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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/31/2004 - Special March 31, 2004 275 Roanoke County Administration Center 5204 Bernard Drive Roanoke, Virginia 24018 March 31, 2004 The Board of Supervisors of Roanoke County, Virginia met this day at the th Roanoke County Administration Center, 4 Floor Conference Room, 5204 Bernard Drive, Roanoke, Virginia, this being an adjourned meeting from March 30, 2004, for the purpose of a budget work session with the Roanoke County Schools. IN RE: CALL TO ORDER Chairman Flora called the meeting to order for the County of Roanoke at 5:31 p.m. The roll call was taken. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Richard C. Flora, Vice-Chairman Michael W. Altizer, Supervisors Joseph B. “Butch” Church, Joseph McNamara, Michael A. Wray MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Elmer C. Hodge, County Administrator; Paul M. Mahoney, County Attorney; John M. Chambliss, Assistant County Administrator; Diane D. Hyatt, Chief Financial Officer; Diane S. Childers, Clerk to the Board; Teresa Hamilton Hall, Public Information Officer School Board Chairman Jerry Canada called the School Board meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. The roll call was taken. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Jerry Canada, Vice-Chairman C. Drew Barrineau, Members William A. Irvin, Marion G. Roark, Michael W. Stovall MEMBERS ABSENT: None March 31, 2004 276 STAFF PRESENT: Dr. Linda Weber, Superintendent; Allen W. Journell, Assistant Superintendent; Dr. Lorraine S. Lange, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction; Tom Hall, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel, Penny Hodge, Director of Budget and Finance; David Atkins, Assistant Director of Budget and Finance; Darlene Ratliff, Deputy Clerk to the School Board IN RE: REQUESTS TO POSTPONE, ADD TO, OR CHANGE THE ORDER OF AGENDA ITEMS Mr. Mahoney added a briefing regarding the state budget. IN RE: BRIEFINGS 1. Briefing regarding the state budget. (Paul Mahoney, County Attorney) Mr. Mahoney distributed a VML legislative bulletin which outlined the current status of the state budget deliberations. He advised that the House Appropriations leader introduced a bill to fund the state operations for the 2005 fiscal year. He stated that little detail was presented but noted that the bill does address re- benchmarking which impacts funding for public education. The bill will go to the House on April 6 for consideration. IN RE: WORK SESSION 1. Joint work session with Roanoke County School Board to discuss fiscal year 2004-2005 proposed budget. (Elmer Hodge, County Administrator; Dr. Linda Weber, Superintendent) March 31, 2004 277 The work session was held from 5:32 p.m. until 6:12 p.m. Dr. Weber delivered the Superintendent’s budget message which stated that the budget being presented is the school’s best effort to develop a budget despite the fact that state funding is an unknown factor at this time. Dr. Weber advised that the budget is based on the lowest state budget proposal which is the House version, and the school’s budget is subject to amendment once the amount of state and local appropriations are known. Ms. Hodge presented an overview of the fiscal year 2004-2005 budget. She advised that the proposed school operating fund budget is $110,986,972 which represents a 6.2% increase. The proposed total fund budget is $132,306,352. Ms. Hodge stated that enrollment is up and the estimated daily average membership is 14,126 pupils, which reflects an increase of 188 over the current year. The total estimated increase in state revenues is $5,782,000 and the increase in the County transfer to schools is $492,910. The total increase in school operating revenues is $6,454,795. Ms. Hodge advised that the average daily membership dictates the amount of state funding the school receives annually. She noted that the average daily membership has increased significantly in the last two to three years, and staff is not yet certain if this reflects a recurring change or an anomaly. With regard to the school capital fund, Ms. Hodge reported that state construction revenues for 2004-2005 are budgeted at $283,335 and the state technology bond, which is a state initiative to place March 31, 2004 278 computers in the school system in order to move toward online Standards of Learning (SOL) testing, is budgeted at $830,000. Ms. Hodge also advised that total expenditures for school debt in fiscal year 2004-2005 are budgeted at $10,352,924 and she noted that this is funded entirely by County transfers. She stated that the regional alternative education program is an alternative school at Roland E. Cook which Roanoke County operates in conjunction with Bedford County. Ms. Hodge reported that these items combine for a total proposed school budget for fiscal year 2004-2005 of $132,306,352. She reviewed the following projected sources and uses of new revenues: (1) Schools: $5,782,000 - new revenues from the state (House budget proposal); (2) County: $7,625,846 - new revenues; $392,000 – recurring County revenues (prior year incentives); ($839,846) – new economic development incentives; ($392,000) – prior year economic development incentives. This shows net new revenues of $6,786,000 for the County and $5,782,000 for the Schools. With respect to personnel costs, Ms. Hodge reported that both the County and Schools experienced substantial increases in the VRS retirement rate which resulted in a cost of $2,000,000 to the County and $1,500,000 to the Schools. The health insurance rate increase was 9.7% which resulted in a cost of $251,244 to the County and $771,063 to the Schools. She advised that the Schools are proposing a 3% salary increase for employees. The balance remaining to fund other needs is $1,776,847. The increase in the County’s appropriation to the Schools is $617,910, March 31, 2004 279 which is offset by a one-time transfer from the 2003-2004 fiscal year from the new school operating fund of $125,000. The net increase in the County’s transfer to the Schools is $492,910. Ms. Hyatt presented projected sources and uses of new revenues which included a 2% proposed salary increase for employees and resulting in a net increase in the transfer to Schools of $290,910. She advised that two separate schedules had been prepared: one showing a 2% salary increase and one with a 3% salary increase. It is not yet known whether funding will exist to support the 3% increase. Dr. Weber expressed her continuing disappointment in the state legislature for their failure to adopt a budget and the resulting impact on the localities and schools. Mr. Stovall moved to approve the fiscal year 2004-2005 budget for Roanoke County Schools. The motion was seconded by Mr. Barrineau. The motion carried by the following recorded vote: AYES: School Board Members Irvin, Roark, Stovall, Barrineau, Canada NAYS: None Chairman Canada recommended that a joint meeting be scheduled once the state budget is adopted, allowing for the official adoption of the school’s budget for fiscal year 2004-2005. There was a consensus to follow the recommendation. Mr. Flora, in his capacity as Director of Operations for Schools, provided an update on the school construction projects at Mountain View, Herman L. Horn, and March 31, 2004 280 Oak Grove Elementary Schools. He advised that all three buildings are under roof and the new construction areas will be occupied by the end of May 2004. The projects are anticipated to be completed by December 2004. IN RE: ADJOURNMENT Chairman Flora adjourned the Board of Supervisors meeting at 6:12 p.m. to the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on April 13, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. Chairman Canada adjourned the School Board meeting at 6:12 p.m. Submitted by: Approved by: ________________________ ________________________ Diane S. Childers Richard C. Flora Clerk to the Board Chairman March 31, 2004 281 This page intentionally left blank