By Debbie Hall
Several department heads attended Monday’s budget work session to answer questions about their respective budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year.
Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith’s more than $5 million budget proposal includes several cost centers. In addition to the more than $2.5 million for law enforcement, the spending plan includes more than $1.9 million for the jail, $678,326 for the E911 system, $512,557 for county paid deputies, $126,952 for courtroom security and $61,787 for animal control, according to budget documents.
Additionally, Smith said his proposed budget includes an increase of less than 1 percent.
He noted that in fiscal 2018, the state provided nearly 47 percent of his budget, or nearly $2.5 million. The county provided the remainder, or more than $2.8 million.
If a resident pays $1,000 in taxes, Smith said only $50.60 of that total is used for operations of the sheriff’s office.
He also noted pay disparities of $2,000 to $5,000 between Patrick deputies, who are paid less than those similarly qualified in localities such as Floyd, Carroll and Henry counties, and the City of Martinsville.
Smith said the state funds 82 percent of the salary for 55 employees, and estimated he has 70 employees.
He also asked the board to restore $65,200 in cuts previously discussed with the budget committee and for expenses that include inmate bedding, clothing and personal supplies; office/investigative equipment and other items.
The cuts were proposed because the supervisors are grappling with an estimated $3.1 million shortfall in the proposed nearly $56 million budget. The board is considering a proposed real estate tax hike of not more than .11 cents, refinancing certain debt and reapplying for a Revenue Anticipation Note (RAN) to make up a portion of the shortfall in the spending plan.
The county proposal also includes increases in several areas: the reassessment is estimated at $458,200; the Electoral Board requested an additional $11,450; court services, $10,900; law enforcement, $76,386; deputy, $26,789; Quick Response Vehicle (ambulance), $75,428; jail, $386,452; building inspection new hire, $14,112 and $14,000 for the jail’s HVAC maintenance contract, according to budget documents.
Additionally, increased funding requests from most agencies totaled $36,548 with $172,716 projected for salaries and benefits due to new hires from the Medicaid expansion (Patrick County Department of Social Services); $158,648 – transfers to PSA funds, as suggested by the auditors for more accurate bookkeeping; $17,000 – Community Center HVAC unit and $411,545 to the school division, documents showed.
Patrick County Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Allen also addressed the board. In addition to the work currently undertaken by the career fire and EMS crews at Station 8, Allen said the agency soon will be working with local and state authorities to collect blood from those suspected of drug/alcohol abuse.
“I don’t have any questions. I think you’ve done what you could do,” Jane Fulk, of the Dan River District, said.
Ron Knight, of the Transfer Station, suggested the county invest in equipment, hire a driver and otherwise invest in the equipment needed to haul waste to Dublin rather than paying a third-party contractor to do it.
Rick Ward and Garry Clifton, of the Patrick County Library, also addressed the board.
Karl Weiss, of the Blue Ridge District, said he has had calls from people who support the library and asked him to raise their taxes to continue funding it. (See related story “Officials say cut in library funding will be devastating.”)
The meeting Monday marked the second work session – the first was held on March 19.
Then, Lock Boyce, of the Mayo River District, questioned the more than $400,000 increased funding requested by the school division.
The funds are needed to help pay for the 5 percent pay raise for all employees, according to school officials. The state approved a 5 percent pay hike for certain positions, but the pay hike does not extend to all employees, including those in the transportation and food service departments.
Boyce said he opposes giving more funds to the school division than the minimum amount required by law. For any more than that, he suggested the board tell the school superintendent “he can’t have this boost for his budget.”
Rickie Fulcher, chairman, suggested the county independently verify the minimum amount it is required to give the school division and seek answers to other concerns about the school’s proposal.
Boyce also questioned the effectiveness of the county’s career EMS/fire crews, and asked for information about the service, such as the number of calls they responded to and whether responses also involved a volunteer crew.
He has in the past advocated to eliminate the program in its current format to replace it with a less expensive model.
Weiss, an incumbent seeking reelection, said that while getting signatures for his reelection bid “the biggest ‘thank-you’ I’ve got is for the paid service. Mr. Boyce, I’ll tell you right now you’re barking up the wrong road” if considering cutting the blended career fire and rescue service.
Supervisor pay also was questioned.
According to the budget proposal, the supervisors will be paid $6,690 each, for a total of $34,950 in fiscal 2020.
Associated expenses and a proposed increase of 3.58 percent pushed the total requested appropriation to $77,580 in the upcoming fiscal year that begins on July 1.
Related expenses include FICA, unemployment insurance, contributions to the Virginia Retirement System (VRS), health insurance, Workman’s Comp, insurance for public officials, advertising, travel (mileage, lodging/meals, conventions/education), related memberships and other operating supplies, according to budget documents.
Geri Hazelwood, assistant county administrator and also clerk of the supervisors, emailed a copy of the law pertaining to the Workers’ Compensation Act. It states the law does not automatically provide coverage for elected officials, members of the Board of Supervisors or board or authority members that are appointed by the governing body and act in an administrative function.
A majority of the board members in January, 2001 approved a resolution to provide coverage to several boards, including the supervisors.
Donna Shough, finance director, said the majority of the other expenses included under the Board of Supervisors category, such as health insurance, are related to the board clerk’s salary. Portions of the benefits provided to Hazelwood are divided between two budget cost centers – the board of supervisors and county administration.
According to budget documents, Hazelwood will be paid $10,000 for serving as board clerk.
Sara Leigh Collins said she will be paid $3,150 for serving as clerk of the Patrick County School Board.
Although the county can pay for supervisors’ health insurance, Shough said the budget committee has proposed changing that in the upcoming fiscal year. As of July 1, supervisors can be included on the county’s insurance only if they pay the full premium.
A public hearing on the proposed tax increase will be held Wednesday, March 27, at 6 p.m., in the third-floor meeting room of the Patrick County Veterans Memorial Building in Stuart.
