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Emails sent or received to/ from Halifax County Board of Supervisors

 

From: "Bryan D. Foster" <bryan.foster@co.halifax.va.us>

Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 09:05:15 -0500
Subject: FOIA Request
 
Tom:
 
Pursuant to your FOIA request dated April 8, I am forwarding to you 12
emails that I either sent or received to/from Board of Supervisor members
regarding budget deliberations since April 3, 2008.  Several have
attachments.
 
I would appreciate you acknowledging receipt of these 12 emails by replying
to this email once you have received all 12.
 
In addition, I am contacting BOS members in regards to this FOIA request and
have asked them to send me copies of any emails that are pertinent to your
request.  I will forward those to you once I receive them.
 
Again, please acknowledge receipt of the 12 emails.  Thanks.
 
_________________________________________
Bryan D. Foster, County Administrator
Halifax County
P.O. Box 699
134 South Main Street
Halifax, VA  24558
(434) 476-3300 ext. 223

 

 

 

 

E-mail #1

 

From: Bryan Foster [mailto:bryan.foster@co.halifax.va.us]On Behalf Of

Bryan D. Foster
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 12:36 PM
To: Bryant Claiborne (E-mail); Doug Bowman (E-mail); James Edmunds II
(E-mail); Lottie Nunn (E-mail); Tom West (E-mail); Wayne Conner
(E-mail); William Fitzgerald (E-mail)
Subject: FY2009 Budget
Importance: High
 
 
Attached to this email are both an excel document and a word document that
show a summary of the suggested changes to the budget given to me by Mr.
Bowman after the meeting.  Both documents contain the same information.  I
needed to make a couple of minor corrections from Doug's sheet in order to
make all of the numbers work out correctly.  This makes the total revised
budget $97,394,358.  If you cannot access either attachment, please let me
know.
 
These are the changes that the Board can adopt on Monday night.  These
changes include adopting a real estate tax rate of 44 cents and a personal
property tax rate of $3.60.  It increases the use of reserves significantly.
Assuming we finish the current year with revenues equal to expenditures, our
reserve level should be roughly $11.3 million.  At the end of FY2009, it
will decrease to roughly $9 million with the projected use of reserves in
the proposed budget.
 
I must strongly caution the Board that these changes result in using
approximately $725,000 in reserves in order to pay for recurring operating
expenses.  Use of reserves should be limited to one-time, large, capital,
non-recurring types of expenses.  We will be $725,000 in the hole before we
begin the budget process for FY2010.
 
I handed a sheet out to each member at the end of the Board meeting
detailing the approved state budget cutting $50 million in aid to localities
in the next two fiscal years.  We won't receive the official amount of our
share until after July 1, as the Department of Planning & Budget (DPB) has
30 days after enactment of the budget to notify us of our number.  However,
I did receive a preliminary estimate late Friday afternoon showing the
amount of our cut to be approximately $250,000.  This will create a deficit
in the proposed revised budget discussed above.
 
If you add this $250,000 cut that will recur next year with the $725,000
deficit that will exist because of our use of reserves, the County is facing
a $1 million deficit in the FY2010 budget.
 
In a separate email, I will forward the information sent to me by DPB
outlining the looming cuts from the state.
 
Also, I will be providing the information on the suggested cuts to the media
tomorrow morning for inclusion in their Monday editions.
 
Should any board member wish to discuss this with me, I am happy to do so.
Please email me or call me at 222-6230.
 
 
_________________________________________
Bryan D. Foster, County Administrator
Halifax County
P.O. Box 699
134 South Main Street
Halifax, VA  24558
(434) 476-3300 ext. 223
(434) 476-3384 FAX
 

 

Suggested Changes Made to Budget to be Approved 4/7/08

 

 

 

 

EXPENSE SIDE

 

Change Pay Increase from 4% to 3%

               62,500.00

Lower Increase to Volunteer Fire Depts.

               12,000.00

Lower PT Salary Expense Animal Control

               20,000.00

Decrease Community Service Board (CSB)

               15,000.00

Decrease Library

               18,695.00

Eliminate Healthy Families (Now Part of CSB)

                 3,500.00

Adjust 911 Budget

                 8,000.00

Decrease Contribution to Schools

              350,000.00

Decrease IDA

              175,000.00

Eliminate Convenience Centers

              400,000.00

 

 

Increase Sheriff

              (50,000.00)

 

 

 

           1,014,695.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUE SIDE

 

 

 

Lower RE Tax Rate Increase to 44 cents

          (1,432,570.00)

Lower PP Tax Rate Increase to $3.60

             (100,000.00)

Eliminate ABC & Wine Revenue

              (32,607.00)

 

 

Increase Use of Reserves

              425,274.00

Additional Estimate Comp Board Funding

              125,208.00

 

 

 

          (1,014,695.00)

 

 

 

 

TOTAL REVISED BUDGET

         97,394,358.00

 

 

 

E-mail #2


 -----Original Message-----
From: Bryan Foster [mailto:bryan.foster@co.halifax.va.us]On Behalf Of Bryan D. Foster
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 12:39 PM
To: Bryant Claiborne (E-mail); Doug Bowman (E-mail); James Edmunds II (E-mail); Lottie Nunn (E-mail); Tom West (E-mail); Wayne Conner (E-mail); William Fitzgerald (E-mail)
Subject: FW: State Reductions to Aid To Localities

I referenced this email in the budget information just sent to all Board members.  It outlines how the proposed $50 million in cuts to localities will be determined.  The estimate for Halifax County is $250,000.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks.

_________________________________________
Bryan D. Foster, County Administrator
Halifax County
P.O. Box 699
134 South Main Street
Halifax, VA  24558
mailto:bryan.foster@co.halifax.va.us
(434) 476-3300 ext. 223
(434) 476-3384 FAX
  

 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Budget [mailto:budget@dpb.virginia.gov]
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 5:56 PM
Cc: mfields@vml.org; medwards@vaco.org
Subject: State Reductions to Aid To Localities

 To:  Chief Operating Officers of Virginia Cities and Counties
 
Item 475.20 of the 2008 state budget bill (as enrolled) requires a $50 million reduction in state aid to local governments in both FY 2009 and FY 2010.  Within 30 days after enactment of the 2008 Appropriation Act, the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, is required to provide localities a list of certain state aid to local government programs which will include an estimate of the general fund amount for each program that each locality could expect to receive from the state.  The amounts listed for these programs will serve as the basis for calculating each locality’s share of the $50 million savings.   The selected programs do not include the constitutionally required K-12 direct aid to education funds and the car tax reimbursement amounts.  
 
Given that the 2008 Appropriation Act will not be enacted until July 1, 2008, the Department of Planning and Budget is not required to release the locality-by-locality listing until August 1.  The required August 1 listing will serve as the basis for the amount each locality will be required to reduce their state aid.  However, in order to make sure that this process moves along as smoothly as possible and to ensure that localities know at least a rough order of magnitude of the reduction that they can expect, a draft listing has been released on the DPB web site (http://dpb.virginia.gov/).
 
The draft locality-by-locality listing shows both the estimated base and the theoretical reduction for selected aid to locality programs that would yield the required $50 million savings.  The base amounts for each locality are estimates from the distributing state agencies.  Per the enrolled budget bill, localities will have the choice of electing 1) to take the total savings out of one program included on the list, (2) reduce multiple state aid programs on a proportional basis or by a specified percentage reduction, or (3) reimburse the Commonwealth in aggregate for their share of the savings.  Localities will be required to make their election by August 30, 2008.  If option 3 is elected, a locality will be required to make payment to the state by January 9, 2009.
 
In addition to the locality-by-locality listing, a summary by state agency service area and a definition of these service areas is also provided on the DPB web site <http://dpb.virginia.gov/> .   As mentioned previously, the locality by locality listing is a draft and we expect to have a final listing by the beginning of June.  The Department of Planning and Budget will be working with the Virginia Municipal League and the Virginia Association of Counties to address any additions or deletions to the programs included in the reduction base.  If you have any suggestions for changes in this regard, please contact VML or VACO so that all suggestions can be consolidated into a single list.  Any other questions, especially those concerning the accuracy of the data for your locality, should be directed to me or my management team (see list below).  In order to facilitate getting a final listing out as soon as possible, please provide your suggestions or comments prior to the end of April.  Please note that any changes to the reduction base will not change the total $50 million savings amount and it is likely that any changes will impact multiple localities.        
 
An important caveat to note about the draft listing is that for the most part, any reductions to programs that involve regional entities have been spread to localities with the exception of regional jails.  The methodology involved in spreading the regional jail amount to applicable localities is currently being developed by the Compensation Board in cooperation with the Department of Planning and Budget.  For your information, the amounts attributed to the regional jails are included in the last six pages of the locality by locality listing.  If your locality participates in any of the regional jails, it is likely that your final reduction amount will be higher to reflect the spreading of the regional jail amounts.  
 
After any changes to the reduction base have been incorporated, a final locality by locality listing will be developed and released.  At that time, the Department of Planning and Budget will issue another communication to let you know, and to convey the process through which your locality will make its election of which of the three reduction options it will utilize.  During the interim, the Department of Planning and Budget plans to issue subsequent communications as other issues and questions arise.
 
                                                Thank you in advance for your cooperation,
 
 
Richard D. Brown
Director, Virginia Department of Planning and Budget
 
 

 
Department of Planning and Budget Management Team:
Jerry Edwards (Commerce and Trade, Natural Resources, and Finance)      (804)-786-1817
Don Darr (Budget Operations)                                                                          (804)-786-1131
Michael Maul (Education, Transportation, and Public Safety)                       (804)-786-6657
Mike Shook (Health and Human Resources)                                                   (804)-786-8853
 
 
 
 
 
   <http://dpb.virginia.gov/>  Virginia  Department of  Planning and Budget  1111 East Broad  St, Room 5040 Richmond, Virginia  23219  Phone:  804-786-7455   TDD: 804-786-7574  http://dpb.virginia.gov/  
    



------ End of Forwarded Message
 

E-mail #3

From: Bryan Foster [mailto:bryan.foster@co.halifax.va.us]On Behalf Of
Bryan D. Foster
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 3:23 PM
To: 'Doug Bowman'
Subject: RE: comp board folks
 
 
You are correct.  The comp board folks receive what the County gets.  They
would not get an additional increase on Dec. 1.
 
The only exception to this rule is if the state increase raises the actual
salary of any employee higher than where they are on our pay scale.  We must
pay the minimum amount given by the comp board.
 
Based upon our discussion this morning, you can add $94,000 to our revenue
picture as the revised estimates of comp board funding are higher than our
original estimates.
 
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Bowman [mailto:bowmandvmh@comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 3:01 PM
To: Bryan Foster (office)
Subject: comp board folks
 
 
I thought if all on the county pay plan got a 3% (or 2+1) increase July 1,
then the comp board folks would not also get the 2% Dec 1..  because 3% July
 
1 is greater than 2% Dec 1.   -  doug
 
------ End of Forwarded Message
 

E-mail #4

From: Bryan Foster [mailto:bryan.foster@co.halifax.va.us]On Behalf Of
Bryan D. Foster
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 4:53 PM
To: 'Doug Bowman'
Subject: RE: Mecklenburg tax rate
 
 
Current RE rate is 0.36.  They had reassessment this year and have not yet
received school request, so a projection for the new tax rate for this year
is not available.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Bowman [mailto:bowmandvmh@comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008 4:46 PM
To: Bryan Foster (office)
Subject: Mecklenburg tax rate
 
 
Will you please confirm Mecklenburg's real estate tax rate for fy09?
 
------ End of Forwarded Message

E-mail #5

From: Doug Bowman [mailto:bowmandvmh@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 2:43 PM
To: Tom West; Lottie Nunn; Bill Fitzgerald; James Edmunds; W. Bryant
Claiborne; Wayne Conner; Doug Bowman
Cc: Bryan Foster (office)
Subject: county budget info.
Importance: High
 
 
To fellow board members:
Bryan's email today states that the state funding reduction for us is
$250,000 per year.  Given this, I suggest we target 45 cents on real estate
vs the 44 we discussed Thursday.  1 cent = about $350,000 and would not
increase the pull on reserves for operating budget purposes.
Bill/ Bryan plan to update the media on revisions Sunday afternoon so it can
 
appear in Monday's editions.  Share your thoughts.
thx,  Doug
 

E-mail #6

From: Doug Bowman [mailto:bowmandvmh@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 1:50 PM
To: W. Bryant Claiborne; Wayne Conner; James Edmunds; Bill Fitzgerald;
Lottie Nunn; Tom West
Cc: Bryan Foster (office)
Subject: Fw: FY2009 Budget
Importance: High
 
 
To fellow board members:
 
Given this new info. about the state funding reduction of $250,000 per year,
 
I suggest we target a 45 cent real estate tax rate (vs the 44 cents we
discussed Thursday evening).  This would lessen the pull from reserves by
$350,000.   The citizens should still appreciate our efforts to keep the
increase to 3.5 cents increase vs the 6.5 cent advertised.  Bryan and
Stephanie are working with the Treasurer to get us the latest reserve fund
forecast for this fiscal year ending in June.   Bill and Bryan plan to
notify the media Sunday afternoon of our lastest thinking so it can be in
the papers Monday.   so my suggestion is to use 45 cents.  your response to
all about this will give Bill and Bryan some guidance for the media Sunday.
'Tis the season!   -Doug 575-7600
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bryan D. Foster" <bryan.foster@co.halifax.va.us>
To: "Bryant Claiborne (E-mail)" <claiborne76@embarqmail.com>; "Doug Bowman
(E-mail)" <bowmandvmh@comcast.net>; "James Edmunds II (E-mail)"
<edmundsfarms@comcast.net>; "Lottie Nunn (E-mail)" <wallace@cstone.net>;
"Tom West (E-mail)" <twest@meckcom.net>; "Wayne Conner (E-mail)"
<theconners@gcronline.com>; "William Fitzgerald (E-mail)"
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 12:36 PM
Subject: FY2009 Budget
 
 
> Attached to this email are both an excel document and a word document that
> show a summary of the suggested changes to the budget given to me by Mr.
> Bowman after the meeting.  Both documents contain the same information.  I
> needed to make a couple of minor corrections from Doug's sheet in order to
> make all of the numbers work out correctly.  This makes the total revised
> budget $97,394,358.  If you cannot access either attachment, please let me
> know.
>
> These are the changes that the Board can adopt on Monday night.  These
> changes include adopting a real estate tax rate of 44 cents and a personal
> property tax rate of $3.60.  It increases the use of reserves
> significantly.
> Assuming we finish the current year with revenues equal to expenditures,
> our
> reserve level should be roughly $11.3 million.  At the end of FY2009, it
> will decrease to roughly $9 million with the projected use of reserves in
> the proposed budget.
>
> I must strongly caution the Board that these changes result in using
> approximately $725,000 in reserves in order to pay for recurring operating
> expenses.  Use of reserves should be limited to one-time, large, capital,
> non-recurring types of expenses.  We will be $725,000 in the hole before
> we
> begin the budget process for FY2010.
>
> I handed a sheet out to each member at the end of the Board meeting
> detailing the approved state budget cutting $50 million in aid to
> localities
> in the next two fiscal years.  We won't receive the official amount of our
> share until after July 1, as the Department of Planning & Budget (DPB) has
> 30 days after enactment of the budget to notify us of our number.
> However,
> I did receive a preliminary estimate late Friday afternoon showing the
> amount of our cut to be approximately $250,000.  This will create a
> deficit
> in the proposed revised budget discussed above.
>
> If you add this $250,000 cut that will recur next year with the $725,000
> deficit that will exist because of our use of reserves, the County is
> facing
> a $1 million deficit in the FY2010 budget.
>
> In a separate email, I will forward the information sent to me by DPB
> outlining the looming cuts from the state.
>
> Also, I will be providing the information on the suggested cuts to the
> media
> tomorrow morning for inclusion in their Monday editions.
>
> Should any board member wish to discuss this with me, I am happy to do so.
> Please email me or call me at 222-6230.
>
>
> _________________________________________
> Bryan D. Foster, County Administrator
> Halifax County
> P.O. Box 699
> 134 South Main Street
> Halifax, VA  24558
> (434) 476-3300 ext. 223
> (434) 476-3384 FAX
>
>
 
------ End of Forwarded Message

E-mail #7

-Original Message-----
From: Doug Bowman [mailto:bowmandvmh@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2008 12:56 PM
To: Bill Fitzgerald; James Edmunds
Cc: Bryan Foster (office)
Subject: reassessment
 
 
Bill and James- Given the input we have received from the public hearings, I
 
suggest Bill that you announce Monday night that you have asked James and me
 
to meet with Brenda/Harold to review the reassessment process. Appointing a
citizen or two at large  also to meet with us may be helpful.
 
Similiarly, we ask for a report from the Bd of Equalization on their work
recently completed and their recommendations.  Other items we should explore
 
with Brenda/Harold are:
- Ag and Forestal District recommendation from the Ag Development Committee
(we should get it Monday night)
- the effect of conservation easements, etc. on assessed values
- when new construction values are added to the assessment base
- Harold's request for moving a part time position to full time (which we
have deleted in the budget revision)
 
Food for thought. Best we act quickly on this I think.
 
Doug
 
 
------ End of Forwarded Message
 

E-mail #8

 Forwarded Message
From: "Bryan D. Foster" <bryan.foster@co.halifax.va.us>
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 09:09:38 -0500
Subject: FW: budget (#8)
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Doug Bowman [mailto:bowmandvmh@comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 4:23 PM
To: Bryan Foster (office)
Subject: budget
 
 
got the comp bd addition in the attached spreadsheet.    please bring 8
copies of the attached for me tonight.  thx, doug
 
 
2009 Budget Worksheet               4/3/2008
                 
    Amount   Administration   Possible   Reduction
    Requested   Budget   Changes   Impact
Expense reductions:                
County pay plan   4%   4%   3%   $62,500
Assessment   1 part time to full time       postpone   $20,000
Clerk of Court   part time positions ?            
Vol.Fire (12 depts)   $480,000   $450,000   $432,000   $12,000
Animal Control   1 part time position       postpone   $20,000
Public Works   1 new staff addition, 1 filled vacancy + new vehicle            
Bld.& Grounds   1 new staff addition; fairgrounds, school properties            
So. Comm. Ser Bd   $109,846   $100,000   $85,000   $15,000
Library   $238,695   $238,695   $220,000   18,700
Healthy Families   delete $3,500..   included in SCSBoard budget           $3,500
911 fund   $625,202   $625,202   $615,202   $10,000
Public Schools   $15,913,480   $13,936,000   $13,586,000   $350,000
IDA   $648,192   $500,000   $457,000   $43,000
                $554,700
Sheriff   $2,594,548   $2,449,756   $42,499,756