Chappell back to the cutting board
By Anita L. Sherman/Rappahannock News Staff Writer
When the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors cast their votes on Monday for the proposed 2008-2009 School Budget, the outcome came as little surprise. It passed by a vote of 4-1. But the amount approved and recommended by County Administrator John McCarthy, $11,813,799, is still shy of what Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bob Chappell and the members of the Rappahannock County School Board requested. Chappell will need to trim the budget by another $250,000. In comments issued later, Chappell plans to bring his recommendations to the May 13 School Board meeting.
Before voting, Hampton District Supervisor Bryant Lee held up a stack of letters that the supervisors had received both pro and con about the proposed school budget expressing his frustration that they couldn’t do everything. The school budget, while the largest chunk from the county’s pocketbook, is one item among many that need to be addressed each budget cycle. Another hot item this year is public safety and having an effective communications system that will aid law enforcement and volunteer fire responders alike. McCarthy’s draft county budget calls for a 1-cent increase in the county’s real estate tax rate. If the supervisors approve the budget as drafted, Rappahannock’s new real estate tax rate will be 60 cents per $100 of assessed value. The 1-cent increase is intended to pay for the county’s emergency responders to convert to a new 800-megahertz communication system. The price tag budgeted is $885,000 for this year.
"I wish it were possible to do it all," said Lee, "we need the 800-megahertz system, but then not a cent for the schools."
Piedmont District Supervisor Eddie Wayland shared Lee’s angst. "With the loss in state funds this year, it’s not what everyone wants."
"I’ve been doing this for 11 years and it doesn’t get any easier," said Wakefield District Supervisor Roger Welch who had done his own comparisons of teacher salaries over the years. While not breaking down ‘starting’ versus ‘tenured’ teacher salaries, Welch stated that on average teachers in Rappahannock were earning $40, 311 in ’06 compared with $44,605 now. "I’m pretty proud of Rappahannock," stated Welch who added that in looking at this year’s budget there was an amount of $79,000 in debt service that would be taken care of this year. "That’s another $79,000 that we will eventually be able to give to the schools." Welch commented that he didn’t like to hear comments that the School Board had "to beg" the supervisors for money. "I’m only saying what I feel, but I applaud the schools."
The one dissenting vote came from Jackson District Supervisor Ron Frazier. "I have a problem," he said. Frazier was unhappy on several counts. He felt it a misuse of taxpayers money if accounts that he had received were true – that petitions supporting the proposed school budget had been circulated in the schools. Also, why are there more bus drivers when enrollment in the schools is down. And, what’s with health insurance costs. To Frazier, they appear to be skyrocketing. Chappell commented that while petitions were circulated outside the elementary school on Friday evening, that this was not authorized by school officials. School Board member Aline Johnson said that she would be glad to revisit the school’s health insurance rates although they are using the same provider – Blue Cross – that the county uses and the coverage was very good. "Well, maybe we need to change the plan," was Frazier’s comment.
The approved school system’s budget of $11,813,799 for fiscal 2009 represents a 2.3 percent decrease from last year’s budget of $12, 096,934. As a total percentage of the county’s total budget, the school budget is also decreasing. Last year, the school budget accounted for 59.6 percent of total county expenditures. This year, the now approved budget will garner a little more than 53 percent.
Also on the agenda
Story Project: Lisa Ramey was introduced as the new project director for the Rappahannock Story Project. An innovative undertaking, and one supported by not only the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors, The Rappahannock Association for the Arts and the Community and Ki Arts, the final product will be a compilation of stories from Rappahannock citizens. Those stories will become an adjunct part of the county’s comprehensive plan and will help craft the county’s "vision for the future."
Virginia Broadband: By unanimous consensus, the board gave their approval for County Administrator John McCarthy to proceed with "fine tuning the dollars" on a proposal from Virginia Broadband to provide high speed wireless Internet service to the majority of the county. The estimated cost would be $450,000 over a five-year period. As McCarthy reiterated, "many in the county are screaming for broadband service." The plan would place transmitters on seven sites and, in all likelihood, if a property owner agreed to the placement of a transmitter pole on their property, it would be in exchange for free service. To get the service started, Virginia Broadband, which currently serves 20 counties in Virginia, would need an initial 200 subscribers. To date, at least 125 residents have already expressed interest. The supervisors will vote on this proposal at their June meeting.
Regional Reassessment:By unanimous consensus, the board gave their approval for County Administrator John McCarthy to proceed on the recommendation from the Regional Reassessment Research Committee. That committee, comprised of membership from five localities, was to research the creation of a regional reassessment office that would oversee the real property reassessments of the counties of Page, Warren, Shenandoah, Rappahannock and Clarke. Looking at several options, the committee’s recommendation is that a specific, established firm be hired for all five localities. McCarthy felt that this approach would give the county "better quality" and "better value" and less time and money spent in appeals. At this time, Shenandoah, Rappahannock and Clarke must have reassessments in place for the 2010 tax year.
Tune in:County Administrator John McCarthy asked for, and received, approval to draft a letter of support for Verdun Adventure Bound, Inc. of Rixeyville. They have an application before the Federal Communications Commission which would provide the northern Rappahannock River Valley (Rappahannock, Madison, Fauquier, and Culpeper) with a local radio station that would broadcast local news and public affairs. Nothing of this sort exists here. Setting your dial on FM 88.1 could provide you with immediate notification of school closings, local events, discussion of local issues including coverage of board meetings and perhaps most importantly essential information in times of emergency – like the hunt for convicted murderer, Ira Wayne Cloniger, several summers ago.
Protected:By a unanimous vote, the supervisors agreed to accept the offer made by Manfred Call to sell to Rappahannock County four development rights for the sum of $200,000. As part of the county’s Farmland Preservation Program, this purchase would protect several acres near Muskrat Haven on U.S. 211 from future development. "This is a critical piece of farmland that deserves protection," stated Phil Irwin during the public comment portion. Manor Farm owner Monira Rifaat agreed. "This program allows a farmer to stay on his land, they are simply selling their development rights." Piedmont Environmental Council’s Don Looke expressed his support as well citing roughly 1,200 acres in Clarke County that have been protected under this program. Overall, resident Tom Junk failed to see that these types of programs work in the long run. "The county ends up cherry picking programs, you can make more people mad because one or two benefit."
Digital dilemma:If you don’t have digital by February 2009, you could be technologically in trauma. The switch from over-the-air analog TV broadcasts to an all-digital signal will occur across the country next year. If you already own a digital TV or get your signal through cable or satellite, you are safe. But if you are one of the millions that receive your signal via the assistance of rabbit-ear antenna, you’ll need a digital converter box and possibly a new antenna. As a public service announcement, County Administrator John McCarthy had a word of caution. "Before you buy, try," he cautioned encouraging residents to borrow a converter box to see if it works with your current antenna before just assuming it will. Over-the-air digital signals behave differently from analog signals. Depending on where you are located and the strength of the signal, you may get excellent reception or have images break up when you leave for more popcorn. Check out antennaweb.org to find out if your antenna suits the post-February frequency.
Did you hear shots?:County administrator John McCarthy informed the board that they had received correspondence from the Fauquier County Department of Community Development about a public hearing to be held on Thursday, May 8, in the Warren Green Meeting Room located at 10 Hotel Street in Warrenton starting at 7 p.m. The Marriott Ranch Properties, Inc. wishes to obtain a Category 9 Special Exception and a Category 9 Special Permit in order to operate a hunting preserve to include clay targets and a firing range. The property is located at 5219 Marriott Lane which is in Marshall District in Fauquier County.