Bedford County, Virginia Board of Supervisors Public Meetings, 23 Apr 2023

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From YouTube: 2023.04.23 - Board of Supervisors 7pm Regular Meeting

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A

Let's call this meeting of the Bedford County Board of Supervisors to order I'd like to welcome everyone here this evening. It's good to see you um if you have a cell phone, if you could please either turn it off or silence it. That'd be great gentlemen, if you're having a hat on, if you please remove that for the duration of our meeting, we will begin with a moment of silence.

A

Thank you if you'd stand with me for the Pledge of Allegiance, congratulations.

A

B

A

We've been provided a copy of our agenda. Are there any questions regarding that this evening, if not we'd entertain a motion for adoption. Second got a motion by Mr Johnson. Second about Ms bansley, all those in favor signify for saying, aye, aye aye same sign motion passes we're now to our citizen comment period. This will be um not related to the tax rate public hearing or the um satellite absentee voting public hearing.

A

So if you have anything that you'd like to share and have I didn't see anyone signed up for that particular comment period, but we will have time right now. You'd have three minutes to speak. Is there anybody that wishes to speak on any matter other than the tax rate or the satellite voting.

A

All right, then, we will close. Yes, okay, if you would come, you need to say your name and your address for the record.

C

Travis niece I live in Big Island, Virginia I'd, like to say, I would like to see that done away with satellite voting. If you're going to absentee vote, you either need to be in the hospital. Okay.

A

We have a public hearing about that after the tax rate.

C

A

If you'd like to stick around for that, one I won't.

C

A

All right is there anyone else like to speak, if not I'll close the citizen comment portion of the meeting, and we will move on to our first public hearing, which is consideration of an ordinance setting the fiscal year. 2023 tax rates, that's ordinance, oh zero. Four, two, four, two three-01 we'll have a brief presentation from administrator hiss.

D

All right, thank you and good evening. Everybody. This won't take very long because I know most people are not here to listen to me.

D

That personal ad, so anyways I, have about 12 slides to go through and I'll move the through these fairly quickly. Just uh we are here this evening to talk about the tax rate decision for for this calendar year, just a little bit about how it got here. We did have a property reassessment in 2022. That was a finish by the by December I'm, going through some budget meetings, this winter in February, we contract with a financial advisory firm to help us with, with uh with some data analysis and so forth, Davenport and Company.

D

They made a presentation to the board and School Board during February 27th in March. We, the supervisors, viewed the County's Capital Improvement plan and also later in March. The supervisors received a final capital budget request from the school board. Previously, with the school board submitted a capital budget request, board supervisor, sent it back and asked them to revise it and decrease it, and they and the school board did do that and in March 20th how we got here tonight. The majority of the supervisors authorized staff to advertise a 41 Cent real estate tax rate.

D

So going back to the reassessment, the property values in Bedford County did increase considerably. As you know, the real estate market changed a lot, not only this region, but also Statewide. As you can see, the property values increased a lot. This is a 31 increase in total property values. That's not an average, that's just a total value increase. You know there were values that were above 31 percent or some their values that are below.

D

But that's the total increase, and you see the total dollar value of one cent of real estate tax is uh has grew as well from 895 000 to a little bit over 1.2 million.

D

So again, why are we here this evening? Current tax rate is 50, Cents, uh the equal lives or kind of net neutral rate is 38 cents and what is being proposed is uh is 41 cents and um anyways we'll get here, equalized rate of 38 cents. What that means is that basically yielding a similar tax revenue as previous years, so this current budget year, what the budget Year we're in right now we, the county, budgeted for 45 million dollars in local uh property tax revenue in fiscal year.

D

24 right now we're the county is budgeting a little bit more than that. That difference is due to the new growth in the county. That's occurred over the past year, so that's typically- and you might hear a little bit more this evening about how New Growth factors into uh different decisions. We make Law data on this slide and I'm not going to read it by any means. I'll just hit the highlights.

D

um It is just just for data points. This has been on our website for about a month at this point, if you had a if you had a this, shows a differential between a 38 Cent and a 41 Cent In terms of the relative impact for various homeowners.

D

Don't have a don't, have a ton of 150 000 homes in Bedford County anymore, but if, if there was one, the 41 Cent tax rate would be 3.75 cents more per month. 350 000 home is closer to a median value of a home in Bedford. County is Believe, It or Not. Median value is about 325 330 000 in Bedford County, so again, for that situation, household would pay about 8.75 more per month, and if you had a home over a half million dollars, you can see what that value would be as well.

D

So while we're working through the budgets um this year, just very very this is very high level.

D

The county has always tried to be, and staff has always done the best we can as well to be fiscally responsible. uh You know, inflation has been impacting impacts. Everybody in this room uh has been rampant for the last couple years again, while we're working through for next year's budget, we absorbed the operational inflation cost into the budget, which is almost 1.4 million dollars worth of expenses. So basically, we've accounted for that in the budget. We reduced capital budget requests by over 14 million dollars in order to work for further work on the budget.

D

A wide variety of requests that were in in that CIP and it was decided to reduce those for now also redirected, 356 thousand dollars from operations to the solid waste fund. That's been a continuing transfer, that's continued to grow, and uh now that's now it's over a 2.1 million dollar transfer, but again that's money that we've had to cut out of operational budget in order to find that 356 000 in order to move it into the solid waste fund.

D

um Overall, the proposed budget for fy24 that we're still you know, finalizing and tweaking a little bit is actually 65 000 less than what the current year FY 23 budget is, and we continue to review line items for any other savings, which is really you know a cultural norm in our organization and an expectation of the Board of Supervisors.

D

So why a 41 Cent rate and sorry for the type there might be a little bit small for some folks, but maybe you've seen this in other places, the uh there are certain capital projects that that exceed our ability to pay at a 38 Cent tax rate. These are the capital projects that have really comprised the 41 Cent rate. As you can see, we have a landfill is from a county perspective.

D

There has been some discussion amongst the board as to whether we closing the landfill or whether we want to con explore, uh continue to operate it if we can either way it's going to cost in the neighborhood of 15 million dollars in order to make that happen. So that's a project that really needs to happen. Regardless of what decision is made this evening on the tax rate, the DSS office space Renovations there in four different locations and very crowded in their current space, so there's some some money in there in order to make that work.

D

That department function a little bit better and the school system submitted these these five projects for uh the Board of Supervisors to consider not only as for budgetary purposes, but also tax rate purposes, the walkway canopies for Liberty High, School, Stanton, River, High School. Those are kind of connect between the different buildings, Auditorium upgrades for both high schools as well, gymnasium for the Bedford Primary School, a bus garage and Athletic Facility improvements really throughout the whole school system. So total projects are just a little bit over 55 million dollars.

D

So how do you pay for these projects? Well, the best way to do this is to issue some Debt Service or to make that happen. We'd at least have up to three borrowings within the next five years, because we would look at staggering these projects over that time frame. uh It's interesting, though, if you do the analysis- and you know you could say well, why don't you just save this save up money and pay for it in cash? Well, the way, the way the budgeting works and trying to use our money.

D

Our dollar is the best possible way if you just paid for this in cash, it'd actually be 11 and a half cents versus three cents, so we'd be talking about a rate of 49.5 cents. If we were going to just pay for all these projects in cash um county has a low, Debt Service. So four percent of the general fund expenditures are currently uh earmarked towards Debt Service at its peak. The way that our analysis works, that that would increase to five and a half percent.

D

Our own internal County policy is at a 50 that Debt Service can account for 15 percent of our overall ratio back to our expenditures.

D

So, as you can see, even with this borrowing, we're well below the county policy in terms of the borrowing capacity in our peer counties in this region have a debt expenditure ratio of 6.8 percent so again, we're even with this, with this borrowing, we'd be very similar but still lower than the pure counties in our area and that's assuming if all projects were approved, there's nothing to say that we that the board has to approve all these projects.

D

But that's uh that's if this assuming the worst case scenario or the most expensive scenario, so um giving the board a little bit of credit over or a law credit over the last decade or more in a Bedford County and the Bedford County Supervisors, and this board in particular, also is carrying on the tradition of having a a very low tax culture or low tax county uh there.

D

There is a neat report called the comparative report on Revenue effort, um and you can see that bullet point is a mouthful there about the fiscal stress of Virginia cities and counties. It's a report by the commission of local government and through the department, Housing Community Development. So one of the uh one of the items that they measure is revenue, effort and that's uh localities, Revenue collections divided by its Revenue capacity. So that's a lot of unusual I had to look up what all this meant, but in other words the cumulative.

D

In other words, I mean when you look at the definition of all this. It's a cumulative tax burden on the citizens, including real estate, personal property, sales, tax, Public, Service, Corporation taxes and other locally sourced Revenue. So the good news is that Bedford County for a long time has been ranked the lowest 133 out of 133 the last three years and has consistently ranked the lowest six in the state since 2008 seven um as you'll see on my next Slide. The latest data is only as of 2020, not sure why they haven't updated.

D

This figure yet from the state. But this is the next slide, just kind of comparing our rankings to some of our peer counties and Regional counties in the area again just touting the accomplishments of the supervisors.

D

Over the years, I just put up the last four years to show that Bedford County has done a very good job in terms of making decisions and being fiscally responsible having the lowest tax burden in the state compared to some of our surrounding areas, probably really the ones that are closest to us sort of Pennsylvania and Franklin and Appomattox in terms of their kind of rankings as their revenue effort that they're asking their citizens to put forward.

D

So my final slide and then I'll shut up is our regional real estate tax rates.

D

um As you can see the that this is changing cons, there are a lot of changes in this uh in the region, mostly because of reassessments occurring. As you can see, Bedford County has the lowest proposed tax rate in the in the area. Campbell is a close second, so Campbell Wilson went through a reassessment just like Bedford County did and they're equalized rate would have been 39 cents, so they would have been going for 52 cents to 39 cents.

D

Bedford County was doing 50 cents of 38 cents and they're uh their Board of Supervisors chose to stick it a 45 Cent rate, another County, that's going through an equalization effort or a reassessment effort is a Montgomery County. uh They ran up 89 cents, I know that they've advertised the 70 cents and then talking with their County Administrator, their uh equalized rate, is 67 cents, so similar to Bedford County they're advertising a three cent adjustment.

D

Now, whatever their final decision is I, don't know quite yet, Lynchburg city has been much publicized about their tax rate and reducing their tax tax burden on their citizens. As you saw from the previous slide, they've been one of the higher tax jurisdictions in the state for a number of years and they're they're drastically reducing their uh tax rate due to their reassessment and the final one. That I know is reducing it to Roanoke County.

D

They have not reduced theirs and gosh for years, I mean literally for years decade or more and again, through a reassessment, I couldn't find any data as to what their actual equalized rate is. They don't probably advertise that very much but they're Roanoke, but they're, reducing from a dollar nine to a dollar six. So again, just kind of illustrating that Bedford County and the Board of Supervisors over the years again have shown a lot of fiscal restraint and continues to uh do that so board. That's all I had for my comments this evening.

D

Unless there's any immediate questions you may have had I.

E

Just have one question: Robert um Mr chairman: yes, um the when you look at Nelson County Rockingham, bottate, Appomattox, Pennsylvania, Franklin, Amherst they're. All remaining the same. Does that mean they're not proposing.

D

E

D

On everything, I was able to research. um My understanding is that they're not proposing reductions. A couple of them. Have you know not? Everybody. Has reassessment Cycles on the same cycle? A couple of them I want to say it was Nelson. It may have been Amherst as well. They made changes last year. They I think they did their reassessment in previous years and they made some adjustments before so every every county is on different cycles of their reassessments. We do it on every four years, a lot of other counties.

D

Do it every four years too, but they may be on different cycle. Some counties and cities do it annually or every other year. So.

A

Any other questions for staff.

A

Okay, thank you all right. So we're going to begin the public hearing portion of this now, everyone that has signed up to speak you'll have three minutes. Clock will start once you've said your name and your address for the record do not get offended. If we cut you off, three minutes is what you get and that's what everybody's going to get Miss Johnson's got a handy, dandy, little yellow card to throw up, so you know to wrap it up. You got 30 seconds.

A

um Only residents or Property Owners of Bedford County will be heard during this public hearing. There should be no outside jurisdiction represented. You cannot yield your time to another person. So if you've signed up you're the one, that's speaking tonight, you are speaking to this board and not to the audience. So please direct your comments to us.

A

Decorum will be maintained, which just means, if you get rowdy I'm gonna gave you down so again don't be offended, but we need to be able to hear. What's being said, um please hold your applause until the end of the comment period. So we'll have enough time for everyone to speak tonight and I already told you supervisor. Johnson is our official time keeper and I got three. Let's see, we've got one ace about 20 folks that have signed.

B

A

I am going to call you in the order in which you signed up. I did not Shuffle the cards all right, so the first person up and I'll give the second person so you'll be ready to go right after you'll get to stand with Sheriff Miller, so you I know you're listening to me all right. First person up is Robert Asheville. Then after him is Isaiah. Knight.

F

I'm Robert, Asheville and I live at 1282 Asheville Circle in Huddleston I've been there for 42 years.

F

I am with redistricting and Edgar Tuck's District excuse me: I was principal at Stan, River High School in 1992, when plans were developed to address facility needs at the school included in the plan, were Renovations and additions to the two small Auditorium that flooded every time we had a hard rain shower.

F

This plan was never fully implemented because of cost overruns at Forest. Middle School money was taken from the renovation project at Stanton River to pay for these overruns, and the auditorium was never completed, barely touched.

F

30 years later, the school system and Board of Supervisors built a new auditorium at Jefferson Forest High School, while ignoring promises made earlier to the Stanton River Community.

F

Finally, the school board has unanimously approved a capital Improvement plan that includes Renovations and additions to the above said Auditorium. It should be noted that the Stanton River Community, ever mindful of cost, did not ask for a new facility. Just the improvements that had been promised 30 years ago and I would point out that this facility is now 60 years old in a budget work session. Last week, supervisor Charlotte beansley said that the school Capital Improvement plan has nothing to do with academics.

F

Oh contraire, in reality that liberal state of Texas in 2019 had a study that tracked 10 000 students who participated in various School Arts programs.

F

They found that a vast majority of these students had improved state test scores that would be their version of our sols, had better Behavior and more compassion for their fellow students.

F

It's also been found over the years through numerous studies that students who participate in music programs, such as band and chorus, have higher math scores.

F

I would think, as an Adjunct professor, that Ms bainsley should know. This mainsley also stated that redoing the performance centers that would be the auditorium, such as Stanton River Liberty, would lead to unwholesome groups using the facilities like those Now using the Jefferson Forest Auditorium supervisors.

F

Ainsley's personal prejudices should not be allowed to deny our students Equitable facilities. County-Wide. Thank you. Thank you.

A

It's tonight, and up behind him is Sherry Gibbon.

G

Good evening I'm Isaiah Knight resident at 2, 15, Jefferson, Woods, Drive and Forest and I'm here to say three things number one fact checked on some numbers: Financial year 2015 the budget Revenue was 162.8 million and 2019. The budget Revenue was 188 million in 2023, the budget Revenue was 228.2 Million. Our annual budget revenues increased 40 percent since 2015., yet the inflation has increased 27 percent. Our Revenue has been much higher than the inflation rate number two.

G

Every cent by this governing body is being taken from our pockets by you know it's being taken from the pockets of your neighbors and such grave Economic Times. The folks in this community are all making hard financial decisions in their homes. Why Can't, This elected body emulate their constituents. Why can't frivolous spending be curtailed?

G

How will these expenditures improve academics? You know what will be gained by providing the new awnings on a school campus. It's not the government's responsibility that kids don't arrive to school with wet hair. That's the responsibility of the parents to buy an umbrella and finally, number three and I've heard this many times the most conservative School. uh Sorry, most conservative Board of Supervisors, a Word of Wisdom that I teach my children because I know every single one of you knows the Constitutions knows our Virginia founding fathers, Jefferson and Madison.

G

You all know about all of this, but what I teach my kids is this one thing it's really simple. A lion does not have to tell others he's a lion. It's not because he has a cool name. He has a cool Mane or because of his Roar. They know he is a lion because he does lion things.

G

It's his action, it's his strength, it's his courage to do hard things. That's what makes a lion a lion. So my question today to you is: are you going to call yourself a lion? Are you gonna be a lion? Please do not take more money from my neighbors.

G

B

A

I will remind you one more time we were going to hold our Applause until the end of this so share Givens up next, followed by Jason Johnson.

H

Good evening, I'm Sheri given I live at 3481 Crab Orchard Road in Huddleston Virginia. Thank you for this time to speak with you. I am the theater teacher at Stanton, River High School I, attended Stanton River from 1983 to 87., so four years as a student 29 years as a teacher, so I am here to talk to you specifically about our Auditorium building.

H

If you have not been in that building, it consists of two rooms, an actual Auditorium that seats, 560 people a stage, that's 24 feet wide and no backstage area for storage, and we have a band room that is currently shared with the choir. Along with that, we have several small closets for choir band and Musical, and one set of bathrooms in the lobby. Our bathrooms, the ladies rooms and the men's room was recently renovated due to OSHA requirements.

H

um We also had a French drain put in this year to stop the flooding. If you will reference emails, sent from Rob, Asheville, State and River teacher, you can see what that looks like when water comes in one side of our building and has to be broomed out to the other side.

H

um The other last renovation that was large, was in 2001, and that was a new flat roof to our building and air conditioning that was put in and when the air conditioning was put in the mechanical stuff took up the storage rooms that were inside of the auditorium space at that time, for our props sets costumes Etc with that upgrade. We now have three storage sheds outside of our building that houses all of those things for the theater program.

H

So every time we need something we must go outside the building in order to get that. Does that mean that we shovel snow in the winter time to make paths? Yes, it does um new equipment in that building, since I have been teaching in the year. 1994 is a soundboard that was generously provided by our County as they started using our Auditorium buildings for the school board meetings, and that was this year and we have had two new sets of curtains at ten thousand dollars each one provided by counting one by the building yard sales.

H

We currently have 26 hanging lights in our Auditorium for the stage lights. 11 of those have been there longer than myself. Eight of those were provided by grant money and the other seven came from the renovation that was at Jefferson Forest when they received a new Auditorium.

H

So what does that mean? We have three programs this year and in the past choir band and theater that are running out of two classrooms. Next year we are adding dance to that as well. The dance in the theater will be run in the auditorium, which is our classroom. There aren't any white boards, there aren't chalkboards. There are not there's nothing there for us to write on or project on, for our students when we are teaching very quickly.

H

That means that when anybody presents in that stage area, we have to move everything out into those storage buildings and make room for whoever's coming in for their presentation that day. I know this doesn't sound like much, but when you're running four programs out of two rooms that you share with everybody else in your space, it becomes hard and our students see that when they look across the county, so I. Thank you very much for your time and I. Ask that you consider funding for future students. Thank you.

H

A

You accepts Jason Johnson, then after him is Leanne Ellis.

I

Good evening, members of the board, my name- is Jason Johnson I reside at 6735 White House Road in Moneta I'm, proud to be represented by my neighbor Mr tuck.

I

In a few short weeks, my mother and her classmates will celebrate their 60th high school reunion 60 years ago. They were the final class to walk across the stage and get a diploma from the old Monita High School later that summer, the 8th through 12th graders from Anita from Huddleston and Stewartsville, were all brought together at a new high school called Stanton River.

I

If you'd been one of those students, like my dad, who got off the bus that first day, you'd probably think stent River looked like something out of the Jetsons, with its kind of sleek uh architecture, very 60s, very futuristic, but like a lot of things designed and built in the 60s, both aesthetically and structurally stent River hasn't really stood the test of time over those years. Every single original building on that campus has been renovated, except for one.

I

That's the auditorium, I think Ms given did a great job enumerating the issues with the auditorium and I know. There are other speakers tonight that will probably do the same so I'm not going to rehash what they're saying other than to say that there are many needs that need to be addressed. Stepping into that Auditorium is like taking a step backward in time. You can almost wait to see JFK walk across the stage to talk about uh the moon rate, the the space race or Russian aggression.

I

You know topics that you know we're still talking about 60 years later, but there are a couple of very important reasons why I think we need to finally address that these are, as we've stated, issues that have long needed to be addressed, but coming out of the Great Recession with deferred maintenance projects. We.

J

I

There was always a school that had a roof that needed to be replaced or threatened operations of the school HVAC systems that were on life, support that, if they weren't fixed immediately, could end operations in the school students in overcrowded schools in Mobile classrooms that needed to be brought into the building we still haven't got all of those fixed and I hope. The boards will consider some upgrades much needed upgrades to Huddleston Elementary in the near future as well.

I

That being said, the time is finally right to focus on the auditoriums at Stanton River and at Liberty high schools. These are projects long overdue. It's Mr Ashwell pointed out in the early 2000s, when mold was discovered at Jefferson Forest High School, they were given a brand new Auditorium that was constructed, not renovated, but constructed.

I

We need to make sure- and it's not just on the school board of the Board of Supervisors, but about all of us and our community to provide equal opportunities for all the students in all of our high schools. What those students and their families choose to do with those opportunities are up to them, but it's on our community to come together to support one another provide for one another's needs just as this board did four years ago, when you allocated money for the forest middle school expansion.

I

Now it's time to support our students on the south side and the town of Bedford and the long overdue Auditorium Renovations would be a fantastic place to start. Thank you so much.

A

All right next up.

B

A

Ellis followed by Janet Roby.

K

Hello, my name is Leanne Ellis I live at 1460, Sleepy Hollow Road in Moneta, my oldest son, is a third generation Stanford high school student and this past March he performed in his first musical I, was pleased as punch and I attended. Several of the shows to proudly watch as well as to help run concessions.

K

The students performed well, I was I, was so proud. I only wish that they had a facility worthy of their effort. Sadly, not much has changed in the auditorium since I was a theater kid back in the 90s or for that matter. Since my mother attended 60 years ago, I'm here tonight, begging you to please quit kicking the can down the road it's time to do something about the auditorium facilities at both Stanton River High School and Liberty High School I'd like to address the idea that these auditoriums are for recreational use.

K

Only please tell me what other classes teach students, the importance of teamwork, dependability the need for good attendance, the ability to be directed and to show them that the payoff of performance under pressure is real.

K

These all sound like desirable job skills to me now, if you've only said in the Jefferson Forest Auditorium, you might not know what I'm talking about as far as Stanton, River and Liberty auditoriums are concerned. Allow me to illuminate. They are a time capsule of the 1960s. There are no dressing rooms. Stanton River has no classroom just the stage area in a band room that have to be shared by four different programs.

K

The sound system is kind of like an old rabbit, ear antenna. You have to hold your mouth just right and say a prayer or two for it to work and whether it works or not. It can't mask the sound of doors slamming shut loudly whenever someone excuses himself to the lobby during a performance.

K

Intermission runs extra long because of the limited capacity in the restrooms there's no concession or ticket window, so that has to be run from folding tables. In the already crowded Lobby on seussical's opening night, the concession table collapsed. On top of me, that was a good night.

K

um One positive of having the antique Auditorium is the uncomfortable wooden seats actually raised money from the stadium seat cushion sales for further example. I do ask that you reference the photos and videos sent to you by biology teacher Rob, Ashwell and finally I'd like to say it's as a mother and as a former teacher of Stanton River kids, it is demoralizing for Stanton River students to see what a modern Auditorium should look like right there within their own County, while they're left with well, maybe in the future.

K

Please don't ignore the issues of Stanton, River and Liberty. Just a small investment in these schools now would save quite a bit of money down the road. Thank you all. Thank.

A

You, except we have Janet, Roby and she'll, be followed by Janet, say.

L

Not Roby I live at 857 Brooks Hill, Road, Bedford, Virginia, I reside in District. Six I appreciate the opportunity to address the board tonight. We have lived in Bedford since 1988. We transferred here from the Midwest I am no stranger to this board, because I attend most meetings, unless my husband and I are traveling with a faith-based non-profit disaster relief organization- I'm, usually here about a month ago, I emailed each of you my concern about the tax rate and ask that you did not increase it to 0.41.

L

Only two supervisors of this of seven had the currency to respond, so I think Tommy and Charlotte for doing that. My husband and I have been able to live on Social Security, since I retired in 2018, and have not been have been able to spend not spend more than what we make until the last two years.

L

We are fortunate to have savings to fall back on, but others in our community do not have a safety net. So let me show you some personal figures from our budget. We are fortunate because my husband's a hunter and we have a large garden. So our groceries have not been as impacted as as many but grocery prices have gone up and according to statistics, they have increased 9.5 percent from this February to last February and for us fuel oil heat to heat, our home has doubled in price and gas.

L

We all know gas has gone up from a dollar 84 in April 2020 to over 350. Now our insurance costs have gone up, 37 percent.

L

So when real estate taxes go up, businesses will pass on to us the consumers that additional expense and I'm not asking for myself to equalize the rate I'm asking for those who are less fortunate. Thank you.

A

B

Is uh Janet say.

M

A

She'll be followed by Charles Spence.

N

Five Janet C 317 hunting, Lane Goode, Virginia, 24556 and I've raised three children and if they came to me and said they needed money for pencil and paper at school, I would give them a dollar and I would expect that they would spend it wisely. If they came back to me and they said mom, we don't have any. We need some more I said what'd, you do with it and they said we.

N

We bought candy with it so I emailed every one of these supervisors and not a single one, could enumerate any spending cuts in this last budgetary air area of time. So I do want to thank those of you who are planning on voting for The 3.8, Cent equalized tax rate. Thank you so much for having that courage.

N

A

You what's up as Charles spent I'm gonna pass. All right brings us to Barbara, Conti and she'll be followed by Jeff Seacrest foreign.

O

Barbara Conti I just moved here a month ago, I live at 2303, Falling, Creek, Road, just past the sheriff and so and I just met Sharla as um Board of supervisor represented for me. So I don't have the history that everybody else here has been talking about. I moved from Botetourt County, my husband passed two and a half years ago, and so I too, am on a very limited budget, which is the one so security. So um I went to the Welcome Center they sent me a packet of information.

O

I got the newspaper and it talked about this meeting. So that's how I found out about it, um I'm for the equalization, because I I haven't yet understood or heard and I'm. Looking for clarification tonight, I haven't heard why that extra three cents is needed. I know I made some very drastic cuts. When my husband passed, he was an ER Doc and I went from that income to less than 2 400 a month which may sound like a lot, but it isn't necessarily so I cut TV I cut all kinds of things.

O

So when, when the slide shows, you know, maybe a hundred dollars a year increase in taxes for that value of home, and that was the mid-range the 350..

O

It doesn't sound like a lot, but when everything else is going up proportionately, that extra hundred dollars can mean a big difference and so I don't have the history and I have no children. So I haven't raised kids here, I don't have the kids concerned, although I know that education and a good environment is beside the home first, the schools are very important in helping to raise the next best citizens and when you're, and so when I was in Botetourt.

O

County I was involved in some of the local politics and at my church, I was on the parish council for seven years. We cut like crazy with the budget, because we had so many Ministries. We had to keep cutting back because we had a huge drop in donations coming in and so that's a budget and we had to make cuts and make decisions, and so, as this economy is Project to continue on this same path.

O

When you show the next couple of years of a budget and all that going out and expectations, what's going to come in I'm telling you don't ride on that expectation, you should be anticipating a drop because I looked at the delinquencies I looked at some of the other line items in there and you're going to be seeing more of that, as we start to have more defaults and more people, it can't pay and so you're going to get stuck hung trying to live on a budget that that is not that income's not going to be coming in so appreciate the time.

O

Thank you thank.

A

You Jeff secrets and then we'll have Harry saponsi.

P

B

My name is Jeff Seacrest.

P

I live at 1370, Coffee, Road and I just wanted to offer up some remarks. That kind of reiterate reiterate what people are already saying about the the tax rate we are already in a recession, and things are going to get much worse. Prices on everything are skyrocketing. Inflation is here to stay until and unless we change course, and even then, it will take years to reverse the damage that has already been done. Just like everyone else across the country, Bedford County residents are having to tighten our belts.

P

Our County government needs to do the same as a result of the new property assessments. We need you all. We need for you all to adjust the tax rate so that we, the citizens of Bedford County, do not feel the additional burden of having to pay higher property taxes.

P

Some of you are expecting to run unopposed for re-election in November. It would not surprise me at all if there are people in this very room who would choose to run against you and force an actual campaign if you think that the needs in County government are greater than those of ours. Thank you. I appreciate your time.

A

Terry will be uh Alyssa or Alicia wood.

Q

Hi, my name is Terry zaponzi I'm at 1610, Hooper Road Forest I want to thank you for the opportunity to address the board. I also want to thank the board for your service. I appreciate it right now. People are struggling with inflation just because their property has been appraised at a higher value doesn't mean that we're getting any additional revenue from it all right.

Q

We won't realize any revenue from our homes until we sell them and who knows what they'll be worth then, while I appreciate you lowering the tax rate from 50 cents to 41., I'd appreciate it even more. If you lower it to 38. all right as a family, we've had to make cuts to overcome inflation things, we don't need to have go by the wayside. I'm asking Bedford County to do the same.

Q

I do appreciate the efforts the county has taken in this regard, but I would like to encourage you to go further by the way the tax base and therefore the revenue is already expanded by Way. By close to me, by way of the high density housing across the street from Jefferson Forest High, School I can hardly wait till the traffic there shoots up and I do want to end with this. Man am I, glad I, don't live in Lynchburg City yeah.

A

Listen and then uh Travis niece is, after that.

R

Good evening my name is Alicia Barrett wood I reside at 1403, Kenmar Drive District 3.

R

I have been a taxpayer of Bedford, my entire adult life I'm, a proud 1991 graduate of Liberty High School I'm, a parent of a 2016 Liberty High School graduate and a parent of a current Liberty High School freshman I have been before this Ford and the school board to speak on the matters of the demise of the facilities at Liberty. High School I have attended several meetings since the fall and have heard the terms wants and needs used a lot so I looked up. The definition.

R

A want is to have a desire to possess or do something to wish for. The definition of a need is to require something because it is essential or very important a necessity or an obligation.

R

The awnings at Liberty, High School, the auditorium at Liberty, High, School and a new gym at the primary school are needs and not once at this point.

R

They are essential, especially since the awnings and the auditorium are no longer serving their purpose. After standing there for 50 plus years with.

S

R

Improvements, I am a small business owner here in the town of Bedford, I have poured into Liberty High School, both personally and through my business. I am also a member of the PTSA treasurer of the athletic boosters and an involved parent with all of that comes fundraising, I'm, always asking for money. Here she comes again. She wants more money, but what do you do?

R

I have solicited friends and families for donations, and most recently I have gone door to door at local businesses asking for sponsorships for air soccer program. Many local businesses were happy to provide sponsorship.

R

My point in seeing all this is I as a parent. We as a community and several local businesses, are doing what we can to improve things at Liberty, High School, now I'm asking the two boards to do what needs to be done to make these needs happen, and yes, I have heard on more than one occasion get those kids an umbrella, get them a rain jacket, we're an open campus. That's not realistic. Do you want to go to work soaking wet anyway?

R

My child is a student athlete at Liberty, so I have missed games to come to the meetings and to voice my concerns as a matter of fact, I'm missing one tonight when I mentioned to my child, that I wouldn't be at his game. He says nobody cares about that school. Only you and a couple of people I appreciate what you're trying to do for us, but they're not going to vote for us. They don't.

R

If you don't have kids or grandkids at our school, you don't care for my student and all the other students that feel this way. Let's prove them wrong show them. We do care, they do matter, do it for our children. They are our future. Thank.

E

A

All right we have Mr, Nice and Felicia. Ray will be up after that.

C

I'm back I'm Travis niece I leave at 7219 Lee Jackson, Highway, Big, Island, Virginia I'm, not as polished as a lot of these folks I'm, just a country guy but I'm here to say: when I have to cut my fat I cut it I, don't see how raising our taxes with the inflation rate, the way it is what's in our future for this country I, don't know you don't know almost didn't get up here to speak because of all the corruption I see in government today, so I'll make it short and sweet 38 cents stick with where we're at make it work.

C

Thank you. Thank you.

A

See we have fully charay, should we followed by Sarah Mayhew.

J

Hello, my name is Felicia Ray I reside at 2402, Joplin Road, Bedford, Virginia, 24523.

J

um I am a graduate of Stanton River High School. My three older brothers are as well: I have two children and my children had the experience of going to Bedford, City schools and they're now at Stanton, River Bedford County school, so we have experienced both um and it's not the best of both worlds. Needless to say um so, the the three cents I have looked at it. I am on a fixed income that I am disabled.

J

I'm a disabled mom, but I am also the PTA president of Santa River High School and my current 10th grader has to walk around under awnings and and still get rained on um the umbrella and the rain jacket. Let's give us a break and really give us a Break.

J

um We can do better than that as a community. We can do better than that I.

J

Looking at our community, there is a largest divide. It is obvious: I, don't even have to speak what it is, but what we did and on our side of the community and Liberty did the same thing. They stood behind the upgrades that were happening on the other end of the community. We stood behind it, we went with y'all's votes, we see it, it's beautiful, it's wonderful! When we walk in when we get to play down there when we get to see their facilities, it's awesome.

J

It really really is it's really awesome, but then we come back home and we wonder when it's going to be our turn. We've waited and we've waited. The upgrades continue to happen elsewhere to the elementary middle. It's happening and we continue to wait and continue to wait and nothing happens. So when is it going to be our turn? When are we going to get the opportunity to to upgrade to be better and to be able to showcase our talents? Our Musical um at any time like they said before the sound system would go out.

J

There are only microphones at the stage, each actor or actress if they weren't screaming, you could not hear them so most of the play. You really didn't hear anything, but we clapped at the end anyways, because we really appreciated their efforts and their hard work.

J

um It's liberty and Saint River's turn I I'm a liberty, I'm a stent, River girl, but I am rooting for Liberty today and I'm rooting for Liberty on this three cents.

J

um I did the math, so one meal a month out with your family, one one. So that's 12 Meals in a year will make up the difference in the taxes and I um depend on our government to pay me and I can give up the one meal a month with myself and my children and I know every one of you in here can too so me and my neighbors are willing to sacrifice the one meal a month to make the positive changes in our two high schools and in the community. You.

B

A

J

Thank you, Felicia.

A

Sarah Mayhew, then we'll have Mary Catherine Bennett.

T

Good evening my name is Sarah Mayhew and I live at 2101 Kelso Mill, Road, Bedford, Virginia district 7., my husband and I, were born and raised in Bedford County, we're homeowners and I'm a small business owner. Most importantly, we are parents to three bright students in the Liberty District. After coming back to Liberty after graduating 23 years ago, I've been witness to the real needs of Liberty, not once but needs myself among many many other parents are stepping up to do everything in our power to make our school a better place.

T

This includes working concessions, almost nightly being part of the PTSA boosters, the Minutemen Club, whatever it is, contribute volunteering and giving time and expertise to any project that's needed. But there are some things we can't help. Our campus-wide canopies are crumbling and covered in mold, very inviting to our students and prospective students.

T

Our Auditorium and that of Stanton Rivers hasn't seen an update since they were built 60 years ago, insufficient practice space, no storage, Antiquated lighting, sound equipment, all big problems. My children aren't even in the Performing Arts, but that doesn't mean that I don't see the vast importance of it. Among so many other things. The program allows children to develop their self-confidence, self-belief skills that continue to prepare them for their future careers. Not all children should be put into a box of what he or she should be involved in to help them succeed.

T

Academically for mine, their Outlet is sports. For many of our friends, it's band, dance and theater. Furthermore, I'm sure very few people are here to say charge me more times are tough, for so many of us and our family needs are weeded out from Once to allow our household to function. Well, that's my job as a parent. Furthermore, as a parent, it is my job to say that our kids are suffering with subpar conditions in their public school.

T

That I pay taxes towards it is, however, is not my job to say whether our needs warrant, a tax increase. What I am saying our kids, the future are worth it.

T

They are worth whatever it takes for our two boards to work together amicably to meet the needs for this side of the county for once in church yesterday, the pastor gave an interesting quote: don't just look upward, look outward I love that quote in more ways than one and my life I, not only look to God for my guidance, but I look out to acknowledge the needs of so many and do what I can to help.

T

In this case, we need to stop focusing on the hot topics and the news and realize we have everyday students in every that have everyday needs that we should be meeting. We should be looking outward if that means a tax increase, you're the ones to decide that it's your job to decide what's essential, we put trust in you as our leaders to do a good job at Discerning that we, as taxpayers, don't see those details. The detail I do know is that my kids success and safety is essential. Thank you.

E

A

See we have Mary Catherine, Bennett and then Tim Griffin behind that.

U

Hi everyone, my name, is Mary Catherine and I hail from the very liberal state of Texas and I am coming to you. Thank you. Someone left I'm coming to you, because I wanted to share that when I did the math and math is hard when I did the math I realized that my property value went up, 70 percent.

U

So in order for me to truly have an equalized rate, it would have to be 0.29 now. I understand that so many different people are in different situations, but we are blessed to be a one income family and my husband works very, very hard for us to do that. We have six children and, let me tell you our grocery budget is out of this world because, as someone mentioned previously, everything is going up. Inflation, so I'm coming before you and I am asking you um to be good stewards with what the money you are given.

U

I teach my children not to be entitled that you have to work for it and save and Be Frugal I do struggle with online shopping, but the Lord's going to heal me of that. But anyways I am asking you all to have the equalizer rate at 0.38, so thank you guys for all. You do.

A

See we have Tim, Griffin and he'll be followed by Jennifer.

V

A

V

Name is Tim Griffin I'm, a 102 Woodfin and four wooden court and Forest um I come to you as your friends I know. All of you I also have the opportunity to serve as the Republican party chair of Bedford County and at the Bedford Republican meetings.

V

We talk about uh fiscal conservatism and that's the one thing that you all have the opportunity to do and I know that you all have been leaders in that issue and one of the reasons we've heard for the necessary uh tax increase is that that you want to be fiscally conservative, but I still haven't heard a lot about what we've tried to cut on the other end before we go and we raise people's taxes. I am so proud of Tommy, Scott, I'm, so proud of Charlotte Ansley for leading the charge against this.

V

We hear all of these reasons why we have to raise taxes, six million dollars for a bus, garage, millions and millions of dollars for awnings. It's you know a mansion. It would take half a million dollars to build a mansion, and yet we're told it takes six million dollars to build a bus garage. It doesn't seem like we've approached these numbers and these figure years very conservatively and so I would ask that the board not raise taxes, bring it down to a point to 38 cents so that we don't have to deal with that.

V

um All of you have been before the Republican party, and all of you have been leaders in the Republican party and you've spoken about fiscal conservatism and I know that you've done you've LED in the past. But you know what politics is people want to know. What have you done for me lately and if you take a bad vote tonight, people are going to hold that against you and and we as a Republican party.

V

We want to move forward together with people that we can be proud of and say these are our leaders who have kept our taxes low and that's what I'm asking you to do tonight if we abandon our principles just because it's hard or just because the bureaucrats say, there's 10 new projects that we have to build. What good are we? What good is the Republican party? What good is our? What are our principles?

V

If we don't stand by them, even when we've got a bunch of capital, Improvement projects and I haven't always said this to you guys I've said it to the school board members, because they need to understand that too, that we as a party we move forward together with conservative values. So with that I'm asking you to do 38 cents, um but we believe it's the conservative thing to do. Please vote that way. Thank you.

V

A

Have Jennifer set and then Jen lazowski.

W

I know who you.

A

Are I just can't pronounce your name.

W

Good evening my name is Jennifer: Schott I live at 620 Railroad Avenue Bedford Virginia in District, 7. I'm, a product of the Liberty Zone school system 40 years ago, when I was a little blonde girl with plastic barrettes and Strawberry Shortcake glasses I went to Bedford primary school I'm. Virtually certain I sat in the same foldable cafeteria seats that my own child sat in 10 years ago.

W

The same seats that are still there now 40 years ago in the cafe gemitorium at Bedford, Primary School, where every Bedford Primary School student has eaten lunch and played freeze tag and presented school plays for the past 59 years, I had my theatrical day debut as a mouse I think in a play about I, don't know what mice I assume I, remember: I had construction paper ears. 10 years ago, I sat there again watching my child receive his end-of-year certificates as a kindergartner.

W

He thankfully, did not have any thespian aspirations and there were no Mouse costumes.

W

How long are we going to ask Bedford County students to sit in orange plastic foldable seats from 1964 and eat lunch in the same place that they played dodgeball present school plays and have end-of-year presentations? Don't our littlest students deserve a safe and up-to-date Place to Play and Learn? Don't we all want that for them? Don't they need that for both safety and practicality?

W

A decade after my incredible theatrical debut when I no longer wore plastic barrettes, but was instead an enormous nerd with a bad perm and blue eyeshadow, who was overly concerned with the outcome of The Grapes of Wrath and who felt that I would never ever understand. Trigonometry I, attended, Liberty High School I stood under the same broken concrete awnings that sat in the same hideously uncomfortable Auditorium seats that my child stands under and sits in now. That was 30 years ago.

W

I have the unfortunate experience of sitting in those Dreadful wooden Auditorium seats, even now from time to time as I attend school band concerts and plays in support of my student and his friends. Those seats are no better for having aged three more decades.

W

Every time I visit, the Liberty campus I'm reminded that the awnings that look like they fell directly from a 1960s architectural digest on modernism probably did actually come from a 1960s architectural digest on modernism, but modernist architecture wasn't even a very good idea in the 1960s and holding on to its crumbling broken remnants half a century. Later, it's not simply unattractive it's becoming unsafe.

W

How long can we really kick the can down the road? Another generation? Two three: is that what we want our Legacy to be that we couldn't or wouldn't care about enough about our school buildings and campuses to update them every half a century I think our students and their Educators deserve the very best we can give them, and if we can look these children and teachers in the eye and tell them that they don't deserve to learn and work in a safe, attractive and up-to-date space, because we were too cheap to provide it. I.

W

Think that says a great deal about our priorities and our character I'm here today to do what I can to advocate for the children of our County I urge you to vote for the equalized tax rate of 41 cents and to ensure that these funds are used for their intended purpose of updating our schools. Thank you.

A

All right, Jim lazowski, followed by Kelly Bowles.

X

Hi I'm Jen lazowski, a 1619, difficult, Creek, Road, Bedford um I come here from Pennsylvania and we had a situation. We had a very fiscally conservative board, they held taxes for 20 years and we ended up having to build a new school district because a new school school high school because the buildings were so decrepit, so um ill maintained, and so our taxes went from 3 000 up to six thousand and in that District our house they're.

X

Now up to ten thousand so I understand you but I think there's a big picture because I I was listening to a hearing from Bob good and in the last 20 years, School administration costs staff have gone up. 88 percent and enrollment has only gone up. Eight percent and I I looked at the school structure and there are so many directors supervisors at pay scales, I, I challenge the board to go. Look at the structure, look at the pay scales and.

X

Try to get this board to get their priorities straight.

X

I I was talking to one of the school board members and they have 15 guys taking care of all these buildings in this County, and so you know, they're getting Band-Aids they're, not getting pm, and so the board now is coming to you, because their money has not been managed properly and I I feel for you, but to let these schools collapse is going to cost us a fortune in the long run.

X

So I I, don't envy your decision, but I will say this too I saw a headline today that said bricks, currency can enter the end dollar domination, and what that means is the federal government is at some point: it's not going to be able to print money and the endless dollars that are coming into our counties from the federal government at some time is going to stop. So we need to tighten our belts.

X

You know we. We just have to get this. These budgets under control, these administrative bloats under control. Thank.

Y

B

X

I said: I, don't know how much.

A

N

A

Step is Kelly, Bowles and then David Dietrich would follow him.

Z

Kelly W Bowles, uh 1536, Union, Church, Road, Daxton, Virginia, 24174, district 6., Mr Davis is my supervisor.

Z

First and foremost, all of you I think we have the best Board of Supervisors in the Commonwealth of Virginia and um I. Don't have all the statistics and numbers that has been thrown out here tonight, but um you know three percent.

Z

Three percent started a war with Britain over three percent on taxes. My family has been in this Bedford County area since 17 early before 1754. My great great, however many times past Thomas Wheeler done the surveying for what is now Bedford County, we're all veterans on my mother's side and my father's side all the way back, I'm a veteran as well.

Z

You start mentioning raising taxes. It's been a problem, it's going to be a problem. All these things for the schools that was said. Surely they're well deserved work with the budget will be have the heima graduates, Stanton River in 1992 we didn't even have air conditioned A and B Building, we sweated on our tests, you know- and not just because of the test. It was hot in there.

Z

So you know awnings and umbrellas and raincoats- that's all great and good, but you know you don't learn anything outside standing up underneath the awning you need to be inside the classroom. Wear a hat. You know a lot of these things are needed, but the numbers on these speculations of of projects is just well I'm still countryable, I'm gonna call it ignorant.

Z

So you know do us what we got spend a little bit if need be need be, but these extra millions and millions and millions of dollars is just crazy.

Z

This time in this country, right now being run by the federal government that we have with Brandon in office is not the time to be spending money here and now we can't do a whole lot when it comes to Federal projects, but right here in our community of Bedford County, we can- and we had a a member here several years ago, who thought the idea was good to raise taxes and we replaced him with a good man and uh I'm gonna. Do everything within my power to keep it right? There God bless you all.

Z

God bless. Everybody here have a wonderful evening.

E

Thank you, Kelly.

A

Foreign dietrich's up next door Purvis would be.

Y

I'm Dave Dietrich from the fourth and I'm at 1064, Amanda Court in Forest, Virginia I'd, like to take a slightly different approach. I want to talk about the taxes, but I want to talk about it within the context of philosophy of government.

Y

When the founders created the United States of America, the Declaration of Independence and our constitution, the head in mind, limited government. What did that mean? It meant the purpose of government at all three levels of governance, at the federal at the state and at the local involved, a protection of Liberties god-given natural rights. That was it. What about all the other things that needed to be done? The people were free to do that and address those issues.

Y

So now we fast forward to Modern Times And. What do we have? We have an an incredible influence of progressivism that began in the late 19th century, went through the 20th and is with us today at all three levels. What does that mean? It means that we all have been infected with the idea that government has to solve all our problems. Government doesn't have to solve all our problems. We have to solve most of our problems.

Y

We allow government to do that at a very steep cost, and it's not just out of money that we do. We pay it's also out of our own liberty, because you give government the ability to solve your problem. You don't have the Liberty, then to solve it yourself. That's a problem. I also want to talk briefly about education. Now, education is important and a lot of good arguments have been made. The people are free to fix the problems that we see. That's number one.

Y

They should be able to do that and number two that money does not translate necessarily into great education. Many many years ago, many centuries ago, there were two gentlemen that came up with the idea of Education. One was Plato and the other was Aristotle. Plato came up with the idea of the academy.

Y

Aristotle came up with the idea of the lyceum and they both pushed critical thinking and knowledge, and when they did that guess what they educated people so profoundly that 2500 years later, we marveled about that. Now we don't need to spend a ton of money in creating great education. We need great students, great curriculum and pushing people forward in terms of understanding, critical thinking and that's it. Thank you.

A

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you see. We have door Purvis and Then, followed by Ashley Eric.

AA

Hi, my name is Dora Purvis I live at 1203 Boonsboro place in Lynchburg, Virginia and I have been a teacher for many many years. I've been a Christian School teacher public school private school homeschool, homeschool Co-op teacher I've, been a Drama teacher and music teacher I've been a Spanish teacher.

AA

A PE teacher I've done everything pretty much from first grade up through 12th, so my heart is for the kids and my heart is for um making sure they're getting a good education, but I can also tell you that when I have been in all these different venues, we haven't had the greatest facilities we haven't had our own auditoriums.

AA

We have we've been taken taken apart, the pastor's you know pulpit and putting other things together, so we make we make do and right now with um all of the stuff going on and inflation and everything that we have right now. I think it's time to make do. However, that being said, I think there's also creative ways in way we can in in which we can make some money that doesn't necessarily have to do with the budget.

AA

First of all, I understand that you are not the school board and the school board tends to dictate how much they want, which is usually over 50 percent of the budget that you have for the whole County. So I realized that some of that is beyond your control. However, there's also ways that you can hold them accountable and say: hey.

AA

This is all you get and you're going to have to come up with a better a better way to to do this, and some of that thing might be actually going out and having a fair and bringing more people into Bedford into bringing some more income into Bedford for the purpose of a new Auditorium or new awnings or whatever. But there are other ways to do this that doesn't necessarily impact the um the actual taxpayer.

AA

The other thing is that we are not talking about a tax reduction, we're talking about a tax increase and we're talking about a tax increase in a point where people who have lost their jobs, because businesses have closed and they're, making minimum wage or they're on Medicare, Medicaid or other welfare things right now, because they just cannot make ends meet. This is not the time to increase taxes. This is the time to buckle up, find more creative ways to make money and and do what's right for the kids, as well as for the community.

AA

A

Not yielding your time you're not doing okay, that was the last person that we had signed up so.

J

A

Will close our public comment time all right so now, I will open it up to board members for comments and discussion on this.

AB

Well, I guess: I'll start since uh 2015, when we, when the Board of Supervisors, not we I, wasn't on the board, then uh passed the last tax increase. The board has prioritized raising revenue through other sources than increasing taxes and I. Think we've done pretty darn good at it. First Economic Development. Obviously, the more businesses we have in Bedford equates to more collected taxes. So that's a good thing. Second, the board has spent our coveted money on improving local broadband and the reason we've done.

AB

That is because, as the internet infrastructure is built over the next couple years, I believe- and it's been our goal for spending the money that way as that infrastructure is built, more businesses, more entrepreneurs, more remote workers will come to Bedford to work and to pay taxes.

AB

So I believe that we will see as this internet comes in, we will see a lot of these issues overcome also our Director of Finance has told us. We might not even need a tax increase to pay for some of these issues. We don't we could. We could vote tonight for .38 and, like I, have said at many of our work sessions. My daddy taught me that Integrity is when you do the right thing, and no one is looking right now, I've heard from some people hey, we go from 50 to 41.

AB

It looks like it's lowered, no one most people people here will know, but most people won't understand that it's actually an increase of taxes, I think. If you're going to increase taxes, you should do it on a year that it's 0.38 and bring it to 41.. So people understand what you're doing not trying to sneak it in during a reassessment year.

AB

So I'm hopeful that we that the majority will vote on a 0.38. It is a time when there are needs in the county. I understand that the landfill has to. We have to take care of that. I understand that I understand that there are needs in the school I do, but let's not do it in a time when people are so struggling with their finances. As of now, ninety percent of Americans say that they are extremely concerned about inflation.

AB

Since President Biden took office, everyday prices have risen, 15 percent. We heard some other percentages this week tonight.

AB

Let's do the responsible thing help people now wait for some of these projects that we have been working towards to bring in more money.

E

Mr chairman, yes, I'd, like to thank.

S

The fellow board members first.

E

Off for all the commitment Dedication that y'all have shown to this issue and the time you spent on it researching And discussing it in a.

B

E

I appreciate that I.

B

Was voted, I was elected.

E

S

E

Of District One, you do the best job as I, see with.

S

The information that.

E

I'm provided for.

S

The whole County of.

E

Bedford and I think you know, part of my job is deciding what's essential and I'm. Not an expert here, so I depend on staff to tell me what's needed.

B

E

What wants are what needs are you know we're faced with a very difficult decision here: I'm, not real, crazy, about being threatened by reelection that you know if it's. If it's.

B

S

In district, one.

E

That wants this job more than I. Do that wants to run for it I'll help you get your petition signed.

E

M

E

Threats of reelection and.

J

E

That just that kind of irritates me because I.

S

Love Bedford County.

N

E

Do anything that I, don't think is in the best interest of Bedford County in this situation? We've got needs I, don't know how many of the board members have been to Liberty, High, School or Stanton River, and seen the issues of the needs that are there with the.

AC

E

And the overhangs I don't want to pay more. My my house went up. 90 000 I've got a small condo that doubled in value. So, as the lady said, and to be at Equalization you'd.

B

Have to cut that down to.

E

25 cents or to equal lives and that's not realistic, but I- think with the things that we have to do.

B

E

Landfill schools, Sheriff's, Department, DSS I, don't know how we do it without being at 41 cents. I'd like to have that solution.

AC

Mr chair, yes, um did hear a comment about our Revenue being much higher than inflation that that's not looking at the whole picture. To be honest, we have we have different sources of revenue in in Bedford County. One of those sources is state government, but every dollar we receive from the state government is encumbered.

AC

The state government tells us exactly how it has to be used. If we have state constitutional officers and they're getting raised, that's exactly where that money goes, it doesn't get to be used anywhere else. It's completely dictated same is true with every Federal dollar that we receive every Federal dollar we receive whether it's covered money or or arpa funds. You know, or you know, the money that's going into. Broadband I mean they. They have restrictions, they're encumbered dollars.

AC

They are not general fund dollars um the the source of funds that we have that go into the general fund or sales taxes, personal property taxes and real estate taxes.

AC

Now, sales taxes, as the price of things, have gone up the one percent that the county gets in the form of sales taxes keeps Pace with inflation, because you know if the price of things go up, that that money is has go, has grown, but it's keeping the pace with inflation, the other things.

AC

Last year we heard when it came to real property. It had gone up some ridiculous amount in one year, 33 percent, and we rolled that back completely leveling it out so that we didn't see any increase or personal property.

AC

The other major source of general fund dollars is real property and that real property is a fixed asset and it's been fixed since the last assessment and the previous previous time in 2019 we equalized, but inflation has eroded the value of those dollars.

AC

The federal government enjoys an increase in Revenue due to income taxes, sales taxes, state government. They got an increase, they're they're flush with cash, but we're not not in the general fund, because we have our Revenue that we actually have some control over some say over. It's fixed and typically, when we get to an assessment year, we've had enough growth that we've allowed in Bedford County to help offset one and a half or two percent inflation that we typically get.

AC

But the inflation that we've experienced and under the Biden Administration is rivaling with the only thing that's even been closed is the Reagan Era.

AC

We haven't seen inflation like this since the Reagan Era, so we're all looking at this, going where you're going to get more dollars, but in actuality, if, if the equalizer rate were defined by replacing the value of the dollars that you had in 2019, that rate would have been 45 cents to go back to 2019 and 48 Cent to go all the way back to 2015..

AC

Now, we've advertised a 41 Cent rate, so that is three cents of the seven Cent difference, so we're absorbing four of the seven cents and that's because we've had some growth. But if we don't fill that hole, then that hole is going to get bigger quickly.

AC

We wouldn't be having this discussion if it wasn't for the Biden Administration handing out money like candy, but because they have created this inflationary environment. That I had heard many people speak of tonight and and I hear a lot of people saying because we have inflation. This is not the time to do it and my response to that is because we have inflation. That is why we have to do it.

AC

We wouldn't even be considering it and we we wouldn't have this discussion tonight and we'd probably have one speaker if that tonight, if it wasn't for the Biden administration's inflation, but unfortunately it's where we find ourselves so there's a reason: I mean Campbell County.

AC

There used to be two cent more, even at 41 they're now going to be four, we are still outpacing our closest competitor. When it comes to cutting the way we spend money, we've tried to keep things in check, but but to to claim that all of a sudden, Bedford County has all this extra Revenue isn't looking at the total picture, because there's very few dollars that we have any control over whatsoever and those dollars have been tied to a fixed asset that haven't hasn't kept pace with inflation.

AC

So that's the only reason we're even entertaining anything other than 38 cents, but anyway, I just wanted to make sure. If you haven't understood that before tonight, I wanted to make sure that was communicated to you.

M

Thank you, Mr chair.

AD

Yes, I got so many notes. Bear with me I'm the speakers, uh as I mentioned, to the board before I want to read a few statistics.

AD

uh The report report by payments and Lending Club 62 percent of American consumers live paycheck to paycheck CEO of Home Depot says it's.

B

A grim time and he's warning.

AD

Of a rise in bankruptcies, Kroger CEO says half of its customers I.

M

Have no idea how they do this survey.

AD

Half of this customers are under Financial strength, business digest, says, two-thirds of Americans say their wages lag behind inflation, CNBC 70 percent of Americans feel financially stressed under the Biden Administration Walmart cutting thousands of jobs, Wall Street economists, Harvard Professor summer, said we'll either have a substantial inflation or fairly hard downturn due to the bank issues, economists from Goldman and sax and the Bank of America I'm not going to read all the statistics, but basically, after all, the statistics.

M

AD

Go through that says, this is the first time in this current year-long raid hike and cycle that the federal economist s are now forecast in a recession. Well, I think we're already in a recession but they're forecasting. What and a few things I want to point out. As especially already pointed out, we were told in a meeting that we had the money where we didn't have to raise the taxes this year to cover things and a lot of things at school people in here talking about schools.

AD

You need to be talking to your school board about because they did not do what they were supposed to do with their money that was given to them and now, even at a few meetings ago, they put it on Facebook for to flood us to come and get money that we needed to give them more money, more money but they're the ones. That's not doing the students right, it's not the Board of Supervisors. They have their budget. Now it's a problem, I have with the three Cent tax increase.

AD

That's only going to gain 3.6 million dollars, so the school board has two items on there: the uh at the 6.5 million for the awnings. They have six million uh for the bus garage.

AD

Now this boy could not tell him what to do, but a few weeks ago we suggested three million. We gave them to go towards the uh awnings. We suggest that we couldn't tell them what to do so, go to your school board and ask them what they did with the three million dollars.

AD

Plus we've had even people on this board check into it. We feel like that. Those awnings that they're saying is going to cost 6.5 million dollars could be done for half that, so why? Why do they need to build a cathedral plus those awnings have been deteriorating for years and years and years? Why didn't they take a little bit each year and work on those awnings and get them straight why'd?

AD

They let them get to the point where one School Board member said chips was concrete, going to fall off and kill the students, you know, and then they go postpone during the audience another year. So, if that's going to really happen, why would they postpone that another year?

AD

So we have, they want. I, have a problem with 12.5 million in their budget. I have no problem with all these requests in here for the auditoriums and the other stuff.

AD

If you need them, I'm all for it and it could probably be put into the budget but 12.5 million when five or six million of that for a bus garage I've been after the sport and previous administration for eight years since I've been on the board, look into body Camp over here, where they have a gym over there, that's fairly nuked compared to the rest of school. Why not turn that gym into a bus garage? We could save millions of dollars, that's not taken into consideration! There's no studies been done on it.

AD

We don't know if we can do it and not do it, but before you uh put six million dollars aside for something that we could probably save the amount that we want to raise the taxes on, why do we want to raise the taxes if we haven't even checked into that and going back to the awnings again I? Don't know how to answer that other than you have school boards previous and maybe some now they were the ones that let you down on that stuff, not this board up here.

AD

They didn't do what they were supposed to. They had money given to them. They chose to do it probably like this Banks we talked about. They put the money into hiring all these higher up people and everything when they should have been taking care of the schools and doing stuff that uh that.

M

AD

um Again, we don't need to raise the taxes based on what uh Ashley has told us in a meeting so I. Don't know why we rush in to do that unless we're trying to hide behind the screen of our equalized rate, I suggest this board a couple weeks ago.

M

AD

Don't raise the taxes this year see what the economic growth is and get these things straight with body camp that and see if they can be used as a garage and see if uh awnings can be done cheaper. That saves Millions off of this budget.

AD

Everybody's asking for I suggested: let's go through this next year and wait and see what the economic growth of barefoot county is, and uh maybe we don't need a taxi rate increase after all, because we saved Millions there and then, if we are going to fall in a hole down the road, then let's have a real debate when we can't hide behind this equalized tax rate. Let's have a debate, you know uh when I ran for the Board of Supervisors.

AD

I said this in another meeting when I ran for the board of supervisor said: I ran that I would not grow the government and not increase taxes, and someone asked me said you mean you would never increase taxes. I said well. Let me back up I said: there's only one way: I will increase taxes, a vote for tax increase. That is, if somebody can sit me down and show me, there's no waste in the government and we have no way to go except raise the taxes and no one's been able to do that.

AD

Yet you know it's grow. The government grow the government. You know as well as I do when you grow the government. You lose your Liberties and I get tired of hearing about. Well, the government has inflation. The government has inflation. How about the people on fixed incomes? How about the taxpayers?

AD

You know I made a statement one time back here a few weeks ago, and a lot of people commented on it and uh I said that uh the government's, not your sugar, daddy, well I, would like to retract that and say the taxpay is not your sugar daddy and we every that we can probably get through this without a tax increase and I have no idea what the big rush is to raise the taxes on the taxpayers of benefit County.

AD

When we have any explored every Avenue there is to explore I'm, not against the school. It's Aunt driven and Liberty having their stuff that that's even in the budget, even if we take those two items I mentioned and get them down to where they would be reasonable. All that stuff could still be in a budget and be taken care of, but we're we're rushing to approve something that we don't even know. That will work so again. There's no reason whatsoever to increase the taxes.

AD

In my opinion and I'm not going to ask this citizens of benefit, County they're taxpayers to tighten their belt up, go without I have one guy call me said he takes. He takes blood pressure pills and he skips one every day because he can't afford to take the whole thing he's spreading it out and uh I. Have people call me about the groceries? They can't afford the groceries. They can't even afford gas for the car I'm not going to ask these people to tighten the belt unless the government's ready to tighten their belt and I.

AD

Don't think we've done anything close to tighten our belt.

AE

I'd like to mention a few things: Mr chair um and uh I, do not favor raising and tax rate above the 38 Cent equalized rate. There was a point when I thought it was the right thing to do, and I will agree with Miss sharp that inflation is at a record high. However, I I want to ask you miss sharp later on, to tell me I. Remember it was Jimmy Carter who instituted the policies that caused that crazy inflation and I'm not trying to be disrespectful to miss sharp.

AC

Oh I would never blame Reagan. Thank.

AE

You, sir, and and I want to say that I agree with pretty much everything that Mr Scott says, but I am adamantly opposed to turning a relatively brand new perfectly functioning gymnasium at body, Camp, Elementary School into a bus garage matter of fact. I think that the bus garage at school board now possesses is fine.

AE

I grew up on a farm uh spent, a good part of my life farming and my parents, who both grew up during the Great Depression, uh instilled in me, conservative fiscal values and we've lived in that I've lived those values, all my life or at least tried to I've, run a business for the past 40 years, or at least I've been self-employed since I got fired in 1982 and and I've always tried to live within my means, and- and my banker affirms that I do um I, just want to say that in my three and a half years here on this Board of Supervisors I've sat in a lot of meetings and and I've seen areas where money could have been saved um number one.

AE

The the towers project was a colossal failure. It was a failure from day one and I learned that when I got on this board and I started investigating that's the key. The key point I'm trying to make here right now is one thing. I've learned on this Board of Supervisors is I'm.

AE

Gonna I have stopped taking uh information at face value, no matter who gives it to me because uh um it it needs to be investigated and and as sad as it is, millions was wasted on that Towers project and and we pay to the county rather paid a private consultant, probably somewhere between a half a million and three quarters of a million for Consulting, on a doom project and and and to me um if, if the county will will do that, then then certainly there's no room to raise taxes on on the taxpayers of this County, who, in good faith, uh elected us to to be good stewards to be wise stewards of your finances.

AE

um You know the landfill is a huge problem um and in this problem, even though the landfill has somewhere between 50 and 70 years of capacity, I'm, really really troubled that that we're talking about closing this landfill because I, ask yourselves where? Where are we going to dump the solid waste? If we don't have a place to dump it? And if we don't have our own landfill in this County sure?

AE

If we close it, it's going to cost a lot of money to close it, but it could it be even much more costly to be paying someone else for not only hauling our Solid Waste but somewhere to dump it which they could. Whoever we take it to dump will escalate their costs to us. So uh you know, they'll have a monopoly on us and so with knowing that we've got 50 to 70 years. So, let's say conservatively 50 years, I'm pleased that Mr hiss has not pulled the trigger on on closing the landfill.

AE

Yet because I'm I'm encouraged that we need to look at reopening it or perhap, perhaps even as as Mr Sharp reminded us the other day that we might look into an incinerator. Though you know, we've got to look at our options and that's the most important thing.

AE

We've got to consider our options here and as as far as the the school board goes, um I think that um you know again when I got on this board supervisors um in 2020, uh three of us actually were newly elected back then, and we had nothing to do with those decisions that were made and the one thing that I've learned with all due respect to the current members is that um I've had to to do my my research and and to work very hard and and fix some of the problems that we've been left with and I'm going to say to the school board, especially the newer members, who are conservative and I trust that they are trying to do the right thing.

AE

They were left with a bloated budget um and and as it was pointed out in a meeting I attended last Thursday night. That I, don't believe the person who spoke there is here this evening, but she pointed out that there's gross overspending uh in salaries in the school board- and it was mentioned here tonight that there's only 15 people looking after maintenance in our school board in the County school system.

AE

And if that's the case, maybe they need to look at shuffling their their employees to where they've got fewer people in central office doing Administration and have people out there in the field taking care of the maintenance, which is what really is the problem? You know those awnings, I'm, sorry but I drive vehicles that are let's see my oldest vehicle is. Is the 2000 in my business there's nothing wrong with older stuff as a matter of fact, a lot of time.

AE

The older stuff is the better stuff and I see no problem in sitting in older chairs, if they're, still usable and they're not collapsing and and people aren't getting hurt, and- and so so so to me that that argument has no relevance with all due respect to the person who mentioned that the age of this stuff. As long as it's useful and it's safe, I see no need for replacement, that's the way. I live my life, but you know the the grossly inflated numbers I mean you know.

AE

I might have been born at night, but I wasn't born last night and when I look at those ridiculous numbers that the school board has sent us for these projects, I don't know where they came from, but I do frequently hear these Engineers. You know why is it that the the school board can't get some local building contractors are? They are all of our local building contractors, just Plum idiots, and they couldn't tell them what it would cost to fix.

AE

Something I mean I, pour concrete every week and I know what it costs to build a sidewalk and those awnings. um You know if again, I don't mean any disrespect toward the maintenance workers in the Bedford County Public Schools, but someone who was supervising and overseeing should have had some plans and say this is what we do. You know, after a heavy rain, or something like that.

AE

Maybe they ought to gotten up on top of those awnings and look down those drain pipes in the center of them and routed them out or something like that, and at this point can't you hire uh some company to clean them. Those downspouts out in the center of those lines, because allowing water to stand on a cementitious product like that is only going to lead to its deterioration, duh and uh so so lack of Maintenance.

AE

So now they come to and again I mean it's I'm just going to have to be blatantly honest, but don't come to us when, when conditions have been allowed for deterioration for the past 50 years or at least maybe 25 years, because I know, when I went to school at Liberty, High School in Jefferson forced that they had, they did Summer maintenance programs and a lot of young fellows that I was in school with actually worked with those uh maintenance workers in the County public school system and actually learn something from them.

AE

I, don't know: what's happened in our Public School System, but it appears that that maintenance has gone out the door and some other areas that I find ridiculous in spending. Why is it well tell me why the school buses all have chains on them? I've never seen a day in school when it was I mean the first time there's a flurry of snow schools canceled so for crowd out loud I think those chain systems have to cost somewhere between five and six thousand dollars.

AE

I was told at one time it was four grand, so they put changeling every one of these buses hit. We cancel school every time, there's a skiff of snow and and- and you know the other thing that I found really really silly. Was that or or financially irresponsible was to take part in a quote pilot project. We ordered these electronic school buses as part of the pilot project well for crying out loud Bedford County it.

AE

You know it's such a long, County from end to end and and north to south, and we've got all these Hills and and mountainous areas and back roads to to think that electronic electrically powered school buses in our county is a worthwhile Endeavor, not to mention the fact that you've got to have specially trained mechanics now, and maybe that's why they think they need a six million dollar shop.

AE

uh The funny thing, the one thing I do find interesting is that that's that shop has been six million dollars since I got on this board, so I guess inflation hasn't hit that, but nevertheless you know you could probably come close to building a new school for that six million dollars and uh and and I'm certainly uh I want to say that I do favor the you know.

AE

Why hasn't the improvements since they were very first mentioned, been made to the auditoriums in in Stanton River in in the Liberty Zone I mean certainly they they've been large and Lee neglected.

AE

um However, I I don't think that there's no way they can cost what what they're, projecting and uh I uh I could go on and on and on for quite a while and I will say this.

AE

What what changed my way of thinking from 41 back to the to the equalized rate, my wife and I were talking one evening in in and I was talking to her about these projects and some of these things I mean I, live this this job, this um and and sometimes I, find it really frustrating and I I can tell you that I've been in meetings and in which our uh you know, I've seen that that eat director for our Economic Development tell us that we need to give special tax incentives and rebates to businesses in certain areas of our County, so that you know they can get along better and grow their businesses.

AE

Now, how does that have anything to do with free enterprise?

AE

You know: I've lived my life on free enterprise when I was 10 years old I wanted a new bicycle. My mom said you got a good one.

AE

I figured out a way to get one through free enterprise and I've been doing it ever since it's called sales and I only get paid when I sell something and complete a project, and uh so so why is it that suddenly taxpayers should be forced to take the risk off the backs of business owners through your money and it's called The Economic Development Authority I would really like to ask I would like to ask what is the real return now on our Eda and even on our tourism Department, because those two departments are getting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and uh and I'm not sure that we need them anymore.

AE

I really believe Bedford has reached a point where our natural beauty, our Recreation, our tourism, by the way some outside Source called Smith Mountain Lake to Lake Tahoe of the East. So so, why do we need to pour you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars into those two departments and because I really don't see any real return on that investment um and I again I'll I'll close by saying that? But after talking my wife and she said, why should the county?

AE

Why should the citizens of Bedford County have to pay for um circumstances that have have happened in this County and and not on the taxpayers, uh not by the taxpayers? Doing so thanks Mary and thank you all for listening to me.

AF

All right, Mr, chair I, hate to follow that that was pretty good. Bob um um I agree a lot a lot with what you said. You too Mr Scott, Mr, Sharp, Mr Johnson, bring very valid points. um I think what I'd like to do is just bring a little bit of clarity to where, if I were listening to this board, meeting I might not um might not understand, as as an average citizen, um so I'll start with um and I brought my book with me.

AF

um We have um two areas of what is funded in Bedford County. This book is um what's bonded with tax dollars real estate, personal property sales tax, but these are our departments in Bedford. County that are funded by by taxes, which you can see is literally everything with the exception.

AF

We have this book or a few sheets of paper which are not funded by tax dollars. um They, they are called an Enterprise fund. Enterprise fund, obviously is self-funding. They their fees are what they charge: funds, these two departments, the nursing home and the Solid Waste Department.

AF

uh Currently we don't of the two. We only have one that's operating as an Enterprise fund, and that is the nursing home over the years um most recently, but over the years back, I would say: gosh well before I got on the board. First time in the single digits of the 2000s, we had a former County, Administrator and obviously former board that once again it was hard times um and we were short on money and the idea was to take the reserve pot and the reserve pot for solid waste is for opening and closing cells.

AF

Let me also tell you one other thing that there's two different closing the landfill all together or closing a cell in the landfill. So we need to close a cell in the landfill right now. Okay, whether we go further and close, the entire landfill is another discussion, but on the table currently immediately we're going to have to close a cell in the landfill, it is full uh I'll say it. Another thing: when you increase the population in Bedford, County like it has an increase, has increased so I mean we're up to 80 000 people.

AF

Obviously, there's more trash, that's more trash coming in from renters from homeowners and from people that live with renters and homeowners. That's just the fact. Everybody contributes to the trash problem. Burning trash in a barrel in your yard, for everybody is not the solution.

AF

uh So, let's understand that our La, our cell and our landfill prior to Korea of us current board members, we were told- or they were told, that the uh the lifespan of that cell was significantly decreased and I. Don't know what happened then, but no movement forward for opening up a new cell at that time was done.

AF

What ended up happening is now and since we have a landfill that cannot take more trash, we're transferring our trash so really we've gone when it was in this packet as being an Enterprise fine, it was when it was being operated as a landfill, no longer being operated as a landfill being operated as a transfer station, which means we have to pay money to haul off the trash.

AF

Now, that's why this this business model isn't working anymore, what's been happening over the last several years, I keep hearing how we need to make cuts, and if we don't make, we got to make cuts and tighten our belt. Don't disagree with that, but what we've been doing to afford this no longer functioning Enterprise fund is pulling money from this pot of money. The tax base fund to operate the transfer station.

AF

That's a fact. So now we're up to over two million dollars of money where we didn't have to to just operate hauling off trash, which means this tax funded area doesn't have the extra two two and a half million dollars anymore. That could be spent on items where we need to spend that money. Robin Peter to pay Paul only works temporarily.

AF

At some point, you got to pay Peter back I'll, go back to what I was talking about back uh when before this board, all of this board was not in place.

AF

Former County Administrator former Board of Supervisors during hard times removed the reserved money are dipped into it to a significant degree in order to balance the budget in those times that money was never returned.

AF

So when I say that we have now to close the landfill, we've got to borrow the money to do that, because the reserve pot was depleted and we don't have the money which was generated from the The Tipping fees. We no longer have that money in there on hand to close the landfill. What does that mean?

AF

We got to borrow the money right now, to borrow to close that one cell is 14 million dollars today between 14 and 15 million the longer it goes, the more regulations, the more Elite shape we got to haul off is a whole Litany of regulations which just increase every year. So postponing closing that land. That cell is not an option. We have to do it. We have to borrow the money. A lot of our money is tied up in debt service.

AF

Right now, why I'll tell you why the Liberty Middle School That was supposed to be funded with the reversion dollars. We keep hearing about that. The Six Million Dollar aversion money extra money tied into the local Composite Index, and now what is happening is we get extra? Approximately it started out about six, it's up more than that, because because of the the influx of money coming in from the state, it's actually more than six million dollars.

AF

At this point, however, what happened back the first year, which would have been July of 2013 the first year that they real the school board, realized all this extra State funding uh that they had?

AF

That was put that was designed to build the new middle school and capital projects, because it's it's one-time money, yes for a period of 15 years, you get it, but then it goes away, and that was the whole reason we got the money to start with.

AF

With that agreement was to build that new Middle School uh the first year they got it went into their operations budget, not Capital, not one-time expenses, so from the get-go from the very first year that set the county into having to do a borrow for that school, a borrow which we've just kind of started paying for. So that's a Debt Service that we don't have to use for something that we need to use on the county side.

AF

Then- and I'll just add this as a side. Note why, in the world the canopies weren't taken care of at the same time, the competition gym in the middle school was being built because there was leftover money from what I understand is beyond me, but that was another school board decision that was made.

AF

uh So, let's go then the Forest Middle School Renovations and additions nobody's debating whether it needed to happen or not, but there Mr, Johnson, Mr Davis and myself were not on the board at the time that decision was made. The rest of this board was on here. I was in the audience that meeting when the members of this board then decided that the forest middle school edition and Renovations would be I think it was about 22 and a half million dollars.

AF

Then the extra JF High School renovation money was added to it. I'm I'm told leftover money from once again the Liberty Middle School was added to it. Since then, the school board and the superintendent of that um which has been 2018, decided to put maintenance money into it. They've also put coveted money into it to do the roof and the HVAC system. I, don't I couldn't tell you right now how much money they funneled into that one school.

AF

But once again, that was a borrow that the county did, and now we have a Debt Service, for that borrow, which means that's money that we don't have for County projects, so we've got money tied up, we're still paying on JF High School JF Middle School, the Liberty Middle School, which that money was misused from the very beginning. So that's why, when we say we have these Capital items, Capital items that we need to borrow money for that we don't have the revenue now to do it.

AF

That is the reason that, instead of third and at 38 cents, we don't have the money to pay for the debt service with that. That is the basis of why we can't keep kicking the can on the trash that is 100, sure uh and I'm, going to tell you straight up that effort, Primary School gym.

AF

That is ridiculous, that that has not been done. That should have been done years ago and I'm absolutely supporting a gym at Bedford, primary school and I'm, going to support the auditorium Renovations at Liberty and Stanton River. That's ridiculous, that that hasn't been done, but it hasn't been a priority. What I have heard for a long time now is the the people that don't want to be redistricted to Liberty and Stanton River, it's numerous reasons, but they don't get the same education opportunities. They don't get the same academic in none of it.

AF

They don't have the same opportunities you go to any of the gyms. Any of the can the camp.

AF

What am I trying to say my mouse got so dry. I was talking too much.

C

AF

You go go, it's obvious. Why would you want to come to an area of the county? Then you say well and they don't want to be. Nobody in the forest area wants to come to Liberty or Stanton River Zone I mean, and what can you say? There's so much disparity I've I've been preaching that for years of disparity and you know and no we're not we're, not it's. It's. It's been so much money funneled in One Direction and not in the other two, and you know we can't help prior decisions that were made we're.

AF

We have to suffer the repercussions for decisions that have been made and that's where we are that's not because that I've heard staff raises and all that. No it's not it's, because we don't have any Debt Service money available right now, because it's been spent and it's been mismanaged. I'll be the first one to say. In my opinion, it's been mismanaged, but that's that's the difference um in in the and why I mean these two packets are the big difference and then the mismanagement of the borrowing and the excessive amount of borrowing for certain things.

AF

Mr Davis brought up a good point about getting Lo the whole process of getting local people and and local uh estimates for projects that that whole thing needs to be worked out to do that better than what's being done, the school board spends Millions I mean wasted money on getting studies and engineer plans and this and that, but my goodness, you could use that money on the project itself. We've got plenty of local people plenty that, but we could have committees on the school board and board a supervisor side, plus an economic person.

AF

Who's got some experience. We we can do this so much better. That's what I would like to see happen. We changed the process. Our process is not working, I want to change the process, but right now, you've encumbered this board, because we don't have any borrowing power because we don't have money available to pay the debt service. So that's that's Clarity too, and another thing that I want to address.

AF

I, don't really like being told a bit my Integrity being questioned because I have a different opinion um and I don't like being told, because if I don't do what you the Republican party of Bedford, says and if I don't do that, then you're going to run someone against me, I mean I, don't I, don't like those Veil threats like that, and you know today, supervisor bansley went on the radio and was talking about the difference between the selling or she was talking about the selling of the nursing home and how this body uh could change their mind.

AF

Well, I want everyone to know right now. I was never in favor of selling that nursing home never and Mr. Johnson can say he can say the same same I mean he certainly can speak for himself, but the comment that Ms bansley made that we had talked on selling the nursing home and using that money for the landfill and closing the landfill.

AF

Well, the only discussions that this board had in reference of the uh selling the nursing home was in closed session.

AF

So um I'm not going to comment on if it was what was discussed or not discussed, because that was closed session and we uh take a. We have a moral obligation to not discuss anything that was discussed in closed session.

AF

uh So I just want to make that clear that uh you know it's making that comment, because how does that look for all those people that came in here and were anti-closing the nursing home? How does that look to hear on the radio? Today a supervisor said that we wanted. We had talked about selling the nursing home and using the money for the landfill.

AF

That that is, I I, don't need I, don't know, but I went when I heard her say that I I made it a point that I wanted to say that tonight, because number one supervisor, Johnson and I were not in favor of landfill. So our minds weren't changed that night, but she thought that the all the minds were changed. Our minds weren't changed because we came into the meeting and we were not going to settle the nursing home so I'm going to leave it at that.

AF

um That's pretty much all I had to say: I didn't really have anything written down, but I think that's all I had to say. Thank you.

A

I've written my stuff down because I didn't want to miss anything.

AE

Hey Edgar can I say one more thing, just just.

A

A brief one, yeah I.

AE

Would like to ask the county to look at using the the newly Opera. You know the functioning Broadband project and see if it can't be made an Enterprise fund. Not only were the the county could use it as an Enterprise. Perhaps it could be playing going forward.

A

I'd like to thank everyone, who's taken the time to come out this evening to express their thoughts regarding this tax rate discussion and also thanks to the many that have reached out personally through phone calls and emails to share their concerns. Both pro and con Wheels deviate. What I wrote I had six people reach out to me with their concerns about tax right I looked up, all six. Five of them will have tax decreases, because if we go to a 41 Cent rate, the taxes were less. There was one that was more.

A

It was 65 dollars, more I, Googled fiscal responsibility to see what kind of definitions might pop up and I settled on this one. To encapsulate my position on the matter at hand, fiscal responsibility is the act or obligation of managing finances wisely, especially in the context of government spending and Taxation. It involves creating optimizing and maintaining a balanced budget without overspending or borrowing more than can be afforded. It also aims to maintain sustainable public finances, ensure fiscal policy AIDS economic growth and avoid inflation.

A

Fiscal responsibility can apply to personal, small business, large business government finances, but it is usually referring to the larger picture of public money. Bedford County has decades Decades of fiscal history that reflects an excellent stewardship of citizens. Tax dollars, making a dollar go much further than many of our neighboring jurisdictions ever thought about doing. In my opinion, we heard earlier that Bedford County is ranked as the absolute lowest jurisdiction in the entire Commonwealth for cumulative tax burden for the past three years and has been in the bottom six since 2011..

A

This low tax culture is not going to change. If we vote not to equalize the real estate rate this year, we will remain as one of the lowest, if not the lowest in our Commonwealth. We must look beyond the next 12 months in order to preserve this low-tax culture that we all enjoy in this County.

A

If we do not anticipate the unfolding needs and prepare accordingly for meeting those challenges, I believe we would be derelict in the performance of our duties. There are many essential services that I believe citizens expect our County to provide and, among those most visible or education, law enforcement, fire and Emergency Medical Service and solid waste removal. Our 2023-2024 operating budget has been crafted to stay within the equalized rate of 38 cents.

A

County departments have worked diligently to absorb inflationary pressures on the cost to operate the line of thought that we can cut our way to a financial position to afford these exploding demands on our finances is simply not realistic. With regard to the school requests for Capital Improvements I, don't doubt that some of the estimates would be excessive.

A

I would propose that if we move forward with any of these projects, that a joint construction test team be made up of representatives from our board, as well as the school board, along with our own County engineer, as opposed to an outside consultant and a local citizen at large, with extensive construction experience to convene to steer these projects from concept to completion.

A

Much has been mentioned about the decline in enrollments in our schools. It's safe to say that much of that can be attributed to our Stanton River and Liberty zones. The majority of our schools in these areas have quite a bit of age on them. Stan, River and Liberty, as you've heard, are approaching their 60th year of operation. Many of our elementary schools are much older than that. If you believe them, one of the things I most appreciate about the citizens in my area, is they don't ask for anything new and shiny?

A

They just ask we take care of what we've got. There is a deep generational appreciation for the smaller Community Schools, and citizens have spoken loud and clear that they want to maintain those institutions in our respective communities. Do not 150 students in a small community. Schools deserve the same educational experience and opportunities as those in a school with 450 students. A recent example of a redistricting discussion yielded Cries, From, New, London and Forest that they did not want their children bus to a new Zone that would accommodate or could accommodate those students. Would not.

A

The parents of the students in the Stanton River in Liberty zones preferred not to bust their kids to a Consolidated, School I, dare say they would not want that. We have a Monumental loss of State funds on the horizon for our school system in five years that both our board and the school board are trying to prepare for we've heard about the 6 million. Well, that 6 million is going to be a staggering loss of 8 million dollars in five years.

A

If we don't continue to prepare for this, we'll be staring at difficult choices in our school system. That I assure you that none of us will be able to stomach these current boards did not create the looming crisis, but we are both tests to figure it out now, not deferring the issue until a more convenient time in the future that we hope the Outlook is Rosier I fully support the CIA P request at Stan, River and Liberty, specifically the auditorium improvements, the canopy replacements and the Bedford primary gym.

A

The bus garage and the athletic improvements are up for discussion at a later date. For me, the list of capital needs in the school system is very long and thinking that the state or the federal government is going to suddenly step in and take care of, these items is not reality. It's not. The job will be left to us. The people in this room to take care of it. Regarding law enforcement, we've made great strides with regard to the budget.

A

The community want us to back the blue and that's what we've done if we to recruit and retain personnel, as well as the desired resource officers in all of our school facilities. The grant funds that we received in order to offset those resource officers will cease within the next five years. We all know the tragedies that have occurred throughout our nation with regard to school safety. So what would be the price of just one lost life with regard to firing EMS Services? We are so blessed as a county to have numerous volunteer agencies.

A

As we all know, volunteerism has been on the decline for many years, and many of our agencies don't have sufficient Personnel to run all the calls that are coming in. This is nearing a crisis in our growing County. Just this past week, a sitting Roanoke County Supervisor noted in a public meeting that their paid EMS agency had run over a hundred calls into Bedford County in 2022, because we had insufficient emergency resources available.

A

He also inferred that we were ignoring this need in our quest to continually lower our real estate tax rate at the expense of the neighboring County. It's a harsh word Maybe reality. You be the judge about that. We have Volunteer Fire agencies that are unable to respond to local emergencies.

A

At times due to lack of qualified Personnel available, run the trucks they're asking for help today, not 12 months, when we think it's going to be better, maybe I'm just noticing it more now, but we have a lot of calls in our area and we're having to call upon the Bedford and Forest divisions to come out to assist us. Our Monita, Huddleston and Saunders departments are awesome. So don't mishear what I'm, saying or trying to say we need help out here and it likely won't be able to wait for a more convenient economic climate.

A

Beyond the Personnel issues, the exploding cost of equipment is insurmountable by those volunteer agencies alone. We have a measured Cooperative equipment replacement plan in place to help us maintain these vital services in our local communities and assist these squads. Lastly, solid waste disposal is crushing. Us inflation has buried us. The operating deficit is nearly the equivalent of three cents on the tax rate all by itself.

A

If we did nothing else, three sentence: what we're spending the whole trash out of Bedford County, regardless of what we may decide on the future of the landfill, the current sale will still need to be closed and that cost continues to grow by the month. If we were to elect to continue operations out there, there's additional short-term costs that to do that as well. We cannot cut our way to an affordable solution out there.

A

The issue has to be dealt with and resolved to prevent further good money going into a hole, literally thinking that we are just one election away from all of our troubles being over with regard to inflation is wishful thinking. History shows us that inflationary periods last years not months.

A

My pastor shared a list of Christian Life perspectives yesterday and I was struck how relevant these are to all facets of life, including my responsibilities on this board. The first one is remember where our calling and our blessings and all of our success come from. Second, is: don't think too high or too low of yourself third stay in your own lane, because a lot of people need to hear that.

A

Fourth, one know where your genuine fulfillment comes from I'm, not up here worrying about what my next election is I'm worried about what the vet county is going to be in the next two three four five ten fifteen twenty years. My family's been here since the 1700s as well.

A

I know that many of you in this room tonight strongly feel your position is the correct one and that there is no room for compromise on it and I respect that I also respect and appreciate the views that have been expressed by my fellow board members during this budget and tax rate discussion process. However, I cannot support an equalized rate knowing what we're facing in the next four years.

A

We have to take care of these issues now and we cannot afford to keep deferring them until what we will hope will be a better time to deal with it. There will always be needs rearing their heads, some expected ones. Most of them are not expected. One thing that I know that we can all agree on is that we love our County and we all want to be successful and abundant place to raise our families. Let's not demonize those we don't agree with on minor issues. We.

J

AE

A

In common than you think,.

AD

Thank you chair. Yes, okay, make a motion that we adopt the equalized tax rate.

A

We have a motion for Mr Scott. Is there a second? Oh.

AB

A

Second, by Ms bansley: this would be a roll call vote, Mr Davis, yes, Mr Scott, yes, Ms bansley, yes, Mr, Johnson, no Mr, Sharp, no Miss Parker; no, no chair votes, no.

E

Mr chair, yes, I'd like to make a motion.

B

That we adopt the 41 Cent.

E

Tax rate as advertised.

A

We have a motion for Mr Johnson for 41 cents. Tax rate is there a second.

A

As the chair I will vote, I will second the motion to get it on the floor.

A

I'll, keep it hey: Mr, Davis, no Mr Scott. No! This is bansley no Mr Johnson, yes, Mr Sharp, yes, Miss Parker! Yes, chair votes; yes,.

A

That moves on to our next public hearing.

D

A

Give us a few minutes.

M

S

And Mr chair there are additional tax rates that need to be addressed. Beyond real estate before we move on to the next public hearing.

A

M

A

Right um I mean we'll let we'll let them.

M

Clear out a little bit give.

A

It a few minutes.

A

And Mr, yes, you can share with us the other ones that we need to deal.

AC

With tonight they're outlined.

AC

Packet, we just adopt this or.

A

A

I didn't have that.

A

Where's, our parliamentarian.

A

Wait for him to get back.

AC

E

AC

E

AC

We were keyed on the real real.

B

AC

All the others are.

A

Wait on a parliamentarian.

M

B

AC

I think some of them went down I'm.

B

I

Oh I'm, just not sure if they weren't zero before.

A

All right, our parliamentarian is back. um We actually have the actual.

J

A

That needs to be voted on, which is the ordinance 042423-01.

A

Which has the other tax rates.

A

Just talked about the real estate rate at 41. That would also follow to Manufactured Homes 235 on tangible personal property, a dollar seventy on assessed valuation of the business personal property.

A

It would be zero on vehicles for transportation of the physically handicapped. It would be zero on Transportation of qualified disabled veterans and a dollar twenty, which is the machine machinery and tools, tax.

A

Other discussion on the other items within that.

M

AD

Have a question for clarification: yes, 41 per 100 on the value of personal classified manufactured homes that.

A

Was already 41 or it's gone, it was 50. it. It mirrors the manufactured home when mirrored the real estate tax rate.

AD

What I mean what I'm saying is if we had adopted the equalized rate, I.

M

A

AD

38, instead of 41 correct.

A

It would happen: okay,.

M

AD

On all these, as.

M

AE

It's all in one area, we would I, don't have a copy of this and I can't open it up here.

AC

C

AD

Which agenda is this.

C

C

C

Oh, my gosh. That's way back yeah I'm, sorry.

M

I've got it: okay,.

I

There you go right here.

B

Yeah there you go it's right. There.

AE

A

That was your book. That was your book that I passed. Okay, all right, any any discussion on that ordinance if there isn't any more.

B

A

Would entertainment a motion to adopt.

AD

I just have one thing to say: yes, all of these are not increasing, but.

M

AD

Mobile home is 41, but since I voted for.

M

The uh 38D.

AD

Class I can't go along with 441.

AD

for the mobile homes.

M

AD

To be consistent, I believe that I think.

A

M

A

For adoption of that ordinance, I moved Mr Johnson on the first is their second second.

AF

A

Miss Parker, you roll call, Mr Davis.

AE

um Well, at this point, I cannot vote against this because I'd right.

AD

AC

Can't you can Mr Davis.

AE

Well, in light of the fact that I support the 38 Cent rate, I suppose I have to vote a note here. Then okay.

A

Mr Scott no Ms Parker, yes, Mr Johnson,.

M

A

Ms bansley, oh Mr, Sharp.

AC

Yes, chair votes, yes, motion.

A

Passes that moves us to our next public hearing, which is consideration of an ordinance to amend division. Three satellite absentee voting in chapter six elections; Article 2, precincts and polling prices; ordinance: oh zero, two one, three, two three-07 as revised Mr.

S

Skelly, thank you. Mr chair, as the board is aware, uh state code requires us to designate a satellite absentee voting Center. It has been the County gym in the past and last time this was before the board. In my absence, it was tabled indefinitely. We thought we were going to have to have it heard tonight because of the prospect of a primary, which is not the case, but we do have to have a designation of that of a center uh at least 60 days before the general election.

S

So we've already duly advertised this I'm not sure we're any closer right now to having the registrar move her office in anticipation of the November election. So it is up for your consideration tonight to designate that location as the satellite voting area.

AC

Yes, ask a point of clarification, so we're looking at having this satellite location at the Parks and Rec Falling Creek, yes, sir, but voting will also still be able to take place at the registrar's office. That's correct by.

S

By law, that is also considered a voting station, so.

AC

That still necessitates coverage at two locations is.

S

That correct my understanding of my conversations with this Gunter is that her facility could not handle the volume.

AC

So, but can, if her facility can't handle the volume well, why can't the only location be this location, because.

S

It's not that very far I I know the registrar's office. I, don't know if Barbara's here.

D

She wasn't, she had a medical matter, she's not able to attend.

S

Tonight, in any event, it registrar's office is considered a voting Center. So.

D

Mr sharper will say that by the new Our intention is by the November election that the registrar's office will be relocated to that vacant. Cottage um next to the county. Gym yes, technically on paper, it'll be a separate voting Center, but I mean it's just going to be a few hundred feet from each other. The real voting Center will be at the gym for that particular election.

D

M

A few hundred.

AC

Feet is still a few hundred feet. It is, it is, or a few yeah if it's right next door, it's one thing, but if it is down a ways, it's still, you need double coverage.

D

Yeah you fit within the whatever the I.

AC

Mean trying to think about all the people having to work outside during during this ridiculous, extended early voting.

AC

But so how close will she be I mean? Is she going to be right there at the gym? Do we have the option to put her right next to the gym.

D

No that that particular Cottage is under release, I mean maybe long term, but not for this election.

D

Not for this year's election.

AB

AE

60 days before.

J

B

AB

We talk about this when we see how closer it might be. When we get a little bit closer, you're gonna, say.

J

AB

There that can be the one spot where we have have the early voting and not have to have two spots right.

AC

When she once she moves her offices, will we need the second location.

S

That would we might not, but this is what I would suggest I don't think we can go any later than or August 28th meeting um and we're still going to have to have two weeks before there are three weeks to get it in the papers to advertise. If we change it at this point which we can do but I'm just saying that that's our absolute drop dead meeting day would be August 28th.

E

Talking with Barbara probably been three.

J

Weeks ago, one of.

E

Her key issues was the address that she uses all of the stuff that goes out. It has a state electoral board. It has to be very accurate, he's very conscious of how much money she's going to have to spend. She doesn't know what to do where she can be. She puts their current address on it and would do it and we change her.

E

It's it's an expense and not not a insignificant amount.

AC

So that's why she needs to have the address one of the reasons.

E

She just she asked me three weeks ago, if I could just find out, which way we were going, so that she would know it's some field for how to do the.

A

Any other questions for Stan.

AB

A

B

AB

The building I know you want to do some, some Remodeling and you do the remodeling after she's there. So we can use that address for all of this.

D

I mean I think we can do it all simultaneously. I think we can use the her the new address and remodel before and during in order to get her in there. The the thought was to get the registrar's office relocated into that new address this summer.

D

So so, but then I think the Practical issue is the early voting is just there's really no parking at that new address, so getting a parking lot built and renovating the office space by the end of this by the time early voting begins I'm, not exactly sure. If that's going to be feasible,.

AC

So, are we anticipating this to only be for one election.

D

Season I believe so I think that's what we've kind of talked about and.

AC

We're looking for a permanent fix, where we only have to maintain one early voting location going forward right.

D

I mean if the board chose that there was a. If you know it's always up to the board: I mean if you guys want to make it that one location in the future or or utilize a gym and that's up to the board in the future. So.

AC

I, just don't like having multiple locations, and especially if they're going to be right next to each other. Let's just it. There's.

J

A lot of people that.

AC

Have to work those and if we're we're going to be forced with early voting, then I'd prefer to limit it to one rather.

S

Than uh multiple I believe, that's the ultimate goal, I think we're just we're because of all the deadlines that we have that keep cascading back and be cutting it real close. If we kick it down the road again,.

D

I mean the the verify, based on past conversations that I've heard from board members that this November election would likely most likely be the last general election that we would utilize the gym going forward would utilize the registrar's office we'll have more parking lot built, we'll have some renovations to the building. It should be it'll, be a much better condition than it is today to handle that type of operation.

AD

D

AD

A temporary location going across but you're saying we've got to be on a parking lot.

D

And there's only like three spaces there today, so there's only space enough for the existing staff. So I don't know if that would really meet the the requirements of holding in early voting Center, if you don't have other parking spaces available, handicap or otherwise,.

D

I don't have that off top of my head today.

AE

Instead of putting down asphalt, why don't we look at putting down a good, solid base and that.

D

That's one of the options we've discussed as staff is you know for your for your for your Ada accessibility? You can always do a little pave Pad, but the rest of it could be a gravel or, like you said, Aggregate and we can build it later- is early the grading and drainage. That's.

AE

Going to be dealt with, in other words, that's that would have to be done prior to doing asphalt anyway. Yeah.

D

Yeah, we do basically that served as a prep for asphalt down the road.

A

Any other questions.

A

You're right, I'm, gonna, um open up the citizen comment portion for the public hearing on this matter. Is there anyone here that like to speak about the satellite absentee voting.

A

We'll close the public comment portion um any other discussion from the board.

M

AD

Just kind of like how I feel a little costs I spend a hundred thousand dollars for a temporary location.

AB

We're going to use a gym, it's.

B

What we used it before the.

AB

Gym like we used.

S

Before yeah that that's already.

M

No but I'm talking about the parking lot I know.

AD

M

Lot, what the parking lot cost.

AC

Parking lot will once we have the parking lot at the registrar's office. We would not leave need the second location.

AB

This vote is just for the gym. Jim already has a parking lot.

D

Yeah yeah Mr, Scott, Allen and I'm. Sorry I, just don't recall, the specifics is what the estimated cost was, but those costs are in the in the fy24 capital Improvement plan, so it is budgeted.

D

um So we're not that's my knowledge, we're not coming back to the Board of Supervisors for additional funds in order to make that parking lot, especially if we go the aggregate arrival route.

A

Okay, is there a motion regarding ordinance, oh zero, two one, three, two three-07 revised.

A

Somebody help it.

AC

I, don't think any of us like it.

AC

I'll make a motion to approve this I mean I I, resent the fact that we are required to even have the early voting, but we have to have something um but I. You know: I I just want to have one location for people to have to cover not multiple locations.

AC

So that's my that's my concern, but it sounds like we're. Gonna have to do this for.

Z

One year can I can.

J

AC

um Can I amend this ordinance to say that this would only be effective for calendar year 2023.

AC

We have to set it up each year anyway. Okay, then then, I'll just leave it at it.

S

Okay hold over for another election after this year. Okay, all right.

A

So we have a motion for Mr Sharp. Is there a second Miss Parker? This is a roll call, Mr Johnson? Yes, Ms bansley, yes, Mr Sharp, yes, Mr Davis, yes, Mr, Scott, yeah, Miss, Parker, chair votes. Yes, that moves us and the motion passes that moves us to the consent agenda. Mr hiss. If you'd walk us through that.

D

We'll have one item on that this evening and it is to uh authorization to add Bedford County as a co-applicant to the Timber Ridge Road smart scale application. It's really a technicality of. We submitted that Grant as a regional Grant through the Central Virginia Plan District commission and this is to add the county as a co-applicant.

A

Right are there any questions regarding the consent agenda.

AF

A

Here we have a motion for Ms Parker. Is there a second second? Second by Mr Davis? This is a roll call, Mr Davis, yes, Mr Scott, yes, Miss Parker, yes, Mr Johnson, Miss bansley, yes, Mr Sharp, yes, chair vote, GS motion passes. There are no minutes for us to approve this evening.

A

Bridget Bridget will get them so that moves us to our action discussion items the first one up is resolution: r0422 zero, four, two four two three-03, which is consideration of a resolution canceling the rescission of support for the camp JC, smart scale, project Mr,.

AG

Smedley so, since the last more discussion on cam JC, we've had a number of meetings with VDOT our uh Commonwealth Transportation member Dr Smoot about this project. Ultimately, the CTB is highly unlikely to cancel the project without implementing some adequate form of safety measures. At this location there are limited options that fit within the existing project budget. So the proposed alternative in front of you is to back out the crossover closure at Camp, JC Road and move forward with the remaining project scope as designed.

AG

So this crossover would remain open at this time, but VDOT could potentially close it in the future if conditions warranted uh as part of that closure, determination, Vita would only consider the traffic data directly I'm. Sorry, the crash data directly resulting from that open, open crossover, so vdot's intent is not to go out there and immediately close that crossover. If there was a crash out there, they would rather build out the remainder of this project and continue to monitor the situation.

AG

With that new proposed U-turn accommodation going in vehicles do feel unsafe, making a left out of Camp JC or, if they're, unable to make that left. They would be able to use that new U-turn and hopefully that would be positively reflected in the data. So if this alternative is acceptable to the board, the county would not need to reimburse VDOT for the project costs incurred of 200 Grand to date. So with that I'd be happy to try to answer any questions.

AE

Mr Spradley I just want to repeat back to you what you just said in the form of a question.

M

AE

Just to be clear, the camp, JC crossover and, of course, the Woodhaven home crossover, which was mentioned in the prior meeting, where Mr Daniels said that the Woodhaven crossover would not be closed and now we're being told also we're being assured that the camp JC crossover will not be closed either correct. So.

AG

The camp JC Road closed crossover would not be closed as part of this initial project. At.

AE

The uh and furthermore femic.

B

AE

Furthermore, the only data that would be considered, in other words in the original presentation information I, got from beat out. They said that they would withhold the right to consider closing the crossover if conditions warranted and and I suggested that that could be done on a whim because they were trying to close it based on accidents that had nothing to do with the crossover.

AE

So I had asked to make it clear that only accidents immediately at the camp, JC Road crossover would be those considered as useful in determining if there were a need for making a crossover.

AE

Closing correct.

AG

Yes, sir, that is correct effectively. It would be crashes due to Vehicles trying to make a left uh heading eastbound into Camp JC or would be crashes due to Vehicles trying to make that left out of Camp JC across uh westbound traffic into the eastbound light I think to to put some numbers to that of the 22 crashes that originally considered for this project over the last 10 years out at that area. Up to five of those would have been applicable to that crossover. So.

M

AG

Small fraction of the total that were originally looked at.

AE

Well, if that's the case, I could probably go on for hours discussing that with you, but I'll. Do everybody a favor and just say: um I would like to approve this resolution zero. Four, two, four two three-03 we.

A

Have a motion from Mr Davis, okay, second, by Mr Scott: this is a roll call, Mr Davis, yes, Mr Scott.

N

A

Miss Parker Mr Johnson, Ms bansley.

B

Yes, Mr Sharp, yes, chair votes,.

A

Yes and I'd like to publicly thank Mr Davis for his diligence on this project.

AE

I, don't think I did enough, but thanks.

A

Made a difference all right that moves us to board committee reports. We don't have any or comments if anybody's got any breath left in them. Is there anything else.

A

Mr hiss: do you have anything else to report.

D

No report this evening.

A

D

A

Report Mr chair right about the upcoming meetings or lack there. uh Mr hiss the calendar yeah.

D

Or the Board of Supervisors next meeting will be on May 8th. We will have a work session at five o'clock. I know. One of the topics will be the Cooperative extensions annual update. We might have some other another item on that evening as well. Then we have a regular meeting at seven o'clock. May 22nd we'll also have a work session at five o'clock, we're meeting at seven o'clock and at the same evening on May 22nd. We plan to have the FY 24 budget public hearing that evening.

AD

A

AD

A motion wheel, drive.

A

Mr Scott spent a motion and there's a second by Mr Johnson, all in favor, say aye.

P

Aye all opposed, and we.

A