, MUCH LESS 21% OVER THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS.
ADDITIONALLY ASSESSMENT, THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS HAD VARIABLE OUTCOMES.
AND FOR EXAMPLE, WITH A PROPOSED RATE INCREASE, MY OWN PERSONAL 2026 TAXES WILL BE 41% HIGHER THAN THEY WERE IN 2023.
AN ANOMALY HAVING TO DO WITH ASSESSMENTS, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED BY SOMEBODY ELSE HERE TONIGHT.
UH, DESPITE THAT'S, DESPITE NO CHANGES IN MY REAL PROPERTY, UH, INCREASE TAX INCREASES AT THIS RATE IS NOT SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM.
FAIRFAX WAS MENTIONED, UH, AS, UH, MR. JAMESON, UH, NOTED IN HIS, UH, IN THE ARTICLE I READ IN THE, UH, ROYAL EXAMINER.
AND AS MR. MARTIN REITERATED, UH, A LITTLE WHILE AGO, UH, THE CURRENT BUDGET HAS ALLOCATED ABOUT 300,000, UH, TO ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
MY GUESS IS THAT A 21% ANNUAL TAX INCREASE WILL NOT ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND WERE I IN CHARGE OF PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? AND I CAN THINK OF NOTHING BETTER THAN BEING ABLE TO SAY OUR TAX RATES HAVE NOT RISEN IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, EXCEPT MAYBE IT HAS DROPPED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
UH, IN, UH, A FINAL STATEMENT ABOUT THE DROP, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION.
I SEE THE BOARD, UH, TO, UH, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD.
I SEE THAT THE BUDGET FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL GO DOWN 15%, WHICH IS DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT OUR STATE LEGISLATURE.
[01:10:01]
MOTEN.HELLO, MY NAME IS LOUIS MOTON FROM THE NORTHBOROUGH DISTRICT.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS I NOTICED, I, I, WELL, I NOTICED THERE'S AN ACTUAL PROPOSAL FOR A 5% TAX RATE AS WELL.
AND, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED IS THAT THE BUDGET HAD, UM, DECREASING REVENUE FROM FEDERAL, STATE, AND INTER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES.
SINCE 2025, WE HAVE LOST ABOUT $6 MILLION PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON LOCAL TAXPAYERS HERE.
SO I WOULD LOOK INTO THAT AND FIND OUT WHY IS THERE FEDERAL AND STATE INSTITUTIONS NOT HELPING OUT? WHAT, WHAT'S GOING ON THERE? UM, THERE'S ALSO THE, UM, THERE'S THIS CONCERN ABOUT PULLING FROM A RESERVES FUNDS, BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE BUDGET, THAT'S ALREADY EARMARKED BASED ON THE AUDITS TO PULL FOR AIR SCHOOL ROOFS AND OTHER BUILDING ROOFS.
SO I'M NOT SURE ABOUT DIPPING INTO THAT JUST YET.
BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, UM, I WOULD RECOMMEND LOOKING INTO THE BUDGET WITH THE HIGH PERCENTAGE INCREASES.
LIKE, UH, THE, THE BIG ONE I NOTICED WAS PARKS AND REC HAS A LOT OF ITEMS FOR SUPPLIES THAT JUMP 600 TO 2100%.
SO I TRY AND FOCUS MORE ON LINE ITEMS TO FIGURE OUT IS THIS REALLY LEGITIMATE COMPARED TO PRIOR YEAR SPENDING? IS THIS A ONE-OFF OR IS THIS CONTINUING? UH, THE OTHER THING IS, I, I FEEL LIKE NOBODY SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF, OF FORENSIC AUDIT AND WHAT IT IS FOR WHERE YOU ARE PREPARING FOR LITIGATION WITH A CHAIN OF COMMAND.
THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE ON OUR OWN STAFF HERE IN THE COUNTY IN ADDITION TO WHAT IT COSTS AND WHAT THE PAYOFF IS.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING, WE STOPPED 'CAUSE IT WAS A MILLION DOLLARS THAT IT JUMPED UP TO.
SO WHERE ARE WE GONNA GET THIS MILLION DOLLARS TO START THIS FORENSIC AUDIT? UM, THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF AUDITS BEFORE YOU GET TO THE FORENSIC AUDIT, NOT JUST THE REGULAR ANNUAL AUDIT.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS, UM, AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IT.
WE WE'RE, THE COUNTY IS TURNED AROUND AND THEY'RE HEAVILY FOCUSED ON THAT AT GREAT COST, BUT THERE'S ALSO A SYSTEM THAT THEY'RE PURCHASING.
UH, I DON'T LIKE TAX INCREASES, BUT I DON'T LIKE SPENDING MONEY THAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE OR NOT.
WE SEE IT IN THE BANK, BUT IT'S ALREADY SPENT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, UNTIL WE CAN GET THOSE CHECKS FIGURED OUT, I THINK THERE'S $14 MILLION IN CHECKS THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE UPDATES ON THAT AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR AUDIT PROCESS.
MAIA WALL, JANET FOX, SHE MUST HAVE LEFT.
JOHN JENKINS, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, I, YOU KNOW, I'M OPPOSED TO THIS 10% OR 10 CENT TAX INCREASE.
UH, IT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD'VE WORKED BETTER IF THE COUNTY HAD RAISED THE TAX RATE, MAYBE 1 CENT LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR PR PRIOR TO THAT INSTEAD OF DOING IT ALL AT ONE TIME.
I MEAN, THAT, THAT, THAT'S KIND OF SEEMS LIKE AN EXTREME.
UH, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED AT THE TYPICAL HOUSE, UH, IT'S GONNA COST ABOUT $300 IN TAXES IF IT'S COST YOU, IF YOUR HOUSE IS VALUED AT $350,000.
IF YOUR HOUSE IS VALUED AT TWO AND A HALF TIMES THAT, WHICH THERE ARE A LOT OF HOMES IN WARREN COUNTY THAT HAVE, THAT ARE VALUED, UH, UP TO 800, $900,000.
UH, MY BACKGROUND IS CONSTRUCTION.
I BUILT MY OWN HOUSE AND WHEN THE, AS REASSESSMENT WAS DONE, THEY WANTED TO TELL ME WHAT THE, UH, REPLACEMENT COST WOULD BE.
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, THE REPLACEMENT COST DEPENDS ON WHO'S BUILDING THE HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, IF I'M BUILDING IT MYSELF, IT COSTS ONE THING.
IF I GOT A GENERAL CONTRACTOR OUT OF FAIRFAX, IT'S COST ME $300,000 MORE
[01:15:01]
SO THAT THEY, UH, REASSESSMENTS GO EVERY TWO YEARS.SO ARE WE IN THE NEAR FUTURE GOING TO HAVE A REASSESSMENT ON PROPERTY IF IT'S EVERY TWO YEARS? UH, BECAUSE IF IT GOES UP LIKE IT DID THE LAST TIME, AND THEN YOU GET THIS 10 CENT INCREASE, UM, MY TAX ON MY HOME IS GONNA BE TO THE POINT WHERE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANNA MOVE.
IT PROBABLY WON'T MOVE, PROBABLY DOWN IN THE FRONT YARD TRYING TO PAY MY TAXES.
BUT, UH, I, I JUST THINK IT'S TOO MUCH.
ANYONE ELSE? WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? YES, SIR.
YOU'VE HEARD IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR YEARS AND MORE THAN A FEW TIMES TONIGHT, YOU'RE CHASING PEOPLE OUT OF THE COUNTY.
YOU'RE PRICING PEOPLE OUT OF THE COUNTY.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO TAX EVERYONE EQUALLY, BUT I WISH YOU COULD FIND A WAY TO KEEP TAXES LOW FOR THE PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS AND WANT TO STAY KIND OF LIKE LAND USE TAXATION PROTECTIONS THAT EXIST FOR OTHER GROUPS WHERE YOU CAN GET A DISCOUNT ON YOUR PROPERTY TAXES.
THE COUNTY MAY INDEED NEED MORE TAX REVENUE OVER TIME, AND WE ALL WANT TO BE GOOD CITIZENS AND PAY FOR THE SERVICES WE NEED FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LIKE SCHOOLS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.
BUT I WISH YOU COULD FIND A WAY TO GET IT FROM THE COMPANIES WHO COULD PAY IT INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING.
FOR EXAMPLE, I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET A CLEAR ANSWER FROM THE COUNTY OR TO FIND OUT THE FULL VALUE OF ALL OF THE WATER POWER AND TAX BREAKS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN AWAY TO DEVELOPERS AND CORPORATIONS IN MY LIFETIME, EVEN IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.
OR HOW LOW COULD YOU GET A FAMILY'S UTILITY BILLS BY HAVING COMPANIES ACTUALLY PAY FOR THEIR OWN WATER AND POWER? I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T REQUEST A PILOT PAYMENT FROM A WILDLY PROFITABLE AND PROFIT DRIVEN NON-PROFIT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ISN'T TOOTH AND NAIL SCRATCHING BACK.
ILL-GOTTEN GAINS FROM THE EDA SCRAMBLE.
WE NEED YOU TO PROTECT US, NOT SELL US OUT AND GIVE AWAY OUR RESOURCES FOR SNAKE OIL AND SMOKE.
UM, I OWN A RESIDENCE AND A BUSINESS IN MORTON COUNTY.
I'M ALSO, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M A FORMER TOWN COUNCILMAN.
I WORKED WITH THE COUNTY ON, UH, SEVERAL, UH, ISSUES AND INITIATIVES.
UM, DURING MY TIME AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, I SAW IT AS A, AS A DUTY TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS LIVING WITHIN ITS MEANS AND WASN'T BURDENING ITS CITIZENS.
THIS REQUIRES HARD WORK, DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND SACRIFICE, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE IT BY COMMUNICATING AT THE OUTSET OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
THE TAX INCREASES WERE NOT AN OPTION.
UH, ONCE EVERYONE WAS ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT WHAT THE CONSTRAINTS WERE, IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE STAFF TO WORK WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THERE WERE NOT INCREASES, BUT WE, WE WERE STILL ABLE TO FUND THE TOWN'S BASIC NEEDS.
AND REPRIORITIZE, UH, THIS TREND OF NO TAX INCREASES HAS CONTINUED AT THE TOWN LEVEL.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THIS TO PAT MYSELF ON THE BACK, I'M JUST SAYING THIS BECAUSE I, I KNOW THAT THIS IS, THIS APPROACH CAN WORK.
WE'VE TRIED IT AND WE'VE DONE IT.
UM, AND THIS DISCUSSION DOESN'T OCCUR IN A VACUUM.
AND I JUST WANT TO PUT IT IN A BRI BROADER CONTEXT.
UM, SO WE CAN ATTEMPT TO TRIVIALIZE AN INCREASE OF $300 FOR THE AVERAGE WARREN COUNTY, UH, HOUSEHOLD.
UM, BUT IT, THE AVERAGE AMERICAN WORKS FOR THREE AND A HALF MONTHS EVERY YEAR JUST TO PAY THEIR TAXES WHEN YOU ADD UP TOGETHER THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.
AND SO IF A PERSON ONLY WORKS ON THE WEEKDAYS, HE'S WORKING UNTIL MAY 28TH OF, OF EVERY YEAR JUST TO PAY THEIR TAXES.
UM, AND SO WITH THIS INCREASE, WITH THIS SPECIFIC INCREASE, UM, EACH, UH, IF IT'S A TWO INCOME HOUSEHOLD, THEN EACH, EACH INCOME, EACH PERSON IS WORKING AN EXTRA DAY JUST FOR THIS INCREASE, UH, TO PAY OFF THEIR TAXES.
UM, IT ALSO, UH, BEARS NOTING THAT THIS IS IN A LIFETIME INCREASE.
UH, I DON'T SEE ANY SUNSET ON THIS PROVISION.
SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $300 A YEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $9,000 OVER THE NEXT 30 YEARS OR $12,000 FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
UM, AND OF COURSE, IF YOU INVEST, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO INVEST THAT, UH, THAT MONEY, THEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 23,000, $46,000, UM, RESPECTIVELY.
AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS IS ABOUT FREEDOM, PROSPERITY, AND SURVIVAL.
THIS INCREASE, LIKE EVERY TAX INCREASE,
[01:20:01]
IT MAKES THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY LESS FREE AND LESS PROSPEROUS.UM, BUT MORE THAN PROSPERITY, IT'S ALSO A QUESTION FOR MANY PEOPLE ABOUT SURVIVAL MAKES US LESS ABLE TO SURVIVE ON WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO BRING IN.
SO WHATEVER SERVICES AND CAPABILITIES THESE INCREASES ARE PURPORTING TO FUND, UM, WE CAN LIVE WITHOUT THEM.
WE'RE HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE CAN LIVE WITHOUT THEM.
SO VOTE AGAINST THESE INCREASES AND OVERTURN THE 2024 INCREASES AND LET'S GO FROM THERE.
ANYONE ELSE? GOOD EVENING, JAKE.
I ONLY HAD THREE MINUTES LAST TIME, SO I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND THANK YOU FOR HOLDING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
I KNOW THIS IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO DO, BUT I WASN'T GONNA SPEAK AGAIN UNTIL I READ THE PAMPHLET THAT WAS PASSED OUT WHEN I CAME THROUGH, UH, THROUGH THE DOOR.
AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS IN IT THAT'S JUST WORTH NOTING.
UH, FOR INSTANCE, UM, PROPOSED BUDGET OF A HUNDRED, 103 MILLION, UM, VERSUS A 93 MILLION.
SO $10 MILLION INCREASE, BUT IT'S A PROPOSED BUDGET.
IT MAKES ME WONDER IF EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS, UM, HOW A BUDGET WORKS.
YOU DON'T BUDGET ON MONEY, YOU DON'T HAVE.
YOU BUDGET ON MONEY YOU HAVE, AND IF YOU'RE GONNA BUDGET ON SOMETHING YOU DON'T HAVE, THEN THERE NEEDS TO BE OFFSETS IN ORDER TO GET WHAT YOU WANT.
UM, THE OPENING SENTENCE IN THIS TALKS ABOUT HOW THE PROPOSED BUDGET REFLECTS WARREN COUNTY'S COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY SCHOOLS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WHY DON'T YOU START IN HERE ABOUT HOW YOU ARE REPRESENTING THE TAXPAYERS AND YOU'RE CREATING A BUDGET WHERE YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO REACH INTO THEIR POCKET AND TAKE MORE MONEY OUT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS BUDGET.
SO WHEN YOU GO THROUGH HERE, UM, AND FIRST OFF, IT'S EVERY BUDGET YEAR.
IT'S ALWAYS STARTING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND, UM, SCHOOLS.
BECAUSE IF YOU COME UP HERE AND SPEAK AGAINST IT, THEN SOMEHOW YOU'RE NOT FOR THE TEACHERS OF PUBLIC SAFETY VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
UM, YOU HAVE POSITION AFTER POSITION LISTED IN HERE.
YOU WANT SIX MORE POSITIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, OR NINE MORE POSITIONS IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, YOU WANT MORE POSITIONS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GREAT.
YOU WANT MORE POSITIONS, CREATE THE OFFSET.
DON'T REACH BACK INTO MY POCKET TO GRAB MORE MONEY IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THAT.
THAT'S NOT HOW A BUDGET WORKS.
SO IF THESE THINGS ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PAY FOR IT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, UM, OR THE GROWTH THAT YOU'RE ALREADY RECEIVING, AS I MENTIONED IN MY PRIOR COMMENTS RELATED TO THE REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENTS AND THE VEHICLE TAX ASSESSMENTS THAT GO UP EVERY YEAR, MORE MONEY THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN, I THINK YOU SHOULD SHOW A GRAPH OF HOW MUCH MORE REVENUE YOU'VE RECEIVED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND WHERE THAT MONEY'S BEING SPENT.
STOP LOOKING FOR MORE TAX INCREASES FROM THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU ARE REPRESENTING ANOTHER, UH, 10% TAX INCREASE.
AND WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK AND YOU'RE GONNA DO IT MUCH LOWER.
IT'S GONNA BE A FEW PENNIES OR WHATEVER.
UM, AND EVERYBODY'S GONNA CELEBRATE THAT.
IT WASN'T THE BIG TAX INCREASE THAT YOU ALL PROPOSED.
I THINK YOU SHOULD COME BACK WITH A FLAT TAX RATE, NO INCREASE AND SHOW THE CITIZENS OF WARREN COUNTY THAT YOU CAN DO THE HARD WORK TO DO THE OFFSETS TO GET WHAT YOU WANT.
THAT'S WHAT A PERSON, THAT'S WHAT SOMEBODY'S PERSONAL BUDGET WOULD DO.
WOULDN'T JUST BUDGET WHAT I THINK OR I HOPE I WANT FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
I'D BUDGET ON WHAT I HAVE AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING I REALLY NEEDED OR REALLY WANTED, I'D CREATE THE OFFSET MY BUDGET TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD DO THE SAME.
I REMEMBERED SOME OF WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
UM, AND ALSO I HEARD SOME COMMENTS I WANNA, UM, REMIND YOU GUYS ABOUT.
BUT, UH, THE GEORGE WASHINGTON WARREN COUNTY HERE, UH, BROUGHT UP A GREAT POINT THAT THIS IS ABOUT SURVIVAL FOR PEOPLE.
AND DON'T JUST TAKE IT FROM HIM OR ME.
TAKE IT FROM THE PE THE MAN THAT STOOD HERE AND SAID HE LESS THAN A DOLLAR IN HIS BANK ACCOUNT.
YOU REALIZE HOW HARD IT IS FOR ANY MAN TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
I WAS BESIDE MYSELF HEARING THAT.
AND YOU'RE GONNA TAX HIM ANOTHER 300, 600 WHATEVER DOLLARS AS HE'S STARTING HIS FAMILY.
HE'S ONLY GOT TWO KIDS SO FAR.
I FIND IT VERY DISHEARTENING TO MOVE INTO A COUNTY THAT'S MAJORITY REPUBLICAN BY FAR.
AND I MOVED TO THIS AREA, 70% MAJORITY REPUBLICAN, AND I SEE PEOPLE, REPUBLICANS GETTING ELECTED IN OFFICIAL POSITIONS WITH THE
[01:25:01]
HELP OF DEMOCRATS.AND SUDDENLY, UH, YOU'RE PROPOSING TAX INCREASES OF 20% ON 'EM DURING A TIME OF A LOT OF EFFECTS FROM INFLATION.
STILL REALLY HIGH GAS PRICES, OBVIOUSLY FROM THE WAR.
SO JUST THINK ABOUT THAT MAN HAS LESS THAN A DOLLAR IN HIS BANK ACCOUNT AND WHAT IT TOOK FOR HIM TO STOOD HERE.
ANYONE ELSE? UH, MIKE ZONES NORTH RIVER.
I JUST WANTED TO KINDA REMIND EVERYBODY.
GOVERNMENT PRODUCES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
ANYONE ELSE? I, UH, GOOD EVENING.
UH, JIM BARNES, SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
I'LL PROBABLY BE THE LEAST POPULAR COMMENTER TONIGHT.
UM, BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOUR PLAN.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO PAY MORE TAXES.
NOBODY WANTS TO PAY MORE TAXES.
UM, BUT THERE IS A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT VARIOUS PEOPLE WANT, AND I HAVE NO KIDS.
SO IF IT WERE UP TO ME, IF IT WAS, IF IT WAS, JIM GETS TO MAKE THE RULES DAY.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE SCHOOLS.
BUT I KNOW I UNDERSTAND AS A CITIZEN OF THE COUNTY THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE IMPORTANT.
THEY NEED TO BE FUNDED AND THEY NEED TO BE FUNDED AT AN, AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL.
I TRUST THAT YOU HAVE DONE THE WORK AND THAT YOU ARE CONTINUING TO DO THE WORK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT LEVEL IS AND TO GET US THERE IN THE EASIEST WAY POSSIBLE.
SO I HOPE YOU'LL BEAR THAT IN MIND AS YOU CONSIDER TONIGHT'S THE COMMENTS YOU'VE HEARD TONIGHT.
AND MAYBE YOU CAN WEED OUT SOME OF THE HYPERBOLE, SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LEVELED AT YOU.
UM, AND JUST KNOW THAT NOT ALL OF US FEEL THAT WAY.
HI, I'M MAUREEN DIAZ FROM HAPPY CREEK.
MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED HERE 11 YEARS AGO.
WE MOVED HERE FROM PENNSYLVANIA WHERE WE HAD A HIGHER INCOME TAX AND LITTLE HIGHER GAS TAX AND THIS AND THAT.
AND YET WE DIDN'T HAVE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX.
WE DIDN'T HAVE BUSINESS EQUIPMENT TAX AND WE DIDN'T HAVE SKYROCKETING PROPERTY, REAL ESTATE TAXES OR ANYTHING ELSE.
I HAVE LIVED IN MANY STATES FROM FLORIDA TO MARYLAND TO PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN, AND HERE IN VIRGINIA, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE NOW REACHING RETIREMENT AGE AND THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN CONSIDER RETIRING.
I WAS A LITTLE LATE GETTING HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I WAS HELPING WITH GRANDCHILDREN, WHICH IS SOMETHING I VERY MUCH ENJOY AND WISH TO DO.
MY TIME IS VERY LIMITED BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I ARE STRUGGLING JUST TO KEEP UP WITH OUR TAXES.
WE DON'T LIVE EXTRAVAGANTLY, WE DON'T TAKE CRUISES.
WE DON'T TAKE EXPENSIVE VACATIONS.
WE ACTUALLY SHARE VACATION WITH OUR FAMILY.
WE DON'T DO ANY OF THE THINGS THAT MANY PEOPLE DO.
AND I'M TRYING TO JUST CONVEY WE'RE JUST NORMAL, EVERYDAY PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO ENJOY LIFE, CREATE A LIFE FOR US TO RETIRE INTO.
AND WITH ALL OF THE TAXES THAT WE'RE ALREADY PAYING AND YOU'RE WANTING TO UP THEM EVEN MORE, IT MAKES IT VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR JUST THE AVERAGE PERSON LIKE US.
AND YOU MAY BE PRICING US RIGHT OUT OF THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WE'VE GROWN TO LOVE AND WHERE WE WANT TO STAY.
SO I MISSED A LOT OF THE COMMENTS.
THE ONES THAT I HEARD AFTER I WAS DONE WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTERS THAT ELOQUENTLY, OTHER THAN THE LAST PERSON.
EVERYTHING THAT, THAT I BELIEVE IN AND NEEDS TO BE HEARD AND YOU NEED TO CONSIDER, PLEASE LEARN TO LIVE WITHIN A BUDGET JUST LIKE I HAVE TO.
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT INCREASE.
OUR TAXES HAVE ALREADY GONE UP BECAUSE OF ASSESSMENTS.
YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP TAXING US OUTTA THE COUNTY.
[01:30:01]
FINAL PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.[A.3. Ordinance to add to the Warren County Code Article XXIV in Chapter 160 to impose a Cigarette Tax. - Sherry Sours, Commissioner of the Revenue, Alisa Scott, Finance Director ]
IS THE ORDINANCE TO ADD TO THE WARREN COUNTY CODE ARTICLE.UM, I'M DRAWING ONE 60 TO IMPOSE A CIGARETTE TAX.
AND MS. SCOTT, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK TO THAT? THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THIS IS A CIGARETTE SALES TAX, WHICH IS SUGGESTED TO BE A BALANCING COMPONENT AND DIVERSIFY A REVENUE IN THE 2027 BUDGET.
THE SALES TAX WILL BEGIN JULY ONE.
UM, THE ESTIMATE OF REVENUE IS ABOUT $980,000.
THIS PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN PROPERLY ADVERTISED.
MS. BROWN, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THIS ONE? YES.
MY NAME IS LOUIS MOTON FROM THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UH, I WAS JUST ACTUALLY THINKING ABOUT THIS.
GOVERNMENT PRODUCES NOTHING, BUT, AND BY THAT THOUGHT WE COULD JUST GET RID OF SCHOOLS AND GET LIKE 30 SOME ODD MILLION DOLLARS.
UM, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT PRODUCES NOTHING.
THERE'S SOMETHING THERE AND WE CAN'T CHOOSE.
UH, IT'S, IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO REMOVE.
PE PRICING PEOPLE OUT, NOT THE COUNTY.
UM, THIS TAX, I'M NOT ABLE TO READ IT.
THERE'S NO INTERNET CONNECTION HERE.
MY CONCERNS IS DOES IT COVER VAPES AND LIKE CHEW CIGARS OR IT JUST CIGARETTES? UM, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'VE SEEN A LOT OF OUR YOUTH GOING TO VAPES BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT'S SAFER.
THERE'S THIS IDEA OR THIS THING OF POPCORN LUNG, THEY'LL JUST BLOW IT OFF AND SAY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO SMOKE.
BUT I THINK VAPES ALL THE SWEET FLAVORS, THE CANDY NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THIS.
SHE WAS HERE FOR THE PRIOR TWO OTHER COMMON PERIODS.
UM, THE ADDRESSING THE CIGARETTE TAX, I JUST WANT TO ASK, IS THIS TAX GOING INTO GENERAL FUND OR IS IT ACTUALLY BEING PUT FOR A PURPOSE? IS IT TO PURPOSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? FOR INSTANCE, IF IT'S CIGARETTES OR PUBLIC SAFETY HAZARD ONE, IT MAKES SENSE TO ALLOCATE THESE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO DOES FIRST RESPONSE? UM, I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION NOT JUST CIGARETTE TAX, BUT I AGREE WITH DR.
JAMISON AND WHAT HE WROTE IN A ROYAL EXAMINER ABOUT ALTERNATIVE METHODS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
WE DON'T NEED TO RAISE PEOPLE'S TAXES 21% IF WE DON'T HAVE TO.
HE'S PUT VALID PROPOSALS TOGETHER IN MY MIND THAT I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS TO LOOK AT IN TERMS OF VALLEY HEALTH NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE.
THEY NEED TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.
WE NEED TO GO AFTER THEM AGGRESSIVELY TO GET THEIR FAIR SHARE.
WE ALSO NEED TO WORK TO GET THE TREASURER'S OFFICE STRAIGHT.
WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER SIGN SAYING WE NEED ANOTHER THREE MONTHS TO GET THE AUDIT DONE.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT Y'ALL HAVE TO DO TO GET IT DONE NOW, BUT GET IT DONE NOW IT STINKS.
AS THE FORMER JENNIFER MCDONALD EDA, WE ALSO, IN MY OPINION, NEED TO START DOING WHAT I CALL LINE ITEM BUDGETING.
MY TAX BILL HAS A LINE ITEM ON IT FOR MY SANITARY DISTRICT AND WHAT I PAY THE COUNTY.
[01:35:01]
THAT.IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE TRUCKS, IF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT NEEDS MORE CARS, PUT THOSE AS LINE ITEMS AND START ADDRESSING THEM AS A ONE-TIME LINE ITEM.
HEY, YOU GOTTA PAY A THOUSAND DOLLARS THIS YEAR, BUT IT GETS DONE.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE OUR MONEY IS GOING BEFORE WE VOTE FOR MORE BUDGET INCREASES.
ANYONE ELSE? ANYONE ELSE WANNA SPEAK ON THIS AT THIS TIME? YES SIR.
GREG SANDER, NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
UM, YOU WANT TO TAX CIGARETTES? I'M A TOBACCO USER.
YOU'RE GONNA TAX THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU.
LET'S LOOK AT THIS STUFF THAT IS KILLING PEOPLE ALSO.
AND WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PICK TOBACCO, THEN LET'S GO WITH THE FAST FOOD TOO.
LET'S GO WITH STUFF THAT'S NOT HEALTHY, THAT'S KILLING MORE PEOPLE THAN CIGARETTES.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS TAX, MAKE, MAKE PEOPLE MORE HEALTHY.
AND LET'S COVER THE WHOLE SPECTRUM.
I THINK IF YOU PULL IT UP AND TALK CLOSER, I THINK THEY'RE TURNING IT UP, TRYING TO GET YOUR VOICE AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SQUEAL.
UM, I'M IN, I GUESS THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
UM, THIS TOPIC ON TAXING CIGARETTES KIND OF REMINDED ME WHEN I WAS IN 10TH GRADE READING THIS SHORT STORY ABOUT HOW THEY WENT AFTER THE SMOKERS AND THEY FINALLY FOUND, FOUND THE LA OH, I LOST IT.
AND THEY, THEY PLE ALL THIS PRESSURE ON THEM TO GET THEM TO STOP SMOKING.
AND THEN A FEW YEARS LATER IN THE NINETIES, WE HAD THIS BIG PUSH TO TAX CIGARETTES AND MULTI-BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF REVENUE.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED IS ONCE THEY GOT THEIR TAX ON THIS CIGARETTES, THE REVENUE DIDN'T MATCH UP BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS DONE ON A ZERO SUM BASIS AND THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE'S CAUSE AND EFFECT HERE.
I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE'RE WANTING TO RAISE TAXES ON, ON CIGARETTES BECAUSE IT'S THE GREAT EVIL THAT WE CAN CALL ALL AGREE THAT THOSE OF US WHO DON'T SMOKE, WE DON'T WANNA BE SMELLING SMOKE WHEN WE GO INTO A RESTAURANT OR SOMETHING.
UH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S ALMOST ABSURD.
AND I REALLY DON'T HAVE A DOG IN THAT FLIGHT 'CAUSE I DON'T SMOKE.
BUT I THINK IT'S KIND OF A CHEAP WAY TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT WE CAN RAISE TAXES 1% ON CIGARETTES AND THEN, AND THAT SOMEHOW WE'RE VIRTUOUS BY DOING SO.
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE MORAL SENSE TO ME.
SO I WOULD SAY DON'T DO IT BECAUSE IT'S A TEMPTATION TO DO OTHER THINGS.
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE REVENUE THAT YOU'RE EXPECTING FROM THE CIGARETTE TAX DOESN'T MATERIALIZE, THEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO RAISE OUR PROPERTY TAXES AGAIN TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BUDGET THAT MONEY.
AND THAT'S ONE THING WE ALL KNOW ABOUT GOVERNMENT.
THEY CAN'T STAND AND NOT HAVE MORE MONEY THAN THEY HAD THE YEAR BEFORE.
UM, I I, I, I BEG TO THE BETTER ANGELS OF YOUR SOULS TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT THIS THING AND THE CAUSE AND EFFECT POINT OF VIEW.
AND ONCE AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
'CAUSE I KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING IS A TOUGH JOB TO DO, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
ANYONE ELSE? I, JAKE MEZA, HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT.
I'M HERE SO I MIGHT AS WELL SPEAK.
UM, IT WAS INTRODUCED AS A STOP GAP FOR THE 20 20 27 BUDGET, A CIGARETTE TAX OF 800,000 OR SO, OR DON'T BUDGET MORE THAN YOU HAVE AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO IMPOSE A CIGARETTE TAX.
UM, AND I AGREE WITH THE LAST GENTLEMAN THAT SPOKE THAT, UH, THIS IS JUST A CHEAP WAY TO GO AFTER MORE MONEY BECAUSE CIGARETTE SMOKERS ARE THE MINORITY AND EVERYBODY SEEMS LIKE THEY CAN GET BEHIND IT BECAUSE THEY SAY IT'S A BAD, A BAD HABIT OR SOMETHING UNHEALTHY.
SO LEAH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAX THAT INDIVIDUAL.
BUT WHEN, WHY DON'T WE TAX DONUTS? WHY DON'T WE TAX SODAS? WHY DON'T WE TAX ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY THAT THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN THE MORAL HIGH GROUND ON THIS TO STOP SMOKING AND WE'RE GONNA IMPOSE A PENALTY FOR DOING IT IS ABSURD BECAUSE WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP ALL THE VAPE SHOPS FROM COMING INTO FRONT ROYAL, BUT WE DIDN'T.
NOW THERE'S ONE ON EVERY SINGLE CORNER.
WHY? 'CAUSE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CIGARETTE TAX AND MORE TAXES ON TOBACCO.
AND SO THE COUNTY SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE ITS REVENUE OFF THAT OTHERWISE WE WOULD'VE STOPPED IT IF WE WERE SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF MINORS, WE WOULD'VE STOPPED THAT FROM HAPPENING,
[01:40:01]
BUT WE DIDN'T BECAUSE THERE WAS A REVENUE OPPORTUNITY ASSOCIATED WITH IT.AND ALSO DON'T SAY THAT WE NEED A STOP GAP FOR 2020 SEVEN'S BUDGET.
YOU DON'T NEED A BUDGET MORE THAN YOU HAVE.
JUST TO, UM, SCOTT LLOYD OF THE HAPPY CREEK DISTRICT, JUST TO, UM, PIGGYBACK ON A COUPLE OF THE OTHER COMMENTS THAT SOMEHOW THE CIGARETTE TAX, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEHOW A MORE VIRTUOUS OR LESS BAD TYPE OF TAX BECAUSE IT ATTACKS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE AGREE IS UNHEALTHY.
BUT WHAT THE, THE BASIC EFFECT WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE THE DEMOGRAPHICS IS THAT, UM, IT ENDS UP GETTING A REGRESSIVE TAX ON, ON THE POOR AND IT HITS, UM, LOWER INCOME FOLKS HARDER THAN IT HITS, UH, UPPER INCOME FOLKS BECAUSE, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO SMOKE TEND TO BE, UH, LOWER INCOME OR YOU FIND MORE, UH, LOWER INCOME PEOPLE AMONG SMOKERS THAN YOU DO NON-SMOKERS.
AND SO IT ENDS UP BEING REGRESSIVE TAX.
AND, UH, AND, AND IN THAT WAY YOU KIND OF, THE, THE MASK OF VIRTUOSITY KIND OF DROPS OFF OF IT.
AND, AND, AND THEN YOU HAVE ALL THESE ADDITIONAL REASONS WHY NOT TO, TO TAX, UH, CIGARETTES.
AND SO I JUST, I THINK THIS ALSO IS A NON NON-STARTER, AND SO I WOULD E ENCOURAGE YOU TO OPPOSE IT.
ANYONE ELSE? CAMDEN WHITAKER, PER PRESIDENT OF THE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS OF WARREN COUNTY, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR LOOKING AT THE ALTERNATIVE REVENUE STREAM OF A CIGARETTE TAX.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CIGARETTE TAX BE EARMARKED FOR APPARATUS REPLACEMENT FOR FIRE AND RESCUE.
AS YOU GUYS KNOW, WE'VE BEEN GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE SOME TRUCKS AS WELL AS WE HAVE HAD TRUCKS PURCHASED IN THE PAST, AND WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE A REVENUE STREAM SET ASIDE TO REPLACE THOSE WITH THREE TO FOUR YEAR TIMEFRAMES TO REPLACE TRUCKS.
THE LARGE COST INCREASE THAT HAVE SHOWN IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THESE TRUCKS TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE FLEET AND IMPROVE THE SERVICES WE'RE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING.
ANYONE ELSE? THIRD AND FINAL CALL.
THAT IS THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UM, AS I SAID EARLIER, WE PLAN TO MEET TOMORROW.
UM, THERE WON'T BE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THAT PERIOD, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME AND, UM, I'M SURE IT WILL BE LIVE STREAMED AS WELL, THE DISCUSSION.
UM, I KNOW I'VE TAKEN A LOT OF NOTES.
I'M ASSUMING EVERYONE ELSE HAS AS WELL, UM, TO CONSIDER AND MULL OVER AND THEN MEET TOMORROW TO ONCE AGAIN LOOK AT THIS BUDGET AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
UM, APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT HAS COME OUT, ALL YOUR COMMENTS AND, UM, ANY COMMENTS IF ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SOME SHORT COMMENTS? THE YES SIR.
IS THIS WORKING? OKAY, YOU MIGHT PULL, OH, HOW ABOUT NOW? YEAH, THAT SOUNDS BETTER.
OH, JUST A COUPLE THINGS TO ADDRESS.
OH, JUST FOR SOME CLARIFICATION.
AND THEN, UH, BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THIS BUDGET, SO WE ABSOLUTELY WANTED EVERYBODY'S INPUT.
UM, AND THEN THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS.
UM, A FEW THINGS MAYBE TO CLEAR UP.
OH, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THREE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UH, PRESENTED OR PRODUCE THIS BUDGET, AND THAT'S, THAT'S JUST NOT TRUE.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE WAS FALSELY INFORMED OR WAS USING IT FOR AN ATTACK POINT, BUT STAFF, UH, GENERATED THIS BUDGET, UH, FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS, UH, YOU KNOW, FIRE AND RESCUE.
YOU KNOW, THEY, THEY, WE PAID FOR A STUDY AND THEY'VE INDICATED THAT WE ARE NOT AT SAFE LEVELS, UH, TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, THESE, THESE WEREN'T, UH, INCREASES THAT WE JUST, HEY, IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA, LET'S DO IT.
THEY, THAT, THAT WAS VERY DATA DRIVEN.
[01:45:01]
OUR EDA, UH, IT WAS, UH, MENTIONED THAT HISTHERE'S A STATE EDA BOARD, THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY A ROUND TABLE OF COUNTIES COMPETING FOR INDUSTRY.
WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SITTING AT THAT TABLE.
AND A GOOD BIT OF THESE BUDGET SHORTFALLS ARE A LACK OF INDUSTRIAL GROWTH FOR TAX BASE.
UH, SO THAT, THAT, THAT'S NOT A QUICK FIX, BUT GOING FORWARD OVER A LONG TERM, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DATA CENTER, I KNOW THAT'S A ATTACK, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF GOOD COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL LIKE MANUFACTURING AND ALL KINDS OF GOOD THINGS WE COULD BRING TO THE COMMUNITY FOR JOBS AND TAX REVENUE.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I MIGHT WOULD ADD, UH, LIKE I SAID, I TOOK A LOT OF NOTES TOO.
I WON'T GET IT ALL OUT TONIGHT.
OH, THE ONLY THING THAT I DID DISAGREE WITH ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STUDY, UH, IS A NECESSITY OF CHESTER GAP.
UH, I, I'M, I'M SURE TO VOTE, UH, UH, BUT I WOULD VERY MUCH SUPPORT THAT.
I, I DID GET SOME MORE CALLS ON THAT TODAY TO SEE IF WE HAD ANY, YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE, I'M STILL TRYING, WE'RE STILL LOOKING THROUGH THE BUDGET.
UH, I INDICATED AT THE LAST MEETING, OR TWO MEETINGS AGO, I, MY COMMENTS SEEMED KIND OF HARSH AND I DIDN'T OH, BUT IT WAS NOT AN ATTACK OF OUR CURRENT FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND I, IF YOU MISSED THE LAST MEETING, I, I, I CORRECTED THAT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD.
I THINK WE GOT GREAT FIRE DEPARTMENT STAFF, BUT I JUST STILL THINK THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR A PARTNERSHIP.
UH, AND THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE MENTIONED THAT, UH, ASSESSMENTS, YOU KNOW, THAT THEIR TAXES WENT UP.
UH, AND IT IS THE NUMBER THAT I WILL REVERIFY, BUT, UM, I WASN'T ON THE BOARD LAST YEAR, BUT WHEN I WAS AT THAT PUBLIC HEARING, UH, THERE WAS NO PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE THE RATE WAS ADJUSTED TO, WHEREAS THE COUNTY WAS NOT TAKING IN MORE THAN 1% OF NEW REVENUE.
BUT WITH ANY ASSESSMENT, SOMEBODY GOES UP, SOMEBODY GOES DOWN THERE, THERE'S ALWAYS A VARIABLE WHERE IT'S NOT A EVEN PLAYING FIELD.
BUT I WOULD, I WOULD REAL VERIFY THAT WITH THE, UH, COMMISSIONER REVENUE TO SEE IF THERE WAS, UH, A, A BUNCH OF NEW INCOME.
BUT THE, UH, ALL THE GRAPHS AND CHARTS THAT I'VE SEEN IN ALL THESE BOOKS AND STUFF HAVE SHOWN US PRETTY WELL FLAT FUNDED FOR ABOUT THE LAST THREE YEARS, YOU KNOW, WITH JUST VERY MINOR CHANGES.
UH, SO EVERYBODY INDICATED LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE A LOT OF NEW REVENUE, AND THAT WAS NOT, UH, I'M GONNA REVERIFY THAT 'CAUSE UH, IT WAS BROUGHT UP TONIGHT, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THAT'S NOT ALL NOT COMPLETELY ACCURATE EITHER.
BUT, UH, YOU CAN, UH, YOU CAN BELIEVE THAT I PAY TAXES, ALL MY FAMILY AND STUFF HERE DOES TOO.
UM, THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR WAS, UH, THE, UH, THE RELIEF, THE TAX RELIEF FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS.
UH, I DID GET A QUICK CHANCE TO GLANCE THROUGH THAT POLICY.
UH, I KNOW THERE'S SOME STATE RULES IN THERE THAT WE, WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY, BUT, UH, WHEN I CAMPAIGNED AND DOOR KNOCKED, I WAS, UH, THAT WAS A BIG CRY, IS THE FEAR OF HAVE FINALLY HAD MADE IT TO RETIREMENT.
AND THOSE RETIREMENT PLANS AND SOCIAL SECURITIES DO NOT GO UP WITH THE RATE OF INFLATION, SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK A FEW MORE HOURS OR GET A SECOND JOB OR TRY TO IMPROVE THEIRSELVES ANY OTHER WAY THEIR, THEIR CAREER'S OVER AND AFTER A LIFETIME OF TAXES.
UH, I'M GONNA WORK VERY HARD WITH THE COMMISSIONER REVENUE IN THAT, IN THAT POLICY TO SEE IF IT CAN BE, UH, I MEAN, IT, IT WAS LIKE IF YOUR, IF YOUR HOUSE WAS WORTH OVER $300,000, YOU DIDN'T QUALIFY WHEN I FIRST READ THROUGH IT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS MANY HOUSES IN WARREN COUNTY THAT ARE LESS THAN $300,000.
SO OBVIOUSLY, AND THEN THE, UH, NET INCOME OF 60, UH, THOUSAND.
UH, SO I DO WANNA DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT THE SENIORS IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BUDGET, UH, PROCESS.
UM, BUT I, I, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON WHAT THE RULES AND WHAT THE STATE LAND, UH, ALLOWS.
BUT, UH, WE, WE'LL BE WORKING VERY HARD TO, TO, TO TRY TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
NOW IF I KNOW WE'VE, UM, WE NEED TO SAVE SOME OF THESE FOR TOMORROW NIGHT, SO ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS, JUST I'D LIKE TO READ IS THIS FOR MM-HMM
READ OR READ, UH, WHAT MR. HENRY JUST SAID, THIS IS NOT A, A COMPLETED PROCESS.
SO WE HAVE ROUGHLY, UH, MORE THAN TWO WEEKS.
IS THAT RIGHT? I THINK THE 28TH IS THE TIME.
UM, I DO, UH, YOU NEED TO PULL IT UP CLOSER BECAUSE THEY'RE TURNING IT UP TO TRY TO HEAR YOU, SO IF YOU GET IT CLOSER.
UM, YEAH, THERE WILL BE HOPEFULLY FULL FULLER DISCUSSION TOMORROW.
[01:50:01]
FOR THAT.I DO, I DO, UH, THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK THROUGH ALTERNATIVES OF THERE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GO ABOUT, THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT, THEY SAY.
SO, UM, I'VE PUT SOME IDEAS ON THE TABLE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING THROUGH DISCUSSION OF WHAT THOSE ARE, EXAMINING WHAT THE MAYBE PITFALLS ARE, WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S OUR, OUR JOB AS A BOARD IS TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBLE WAYS THAT THIS CAN BE DONE, UM, IN REGARDS TO, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT SOME OF THE, THE, THE FACT THAT THAT COSTS INCREASE, THERE'S A FEW NOTES HERE I MADE.
UM, MANY THINGS WERE OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF THE COUNTY.
WHEN, WHEN WE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE, UH, WHEN WE HAUL REFUSE, THAT'S, THAT'S HAULED OUT OF THE COUNTY.
UH, THOSE, THOSE COSTS AND REFUSE AND PUBLIC WORKS WENT UP OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
AND IT'S JUST NOT A, NOT A CHOICE TO MAKE SOMETHING MORE EFFICIENT IN THE COUNTY WITH PERSONNEL OR A SYSTEM OR A COMPUTER OR WHATEVER.
THAT'S A COST THAT THE COUNTY ENCOURAGED.
THAT'S AS WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.
UH, THERE ARE UN THERE ARE MAN, THERE ARE MANDATED SERVICES, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES ARENA THAT ARE NOT FUNDED.
SO WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE TO NOT, UM, FUND THE CSA, IT JUST, IT'S NOT A CHOICE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IN REGARD TO, TO FIRE AND RESCUE AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE RUN INTO THINGS LIKE OBSOLETE RADIO SYSTEMS. I MEAN, WE CAN'T HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A FIRE AND RESCUE SYSTEM THAT DON'T HAVE RADIOS THAT WORK.
SO THAT I JUST, I FEEL IT'S NECESSARY.
WELL, I MEAN TO, TO AS, AS PROBABLY MAYBE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MORE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVES, UH, HERE TO, TO EXPLAIN TO MY, UH, CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU CAN'T ALWAYS JUST FIND IT SOMEWHERE.
UM, MANY THINGS ARE OUTSIDE THE CONTROL.
SO IT'S, IT'S, AND I HATE THE IDEA OF ALWAYS POINTING TO THE PRIOR BOARDS, YOU KNOW, BUT, BUT IT'S JUST, I'M SORRY.
THAT'S, I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
I DO NOT THINK THAT THE SPENDING INCREASE HERE IS A, IS A NEW BASELINE.
I THINK IT'S CATCHING UP ON SOME THINGS.
UM, I'VE BEEN PRETTY SPECIFIC ABOUT OUTLINING SOME ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO FUND IT.
UM, BUT IN REGARDS TO, TO THE FIRE AND RESCUE SYSTEM, AGAIN, IT'S THE, IT'S THE SAME AS, AS LAST YEAR AND, AND THE YEAR BEFORE, IN TERMS OF MY POINT OF VIEW, WHICH IS THAT IT IS DANGEROUSLY UNDERSTAFFED.
UM, THAT'S DANGEROUS FOR CITIZENS, BUT IT'S ALSO DANGEROUS FOR THE STAFF OF THE FIRE, THE RESCUE.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S THERE.
I, I FEEL IT'S NECESSARY TO, TO EXPLAIN THIS.
UM, I, I BELIEVE, UM, THAT THERE'S ALWAYS MORE THAT CAN BE DONE.
I THINK THERE WAS A GREAT SUGGESTION AS THE COUNTY, UH, PUBLISHED A LIST OF EXPENSE REDUCTION INITIATIVES.
I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE INSTITUTED.
UH, EVERY BUDGET SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY INITIATIVES WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT WERE AIMED AT INCREASING EFFICIENCY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST BUSINESS IN THE COUNTY, I, I THINK IS, UH, NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE TAX SPACE.
UM, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN KNOWN FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
I THINK THERE'S A, THERE SHOULD BE A COMMITMENT, UH, OF, OF THIS BOARD TO JUST FOLLOW THAT AS FAR AS IT GOES.
IF IT'S, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO GET VALLEY HEALTH PARTICIPATING AND HELPING, UH, WITH THE REVENUE TO THE COUNTY, LET'S FIND IT.
LET'S MAKE A DILIGENT EFFORT TO FIND IT.
UM, AGAIN, I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO GO INTO DETAILS HERE, SO I'M NOT GOING TO, BUT I JUST WANTED TO, UH, TO REVIEW THAT AND ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYBODY'S, UM, STATEMENTS AND CONCERNS.
UM, BECAUSE I'LL BE REMOTE TOMORROW.
BEST CASE, I MAY GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TONIGHT JUST TO, TO GET IT IN, IN A, IN A WAY THAT IT CAN BE HEARD.
UH, BUT I'M NOT GONNA GO TOO DEEP.
UM, I AGREE WITH WHAT MR. JAMESON JUST SAID, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE NOT DISCRETIONARY.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE REFUSE FEES, THE CHILDREN'S SERVICES ACT, MINIMUM WAGE GOING UP, UH, HEALTH INSURANCE INCREASES, UH, UNFUNDED MANDATES FROM, FROM THE STATE AND, AND SO FORTH.
[01:55:02]
IN TERMS OF LOOKING FOR CUTS, UM, FOR THE PAST, THIS IS MY THIRD, BUT BUDGET CYCLE.FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, I'VE, I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS AND WE DO GO VERY CAREFULLY LINE BY LINE WITH EVERY DEPARTMENT LOOKING FOR CUTS.
AND, AND NOT ONLY THAT, UM, THEY'VE BEEN HELD TO A PRETTY LEAN STANDARD, UH, THE PAST TWO YEARS AND PRIOR TO THAT AS WELL, UM, WITH, UH, SOME BUDGET GROWTH, BUT GENERALLY BELOW THE RATE OF INFLATION.
AND, AND LAST YEAR, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EQUALIZATION THAT HAPPENED, ASSESSMENTS WERE UP, THE RATE WENT DOWN.
I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT A 1% INCREASE TOTAL, NOT, NOT 14% LAST YEAR.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
UM, THAT SAID, I HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR THAT, UH, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HERE ARE TAPPED OUT AND, UH, 10% IS A BIG ASK.
SO WE WILL, WE'LL PROBABLY NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THIS.
UM, THE BUDGET THAT WAS PASSED EARLIER WAS AN ALLOCATION PLAN.
UM, BUT IT'S NOT THE END AS, AS WAS JUST POINTED OUT.
UH, WE WILL LOOK AT WHAT RATE WE CAN GET, UM, THAT WE CAN COME TO CONSENSUS ON AND, AND GO FROM THERE.
UM, I WANTED TO ANSWER JUST A COUPLE QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAD ASKED OR POINT OUT SOME, UH, AR ERRONEOUS THINGS THAT WERE STATED.
UH, ONE OF THE FIRST SPEAKERS ASKED ABOUT SHENANDOAH FARM SANITARY BUDGETS, AND IS THAT PART OF THIS INCREASE? THAT'S A SEPARATE TAX AND IT'S A SEPARATE FUND, AND IT'S STAYING FLAT THIS YEAR AT $350 PER LOT.
UH, THAT GETS ALL YOUR SERVICES WITH ROADS AND OTHER MAINTENANCE THERE.
UM, A LOT OF POINTS ABOUT DATA CENTERS.
I, I AGREE WITH MOST EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID.
UM, CHESTER GAP, WE'RE, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT THAT.
UM, I WENT OUT THERE LAST WEEK, AS DID SOME OTHER SUPERVISORS TO TOUR THE FACILITY IN THE VICINITY.
AND, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT.
WE, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THE RIGHT THING.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT DATA AND WHERE CAN WE BEST ALLOCATE MONEY TO FIRE AND RESCUE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTY FORENSIC AUDIT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEM TO BE INTERESTED IN, UM, THAT'S EXPENSIVE.
IT, IT'S NOT COMPLETELY A, A DEAD IDEA, BUT THERE MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY FORWARD, WHICH IS, UH, THE AGREED UPON PROCEDURES, UH, IDEA THAT MR. JAMESON HAS PUT FORWARD IN HIS OP-ED.
UM, DELINQUENT TAXES WERE RAISED.
UH, THIS IS ONE THING THAT THE TREASURER'S DOING, UM, A GOOD JOB PURSUING ACTUALLY.
THEY, THEY'VE REALLY ESCALATED THE AMOUNT, AMOUNT OF TAX AUCTIONS THAT WE'RE DOING BOTH ON, UH, REAL ESTATE AND, UH, NOT AUCTIONS, BUT DMV STOPS ON AUTO REGISTRATIONS.
UH, IT'S REALLY MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE DEFINITELY PURSUING THAT WITH REGARD TO IT.
FEDERAL THAT'S MAINLY TIED UP IN LAWSUITS, AND THAT GUY IS ONE SLIPPERY FISH.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THERE.
UM, TRYING TO WORK A DEAL WITH VALLEY HEALTH TO GET, TO GET THEM TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE, I, I FULLY SUPPORT THAT.
UM, MCKAY SPRINGS THE POSSIBILITY OF, OF SELLING THAT LAND TO THE C CDO VALLEY BATTLEFIELD FOUNDATION.
UM, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO JOINTLY HEARING THAT PROPOSAL WITH THE TOWN, UH, WHO CO-OWNS THE PROPERTY.
AND, UH, AND I RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR WATER RIGHTS CAN BE PROTECTED, UH, IN THAT POSSIBLE FIELD.
UM, HEALTHCARE, IT WAS ASKED IF, IF THE COUNTY ACTUALLY TRIES TO COMPETE ITS HEALTHCARE.
AND IN FACT, UH, THE COUNTY SIDE GOT A, A VERY HIGH, UH, HEALTHCARE RENEWAL PRICE, AND THEY WENT AND SHOPPED AROUND AND, AND WERE ABLE TO DO MUCH BETTER.
SO YES, THE, THE ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING ON THOSE THINGS.
UM, THE VAPE STORES, IT WAS, UH, ALLEGED THAT THE COUNTY HAS WELCOMED VAPE STORES, UH, RULING OVER POTENTIAL REVENUE.
UM, THAT'S ACTUALLY A TOWN ISSUE.
PRETTY MUCH ALL THE VAPE STORES ARE, ARE IN THE TOWN.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S A SEPARATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, THAT, THAT THAT CAN BE BROUGHT TO.
UM, AS FOR THE CIGARETTE TAX ITSELF, I VOTED AGAINST IT THE LAST TIME IT WAS, UH, PROPOSED TO US.
UH, I, I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE CRITICISMS AGAINST IT.
UM, ALSO SEEING MY MOM FALL, UH, VERY SEVERE DECLINE WITH EMPHYSEMA AND, UH, THAT REALLY DRIVES IT HOME.
SO THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS AND, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THIS PROCESS THROUGH AND, AND HOPING THAT WE CAN DO RIGHT BY EVERYBODY AND MAKE THIS AFFORDABLE, UH, WHILE, WHILE DEALING WITH SOME OF THESE, UH, NON-DISCRETIONARY EXPENSES THAT, THAT WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER, UH, AS WELL AS BRINGING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, UP TO SPEED AND, UH, TAKING CARE OF THE SCHOOLS, WHICH HAVE BEEN ON A VERY LEAN BUDGET FOR SEVERAL YEARS, UH, WITH ALMOST NO INCREASES.
SO THAT'S, THANK YOU, MR. CARTER.
I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY CAME OUT AND,
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UH, SPOKE.AND I'LL DEFINITELY TAKE WHAT WAS SAID THIS EVENING IN CONSIDERATION, AND TOMORROW NIGHT WE WILL HAVE A WORK SESSION TO KINDA GO THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE, THAT WERE SAID TONIGHT TO CONSIDER AND, AND, UH, MOVE ON WITH IT.
SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL COME TO SOME CONCLUSION.
MARK, AGAIN, I THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT ALL YOUR COM, ALL YOUR COMMENTS.
UM, THEY, THEY ARE NOT FALLING ON DEATH EARS, I CAN ASSURE YOU OF THAT.
UM, I, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US, THE REASSESSMENTS, THE TAX RATE, IT FALLS ON US AS WELL.
UM, THESE ARE NEVER EASY DECISIONS.
UM, THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND AND THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES.
SO, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO LOOKING AT MR. JAMESON'S OPTION.
UM, THAT CAME TO US, UM, FOR MYSELF WHEN I THINK LATE THURSDAY, AND THEN THE BOARD, YOU GOT THAT ON SATURDAY.
SO WE HAVE NOT HAD A DISCUSSION ON THAT AS A BOARD.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO LOOKING AT THAT AND, UM, TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
UM, I THINK WE ALL KNOW JUST THE INCREASE IN GAS IN THE LAST WEEK.
UM, HARRISONBURG, A GALLON OF GAS IS $4 AND 50 CENTS.
DIESEL'S ALMOST $6 IF IT'S NOT ALREADY $6.
UM, SO JUST, JUST HEATING, UH, FUEL ELECTRIC, THAT ALONE WOULD NOT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO KEEP A FLAT BUDGET JUST FOR THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES CARS, THEY'RE RUNNING 24 7 AND MANY OF OUR FIRE APPARATUSES, THERE'S A FIRE TRUCK OR AN AMBULANCE PROBABLY OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME, 24 7 TOO.
AND THEY'RE ALL SUCKING FUEL LIKE CRAZY.
SO WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO, TO DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR YOU.
AND AGAIN, I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU COMING OUT AND IF THERE'S A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT, SO MOVED.
AND FOR THE STAFF THAT'S HERE, APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND FOR YOU BEING HERE AFTER A LONG DAY.