04-09-2018 Special Called MeetingSpecial Called Meeting
April 9, 2018
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
Monday, April 9, 2018
Special Called Meeting
VIRGINIA: The Special Called Meeting of the Pittsylvania County Board of
Supervisors was held on Monday, April 9, 2018, in the Pittsylvania County Educational and
Cultural Center Auditorium, located at 39 Bank Street, Chatham, Virginia 24531. Robert W.
“Bob” Warren, Chairman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following members were
present:
Tim R. Barber Tunstall District
Joe B. Davis Dan River District
Ronald S. Scearce Westover District
Ben L. Farmer Callands-Gretna District
Charles H. Miller, Jr. Banister District
Elton W. Blackstock Staunton River District
Robert W. “Bob” Warren Chatham-Blairs District
Mr. David M. Smitherman, County Administrator, J. Vaden Hunt Esq., County Attorney,
Mrs. Kim Van Der Hyde, Director of Finance, and Mrs. Kaylyn McCluster, Deputy Clerk, were
also present.
Approval of Agenda
Motion was made by Mr. Blackstock, seconded by Mr. Miller, to approve the agenda,
which was unanimously approved by the Board.
Public Hearings
4A.) PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE PUBLIC HEARING
A Public Hearing was held tonight to hear citizen input on a proposed real estate tax increase;
details of said proposed real estate tax increase are as follows:
1. Assessment Increase: Total assessed value of real property, excluding additional
assessments due to new construction or improvements to property, exceeds last year’s
total assessed value of real property by 6.68 %.
2. Lowered Rate Necessary to Offset Increased Assessment: The tax rate which would
levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year, when multiplied by the new total
assessed value of real estate with the exclusions mentioned above, would be $.55 per
$100 of assessed value. This rate will be known as the “lowered tax rate.”
3. Effective Rate Increase: The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors proposes to
adopt a tax rate of $.70 per $100 of assessed value. The difference between the
lowered tax rate and the proposed rate would be $.15 per $100, or 27%. This
Special Called Meeting
April 9, 2018
difference will be known as the “effective tax rate increase.” However, individual
property taxes may increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above
percentage.
4. Proposed Total General Fund Budget Increase: Based on the proposed real property
tax rate and changes in other revenues, the total General Fund Budget of Pittsylvania
County, Virginia, will exceed last year’s General Fund Budget by 7%.
Mr. Warren opened the public hearing at 7:03 pm. Charles Turner, Tunstall District, was
the first signed up to speak and he was in objection to the tax increase. Mike Turner, Tunstall
District, spoke next and he wanted to offer solutions to the tax increase. LaVan Bowman,
Chatham-Blairs District, spoke on behalf of Willie Fitzgerald, also of the Chatham-Blairs
District, and they were there to represent the NAACP in objection of the tax increase. Mary
Catherine Plaster, Chatham-Blairs District, spoke in objection to the property tax increase. Coy
Harville, Westover District, spoke in opposition of the tax increase. Kathy Hodges, Callands-
Gretna District, spoke in opposition of the tax increase, but also offered solutions. No one else
signed up to speak and Mr. Warren closed the public hearing at 7:22 pm.
4B). PROPOSED PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE PUBLIC HEARING
A Public Hearing was held to hear citizen input on potentially changing the County’s
current personal property rate from $8.75 of assessed value, 30% of fair market value, to $12.00
of assessed value, 30% of fair market value. In addition to this change, the Board of Supervisors
will also consider potentially changing the Vehicle License Fee from $38.75 per vehicle to
$40.75 per vehicle.
Mr. Warren opened the public hearing at 7:22 pm. Jeffrey Reynolds, Callands-Gretna
District, spoke first and he was in support of the personal property tax increase. Kathy Hodges,
Callands-Gretna District, spoke in opposition of the personal property tax increase, and again
voiced her solutions. No one else signed up to speak and Mr. Warren closed the public hearing
at 7:29 pm.
4C). FY2019 PROPOSED PITTYSLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOL BUDGET PUBLIC
HEARING
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors held a Public Hearing to hear citizen input
on the proposed School Budget for fiscal year 2019. The School Budget is part of the overall
County Budget, which proposes a 15¢ tax increase, making an effective real estate tax rate of
70¢ per $100 of assessed value. Below is a brief synopsis of the School Budget, which shall be
for informative and fiscal planning purposes only:
SCHOOL BOARD
Adopted Proposed
Budget Budget
Special Called Meeting
April 9, 2018
2017-2018 2018-2019
REVENUES
From Sales Tax 10,070,955 10,027,437
From State Funds 51,828,892 50,664,677
From Federal Funds 7,866,361 8,537,507
From Local Funds 17,236,709 18,336,709
Cafeteria Receipts 5,255,000 5,362,025
From Other Funds 1,445,024 1,985,683
Total $ 93,702,941 $94,914,038
EXPENDITURES
Instruction 64,241,523 64,772,199
Admn./Attend & Health Svcs 3,370,527 3,735,358
Pupil Transportation 6,634,246 6,676,716
Operation & Maintenance 7,964,335 8,023,163
Non-Instructional Operations 3,412,865 3,476,047
Technology 2,824,445 2,868,530
Cafeteria 5,255,000 5,362,025
Total $ 93,702,941 $94,914,038
Mr. Warren opened the public hearing at 7:29 pm. Rev. Joan Tarpley-Robinson, Banister
District, was the first to speak and she stated her support of the Board’s efforts and support of the
school system. Kathy Hodges had also signed up to speak but declined when it was her turn. No
one else signed up to speak and Mr. Warren closed the meeting at 7:32 pm.
4D). FY2018/19 PROPOSED PITTYSLVANIA COUNTY BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING
The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors held a Public Hearing to hear citizen input
on the proposed 2018-2019 County Budget. Said Budget will not be considered for adoption
until seven (7) days after tonight’s Public Hearing. Below is a brief synopsis of the Budget,
which shall be for informative and fiscal planning purposes only. Said Budget proposes a tax
increase of 15¢, making the effective real estate tax rate of 70¢ per $100 of assessed value.
GOVERNMENT
2017-2018 2018-2019
EXPENDITURES ADOPTED PROPOSED
General Gov’t Expense 4,452,452 4,204,062
Judicial Admin. Expense 1,672,305 1,710,216
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April 9, 2018
Public Safety 16,481,558 16,649,749
Health Dept./Social Services 12,292,658 13,726,345
Public Works 3,051,515 3,191,033
Education Expense 93,712,715 94,924,358
Parks, Rec. & Cultural 1,715,704 2,083,471
Grants 6,755,441 5,816,366
Community Dev. Expense 8,112,899 8,739,529
Capital Projects 604,963 3,433,077
Debt Service 10,767,972 10,605,577
Transfers 18,845,836 22,400,301
Misc/Non-Departmental 1,116,025 323,782
TOTAL $ 179,582,043 $ 187,807,866
2017-2018 2018-2019
REVENUES ADOPTED PROPOSED
Local Funds 48,060,384 55,669,209
State Funds 88,739,378 87,677,490
Federal Funds 18,753,335 18,941,297
CIP Carryover 1,939,474 2,202,944
Carryover 236,483 291,625
Fund Balance 3,007,153 625,000
Transfers 18,845,836 22,400,301
TOTAL $ 179,582,043 $ 187,807,866
Mr. Warren opened the public hearing at 7:33 pm. Mary Catherine Plaster, Chatham-
Blairs District, was the first to speak and stated that she would like to see the taxes placed fairly,
and not just on the land owners. Coy Harville, Westover District, spoke in opposition of raising
the taxes. Kathy Hodges, Callands-Gretna District, spoke on the opposition of raising the taxes
and again gave her options for solutions to the debt problem. No one else signed up to speak and
Mr. Warren closed the public hearing at 7:41 pm.
Adjournment
Mr. Warren adjourned the meeting at 7:42 pm.
_______________________________________
Robert W. “Bob” Warren, Chair
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors
_______________________________________
David M. Smitherman, Clerk
Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors