CC supervisors, School Board session termed ‘productive’

While Tuesday night’s long-awaited Charles City Board of Supervisors/School Board work session fell short in the substantial decision category, chairmen on both sides termed the gathering as productive.

All five members of the School Board sat down with the county’s three supervisors along with school superintendent Janet Crawley and county administrator Jack Miniclier to discuss a short list of items, all pertaining to money matters.

“I think it was very productive and cordial,” supervisors’ chairman Timothy Cotman said afterward. “Some issues that needed to be addressed got discussed, and we want to collaborate on some issues. It was very positive.”

“I think we accomplished some stuff,” School Board chairman Roy Campbell said afterward. “Everyone on both boards is on the same page, and everyone is on board to see where we need to get to.”

Cutting current year budgets to address an expected $300,000 shortfall in revenue generated by the county’s Waste Management landfill topped the agenda. According to county policy, the amount is to be absorbed equally by both boards, meaning $150,000 each. In October, supervisors asked all county departments, including schools, to prepare a list of cuts.

School Board members, however, have balked at the request, saying their budget already is barebones. Asked after Tuesday’s meeting if schools have $150,000 to surrender, Campbell replied with an emphatic “No.”

“But we’re going to look at it,” he added. “We may not come up with $150,000, but we’ll be open and honest about it and whatever we come up with, that’s what it is.”

Cotman, meanwhile, stopped short of saying supervisors are demanding that school officials make cuts.

“We’re asking that they try to find out if they can cut $150,000 and do as much as they can to help the situation,” he said afterward. “We’ll have to do other things if it’s not forthcoming.”

During the meeting, Cotman said negotiations are ongoing with Waste Management officials. At issue is the county’s contract with the firm that calls for dumping a minimum of 2,000 tons of trash per day, based on economic conditions. In August, amounts averaged 1,500 tons per day, but recent numbers have reached the contract minimum.

Still, supervisors told school officials Tuesday night that the earlier trash shortages have to be addressed since the county’s current year budget has been built on the contract minimum.

Miniclier told school officials that tonnage has declined due to the economy and recycling. He added that the county wants to avoid taking the company to court over the matter.

Cotman added, “If the revenue situation begins to look better, it’ll look better for everyone.”

School Board members voiced complaints and concerns over a recent supervisors’ decision to abandon a practice of appropriating county money on a quarterly basis in favor of monthly. School officials expressed fear that some bills could not be paid in time.

School Board members also criticized supervisors for a perceived lack of initiative when it comes to attracting new business to the county and thus improving the revenue picture.

Supervisors disagreed. District 1 representative Gilbert Smith said the county is “always beating the bushes” to find new industry.

“The problem is other surrounding counties have more to offer,” he said. “Charles City does not have the infrastructure.”

“It seems infrastructure would be the highest priority,” Campbell responded.

Cotman said no major highway arteries exist in the county, but added county officials are willing to do whatever it takes to initiate change.

School Board member Royce Paige complained that county children are suffering since due to facility needs, Charles City is falling behind in providing a 21st century education.

“We need buildings, we need rooms, we need labs,” he told supervisors.

Cotman replied that the county lacks access to funding to provide for those needs.

“I agree with what you’re saying,” he told Paige. “But we don’t have the funds for building or improving infrastructure.”

Afterward, Campbell indicated that he thought school officials made their positions clear to supervisors.

“We want to keep our vision alive,” he said, “so that when funds are available, we can move on and accomplish what we need.”