Loading...
04-04-2024 Called Meeting - Budget Approval - FINAL PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ CALLED MEETING (BUDGET APPROVAL) April 4, 2024 VIRGINIA: The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors' ("Board") Called Meeting was held on April 4, 2024, in the Board Meeting Room, 39 Bank Street, SE, Chatham, Virginia 24531. CALL TO ORDER (5:00 PM) Dalton called the Meeting to Order at 5:00 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 Timothy W. Dudley - Staunton River District Eddie L. Hite, Jr. - Dan River District Murray W. Whittle - Westover District William V. (“Vic”) Ingram, Tunstall District, participated remotely from Wesley Long Hospital located at 2400 W Friendly Ave, Greensboro, NC, due to sickness. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion to approve Agenda. RESULT: 7-0 (Approved) MOVER: Tucker SECONDER: Dudley AYES: Dalton, Tucker, Bowman, Dudley, Hite, Ingram, Whittle NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None NEW BUSINESS Turille stated that the FY 2025 County Budget Resolution is up for adoption and includes a 56¢ tax rate, based on the Board’s consensus from the last meeting. This is a tax rate reduction of 6¢ from the current 62¢ rate. This Budget includes important items, such as increased funds for fire and rescue trucks and ambulance equipment, EMS and fire equipment, maintenance contracts, EMS training, more funding for fire and EMS volunteers to assist with recruitment, more support for the Sheriff’s Office to keep the community safe, and more for the Schools, so teacher pay is at a level to recruit and retain the best for the County and its children in the future. Turille stated, if the Board chooses not to accept this rate and go to a 54¢ rate, the Board could approve the School Budget tonight, but the Board would need another meeting to reallocate County expenses, including the proposed reserve fund for large capital needs such as the jail. If the Board wishes to go below to 53¢, the Board cannot approve the School Budget tonight without additional meetings to reallocate funds to meet that. With the rate at 56¢, the Board can do all the items that have been discussed in the last three (3) or four (4) months. The Board moved to item 5(b), Approval of FY25 County Budget, to handle that first. b. Approval of FY25 County Budget/Budget Resolution The County FY 25 Budget, in the amount of $239,161,887, was presented to the Board on March 12, 2024. A related Public Hearing was conducted on March 28, 2024, after the same was noticed and advertised in The Chatham Star Tribune on March 20, 2024. This Meeting has been set to approve the FY 25 County Budget in the amount of $238,986,887, the total budget adjusted to reflect a 56¢ tax rate, along with Budget Resolution # 2024-04-01, which meets the Virginia Code required seven (7)-day waiting period. Motion to approve the FY 25 County Budget in the amount of $238,986,887, and Resolution # 2024-04-01 as presented. MOVER: Tucker SECONDER: Hite Substitute Motion to approve the FY25 County Budget with a 52¢ tax rate. RESULT: 3-4 (Failed) MOVER: Bowman SECONDER: Ingram AYES: Bowman, Ingram, Dalton NAYS: Dudley, Hite, Tucker, Whittle ABSTAIN: None Due to the failed Substitute Motion, the original Motion by Tucker was then voted on. Motion to approve the FY 25 County Budget in the amount of $238,986,887, and Resolution # 2024-04-01 as presented. RESULT: 5-2 (Approved) MOVER: Tucker SECONDER: Hite AYES: Dudley, Hite, Ingram, Tucker, Whittle NAYS: Bowman, Dalton ABSTAIN: None a. Approval of FY25 School Budget The County's FY 25 School Budget, in the amount of $122,093,838 was presented to the Board on March 12, 2024, as part of the County's overall Budget. A related Public Hearing was conducted on March 28, 2024, after the same was duly and legally noticed and advertised in The Chatham Star Tribune on March 20, 2024. Motion to approve the County School FY 25 Budget in the amount of $122,093,838 as presented. RESULT: 7-0 (Approved) MOVER: Hite SECONDER: Dudley AYES: Dalton, Tucker, Bowman, Dudley, Hite, Ingram, Whittle NAYS: None ABSTAIN: None ADJOURNMENT Dalton adjourned the Meeting at 5:43 PM.