►
Description
Chesterfield County hosted this in-person and virtual community meeting to review the FY23 proposed budget with the Board of Supervisors and county budget administrators. Midlothian District Supervisor and Vice-Chair Leslie Haley was joined by County Administrator Dr. Joe Casey and Director of Budget and Management Gerard Durkin for this presentation.
A
Good
evening
my
name
is
dave
good,
I'm,
the
constituent
services
administrator
with
chesterfield
county
just
wanted
to
welcome
everybody
to
tonight's
meeting.
It
is
the
fourth
of
five
budget
town
halls
that
we're
doing
this
year
in
a
moment
I'll
introduce
our
host
for
the
evening.
But
first
I
wanted
to
go
over
a
little
bit
of
housekeeping
related
to
the
format
of
tonight's
meeting.
A
Like
the
others.
We
are
doing
these
meetings
in
person
and
also
virtually
so.
We
have
an
in-person
audience
here
in
the
public
meeting
room.
We
also
have
an
audience
tuning
in
via
facebook
live
following
some
opening
remarks
by
our
host.
We're
going
to
hear
a
presentation
from
another
member
of
our
panel
tonight,
mr
durkin,
and
then
following
that
we'll
open
the
floor
to
questions
anyone
who's
here
in
person
who
would
like
to
come
up
and
issue
a
comment
or
a
question.
We
would
encourage
you
to
come
up
to
the
microphones
where
I'm
standing
now.
A
It
just
makes
it
so
that
everybody
here
can
see
or
can
see
and
also
hear
you
clearly,
but
also
for
our
audience
at
home
makes
the
sound
a
lot
better
for
them.
So
they
can
hear
you
clearly
as
well
for
those
who
are
watching
via
facebook
live,
you
can
simply
go
to
the
comments
form
or
the
comments
feed
and
enter
your
comment
or
question.
We
do
have
staff
here
tonight
that
are
monitoring
the
questions
and
we
will
be
feeding
those
up
to
our
panel
during
the
q.
A
for
answers.
A
B
Well,
thank
you
and
welcome
everybody.
I'm
really
pleased
to
be
here
to
host
our
fourth
of
five
budget
town
meetings
that
are
occurring
the
last
one
tomorrow
evening
and
talking
about
our
proposed
2023
budget,
and
so,
as
mr
good
just
explained
to
you,
there
are
lots
of
opportunities
for
folks
to
engage,
and
I
want
to
remind
folks
that
budgeting
is
a
process
that
we
now
look
at
through
the
lens
of
12
months
a
year.
So
we
don't
wait
until
you
know
the
the
beginning
of
january
or
even
february,
to
start
this
process.
B
We
are
con
consistently
continuing
looking
at
budget
you're,
going
to
find
a
brief
presentation
by
mr
gherkin
tonight.
Talking
about
all
the
aspects
that
go
into
our
budget
and
as
well,
I
have
dr
joe
casey
with
us
tonight
for
comments
or
questions
as
we
come
down
to
that
part
of
the
program.
I
will
let
you
know
also
and
remind
you.
B
We
do
have
a
public
hearing
on
wednesday
night
during
our
regular
board
of
supervisors
meeting
at
that
point
in
time,
and
then
our
budget
is
scheduled
to
be
adopted
and
our
next
meeting
on
april,
the
6th
correct.
So
you
know,
I
think,
that
it's
really
important,
that
everybody
recognizes
all
the
pieces
that
come
together
as
we
look
at
forming
a
budget.
B
There
are
really
many
many
criteria
and
one
of
which
I
know
has
influenced
so
many
of
our
citizens
and
residents
this
year
is
the
impact
that
has
that
our
residential
real
estate
valuations
have
taken,
and
so
we
are
very
very
mindful
of
that,
and
on
top
of
that,
the
more
recent
information
regarding
personal
property
tax
that
includes
reevaluation
of
our
vehicles,
so
you're
going
to
hear
some
information
in
particular
tonight
as
to
how
we
are
balancing
those
additional
revenues.
In
light
of
what
we
see
are
other
measures
needed
across
the
county.
B
Looking
at
how
we
potentially
can
lessen
some
of
this
tax
burden
on
specific
citizens
and
still
maintain
services
throughout
the
county
as
well.
You're
also
going
to
see
tonight
and
we're
going
to
hear
about
the
historic
investment
we've
made
in
schools,
what
we're
doing
to
retain
and
recruit
the
best
employees
on
both
sides.
B
You
will
see
what
we
have
done
over
these
last
two
years
has
made
a
significant
decision
to
invest
in
our
people.
Invest
in
our
people
on
both
sides
of
the
equation
and
make
sure
that
we
are
that
our
compensation
models
are
not
only
fair
but
sustainable
in
the
long
run
and
you're
also
going
to
hear
a
little
bit
about
what
we're
proposing
in
the
540
million
bond
referendum.
That
is
planned
for
this
fall,
and
so
I
will
turn
the
mike
over
to
mr
durkin.
B
But
before
I
do
that,
I
also
want
to
welcome
miss
katherine
haynes,
our
midlothian
school
board
representative,
who
has
joined
us
tonight
as
well,
and
I
thank
you
for
coming
out
and
joining
with
us,
miss
haynes.
So
with
that,
I
will
turn
it
over
to
mr
durkin
and
at
the
end
again,
we
will
entertain
questions.
C
This
budget
really
coalesces
around
the
four
areas
that
are
in
front
of
you.
Our
historic
investment
in
the
school
system
is
missily
referenced,
our
employee
recruitment
retention,
our
bond
referendum
and
the
broad
tax
relief
and,
over
the
course
of
the
next
few
slides
I'll
go
through
each
of
those
major
points.
C
So
the
first
part,
and
probably
the
most
wide-ranging
part
of
this
budget,
is
the
broad
tax
relief
and
it's
really
the
core
of
the
fiscal
2023
budget.
I'll
go
over
these
in
the
next
few
slides.
But
the
core
message
is
that
the
actions
of
the
board
since
december
and
with
this
proposed
budget,
that's
before
the
board
translates
into
a
total
tax
relief
package
of
over
52
million
dollars,
which
is
about,
on
average,
about
300
per
household
savings,
the
personal
property
tax
relief
brackets
for
the
elderly
disabled.
C
C
You
can
see
back
in
1997.
It
was
a
dollar
nine
per
hundred
dollars
of
assessed
value.
The
budget
that's
proposed
today
is
bringing
that
down
to
92
cents
and
the
home
value
increases
that
we've
seen
are
not
a
phenomenon
that
are
unique
to
the
county.
It's
happening
nationwide,
recognising
the
impact
of
those
increased
assessments.
The
board
earlier
this
year
set
the
maximum
tax
rate
at
93
cents.
The
proposed
budget
before
you
was
able
to
take
off
an
additional
penny
for
that
which
is
the
lowest
you
can
see
on
the
chart
in
the
county's
history.
C
The
other
thing
that
we
take
great
pride
in
is
our
five-year
plan,
and
we
make
sure
that
any
of
these
actions
that
we
take
are
sustainable
over
the
course
of
that
five
year
period
and
beyond,
and
you
can
see
the
rate
reduction.
That's
proposed
in
this
budget
is
actually
in
line
with
what
we
did
in
2007
and
2008.
C
that
kind
of
stepped
down
from
97
cents
to
95..
But
the
core
message
of
that
also
is
that
we
see
this
as
being
sustainable.
This
is
not
like
the
large
year-over-year
increases
that
we
saw
in
the
2079
era,
and
the
market
today
is
more
of
a
kind
of
problem
with
the
nexus
of
supine
demand,
rather
than
a
kind
of
underlying
bubble
in
the
financial
system
as
a
whole.
C
So
in
december,
we
actually
increased
that
threshold
from
a
thousand
dollars
to
1500,
which
is
the
first
adjustment
that
we
had
made
to
this
program
since
1998,
which
meant
that
an
additional
14
300
vehicles
didn't
pay
this
tax,
recognizing
that
personal
property
values,
just
like
real
estate,
have
been
increasing
with
supply
chain
shortages.
Over
the
last
year
we
explored
ways
of
providing
relief
that
would
impact
this
upcoming
june's
bill
cycle.
C
When
this
program
was
initially
initiated
by
the
state,
it
was
able
to
provide
over
70
relief,
as
the
years
went
by
the
state
has
not
adjusted
our
allocated
amount,
which
means
the
number
of
vehicles
in
the
country
increased.
The
value
of
the
relief
that
we've
been
able
to
offer
has
decreased,
as
you
can
see
on
the
chart
before
you.
C
So
this
is-
and
this
chart
before
using
another
way
in
years
past
that
we
prevent
presented
the
kind
of
dollar
bill
graphic.
Where
does
the
each
tax
dollar
go
by
far?
The
largest
expenditure
in
our
budget
is
the
transfers
to
schools,
which
is
to
projected
to
increase
by
18
million
dollars
in
this
budget
I'll
go
into
the
skills
budget
summary
in
a
few
more
minutes,
a
quarter
of
our
general
fund
goes
to
our
public
safety
division,
which
is
in
line
with
years
prior
police
fire
sheriff.
C
C
So
the
fiscal
year
23
budget
is
expected
to
increase
by
about
98
million
dollars
or
12.1
percent,
recognizing
that
the
increase
is
larger
than
normal.
I'm
just
going
to
take
a
few
minutes
to
kind
of
break
down.
What's
driving
that
increase
and
the
first,
the
largest
bucket
you
can
see,
there
is
investing
in
the
workforce.
C
Additionally,
with
our
proactive
approach
last
year
to
our
public
safety
pay
structure,
the
market
has
now
moved
again,
especially
in
regards
to
starting
salaries.
So
the
budget
before
the
board
proposes
an
additional
12
and
a
half
million
dollars
to
ensure
our
public
safety
pay
remains
competitive
in
the
region.
C
Secondly,
over
the
last
few
years,
we've
made
some
great
strides
in
our
capital
improvement
program,
especially
in
the
area
of
major
maintenance,
as
service
demand
grows
and
our
facilities
age.
We
are
increasing
our
investment
in
major
maintenance,
as
well
as
a
variety
of
projects
around
the
county
and
I'll
go
into
the
referendum
in
a
few
minutes,
but
this
slide
well.
C
This
increase
also
does
include
one-time
expenditures
of
about
13.4
million
dollars,
including
upgrades
to
our
financial
system
and
a
shared
warehouse
facilities
with
our
schools,
speaking
of
schools,
and
this
budget
proposes
an
increase
of
a
set
of
18
million
dollars
of
our
transfer
to
them,
which
will
help
achieve
many
of
their
goals.
As
part
of
our
fiscal
year,
2021
year
in
surplus,
the
county
made
a
one-time
infusion
of
27
million
dollars
into
the
school's
supplemental
retirement
program,
which
freed
up
a
recurring
about
12
million
dollars
a
year
in
operating
capacity
for
the
school
system.
C
So
as
a
result
of
this
infusion,
the
effective
increase
to
our
schools
transfer
is
about
28.8
million
dollars
and
then
finally,
we
do
have
some
strategic
investments
in
this
budget.
Through
our
additional
funding
request
that
you
can
see
in
the
bottom
right
about
7.6
million
dollars,
we
will
go
through
what
some
of
those
investments
are,
but
did
want
to
point
out
that
this
is
lower
than
what
we
have
traditionally
funded
in
prior
years
and
a
large
part
of
that
funding
is
actually
around
obligated
contracts
that
we
will
have
to
pay.
C
So
the
employee
compensation
for
frisco
year
2022,
we
were
able
to
institute
a
two
percent
merit
for
employees.
The
pace
study
that
we
have
is
over
the
course
of
two
years.
We
recognize
that
you
know
it's
a
large
expense
and
we
can't
do
it
all
in
one
year.
So
there
are
some
employees
who
will
go
to
a
new
12
to
16
minimum
pay
per
hour
or
they'll
be
a
flat
five
percent
adjustment
across
the
board.
C
As
I
said,
the
public
safety
pace
study
will
align
with
new
regional
minimums,
with
the
continuation
of
our
step
increase.
That
was
part
of
the
public
safety
pay
plan
and
then
it's
kind
of
the
final
step
of
that.
What
we
call
252
program.
There
is
a
two
percent
merit
program
for
general
government
employees
in
fiscal
year
23
and,
as
I
said
as
we
develop
the
fiscal
2024
budget,
we
will
look
at
the
pay
study
phase
two
for
the
remaining
part
of
the
pay
plan.
C
So
this
is
the
additional
funding
request
that
I
talked
about
a
couple
of
minutes
ago
and
they
really
coalesce
around
these
five
areas.
Our
continued
commitment
to
our
public
safety.
We
are
expanding
our
police
service
aid
program
by
three
positions
per
year.
There
are
currently
19
positions
that
over
the
next
five
years,
that
will
cost
about
275,
000
and
there's
also
minimum
staffing
increases
for
fire
and
ems
to
ensure
adequate
coverage,
24
7
around
fire
stations
in
the
county,
I'm
strengthening
our
infrastructure
and
facilities.
C
Enhancing
quality
of
life
and
parks
and
rec
over
the
last
few
years
has
been
a
major
demand
driver
in
the
county.
Last
year.
As
part
of
our
fiscal
year
2022
budget,
we
proposed
adding
additional
parks
and
rec
athletic
field
crew.
The
next
budget
for
23
and
24
also
includes
an
expansion
of
that
program
with
an
additional
three
positions
per
year,
and
then
there's
also
what
we
started
in
fiscal
year,
22
with
the
conversion
of
part-time
to
full-time
ratio
in
libraries.
It
was
originally
about
two-thirds
to
one-third
part-time
to
full-time.
C
We
are
adding
about
seven
additional
positions
per
year,
which
will
reverse
this
ratio
by
the
end
of
the
five-year
plan,
an
emphasis
on
customer
service.
We
have
a
taxpayer
portal
with
the
commissioner
revenue
and
treasurer
to
kind
of
really
enhance
our
communication
and
reporting
efforts
with
that
office
and
there's
also
some
treasure
staffing
enhancements
to
provide
customer
service
for
people
as
they
come
in
and
out
to
pay
their
bills
in
investments
in
support
services.
C
Our
employee
medical
center
of
the
last
couple
years
has
seen
heavy
demand
from
both
county
and
schools
and
we
are
increasing
their
staffing
levels
with
a
customer
service
representative
and
a
nurse
practitioner
as
well,
and
I
said
about
two
well:
two
million
dollars
of
that.
7.6
is
really
tied
up
in
contracts
that
are
spread
throughout
agencies
from
ite
to
procurement
and
general
services
that
we
we
have
to
pay
so
that
eats
up
a
lot
of
our
capacity
and
inflation
has
been
affecting
everyone.
I'm
sure
in
here.
C
C
Our
staff
go
through
that
make
recommendations
as
to
what
can
be
funded
and
what
can't
be
funded.
That
doesn't
mean
that
what
didn't
make
the
funded
list
isn't
a
priority.
It
just
means
that,
within
our
competing
pressures
on
that
same
tax
dollar,
we
weren't
able
to
fund
everything.
So,
as
you
can
see,
there
was
about
11.1
million
dollars
in
unfunded
operating
requests,
including
81
positions
that
ran
the
whole
gamut
of
the
organization
from
parks
and
rec
to
sheriff
to
I.t
in
our
capital
plan.
C
Additionally,
we
were
not
able
to
fund,
essentially
just
under
a
quarter
of
a
billion
dollars
in
capital
requests
over
the
five-year
period,
including
armour
vehicles
for
a
police
department,
additional
park
sites
and
additional
fire
stations,
and
then
every
year
we
have
published
an
unfunded
transportation
project
list
this
year.
We're
doing
that
again
as
well,
and
it's
still
cresting
about
four
billion
dollars,
even
with
additional
funds
coming
through
from
the
central
central
virginia
transportation
authority.
C
C
There
are
a
lot,
as
I
said,
of
inflationary
pressures
and
reaching,
I
think,
is
a
45-year
high
of
last
week
and
then,
as
everyone,
I'm
sure
is
aware.
The
kind
of
geopolitical
unrest
is
happening
in
the
east
right
now
and
that
potentially
could
drive
our
inflation
rate
further,
but
the
budget
that
is
before
the
board
has
been
developed
with
some
flexibility
in
mind.
C
We
do
have
a
sizable
pay
goal
or
essentially
cash
contribution
to
our
cip,
including
for
a
new
district
enhancement
program
and
then
some
seed
money
to
kind
of
jump
start
on
some
referendum
projects.
We
have
that
merit
adjustment
of
two
percent,
as
I
said
in
february
of
next
year,
and
we
have
our
own
long-term
liabilities
for
pensions
and
line
of
duty.
We
do
make
above
our
policy
requirement
contributions.
C
C
And
then
suicide
before
you
really
shows
speaking
about
inflation-
and
this
is
one
of
the
metrics
we'll
look
at-
is
essentially
what's
the
true
cost
of
running
the
government,
as
the
inflation
has
been
a
hot
topic
of
late
and
is
driving
partly
a
part
of
our
general
fund
increase.
But
if
you
strip
out
the
effects
of
inflation,
you
can
actually
see
that
our
per
capita
costs
are
lower
than
what
our
post-recession
2008-9
average
was
and
it's
effectively.
If
you
go
further
back
and
in
our
charts,
it's
the
lowest
operating
level
since
1992.
C
It
really
is
a
testament
to
the
board's
commitment
to
maximizing
the
taxpayer
dollars
while
continuing
to
maintain
the
high
level
service
that
our
citizens
expect
and
then,
as
we
went
through
a
similar
exercise
for
the
schools-
and
this
is
our
local
contribution
to
the
school
system
you
can
see.
It
follows
a
similar
trend
to
the
county
level
and,
like
us,
is
not
back
to
that
post
2008,
nine
recession
average,
and
so
you
know
we
at
this
time
of
year.
We
have
that.
C
You
know
one
largest
line
item
expenditure
in
our
budget
are
transferred
to
schools,
but
really
the
support
that
we
provide
to
schools
happens
in
multi-faceted
ways.
I
must
say
the
18
million
dollars
transfer
this
year
is
on
par
with
what
we
did
last
year.
With
that
additional
infusion
to
the
supplemental
retirement.
The
increase
is
effectively
28
million
dollars.
We
can
see
there
are
some
of
the
other
things
that
we've
done
over
the
last
few
years
for
the
school
system.
C
When
we
had
to
reduce
our
budget
and
when
covered
hit,
there
was
only
a
10
million
dollar
increase.
There
was
actually
a
10
million
dollar
increase.
I
apologize
to
transfer
to
the
school
system
despite
us
cutting
our
overall
county
budget
by
51
million
dollars.
Last
year
we
increased
the
transfer
by
18
million
and
the
capital
side.
We've
been
able
to
take
advantage
of
a
favorable
interest
rate
environment
to
go
back
out
to
the
market
and
borrow
some
money
that
we
could
put
into
schools.
You
can
see
there.
C
The
58
million
dollars
for
the
major
maintenance
in
fall
2020
the
largest
infusion
that
we'd
made
into
major
maintenance
in
the
school
systems.
History
and
we
closed
on
the
second
bill.
There
you
see
in
the
chart
the
vpsa
bonds
that
enabled
us
to
accelerate
two
middle
schools
in
the
county
and
then,
as
I
said,
we
have
two
joint
projects
in
our
capital
improvement
program,
our
er
erp,
essentially
our
financial
system
and
a
joint
shared
warehouse
for
facility
with
schools.
C
The
county
is
paying
for
all
of
those
with
no
ass
to
the
school
system
and
then,
with
the
site
purchases
that
we
have
made
at
spring.
Rope,
green
and
upper
magnolia
potential
future
sites
for
schools.
The
county
has
been
able
to
fund
that
with
no
ask
of
school
funds
as
well,
and
then,
with
the
infusion
of
federal
dollars
that
we've
had
in
the
last
few
years.
We
have
diverted
a
lot
of
those
resources
to
the
school
system.
B
B
So
what
that's
doing
when
we
just
just
to
clarify
further
what
that
means
is
that
in
fact
gives
them
28
million
dollars
in
additional
spending
volume
correct,
because
we've
now
taken
that
burden
off
of
them
and
srp
is
a
program
that
will
that
basically
phases
itself
out.
But
you
know
it
was
only
five
years
ago
or
so
four
years
ago
we
found
it
to
be
in
the
whole
to
the
effect
of
a
hundred
million
dollars.
B
C
Actually,
the
pause
has
helped
us
in
many
ways,
as
we've
been
able
to
really
define
more
neatly,
this
concept
costs
and
locations
of
the
projects
in
the
last
two
years,
and
also
it's
enabled
us
to
further
refine
the
prioritization
from
feedback
from
employees,
elected
officials
and
citizens
and
businesses
located
within
the
county.
To
ensure
that
you
know,
there's
a
project
has
something
for
everyone
everywhere:
around
chesterfield
county.
C
C
C
You
can
see
there
we're
starting
in
fiscal
23,
with
some
investments
in
river
city
to
chester
fire
station
from
through
to
fiscal
year
25,
where
we're
proposing
elementary
and
high
schools
to
fiscal
27
with
more
fire
and
police
stations.
We
are
petitioning
to
add
this
to
the
ballot
in
august,
with
a
public
engagement
program
from
june
through
october
and
then,
finally
just
to
touch
on
our
utility
rates
for
a
second.
C
C
So
they're
not
kind
of
one-off
large
increases
as
years
pass,
and
so
we
have
one
more
community
meeting
tomorrow
night
with
the
public
hearings
on
march,
the
23rd
this
wednesday,
with
budget
adoption
on
april
6th,
please
submit
any
feedback
and
input.
In
the
meantime,
you
can
always
email
our
blueprint
at
chesterfield.gov
website
and
either
myself
or
a
team
member
we'll
get
back
to
you
so
that.
B
Well,
thank
you.
I
would
like
to
speak
to
one
thing
that
I
think
is
of
concern
in
the
community
at
large,
and
this
has
to
do
with
what
we
are
looking
at
in
what
would
be
considered
or
what
seems
to
have
been
considered
a
gap
that
exists
in
funding
to
schools
and
there's
been
considerable
email
communication
and
I
think
considerable
misinformation
in
the
community
about
what
this
gap
looks
like
and
what
this
gap
means.
B
And
so,
let's
go
back
to
the
fact
that
we're
talking
about
investment
in
our
employees
on
both
sides
of
the
equation,
and
so
yes,
last
year,
we
were
very,
very
fortunate
to
come
together
on
both
sides
and
invest
in
our
public
safety
folks
and
invest
in
our
teachers.
When
I
say
teachers
I
mean
the
gamut
of
folks
that
are
actually
in
the
classroom
providing
first-hand
educational
experiences
to
our
children.
B
And
so
then
we
made
the
commitment
that
we
would
look
at
those
that
were
not
considered
either
in
that
public
safety
realm
or
considered
in
that
in
in-person
teaching
environment.
And
we
looked
at
the
rest
of
our
employees
and
have
just
completed
on
both
sides
of
the
equation,
a
compensation
study
and
one
of
the
things
that
we've
talked
about
and
have
talked
about
for
several
years.
Back
to
the
days
when
I
I
believe
I
was
in
my
first
or
second
year
on
the
board.
B
B
We
all
know
this
in
our
homes
and
you
build
it
on
a
pay
structure
that
includes
a
two
percent
merit
every
year,
which
is
the
minimum
that
we
expect.
We
have
got
to
ensure
on
a
long-term
basis.
We
can
sustain
those
monies,
and
so
when
we
look
at
building
in
an
addiction
additional
multi-million
33
million
dollars
in
compensation
that
33
million
next
year
is
not
33
more
million.
B
We
all
know
that
that's
33
million,
plus
two
percent
on
top
of
that
at
a
minimum,
and
so
I
am
concerned
that
eight
and
a
half
million
dollar
gap
does
not
exist.
If
schools
comes
to
the
table
on
the
same
platform,
we
are
paying
their
their
folks
on
a
flat
five
percent
and
paying
their
folks
on
a
12
to
16
dollar
incremental
basis
and
taking
out
their
whatever
threshold
hybrid
zone
implementation
model.
That
is,
this
is
not
monies
that
are
designated
for
teachers
or
classrooms.
These
are
other
folks
that
are
in
this
second
study.
B
B
D
D
This
summer
we
have
to
hire
700
new
teachers
this
summer.
Our
kids
remain
in
last
place
last
place
for
per
capita
spending
relative
to
similar
schools
in
virginia.
If
you
look
at
our
national
scale,
our
kids
have
fallen
behind
kids
in
alabama
for
funding
we're
just
ahead
of
mississippi
the
poorest
state
in
the
united
states.
D
Our
council
voted
to
support
the
superintendent's
budget,
not
because
it
was
the
budget
we
wanted,
but
it's
because
it's
a
minimalist
budget,
it's
the
least
we
can
do
for
our
schools
and
that's
where
we're
at
once
again.
If
this
budget
passes
the
superintendent's
budget
passes
for
our
schools,
our
kids
will
still
be
in
last
place
next
year.
So
our
question
is:
how
do
we
get
our
kids
out
of
last
place?
D
When
do
we
acknowledge
the
struggles
of
our
kids
and
how
do
we
get
out
of
last
place?
How
do
we
get
the
resources
we
need
to
make
sure
our
kids
aren't
going
to
schools
and
trailers?
Our
schools
aren't
overcrowded.
We
have
highly
qualified
teachers
in
every
room.
We
address
the
greater
needs
from
covid.
So
now
we
have
reading
and
math
issues
that
are
greater
than
ever
and
we
don't
have
the
teachers
to
provide
that
education.
D
A
lot
of
our
members
couldn't
come
to
the
meeting
tonight.
They
have
jobs
and
children
to
take
care
of.
So
on
your
behalf,
we
collected
comments
and
we
collected
petition
signatures
to
ask
you
to
fully
fund
schools
and
you'll
recall
the
last
time
we
did
this.
We
collected
8
000
signatures
this
year.
We
have
about
a
thousand
signatures
already
and
most
of
them
from
midlothian.
We
have
over
500
signatures
from
midlothian
residents
asking
for
full
funding
of
schools.
D
That's
what
constituents
want
and
there
is
no
counter
petition.
As
far
as
I
know,
there's
not
another
8
000
people
demanding
that
we
keep
our
kids
in
last
place
and
if
there
is,
I
would
love
to
talk
to
those
folks.
The
reality
is
on
the
ground
that
our
schools
are
in
trouble.
We
need
much
greater
help
than
we
see
in
this
budget.
So
please
advocate
for
us.
Please
advocate
for
our
kids,
please
advocate
for
our
teachers.
Thank
you.
B
I'll
take
a
question
here
regarding
a
question
that
was
posed
online
when
changes
are
proposed
for
the
personal
property
tax
rate
due
to
the
assessment
increases,
and
so
what
we've
done
is
we
have
so
currently
the
exemption
rate.
The
exemption
threshold
is
46,
so
46
of
the
value
of
your
personal
property
tax
is
exempt
and
we
are
raising
that
threshold
to
55
percent.
So
we
are
giving
folks
a
break
because
we
see
what
the
evaluations
have
has
have
happened
to
personal
property,
and
we
are
also
very
mindful
that
those
probably
are
not
sustainable.
B
It's
kind
of
a
weird
year
when
you've
got
a
used
vehicle,
that's
worth
more
than
sometimes
what
you
paid
for
it
or
worth
more
than
than
what
you
possibly
even
could
sell
it
for
depending
so
again,
our
valuations
are
based
on
a
low
market
book
value.
They
are
not
done
by
the
county.
That's
actually
comes
out
of
the
commissioner
revenues
office,
but
we
do
have
the
ability
to
give
some
relief
on
that
and
we
will
raise
that
threshold
to
55
percent.
B
E
Good
evening
my
name
is
todd
stark
weather
I
teach
at
midlothian
high
school
and
I
reside
in
either
matoaka
or
clover
hill.
Wherever
the
new
redistricting
lines
fell.
I
don't
know
you
can
figure
that
out,
I'm
speaking
today
to
encourage
the
board
of
supervisors
to
fully
fund
the
needs-based
school
budget,
which
was
presented
by
superintendent,
dr
doherty,
and
passed
unanimously
by
the
school
board.
E
The
budget
works
toward
the
goal
that
everyone
in
this
room
has
or
should
have
strengthening
our
community
and
county.
Providing
the
school
system
with
less
than
it
needs
erodes
the
effectiveness
of
our
schools
harms
the
children.
Attending
public
schools
in
the
county
and
in
the
end,
creates
a
less
desirable
place
to
live.
E
E
It
would
communicate
to
them
that
the
county
doesn't
value
the
work
that
they
have
done
to
help
make
chesterfield
attractive
to
the
many
families
that
have
moved
here
and
will
move
here.
Anything
short
of
fully
funding.
The
pay
studies
in
the
budget
will
be
interpreted
as
code
to
school
division,
workers
to
dust
off
their
resumes
and
look
for
better
paying
jobs
elsewhere,
which
so
many
have
unfortunately,
already
done,
and
to
piggyback
off
of
the
200
plus
teacher
vacancies
in
february
2022.
E
all
agree
that
the
physical
classroom
is
the
best
place
for
students
and
teachers,
but
without
investing
in
schools,
including
worker
comp
compensation,
student
needs
and
the
physical
buildings
themselves,
schools
simply
become
holding
pens
for
eight
hours
a
day.
Students
only
receive
the
benefit
of
the
physical
classroom
when
the
school's
needs
are
funded.
E
E
Students
do
better
when
experienced
workers
committed
to
the
school
division
and
its
mission
are
in
the
classroom.
Students
do
better
with
full-time
teachers
rather
than
revolving
substitutes.
I
know
of
one
classroom
at
midlothian
high,
where
a
class
will
essentially
have
a
different
teacher
for
each
of
the
four
marking
periods
this
year.
E
B
Question
about
the
bar
graph,
you
show
with
funding
per
student
over
the
years.
The
per
student
funding
is
going
up
from
last
year,
but
is
still
lower
than
the
first
year
shown
on
the
graph.
Why
would
funding
be
lower
than
10
plus
years
ago?
So
again,
these
are.
This
graph
is
a
graph,
that's
adjusted
for
inflation,
so
the
nominal
amount
is
higher,
but
the
buying
power
of
those
dollars
is
still
slightly
lower
than
that
point
in
time.
Anything
that
you
want
to
add
to
that.
C
Sure
so
yeah,
that's
essentially
what
you
see
on
that
chart
is
that
you
know
inflation
tends
to
vary
by
varying
amounts
every
year.
If
you
strip
out
the
effects
of
that,
you
can
see
what
the
real
cost
is
and
you
can
see
from
from
back
in
the
presentation.
Both
the
county
and
schools
have
followed
a
kind
of
similar
trend.
B
I
can
tell
you
that
I
will
put
us
up
against
any
of
the
districts
throughout
this
entire
state,
with
the
amount
of
money
that
we
have
provided
in
seven
new
schools,
with
two
on
the
horizon,
with
the
funding
that
also
is
coming
in
dollar
funding
this
year
as
anticipated
and
what
we
have
done
over
the
last
years.
And
while
we
look
at
what
that
amounts
to
on
a
per
cap
or
per
student
basis,
everybody
looks
at
that
number
differently,
whether
they're
adding
capital
into
that.
Whether
they're,
adding
state
funding
into
that.
B
F
I
would
add
just
for
transparency
what
I
think
we'll
try
and
do
maybe
this
fall
will
be.
The
first
time
is
we'll
start
the
budget
process
with
an
agreed
upon
formula
the
best
entity
to
compare
ourselves
is
to
ourselves.
I've
worked
in
multiple
localities.
The
numerators
and
denominators
are
all
different
of
how
it's
sized
up.
I
encourage
anyone
to
look
at
our
website
of
the
shared
and
collaborative
services.
F
There
are
a
lot
of
things
that
are
done
in
kind
because,
again,
you
know
again,
two
entities
doing
similar
things
should
share
their
resources
and
fairness
to
schools.
We
utilize
their
postal
services
for
inter-office
mail
delivery,
since
they
traverse
the
county
in
many
ways
that
we
do
so
it's
not
just
one-sided
in
that
regard.
F
The
second
thing
is
that
I
think
we
have
to
quantify
better
some
of
the
mid-year
adjustments
that
are
made
most
notably
again.
We
try
and
benefit
the
schools
by
the
the
surpluses
that
are
generated
to
reinvest
for
mid-school
year
dollars,
so
there's
budget
student
per
capita
or
and
then
there's
also
actual
trends
that
ensue,
and
so
I
think,
maybe
at
year
end
we
have
to
size
those
up
as
well,
because
I
would
imagine
they
are
always
higher
than
the
beginning
budget
because
of
the
reinvestment
of
surpluses.
F
But
I'm
willing
to
start
that
exercise
and
have
a
nice,
transparent
formula.
That's
disclosed
well
on
websites
for
for
all
to
see.
As
far
as
the
comparison
to
to
others,
you
know
there's
other
factors
just
for
my
time
and
tenure
is,
you
know
we
have
one
of
the
largest
enrollments
and
we
also
have
large
schools.
F
So
those
economies
of
scale
should
traverse
again
into
being
budgets
that
are
best
leveraged
per
dollar
per
capita
same
thing
on
the
county
side
of
the
shop,
and
that's
why
I
think
you
see
the
per
capita
trends
of
the
counties
and
schools
in
essence,
trending
the
same
when
you
remove
inflationary
adjustments,
but
we'll
try
and
get
that
information
as
far
as
how
the
state
competes
with
other
states.
I
think
you
have
to
bring
the
state
of
virginia
into
that
conversation
just
as
much,
because
they
are
the
other
side
they're.
F
B
B
I'm
not
really
sure
what
we're
looking
at
looking
for
here.
I
can
tell
you
that
we
are
definitely
in
consideration
of
the
changing
demographics
of
our
population,
so
we
are
now
at
a
place
where,
interestingly,
we
have
fallen
around.
Is
it
35
percent
of
our
families
that
have
kids
in
schools
close
to
30.
close
to
30
percent
of
our
families,
have
kids
in
our
school
system,
so
you
think
about
that
shift
and
what
that
means
also
to
the
shift
of
the
population.
That's
over
55.
B
and
so
looking
at
the
shift
in
needs.
The
shift
in
services
to
provide
to
those
and
the
shift
that,
quite
frankly,
the
covet
that
this
pandemic
has
brought
to
just
the
way
in
which
our
citizens
look
at
what
has
value
to
them
in
being
outside
and
looking
at
the
expansion
of
our
parks
and
recreation
programs,
our
library
programs,
many
other
services
that
exist
that
reach
across
every
demographic
of
our
population,
and
so
I'm
not
sure
what
the
references
is
to
one-time
funds
other
than
those
being
funds
we
received
during
the
pandemic.
C
And
what
I
would
say
by
that
just
really
honing,
that
one-time
funds
is
that
you
know
we
the
federal
relief
dollars
that
we've
received.
We
didn't
rely
on
them
to
supplement
our
operations
and
we
strategically
invested
those
around
the
county
to
kind
of
boost
what
we
had
already
planned,
but
as
you'll
see
through
our
budgets
that
that's
not
a
source
of
funding
that
we
rely
on
as
we've
built
this
budget,
especially
over
the
five-year
plan.
C
I
said
earlier,
you
can,
we
almost
stress
test
all
of
our
expenditures
through
that
five-year
cycle
and
make
a
premium
on
the
fact
that
we
don't
in
comparison
to
other
localities,
rely
on
one-time
funds
to
fund
our
ongoing
operations.
They've
really
been
used.
You
know,
investments
in
the
school
system
and
investments
in
the
park
system
and
really
those
kind
of
one-time
things
to
kind
of
boost
things
that
we'd
already
had
in
our
plan,
but
not
to
supplement
ongoing
expenses.
G
B
I
think
it
I
think
we
have
a
couple
of
rationales
number
one
we
can
control
what
the
ultimate
use
of
the
land
is,
then
meaning
that,
for
instance,
whether
it
be
the
property
that
we
purchased
in
upper
magnolia
was
zoned
residential
with
the
anticipation
of
5
000
additional
residential
homes.
Out
there,
we
looked
at
that
and
saw
an
opportunity
that
we
could
actually
then
secure
property
for
several
things.
The
expansion
of
the
po
white
parkway
extension,
which
acquiring
all
that
right
away,
is
not
only
timely
but
costly.
B
You
know
the
ability
to,
from
a
county
perspective,
to
to
re,
to
invest
and
mirror
what
we're
asking
of
our
businesses
and
citizens,
which
is
you
know,
investing
reinvesting
in
our
aging
neighborhoods.
Our
aging
folks,
and
so
what's
happened
with
across
the
street
with
stonebridge,
has
been
nothing
but
a
success
story
in
returning
those
monies
to
our
citizens,
as
well
as
the
tax
gains
that
continue
to
come
from
those
properties.
Okay,.
G
B
So
the
commission
revenue
actually
sets
the
valuation
and
she
has
used
a
very
standardized
procedure
to
do
that
which
this
year,
like
every
other
locality
there
is,
you
know,
then,
when
that
came
to
our
attention
on
the
board,
we
talked
about
how
to
address.
You
know
for
that
sort
of
windfall
of
additional
monies.
B
That
is
having
significant
impact
on
our
citizens,
and
we,
through
honestly,
our
budget
team
strategizing,
came
to
the
realization
that
the
best
way
to
do
this
recognizing
this
is
probably
not
a
consistent
revalues
or
a
one-time
kind
of
boost,
was
to
make
the
adjustment
in
in
the
way
in
which
we
apply
the
rate
so
that
the
rate
application
comes
from
us.
The
commissioner
does
the
valuations.
G
G
F
F
It
stalled
at
70
percent,
but
it
didn't
just
all
at
the
percentage
it
stalled
at
950
million
dollars
a
year
and
again,
as
you
would
imagine,
is
virginia's
grown
vehicle
values
have
grown
over
time.
That
950
million
converted
to
today
for
chesterfield
county
is
about
a
46
percent
car
tax
relief
from
the
state,
an
allocation
of
that
relief
instead
of
the
70
from
many
years
ago.
F
The
actual
calculation,
if
we
had
continued
same
old
same
old,
that
46
percent
would
have
gone
down
to
about
40
percent
for
the
2022
calculation,
where
that
percentage
is
set,
is
set
as
part
of
the
budget,
adoption
process
and
various
resolutions,
because
we
have
to
pick
that
ratio
and
again
the
last
25
years.
It's
really
just
been
a
formulaic
method
of
taking
that
relief.
That's
been
fixed
at
a
certain
amount
for
chesapeake
county
since
1997
and
applying
it
amongst
the
entire
tax
base.
F
F
That's
correct
and
then,
as
mr
gerard
mentioned,
that
the
minimum
threshold
was
was
set
at
a
thousand
dollars
back
in
the
late
1990s
and
again
we
thought
it's
it's
important
to
also
look
at
both
ends
of
the
spectrum,
because
again
a
thousand
dollars
inflated
is
actually
at
or
above
1500.
Today,
okay,.
G
F
Yeah,
the
only
thing
I'll
add,
is
any
funding
that
has
come
from
the
federal
government
covet
in
the
last
two
years.
You
know
we
have
appropriated
that
back
with
the
federal
requirements
and
the
school
boards
taking
their
appropriate
actions
suspended
in
compliance
with
with
federal
intentions
and
each
year
end
because
of
federal
dollars.
They
go
through
an
accountability
exercise
by
our
audit,
so
the
fy
22
audit
would
reflect
that
if
it's
its
money's
received
and
spent,
if
not,
they
would,
I
think,
the
fy
23
audit.
You
would
see
that
disclosed.
B
And
I
can
just
say
that
that
I
can
tell
you
that
staff
on
both
sides
from
county
and
schools
has
spent
an
enormous
amount
of
time
working
through
all
of
these
federal
dollars
to
maximize
their
use,
so
that
no
penny
got
unspent
and
whatever
couldn't
be
used
at
a
timely
basis.
On
school
side,
we
transferred
over
and
then
gave
back
through
a
different
vehicle
to
make
sure
that
everything
was
there
for
their
extensive
use.
H
So
hi,
my
name
is
tessa
schumann
and
I'm
here
representing
the
parent-teacher
organizations
of
both
midlothian
middle
school
and
I'm
the
advocacy
chair
at
betty
weaver
elementary
and
elementary
excuse
me-
and
this
is
my
first
gig
in
dipping,
my
toes
into
advocacy
and
the
thing
that
really
brought
me
here
was
the
pandemic,
because
of
course
it
changed.
Everything
and-
and
my
children
were
home
with
me
all
the
time,
and
I
love
that
for
a
little
while,
but
teaching
them
is
not
my
bag.
H
That
was
a
special
challenge
and
I
I
love
mothering
and
I've
got
a
master's
degree.
I'm
a
clever
girl
but
teaching
my
children
is
a
specialty
skill
and
I,
if
I
could
write
a
love
song
to
the
teachers
who
spend
their
time
and
talent
in
my
children
than
I
would.
However,
what
I
want
to
do
is
I
want
to
keep
them
here.
H
They
can
live
here
and
work
somewhere
else,
but
schools
add
value
to
our
homes.
Schools
add
value
to
our
community,
whether
you
have
children
in
them
or
not.
We
do
have
a
changing
demographic.
We
do
have
folks
who
are
older,
but
much
of
their
inflation
hedge
much
of
their
nest.
Egg
is
the
value
of
their
home
and
we
are
reducing
the
tax
rate,
but
robbing
them
of
its
value.
H
Their
homes
will
be
less
valuable
if
our
schools
are
less
competitive,
we
are
building
beautiful
new
buildings
and
I'm
super
excited
about
them.
Thank
you,
but
who's
going
to
work
there
who
will
come
if
we
cannot
properly
pay
and
support
our
staff
if
our
teachers
feel
like
they
need
to
buy
their
own
hand,
soap
and
and
decorate
their
own
bathroom,
so
that
that
they
can
have
a
school
that
isn't
old
and
sad
they
deserve
it.
I
have
heard
those
teachers
voices
in
my
home
for
a
year.
H
I
grew
up
in
chesterfield
county
schools,
I'm
back
because
it's
a
great
place
to
raise
children,
it's
a
great
place
to
work,
but
if
we
can't
get
our
kids
the
same
education,
if
our
teachers
don't
stay,
then
no
one
else
will
the
value
of
our
homes
is
tied
so
closely
to
our
schools.
Even
if
we
don't
have
children
in
those
schools,
they
bring
value
to
everyone.
What
I'm
hearing
tonight
is
number
one.
I
do
hear
a
number
of
very
specific
proposals
about
investments,
and
I'm
thankful
for
that,
but
I
am
also
hearing.
H
A
disagreement
between
the
elected
officials
and
the
school
advocates,
but
why
why,
when
we
say
we
need
to
fully
fund
our
schools?
Why?
When
the
superintendent
says
this
is
what
we
need
to
run
functionally,
why
is
there
not
a
yes?
Yes,
you
can
have
that
great.
What
do
you
need
when
I,
when
I
see
when
I
hear
that
disagreement,
that
why
isn't
there
a
partnership
there?
H
That's
what
I
want.
I
want
my
elected
officials
to
support
the
schools
in
our
community
to
invest
in
the
future
and
not
just
the
right
now
we're
taking
away
a
penny
of
the
tax
rate
on
my
home,
but
we're
robbing
it
of
its
value.
So
that's
my
request
is:
please
be
a
partner
to
us.
Please
don't
be
an
adversary,
be
an
advocate
for
us.
H
B
But
the
more
important
issue
too,
and
we
look
at
this
really
significantly
and
quite
frankly,
coming
from
my
background
in
business
as
well,
we
look
across
the
board
and
say:
what
does
it
take
to
build
an
environment
to
build
the
entirety
of
not
only
recruiting
but
retaining
all
through
the
process?
And
so
it
look,
we
look
at
pay.
We
look
at
culture.
We
look
at
all
of
these
issues,
we're
looking
at
it
and
I
know
schools
are
looking
at
it
as
well.
B
Everybody
is
in
a
position
right
now
where
they're
fighting
for
teachers,
just
like
we're
fighting
for
public
safety
right
right
now,
we
happen
to
be
sitting
in
a
position
where
our
public
safety
sits
in
that
same
bucket.
In
that
same
category,
and
as
of
our
last
meeting,
we
were
short
five
police
officers-
that's
unheard
of
in
the
country,
but
there's.
B
B
Four
I've
done
no
favors
to
anybody,
but
when
I
can
build
a
pay
scale
that
says
to
that
teacher,
we're
going
to
be
attractive,
we're
going
to
be
competitive,
we're
going
to
offer
you
competitive
benefits,
we're
going
to
build
and
watch
what
we're
doing
with
everything
else.
As
far
as
facilities
and
infrastructure
and
the
team,
that's
on
the
school
side,
and
I
can
tell
you
that
we're
going
to
treat
you
fairly,
you
might
not
get
paid
the
absolute
best.
B
But
when
you,
if
you
stay
with
us
for
longevity
you're,
going
to
get
treated
fairly
now,
the
question
may
become
on
the
school
side.
What
piece
of
that
is
missing
if
they're
sitting
at
700
vacancies,
but
I'm
not
so
sure
that
across
the
country,
others
aren't
suffering
with
that
as
well?
But
I
can
tell
you
that
I'm
not
going
to
be
the
person.
B
B
B
H
H
B
Cost
money
so
that
eight
and
a
half
million
dollars,
that
is
the
supposed
gap
that
exists,
is
eight
and
a
half
million
dollars
in
compensation
that
I
can
promise
you,
I
cannot
begin
to
tell
you
today,
is
in
any
way
sustainable.
Nor
is
it
in
any
way
across
the
board,
consistent
and
commensurate
with
what
we
have
established
to
be
fair
market
value
for
positions
on
the
county
and
school
side,
and
it
has
nothing
to
do
with
what
we've
committed
to
teacher
pay.
B
H
Respectfully
ma'am,
what
I'm
asking
for
is
advocacy
on
our
behalf.
I
feel
an
animosity
here
and
I
feel
that
that
that
there's
not
a
partnership
where
there
should
be
one
where
they
say.
We
need
this
eight
and
a
half
million
dollars.
Okay.
Well
then,
let's
find
it.
I
I
don't
understand
why
that's
not
happening.
F
It's
not
even
really
the
raises
for
what
the
teacher
salaries
that
we're
trying
to
do
to
make
them
for
market
or
the
related
benefits.
So
we
have
that
we
have
that
advocacy
in
the
fall.
We
still
have
that
advocacy
we're
fighting
downtown
every
day
with
the
general
assembly
and
they're
still
not,
as
you
know,
and
that
makes
another
variable
in
this
process.
So
you
know
our
our
debate.
F
Right
now
is
still
with
the
state
to
best
leverage
a
base
increase
going
forward
with
them
and
and
all
I
can
promise
you
is
when
the
day
is
done
as
we
adopt
this
budget
and
the
teacher
scales
are
done,
it's
not
just
a
starting
salary.
That's
going
to
be
illustrated,
it's
every
step
through
a
30-year
career
for
a
teacher
police
officer
firefighter
and
and
again
we
are
the
only
system
that
I'm
aware
of
that
does
not
have
compression
throughout
the
salary
steps.
F
So
there
are
some
localities
we
may
compete
with
that,
may
try
and
get
a
higher
star
starting
salary,
but
by
year,
five
or
so,
and
through
year
30,
because
we
don't
have
this
there's,
there's
there's
positions
elsewhere,
where
you
get
to
a
certain
year
and
you
may
be
at
that
same
amount
for
multiple
years
in
a
row.
That's
that
lends
to
a
lot
of
morale
issues
and
people
leaving
after
a
certain
period
of
time,
so
we're
working
very
hard
together
on
that.
F
F
Not
to
interrupt
you,
but
I've
been
around
long
enough,
where
the
state
sometimes
has
given
you
less
in
years,
so
that
the
county
you
know,
is
ebbed
and
flowed
when
the
state
gives
zero
percent.
We
sometimes
have
to
give
more
when
the
state
gives
more.
It
may
be
catching
up
for
the
sins
of
yesteryear.
H
Well,
indeed,
but
they
are
funding
all
of
the
localities
and
we
are
just
still
not
keeping
up
with
the
folks.
Next
to
us,
people
are
coming
to
jobs
to
chesterfield,
for
jobs,
except
teachers,
and
they
are
leaving
is,
is
still
the
critical
issue,
and
I
haven't
heard
anything
to
that
you're
you're
working
to
change
that
I
understand
you're
working
to
keep
them.
I
understand
that
the
pay
compression
for
teachers
who
stay
is
is
in
process,
and
I'm
very
thankful
for
that.
H
I
know
that's
been
a
process
over
the
past
couple
of
years,
but
if
we
don't
keep
them
here
today,
they
won't
be
here
when
they
have
been
a
a
an
employee
of
our
county
for
25
years.
If
they're
not
here
this
summer,
then
they
won't
be
here
for
25
years,
and
I
I
appreciate
it.
I
know
I've
taken
your
time
and
I'm
very
thankful
for
it.
B
Thank
you.
What
were
you
saying
I
was
just
going
to
say.
I
think
I
think
we're
on
the
same
page.
I
mean,
I
think
what
you're
hearing
me
say
is
that
this
gap
that
exists
is
not
a
gap
that
exists
as
to
teachers.
It
exists
as
to
others,
so
we
have,
from
the
perspective
of
this
board,
fully
funded
the
compensation
study
for
teachers.
We
have
that's
not
where
the
gap
exists.
Now.
The
gap
that
exists
regarding
recruitment
is
a
conversation
that
both
of
us
meaning.
B
So
what
traditionally
happens
is
in
our
liaison
meeting
where
there
are
two
members
of
this
board
and
two
members
of
the
school
board.
Those
are
kinds
of
conversations
we
discuss
how
we
can
collaboratively
talk
about
how
we're
recruiting
how
we're
retaining
what
other
measures
we
can
put
in
place,
some
of
which
involved
things
like
benefits
packages
and
things,
but
the
gap
that
exists
doesn't
have
is
not
a
gap
related
to
teacher
pay.
B
We
have
fully
funded
the
compensation
study
both
last
year
and
moving
forward
when
it
comes
to
what
is
is
related
to
teachers
and
that
pay
study
and
that's
been
a
significant
mark
that
both
boards
worked
very
very
collaboratively
with
an
outside
consultant
to
put
together
what
that
looks
like
so
that,
as
dr
casey
mentioned,
a
teacher
never
gets
stuck
at
a
place
where
there
you're,
seven
or
eight
and
the
starting
salary
has
caught
up
to
them.
And
that's
what
we
had
heard
significantly.
H
We're
here
to
ask
you
not
just
to
pay
the
teachers,
because
we
see
that
that's
already
happening.
We
asked
for
that
before
and
we've
got
it
and
what
we're
hoping
for
now
is
the
the
relationship
where
you
advocate
for
us.
You
advocate
again
ahead
of
time
and
on
our
behalf
for
that
healthy
relationship.
Where
we
come
to
you
with
a
problem
and
say
hey,
we
need
a
recruitment.
We
need
700
teachers
this
summer
and
you
say:
okay,
well,
here's
what
we're
gonna
do.
Let
me
help
you
and
I
feel.
H
That's
why
we're
here
so
I'm
so
hopeful
that
we
can
do
that
as
well,
but
that's
what
we're
asking
for
to
fully
fund
our
schools
to
make
that
relationship.
We
all
show
up-
and
you
say,
oh
okay,
this
matters
we
sign
8
000
of
us
sign
a
petition
that
says
please
fully
fund
our
schools
and
you
go.
Oh
okay!
That's
what
my
constituents
want.
Thank
you.
B
B
Well,
folks,
that's
all
easy,
maybe
even
for
folks
in
this
room
to
say,
but
I
can
tell
you
the
first
folks,
our
teachers,
our
public
safety
folks
and
honestly,
are
going
to
say
this
personal
property
tax,
this
vehicle
registration
fee,
this
increase
in
rebounds
on
real
estate,
makes
significant
differences
in
their
pockets,
and
then
we
go
from
there
to
the
fact
that
30
percent
of
our
families
have
folks
in
schools
and
those
a
lot
of
those
folks,
too,
you
know
we
are
hearing
the
cries
for
tax
relief.
These
re-evals
have
been
significant.
B
The
vehicle
ria
valves
have
been
significant
as
well,
and
so
that
turn
turning
all
of
that
money
again,
you
know
it
goes
back.
Also
to
you
know
folks,
come
to
you
and
say
you
know,
here's
what
I
need.
I
mean
what
is
put
together
is
a
budget
that
has
questions
and
answers
attached
to
the
budget
on
the
school
side.
B
Just
like
we
have
questions
and
answers
attached
to
the
budget
on
our
side,
and
so
we
feel
like
the
tax
relief
through
all
the
different
levels
that
we're
offering
gives
relief
to
different
people
in
different
different
demographic
levels
and
hopefully
give
some
relief
across
the
board
to
just
about
every
kind
of
every
family.
At
some
point
in
time.
B
C
C
C
The
debt
service
for
the
schools
is
on
the
school
side,
so
that
report
doesn't
make
it
really
easy
to
do
a
kind
of
apples
to
apples
comparison
between
localities,
which
may
explain
a
large
amount
of
that
discrepancy.
That's
been
referenced
in
the
question,
so
the
comparisons
do
look
a
little
bit
different.
Using
that
report.
I
I
am
here
like
many
of
us
tonight
to
advocate
for
schools.
I
don't
have
children,
I'm
here
as
a
property
owner
a
business
owner
in
this
county
advocating
for
schools
because
they
help
my
business
value.
They
help
my
property
value.
Even
though
me
personally,
I
don't
have
children
in
their
schools,
so
I'm
here
tonight
I'm
spending
my
time
here
tonight
because
it's
that
important
to
me-
and
it's
not
just
the
teachers
right-
the
teachers
need
the
whole
community
around
them.
They
need
the
support
services
in
the
schools
right.
They
need
the
instructional
aides.
I
They
need
the
librarians
that
gap
that
you're
discussing
about
not
wanting
to
fund,
maybe
there's
a
reason
they're
asking
for
it.
Let's
ask
the
teachers
what
help
they
need
to
make
our
students
successful,
because
our
students
being
successful
means
I'm
going
to
have
thoughtful
employees
as
a
pool
to
hire
someday
right.
I
don't
want
robots
as
a
pool.
I
want
thoughtful,
well-rounded,
educated
employees
right,
and
that
means
that
all
these
neighborhoods
that
we're
approving
to
come
in
once
they
come
in
and
buy
these
houses.
I
I
Look
at
your
even
at
your
county
website
the
employment
opportunities
at
the
rates
being
offered.
Is
that
a
job
that
you
would
be
proud
to
somebody
in
your
family
to
take
for
those
rates?
So
when
you're
talking
about
you,
want
the
schools
to
bring
their
support
staff
down
to
the
rates
that
the
county
pays
their
support
staff?
I
I
You
need
to
fund
it
right.
You
want
to
invest
in
property.
We
want
you
to
invest
in
our
future,
an
investment
that
we
want
to
make
as
a
community.
You
want
to
be
conservative
in
what
you
want
to
pay
teachers
and
support
staff
in
schools.
Well,
let's
be
conservative
and
what
we're
going
to
cut
from
the
budget
from
the
tax
base
right,
because
you
can
only
set
the
budget
to
be
conservative
for
the
long
term.
We
get
that,
but
when
you're
cutting
things
be
conservative
on
the
cutting
side,
also,
all
right!
B
Thank
you.
I
I
do
have
to
say
you
know.
The
way
in
which
budgeting,
in
particular,
is
set
up
in
virginia
creates
an
adversarial
tension
that
doesn't
necessarily
exist
when
you've
got
two
boards
that
get
in
the
room
and
actually
are
talking
about
the
bigger
scale
issues
of
how
we
get
things
done
and
how
we
work
together
and
so
by
nature
of
the
fact
that
only
this
board
has
taxing
authority.
It's
like
a
parent
and
a
child,
and
unfortunately,
none
of
us
like
it.
B
It's
not
a
good
relationship
that
was
not
created
by
us,
and
so
unfortunately,
schools
look
like
they
have
to
come
to
us
because,
for
all
intents
and
purposes,
that's
the
way
it's
set
up
to
work,
but
in
reality
you
know
it
really
is
a
collaborative
conversation
that
goes
on.
But
again
you
know.
Ultimately
what
does
happen
as
a
result
of
that
is
that
we
are
the
ones
meaning.
The
board
of
supervisors
are
the
ones
that
are
responsible
to
the
citizens.
B
The
way
in
which
it
gets
posed
may
sound
and
look
adversarial.
But
honestly,
it
really
comes
back
to
the
fact
that
these
are
questions
and
issues
that
the
citizens,
not
the
folks
in
this
room,
but
the
citizens
are
posing
to
us
on
a
daily,
consistent
basis
for
accountability
on
how
their
tax
dollars
get
spent.
B
And
so
I
think
it's
really
important
that
from
a
citizen's
perspective
you
hear
from
us
as
to
how
we're
prioritizing-
and
so
I
think
it
does
speak
that
all
through
this
pandemic,
how
we
have
combined
and
effectively
use
the
resources
that
came
to
us.
Most
of
those
monies
went
into
schools
and
we
were
very,
very
much
committed
to
making
sure
that
our
schools
met
the
scale
of
being
safe
environments
for
our
students.
We
have
built
new
schools.
B
There
is
difficult
to
do
when
you
have
two
boards
that
are
collaboratively
working
together
when
we
saw
what
was
happening
and
they
saw
what
was
happening
with
the
bus
driver
shortage
and
the
double
backs
that
were
happening
and
kids
falling
behind
and
things
we
very
collaboratively
got
together
with
our
teams
and
and
said.
How
do
we
fix
this?
What
does
this
gap
look
like?
Where
does
this
money
exist,
and
so
we
didn't
wait
for
a
budget
to
happen.
B
B
And
it's
troubling
to
me.
As
a
citizen
who
raised
two
children
in
this
school
district,
all
the
way
through
all
of
their
education,
that
anybody
ever
talks
negatively
about
our
district.
Because
I
can
tell
you
we
have
a
fabulous
school
district
and
we
have
fabulous
teachers
and
we
have
fabulous
administration
and
we
have
fabulous
staff,
and
I
have
worked
collaboratively
through
that
and
will
continue
to
do
that.
B
So
all
right,
I
hope
seriously
folks-
can
hear
that
there
is
a
collaborative
effort
going
on,
but
misinformation
is
not
helpful
to
that
effort.
Is
the
teacher
pays
study
scale,
keeping
up
with
inflation
and
neighboring
districts?
And
the
answer
is
yes,
and
I
will
say
yes
a
million
times.
I
will
say
that
we
not
only
committed,
just
like
we
did
with
our
public
safety
folks
to
fund
this
pay
study.
B
What
this
means
is
because
we
dealt
with
this
compression
issue,
we
committed
that
we
would
continue
to
fund
it,
so
that
compression
did
not
exist
in
five
years
again,
where
the
starting
salary
approached
the
salary
of
a
five-year
teacher,
and
so
that
commitment
again
means
more
than
just
two
percent.
On
top
of
what
that
teacher
pay,
what
the
actual
salary
number
total
salary
number
looks
like
now,
it's
not
just
another
two
percent,
it's
two
percent
plus,
which
is
about
probably
two
and
a
half,
I
think,
two
to
three
quarters
percent.
B
But
when
you
look
at
as
dr
casey
mentioned,
what
that
number
looks
like
at
five
years
or
at
career
for
30
years,
we
are
not
only
competitive,
we're
going
to
tell
you
that
if
you
stay
in
chesterfield
you're
going
to
be
rewarded
for
that
career,
if
the
board
of
supervisors
do
not
believe
that
constituents
have
accurate
information
about
the
status
of
school
funding
or
that
there
is
much,
the
big
picture
were
missing.
What
further
communication
could
you
engage
in?
That
would
close
that
gap.
B
Some
of
that
information
was
information
that
I
shared
tonight
as
we
are
gathering
more
information
about
how
these
numbers
are
put
together.
We're
asking
tough
questions.
Just
like
you
ask
tough
questions
in
your
house
when
you're
spending
money
and
looking
at
how
decisions
get
made,
and
we
will
continue
to
share
that
out.
B
You
know
I
I
think
sometimes
folks
don't
take
advantage
of
some
of
the
opportunities
we
have.
I
can
tell
you
right
now,
if
you're,
if
you're
looking
to
follow
media,
it's
difficult
many
times
to
get
a
full
big
picture
of
everything
through
the
media,
but
I
can
tell
you
and
I'm
going
to
speak
on
behalf
of
my
colleague,
miss
haynes
as
well,
because
I've
worked
alongside
her
now
for
two
and
a
half
years.
B
F
F
Ten
elected
officials
in
essence,
coming
together
because,
again,
the
school
board,
cip,
is
embedded
into
the
county,
cip,
embedded
into
the
referendum
question
for
the
largest
question
ever
asked
of
the
people
of
chesterfield
county.
You
know
balancing
a
budget's,
not
easy.
You
know,
and
again
gerard
mentioned
it
on
on
one
slide
and
to
be
transparent,
and
we
we
actually
mentioned
this.
F
So
in
absence
of
that
information
it
could,
it
could
have
been
viewed
that
everyone
on
the
county
side
got
in
essence
what
they
requested,
and
you
know,
I
think
many
people
here
many
people
before
brought
that
to
light
that
it
if
the
schools
have
a
needs
that
maybe
sometimes
is
not
exactly
what
they
get
we're
going
to
be
as
honest
and
transparent
on
our
side
for
all
of
our
departmental
leaders,
capital
and
operations
too.
So
that
is
now
disclosed
in
detail
in
our
budget
it.
F
You
know
it
there's,
never
been
a
budget
in
my
33
years
of
working
in
local
government,
where
everyone
presents
something,
and
I
have
all
the
monies
of
an
existing
tax
base
to
give
or
what
I
should
say,
the
tax
burdens
that
are
really
afforded
to
what
the
people
can
can
digest.
These
are
tough
times
for
certain
people.
F
Many
people
probably
can't
afford
to
come
out
here
tonight,
even
for
the
tank
of
gas,
that
it
would
take
to
get
back
and
forth
from
some
parts
of
the
county
or
the
second
jobs
that
they're
working-
and
I
appreciate
everyone
else
coming
here.
All
I
can
pledge
to
you
is
that
dr
doherty
and
I
joe
tyless
dr
tyles
and
and
his
counterparts
on
our
side.
You
know
we
we
try
to
act
as
a
team.
F
F
She
lost
a
lot
of
her
friends
who
were
in
their
late
50s
early
60s
over
the
last
two
years,
who
were
just
done
and
and
so
that's
part
of
the
challenge
and
it's
a
demographic
issue
where,
in
in
the
course
of
two
to
three
years,
you
probably
lost
seven
years
worth
of
the
profession
that
was,
you
know,
eligible
to
retire
and
retired.
When
they
could,
we
have
to
work
with
our
schools.
F
We
have
to
work
with
the
programs
of
the
teacher
colleges
or
the
teacher
programs
for
certification,
because
the
pipeline
is
is
narrow
and
just
as
mentioned,
you
can
only
raise
the
scales
up
so
much.
I
think
there
was
a
reference
the
other
day
that
there's
more
teacher
vacancies
in
the
state
of
virginia
than
graduating
class
of
teachers
coming
out
and
that's
a
real
issue.
So
what
you're
going
to
see
in
essence
with
some
of
our
competitive
scales,
especially
as
you
move
up
the
ranks?
F
You
know
we
may
be
the
ones
who
are
getting
experienced
teachers
to
come
in
here,
because
of
again
how
much
we're
trying
to
have
a
decompressed
system,
and
we
have
to
pay
attention
that.
So
we
don't
recruit
just
at
the
first
year.
We
want
to
recruit
throughout
the
entire
scale
and
try
and
be
competitive.
F
B
And
the
last
thing
I
want
to
mention
real
quickly.
So
when
you
put
all
this
together,
one
of
the
things
that
we're
also
working
through
is
the
fact
that
you
know
we
are
incredibly
fortunate,
and
I
say
this
because
the
staff
is
is
so
strong
and
works
so
collaboratively
again
with
both
staffs.
This
county
sits
in
a
position
where
we
again
went
through
our
audits
with
our
auditing
agencies,
the
three
national
auditing
agencies
and
we
have
triple
triple
a
bond
ratings,
and
what
does
that
mean?
B
That
has
significant
impact
and
that
impact
since
2004,
as
you,
as
was
mentioned
earlier
by
mr
durkin,
has
been
in
regards
to
debt
service
on
schools
and
the
additional
building
of
new
schools
and
additional
building
of
additional
schools,
as
we
look
to
try
and
make
sure
that
our
students
are
in
safe
and
they're
in
buildings
that
have
up-to-date
equipment
and
giving
all
the
teachers
the
resources.
In
that
perspective.
So
again,
those
are
incredibly
collaborative
conversations
that
we
had
in
identifying
which
schools
identifying
which
what
the
priority
was
and
getting
this
thing
rolled
and
done
fast.
B
A
Yes,
ma'am,
we
we've
reached
the
eight
o'clock
hour.
We
do
have
a
couple
more
questions
that
came
in
just
before
the
eight
o'clock
hour.
I
would
also
suggest
that
any
of
the
comments
and
questions
we
receive
via
facebook,
they
are
retained,
of
course,
and
we
share
those
with
all
of
our
elected
officials
and
then
just
to
echo
what
our
panel
mentioned
earlier
in
terms
of
additional
opportunities,
the
public
hearing
on
march
23rd,
and
then
you
can
always
reach
out
via
the
blueprint
website
at
blueprint.chesterfield.gov
or
email
blueprint
chesterfield.gov.