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04-02-2024 Called Meeting - Budget Workshop - FINAL PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ CALLED MEETING (BUDGET WORKSHOP) April 2, 2024 VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors' ("Board") Called Meeting was held on April 2, 2024, in the Gallery Room of the Chatham Community Center, 115 S Main Street, Chatham, Virginia 24531. CALL TO ORDER (4:00 PM) Dalton called the Meeting to Order at 4:00 PM. ROLL CALL The following Board Members were present: Darrell W. Dalton - Callands-Gretna District Robert M. Tucker, Jr. - Banister District Kenneth L. Bowman - Chatham-Blairs District Eddie L. Hite, Jr. - Dan River District Murray W. Whittle - Westover District Timothy W. Dudley, Staunton River District, arrived at 4:10 PM. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to approve Agenda. RESULT: 7-0 (Approve) MOVER: Tucker SECONDER: Hite AYES: Dalton, Tucker, Bowman, Hite, Whittle NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None NEW BUSINESS a. FY 2025 County Budget Discussion Turille facilitated discussion regarding the FY 2025 County Budget. Tucker thanked everyone for being present and stated that the County wants to set a tax rate that meets expectations but is also mindful of the citizens. Bowman thanked citizens for coming out last week, and he recapped comments from the Budget Public Hearings. Hite stated that he has gotten calls all weekend and there are elderly folks who are extremely concerned. He is trying to think down the road for the County and prioritize Capital Projects for this year. Hite further stated that the Board needs to come up with a rate that most of the citizens can live with, and it may mean needing to do things "one bite at a time,” such as there could be a lower rate this year, but it would need to be increased again next year. Dalton stated the proposed Budget is really going to hurt the citizens and many of them cannot afford it. He said the citizens must live within their means, and the County should have to do the same. He is representing his people and wants to be sure that County has a Budget that not only the County can live with, but the citizens can live with. Dudley stated that there are a lot of items that have already been cut and he wishes for the Board to land on a number that is for the County and the people. Bowman offered the following recommendations to get the tax rate much lower: institute a hiring freeze, hold meetings with Fire/EMS and Public Safety to really see the needs for the future, delay some of the equipment purchases, review the need for critical infrastructure, work with another agency for the Comprehensive Plan, and review all Capital Projects. There was much discussion regarding the potential tax rate and the Board members stated they were comfortable with the following rates: -Hite 59¢ if it has to be, but he is comfortable at 57¢; -Tucker and Dudley stated they would agree to 57¢ or 56¢; -Dalton stated he wanted to see 52¢; -Bowman stated he was not ready to state a specific number, but 56¢ was better; and -Whittle stated he would agree to 56¢. There were four (4) Board members who agreed on 56¢, and County Staff was given direction to revise the County Budget to reflect that rate. The full Meeting can be viewed on the County's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pittsylvaniacountyva and the County's YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/@PittsylvaniacountyvaGov. ADJOURNMENT Dalton adjourned the Meeting at 8:31 PM.