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Home My WebLink About4/6/1993 - Special ~ 2 1,3 ~ April 6, 1993 Roanoke County Board of Supervisors Roanoke County Administration Center 3738 Brambleton Avenue, S.W. Roanoke, Virginia 24018 April 6, 1993 The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia, met this day at the Roanoke County Administration Center, this being the first Tuesday, and a special meeting for the purpose of a budget work session. I IN RE: CALL TO ORDER Chairman Minnix called the meeting to order at 8: 35 a.m. The roll call was taken. MEMBERS PRESENT: . Chairman H. Odell "FUzzy" Minnix, Vice Chairman Lee B. Eddy,! Supervisors Bob L. Johnson, Edward G. Kohinke" Sr., Harry C. Nickens MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Elmer C. Hodge, County Administrator; Paul M. Mahoney, County Attorney; Mary H. Allen, Clerk; John M. Chambliss, Assistant County Administrator; Don C. Myers, Assistant County Administrator; Anne Marie Green, Information Officer IN RE: COUNTY BUDGET PRESENTATION 1. New Positions I County Administrator Elmer Hodge reported that the staff used a new approach to the budget by using the management teams to review and prioritize the departmental addback requests. .... III'" 214 April 6. 1993 Mr. Hodge used the prioritized list in determining his recommendations for the proposed budget. He recommended that the following additional positions be added which would still leave 11 vacant positions: - 2 positions in Social Services ($38,500) - 3 positions in the Police Department ($138,000) - 1 position in Finance ($17,000 for half a year) - 1 position in Management Information System ($15,000 for half year) - 1 Parks and Recreation Director ($52,300) - 3 positions in the Sheriff's Office Mr. Hodge advised that he would meet with Acting Parks and Recreation Director John Chambliss and other staff to see if the Director's position should be filled this year or postponed until next year. 2. Proþosed EXÞenditures Mr. Hodge offered other proposed major expenditures that the Board may wish to consider. They included: a replacement dump truck ($52,000); replacement ambulances ($40,000); increased tipping fees ($270,000); a sewer rate increase; contracted leaf collection; and replacement trash trucks ($250,000). Supervisors Eddy, Johnson and Kohinke expressed support for the increase of sewer rates instead of subsidizing the rates from the General Fund. Mr. Hodge will bring back a report on the impact and uses for the sewer rate increase to the April 27 ~ ~ I I "'1111 ~ April 6, 1993 215 I budget work session. Supervisor Eddy asked for a response to his memo regarding bulk and brush collection. Supervisors Nickens and Kohinke advised that they did not support a second monthly brush pickup. Mr. Hodge stated that he would bring back more information to the next work session. 3. Economic DeveloÞment and Tourism Mr. Hodge recommended using the additional $300,000 from the increased transient occupancy tax as follows: (1) increase contributions to the Convention and Visitors Bureau by $44,332; (2) provide a $100,000 matching grant to Explore; and (3) repay the General Fund in the amount of $155,668 for improvements to. Rutrough Road. He also recommended that $75,000 b~ using for training First Union employees and $53,833 has been included to increase funding to the Economic Development Partnership. Supervisors Johnson and Kohinke advised that they did not support increasing the contribution to the Convention and visi tors Bureau. Supervisor Minnix announced that he did not support funding for Explore until it was self sustaining, and Supervisor Eddy asked Mr. Hodge to find out if other localities would be asked to fund the project. 4. EmÞlovee Salaries and Benefits Mr. Hodge advised that $606,183 had been reserved from the current Unappropriated Fund Balance for employee benefits. He advised that the Salary Survey Team recommended full I ~ ". 216 April 6, 1993 implementation of the salary survey at a cost of $920,000 and a 3% cost of living increase. The alternative proposal would implement the salary survey at two-thirds with an additional 3% cost of living increase. He announced that the County will maintain existing Blue Cross/Blue Shield rates for the employees, and that he was requesting that payments for unused sick leave be increased from $20 to $35 per day, the same as the proposed school plan. He advised that he would bring back the costs for increased unused sick leave to the April 27 work session. Supervisor Johnson expressed concern at using nonrecurring funds for ongoing expenses such as salaries. Supervisor Nickens and Eddy asked for a comparison on unused sick leave payment with other localities. Supervisor Nickens also asked for a list of employees who are temporary or part-time and have worked for the County for over one year at 40 hours per week. IN RE: RECESS Chairman Minnix declared a brief recess at 10:30 a.m. RECONVENEMENT IN RE: At 10:45 a,m., Chairman Minnix reconvened the meeting. The School Board was also present and Chairman Thomas announced that four members were present. IN RE: SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET PRESENTATION School Board Chairman Frank Thomas announced that the School Board had $200,000 in new money from the state, with most of the ~ ~ I I ~ 217 ~ April 6,1993 funds coming from the Board of Supervisors. He advised that there will be no reduction in programs, and there will be increases in the textbook fund and a small increase in instructional materials. He also advised that there will be an increase of two DARE officers funded by the Police Department budget. I In response to a question from Supervisor Johnson who noted that the Pulice Department budget only calls for one DARE officer, Mr. Hodge responded that the county is applying for a grant that will fund the other one. Mr. Thomas reported that their top priority ~as salary and benefits for their employees. Salaries will be increased by an average of three percent, and employee health insurance premi11ms will be reduced by $25 per month. Dr. Wilson added that they would like to begin to remove the current salary tier arrangements by steps. Dr. Jerry Hardy, Director of Budget and Data Management described the tier process and how this would change. I In response to questions from the Board of Supervisors, Dr. Wilson advised that salary increases in Roanoke City average 4.1% and 3% in the City of Salem. Mr. Thomas advised 'that Dr. Wilson's salary and benefits package had not been finalized but he anticipates a 3% salary increase and the same benefits package as last year. Supervisor Nickens asked Dr. Wilson to survey other locality school systems for a comparison of payment for unused .... ". 2 1 8 April 6, 1993 ~ ~ sick leave. Dr. Wilson requested that the Board of Supervisors approve additional salary for the Chairman of the School Board, and advised that the funds had been included in the budget. Mr. Mahoney responded he would prepare a resolution for the April 13 meeting. IN RE: ADJOURNMENT At 11:40 p.m., Supervisor Johnson moved to adjourn. The motion carried by the following recorded vote: l\YES: Supervisors Johnson, Kohinke, Eddy, Nickens, Minnix ¡~AYS: None ¡( I I