Four-cent tax increase proposed for $20 million 2014-15 budget for Charles City ; schools reduced by $336,500

A four-cent tax increase over an equalized rate on personal property tax highlights a $19,948,454 proposed 2013-14 budget in Charles City.

County finance director Michelle Johnson detailed the proposal during a 15-minute presentation in front of 150 people during the Board of Supervisors’ March 25 meeting.

With a financial crisis ongoing due to lack of revenue from Waste Management, the county’s largest contributor, eyes and ears turned to the presentation. Johnson opened the slideshow, depicting the difference between revenue the county received from Waste Management in fiscal year 2012-13 ($2,346,410) to this year ($992,600).

The county’s real estate tax rate is proposed to increase from 68 cents to 72 cents per $100 of assessed value. Contributing to the new rate is the county’s reassessment, which indicated the value of land increasing by three percent. Currently, the county is charging 70 cents per $100 of assessed value, thanks to a two-cent increase last year to support 24-hour fire and EMS services.

Of the nearly $20 million budget, approximately $7,482,483 is contributed to the general fund, $1,586,032 is designated for social services, $612,414 is relegated to the water fund, and $24,000 is tabbed for other funds. The proposed budget is also a 9.2 percent decrease from the county’s current budget of $21.2 million.

Schools are slated to receive $9,743,525 in funding for fiscal 2014-15. Of that amount, $4,465,688 is the local contribution. That number is $336,500 less than the school’s $4.8 million request. The $9.7 million figure is an 11.9 percent decrease in comparison to funding for the current year.

A number of fees are also proposed to increase for the upcoming budget year. County residents could see rises in fees charged by the treasurer’s office, building and planning departments, animal control, and recreation department.

To comply with state water regulations, Johnson said $215,000 is designated for proposed projects. Among them are the Mt. Zion Pits, Roxbury Lagoons, and providing each of the county’s wastewater plants with a wireless auto dialing system.

Charles City’s capital fund projects include placing a new roof on the social services building ($20,000), new windows in the government/administration building ($50,000) and paving its parking lot ($39,416). In total, $119,060 is designated for the capital fund.

A public hearing for the budget is scheduled for April 22, with a public hearing on the tax rate and fee increases the following week on April 29. Despite that knowledge, attendees commented after getting first glimpses of the figures, with most asking for more funds for county schools.

“I want to know what’s happened to the county in the last 12 years to lose $9 million in the rainy day fund,” said Micheal Jones. “Why do our kids have to take the brunt of the financial burden?”

“We have outstanding schools in Charles City,” said Yvonne Smith-Jones. “I go around the state from school to school and our teachers and schools are doing everything they are supposed to do.”

Judy Ledbetter approached the podium, presenting documentation on a DECIDESMART collaborative study completed by both the school board and supervisors.

“In the proposed budget and the DECIDESMART study, the school is ranked in the middle of per capita spending in education and money spent per student,” she said, comparing counties of similar size. “The county government and administration spending, however, is second in per capita among these localities.

“Money spent on our recreation is also second per capita among these localities,” she continued. “All I have to ask is this– shouldn’t the schools be cut a little less and the government administration and recreation cut more?”

Ledbetter also added a comment in regard to her disapproval of fees not mentioned in the proposed budget.

“In Roxbury, the utility fees should be paid by those utility customers,” she continued. “That should be funded by the rate players, not by the taxpayers.”

Supervisors minimized comments for the night, but indicated the budget was well-prepared. Supervisors also took action to cut $100,000 in appropriations from county schools as part of the $436,732 the school system has been ordered to return in the aftermath of the shortfall from Waste Management.