Revenue shortfall causes CC town hall tension over funds

Normally, Charles City Board of Supervisors holds its quarterly meeting the first Wednesday in March. This year, supervisors elected to join each other and host a town hall meeting to receive public input on issues involving the county. Apparently, a lot weighed in on citizens’ minds at the March 6 gathering.

With standing room only space available and close to 300 people in attendance, 36 people spoke at the town hall meeting, most with concerns about the county’s revenue shortfall.

Supervisors announced a $900,000 revenue shortfall for the current fiscal year at its Feb. 25 meeting. Of that amount, schools are being asked to return just over $436,000. The shortfall stems from the county’s number one revenue supplier, Waste Management, allegedly reducing the intake of the number of tons of garbage into the county’s landfill. The county has filed a lawsuit over the matter.

Word of the shortfall and lingering effects spread like wildfire through the county. Flyers placed on county businesses as well as social media posts encouraged citizens to urge funding not be stripped from the school system.

Speakers took to the podium in the question and answer format, looking for clarity and a response on the situation from supervisors and hoping for a resolution.

“It’s time to stop the fighting and bashing agencies,” said Michael Jones. “What is going on with the Waste Management revenue?

“Why are funds being taken from the school?” he continued. “Is there a hidden agenda?”

District 3 representative Floyd Miles Sr. reiterated the situation, giving a few more specifics about the lack of revenue.

“Waste Management has reduced its intake from 1,900 tons a day to 1,300 tons a day,” said Miles. “The lawsuit is based on that.

“We told the county departments that it was a possibility and met with schools back in October,” he continued. “We directed county staff back then to cut all non-essential spending.”

“What about a ‘rainy day’ fund?” rebutted Jones. “Don’t we have that?”

Board chairman Bill Coada said that supervisors are working to replenish the fund. According to the chairman’s numbers, that fund dwindled from $9.8 million in 2002 to $1.5 million in 2011. As of now, the fund is projected to have $3.2 million.

“As the auditor told us at the Feb. 25 meeting, that three million isn’t just sitting in a magic bank account,” Coada said. “If we were to stop businesses in the county today and collect all the funds, that’s what we would have.”

Rhonda Grooms, who has voiced her opinion over the loss at school board meetings, reiterated her stance at the town hall meeting.

“It seems supervisors are shifting blame to the school board,” Grooms charged. “Isn’t it the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors to provide funds?”

Coada retrieved a document that Grooms presented, answering questions about his research and the supervisor’s stance of schools being overfunded and underachieving.

“While your document points to 43½ days, my data has accumulated over the last 11 years,” Coada responded. More citizens tried to piece together the puzzle, but the ripple effect spurred students and teachers to speak up if the nearly half-million dollars are removed from the school system.

“We are working hard to get full accreditation,” said fifth-year teacher Brent Lederer. “What do I say to a sixth-grade student who comes up to me and asks if their class was the reason schools are being cut funds?

“There is no true county revenue,” said Jennifer Castro, an elementary school teacher. “Costs are lower in bigger localities because they have more people and more taxes.

“Education is about to take a bad turn,” she continued. “I’m afraid children would lose their education and the county will have a big debt.”

“I have never seen anything as crazy as what is going on here,” said middle school teacher Teresa Diehl, speaking on her experiences in larger localities as well as working for the Department of Juvenile Justice. “It seems everything that’s being asked is being referred to back to the school.

“I couldn’t be working with better students and teachers,” she concluded.

Emotional students brought tears to attendees, speaking on how they seem to be left out without any say in the situation.

“I’m sad about the negative comments that are being said about us,” said Daijah Johnson, a senior at Charles City High School. “Why should the students suffer?

“We are somebody,” she continued, focusing on points that funding doesn’t begin to quantify students’ performances.

“The schools can’t make the cuts and the damage has already been done,” she concluded, pointing to morale over the past week at school.

“I am involved in a lot of activities at the school,” added junior Hailey Holmes. “What am I going to do if sports, band, and other activities are canceled?”

District 3 school board member Martha Harris addressed supervisors and the public to offer her opinion on financial burdens schools may have to undertake.

“The schools are in a horrific position,” said Harris. “We knew about a potential shortfall, but we never expected it to be more than $400,000 to affect us.

She then took aim at comments Coada made during an earlier meeting.

“Our DECIDESMART joint study done with supervisors indicates that we are in the middle of the costs when compared to peers,” Harris continued. “Our high cost is because we have a low teacher-student ratio.

“Numbers can be skewed to make a presentation appear as a person wants,” she concluded.

Coada shot back, saying he stood by his presentation and that if a school is accredited with warning it will be taken over by the state if that status remains for three consecutive years. And while Coada said he was not in favor of charter schools, his belief that schools are failing prompted superintendent of schools Janet Crawley to speak.

“I hate to hear when anybody says our schools are failing,” said Crawley. “It’s that type of negativity that affects our students and teachers.”

Crawley continued, speaking on costs going down per pupil and that local funding provided is perceived to be high.

“But there are 30 divisions who pay more than 100 percent more than what they are obligated to,” continued the superintendent. “As long as you are a small county, you’re going to have to pay costs to provide the same services.

“I’ve never seen a county that didn’t want to work with us,” she concluded, pointing to the lack of communication between the two boards. “We have many people [alumni] who would come back, but they have nothing to come back to [in the county].”

While teachers and students pleaded for answers to funding, other citizens questioned the lack of businesses to help garner additional revenue for the county.

“Why did supervisors depend on Waste Management for the total package?” questioned Herman Miles. “Why can’t we get other industrial businesses into the county?”

County director of planning Matt Rowe said there have been inquiries by several companies, but at the present time, Charles City lacks infrastructure (i.e. internet access) and that population was not the major issue.

“It’s the location of the citizens that plays a major part for companies coming to us to build,” said Rowe, pointing to population spread throughout parts of the county. “Most businesses want to have a 90 to 120-day turnaround time and have infrastructure here when they move in.”

“We need both boards to work together to give our children what we need,” said Yvonne Smith-Jones, an advocate for education. “We need these qualified teachers to work with our babies.

“The people here tonight are parents and taxpayers,” she added. “Both boards need to be held accountable for their actions.”

After nearly three hours of receiving comments and questions, county supervisors responded to the community.

“When you address us about issues, please have your facts straight,” said Miles, speaking about particular comments made about supervisors and their stances. “We’ve got to get above this and get to a point to work together.”

“I’m sure we’re not going to satisfy everybody with our decisions,” chimed in Smith. “But I want to work with everybody to resolve these issues.

“Simply put, if we didn’t have this issue with Waste Management, nobody wouldn’t be here,” added Coada. “Understand that we’re not taking it out on the schools, but the county is taking this hit as a whole.”

Before leaving, supervisors heeded the suggestion of county resident Mike Robbins, offering to have a simultaneous public meeting with the school board on issues.