4/6/1993 - Special
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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April 6, 1993
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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April 6, 1993
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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
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