by Neil Richard
The King George County Board of Supervisors began their meeting at 7:58pm after taking a few minutes to add microphones to the tables on the floor.
There were no amendments to the Agenda.
Kim Dodge was the only person to make a Public Comment. She said that she was once again standing before the Board to ask for no increase in taxes. She said her home income stays the same so every time the tax rate increases, she has less money.
Richard Granger began his report by thanking Dodge for speaking. Granger said he attended the budget work session on the 14th as well as the James Madison event at Belle Grove on the 16th.
John Jenkins also thanked Dodge for commenting. He said the Board always strives to not raise rates. Jenkins said he also attended the work session on the 14th and the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) and Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) on the 18th. He said since the primary representative, Ruby Brabo, was there, he left early.
Cathy Binder also thanked Dodge for her comments. She then pointed everyone to admire the new painting that was hanging in the back of the Board Room by James "Dick" Gros. Binder said the painting, from 1976, was a depiction of how King George County was originally mapped and that the artist's family was excited to have it hanging here. Binder also thanked the King George Art Guild and Vic Mason for their help in making it possible. Binder then made a motion to appoint Joseph Gaborow to the Planning Commission. The Board approved.
Ruby Brabo then gave her update, stating she participated in the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) Rural Action Caucus conference call on the 15th. She said they discussed the creation of a rural ideas lab and a podcast on rural life. She also said that veteran and farmer suicide is high in the nation. On the 18th she attended the GWRC and FAMPO meetings and there was discussion about the organizations' relationship. She said a new Memorandum of Understanding would be pursued in the future. On the 19th she met with the Veteran's Affairs and discussed the state benefit officer locations noting that there were none in the Northern Neck or the Middle Peninsula. Brabo said that a study was presented by Weldon Cooper that projected an increase in population for those over age 55 and that the number of school-aged residents would fall. On the 19th she participated in a White House conference call on the opiod crisis.
Jeff Bueche began his report by thanking Dodge for her comments. He attended the budget work session on the 14th as well as the James Madison event at Belle Grove on the 16th. Bueche said he was impressed by the reenactor and that a lot of what he said resonated with him. Bueche said that a lot of people take it for granted but King George really is the gateway to the Northern Neck.
The Consent Agenda was approved.
The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, had no report.
Next was a presentation from Jonathon Weakley, General Manager of the King George County Service Authority. Weakley summarized two capital improvement projects that he was asking the County to fund in part or in full. He said the Service Authority is also looking at their budget right now and are working towards being more self sufficient but that these two projects were currently beyond their financial abilities at this time. The first project was to provide generators for pump stations to bring them into compliance with Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) standards. He said this was part of the current Consent Order and while there is no established deadline he felt confident that DEQ wanted the generators in place sooner rather than later. He said this project would cost about $225,000.
Weakley's second capital request was to replace the Ninde Store well house. He said he didn't bring the pictures with him tonight but that it was in dire need of being replaced. Weakley said he had a cost range and the high end of the estimate was about $198,000. This makes the total maximum request about $430,000. Weakley said they were also working on a roughly similar figure in their budget that may require a rate increase but that he was only asking the Board for assistance with the capital project funding.
Brabo stated that if the County were to help, there were strict requirements involved because the two entities were separate. She said the County needed to see either an economic development benefit or an issue with safety and welfare. Weakley said that both projects would fall under the health and safety category. He said a catastrophic failure at the Ninde well would leave residents without water which is a public health issue. He said if it were to fail, they would be required by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to provide water.
Brabo asked how much money the capital fee had brought in. Weakley said the fee, which only began last year, has brought in only $48,000. He said normally he would like to use that funding towards capital projects like this but there are other issues they have been dealing with, including the pump failures they addressed earlier in the evening. Weakley did say that he wanted to provide as much sweat equity as possible but the money would be going to meet other needs.
Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, added that he wanted to clarify two points. First, the funds would come out of the Capital fund which would mean no additional tax increase on residents would be needed. Second, he said the County was also working with Davenport to look at other viable solutions for funding including low interest loans. Dr. Young said that while that process is taking place, he still needed to know from the Supervisors if they were willing to commit to the expense of the projects.
Brabo asked if either of the projects was due to the DEQ Consent Order. Weakley repeated what he already said that the first project was a direct result of the Consent Order. He said the second project, at Nindes Store, was under the jurisdiction of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Brabo said she was willing to at least entertain the first one but was hesitant to fully pay for the second one suggesting that maybe a low interest loan would be better.
Bueche asked if the second project could be absorbed by the Service Authority and Weakley said there were different options such as rehabilitating the well house or replacing it in full. Weakley said that if the Supervisors were looking for the Service Authority to cover the cost difference between the upper and lower cost estimates, that was something he could take back to the Board of Directors and look into. Weakley did caution them that repairs may not be possible due to the conditions present and that based on the last inspection it would certainly fail the upcoming November inspection.
Binder asked for Weakley to expand a little on the idea of connecting the Ninde system to the Circle system. Weakley said it would cost about $900,000 to do so. Binder added that she has seen the pictures of the well house and it absolutely needs to be taken care of.
Brabo went back to the first project being well justified for the County to cover the cost but again was hesitant to fund the second project. She suggested that maybe the Economic Development Authority (EDA) could finance a low interest loan to the Service Authority saying the EDA is always looking for a way to make money and that interest off the loan would do so. Granger said he had no problem with that if the EDA was interested.
Granger asked if a decision was needed now or if it could wait until they heard back from Davenport. Dr. Young said the final decision needs to be during the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) cycle but Davenport should have an answer by Monday before the next budget work session. Granger said he was willing to entertain helping the Service Authority and Jenkins agreed. Jenkins said that he liked the idea of looking into some halfway split between a gift from the County and a loan, especially if it was a way to ease the burden of Service Authority fees.
Bueche said he thought they were in a position to move forward. Bueche said he had no problem supporting the EDA helping with water and sewer expansion but had real issues subsidizing the Service Authority. He said they seriously need to look into restructuring it.
EDITOR'S NOTE - During the School Board Budget Presentation by Superintendent Dr. Robert Benson, the presentation on their request was difficult to hear. Although microphones had been added, unlike the earlier Service Authority meeting, at times it was still difficult to hear all of the questions and comments. You can review a copy of the School Board Budget Presentation on the school's website here. What follows is simply a high-level overview of their presentation.
In what could be considered an odd mix of a work session and a formal meeting, the King George County School Board was then invited to sit at the tables along with Dr. Robert Benson, Superintendent of Schools, and the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee members. Once everyone was seated, T. C. Collins, Chairman, called the School Board to order at 8:24pm.
Of the nearly 4,500 students in King George, one third of them are considered economically disadvantaged. Nearly half of all teachers have a Masters Degree which helps reduce teacher turnover. A first year teacher makes just under $42,000 per year. King George exceeds state averages on Standards of Learning (SOL) test scores except for History where it is only one percentage point behind. All schools are accredited and the Pre-School has the highest state rating possible. King George also earned a Silver Level Award for being environmentally efficient and Jessica Drinks of the King George Middle School was recognized as the Rappahannock Region Media Specialist of the Year. On top of that, King George has the highest graduation rate in the area.
Dr. Benson continued his presentation listing the numerous accomplishments, programs, and recognition the schools have earned. These included accomplishments in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. His presentation was lengthy however he listed most but not all of the accomplishments.
As Dr. Benson began to present the School Board's current request for funding, including the additional staffing that was needed, Brabo interrupted and asked if those positions were mandated. Benson said they were in a sense because the schools were federally required to provide a free and equitable education for those students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Brabo clarified and asked if they were mandated or above and beyond what was needed. Benson said none of the positions were above and beyond. He said if the schools were going above and beyond, they would just hire Special Education teachers. Instead, Benson said, they hire Special Education teachers and paraprofessionals to save money.
Jenkins asked how much support came from the state grant for the Algebra Readiness Teacher. Benson said he wasn't sure of the exact amount but that it did cover a portion of the salary and benefits. Jenkins asked how long the grant was for and Benson said it was continuous.
When discussing the Chromebook computers, Binder asked if those computers went home with the students or stayed at school. Benson said they stayed at school. When discussing the administrative needs in the schools, Bueche asked how the requested truancy officer would get kids to school. He asked if the officer would knock on doors and take them to court and Benson said yes. Bueche said he was of the opinion that it was the parent's responsibility to get the children to school and that the schools shouldn't raise kids but instead educate them. When asked what system is in place now to handle this process, Benson said there is currently one truancy officer that manages the entire student population. He also said that state law says schools could lose their accreditation if they have too many absent students. Tammy Indseth also added that the school's Average Daily Membership (ADM) is impacted by truancy and that ADM is a major factor in determining state funding. Binder said she was familiar with the attendance policy changes from the state and asked if the accreditation is an optional one or mandated by the state. Benson said it was mandated by the state. When asked what the current ratio was between the existing truancy officer to students, Benson said he didn't have an exact number of cases but reminded the Board that the single employee needs to cover nearly 4,500 students.
Gayle Hock said that studies have shown most juvenile delinquency and adult criminal behavior has been linked to school truancy. She said that in the long run, by getting kids to school they are saving the community money in court costs and jail fees. Bueche said that the mention earlier of free and appropriate education shouldn't involve tracking down kids that are in the social services case load. He said the Supervisors are trying to make this a needs based budget and he felt that in the grand scheme of things this wasn't a need. Brabo added that if a student never sets foot in the school, then they aren't impacting ADM. Binder asked the most telling question when she asked Benson how he knew that the student wasn't in school. Benson said that was the point behind the need for another truancy officer. Bueche said that at the end of the day, the Supervisors give the schools a pile of money and it's up to the schools how to spend it.
Dr. Benson continued his presentation, mentioning that 62 bus drivers run 252 routes to get kids to and from school. He also said that due to the energy efficiency initiatives, the school has avoided spending nearly $350,000. Benson also said that due to the County refinancing bonds, the schools have saved over $500,000 in debt.
When Dr. Benson began discussing projected ADM numbers, Brabo questioned his projected figure of 4,350 students. When Benson began to expand on ADM and the Local Composite Index (LCI), the amount the state requires a locality to contribute to the school system, Brabo got up and handed out her own sheet of data. Brabo said her figures prove Benson's were incorrect. Benson explained that the LCI for King George had gone up since last year and therefore King George would be required to spend more on schools. When Benson began showing how much extra the County spent on schools above the LCI, Brabo again called into question the data in his presentation.
With Dr. Benson's presentation complete, one of the citizens pointed out some flaws in his math and said it called into question the school's wants and needs. Benson said he was required to present a budget of need, not wants. Another citizen asked about the IEP program and who determined if a student got an IEP. She also asked if Benson was alarmed about the number of students with an IEP or that more teachers were required because of an IEP. Benson said that students don't get an IEP overnight or just because they have a bad day. He said the student is tested by school officials and sometimes outside professionals. Once proven to be eligible, Benson said the schools have a legal obligation to meet their needs. Benson also said that the levels seen in King George for IEPs match those nationally.
Bueche ended the discussion by saying he felt like the schools were in a good position. There was a low student to teacher ratio and felt that some costs could be absorbed by the schools. He said that the County only increased spending by 1.6% and the schools increase of 6 percent felt like too much. Bueche said the schools are great and in the best position compared to the rest of the County.
The School Board adjourned their session at 9:29pm.
The County Administrator, Neiman Young, had no report.
Then there was some debate as to whether the Board should discuss the intern position. When asked, Dr. Young said the discussion didn't need to happen tonight.
Bueche and Granger appeared to desire a discussion so Bueche introduced the topic by saying he contacted each Supervisor individually about the intern position that supported all of the Supervisors. He said the discussion was to determine if the funds could be used to pay for a position somewhere else or if the intern position was justified.
Granger said he felt the position should be removed and the money should be used elsewhere. Jenkins said he thought the intern provides an excellent service but would rather use the money in another department that needed it such as the Commissioner of the Revenue that was asking for a position with a similar cost. Binder added that she felt the person in the job has done a great job and provided a good service but felt that the Supervisors were making cuts all over the place and thought the Commissioner of the Revenue had been passed over too many times.
Brabo said she wasn't aware that there was not enough money in the budget to fund the Commissioner of Revenue position. Dr. Young said there was enough money. Brabo said she didn't understand then why the intern position needed to be cut. Jenkins said he doesn't remember using the intern's services or asking for the position to be created.
Brabo said the position was voted on by the Board of Supervisors. Bueche said he had asked Travis Quesenberry, the former County Administrator and current County Engineer, for information and Quesenberry said the position was never presented to the Board or voted on by them. Quesenberry said the position was initially created as an unpaid job and that it was realized the intern needed to be paid due to their work load. Brabo said that if Dr. Young says there is enough money in the budget to fund the position with the Commissioner of Revenue, then it's not about funding. She then asked what was the issue about. Bueche said it was about funding for him. He said that even though the County may have the money it doesn't mean they have to spend it.
Brabo then said in January, when the Supervisors went through the listing of Boards and Commissions, she "graciously took on the bulk of them" because she knew there was a legislative aide that could help. She added that she was going to assume that at the next Board meeting her peers on the Board would take an equal share of the Boards and Commissions and use their vacation time or sick days to attend since she would no longer have someone to assist her. She added that she already gives more than 40 hours a week on behalf of the County and that she certainly isn't compensated for it. Granger said he was more than willing to take on any position she was willing to drop off of. Binder added that she wanted to make sure she knew which ones were mandated. Bueche said that it certainly should be fair and equitable and that he's had to take leave before to attend things. Bueche said he felt things were already pretty fair but Granger interjected and said he felt like he wasn't doing enough and that he would gladly take on more positions. Jenkins asked and Bueche confirmed that the position was still funded through the end of the fiscal year, which is the end of June.
The meeting adjourned at 9:39pm.
Meeting Attendees:
John Jenkins (Board of Supervisors)
Jeff Bueche (Chairman, Board of Supervisors)
Richard Granger (Board of Supervisors)
Ruby Brabo (Board of Supervisors)
Cathy Binder (Board of Supervisors)
Neiman Young (County Administrator)
Eric Gregory (County Attorney)
T. C. Collins (School Board)
Gina Panciera (School Board)
Gayle Hock (School Board)
Tammy Indseth (School Board)
Dr. Robert Benson (Superintendent)
Meeting Agenda
Next Meeting:
The Board of Supervisors will next meet on March 25, 2019 at 6:30 pm in Company 1.
Previous Meeting:
Read about the previous Board of Supervisors Meeting.
The King George County Board of Supervisors began their meeting at 7:58pm after taking a few minutes to add microphones to the tables on the floor.
There were no amendments to the Agenda.
Kim Dodge was the only person to make a Public Comment. She said that she was once again standing before the Board to ask for no increase in taxes. She said her home income stays the same so every time the tax rate increases, she has less money.
Richard Granger began his report by thanking Dodge for speaking. Granger said he attended the budget work session on the 14th as well as the James Madison event at Belle Grove on the 16th.
John Jenkins also thanked Dodge for commenting. He said the Board always strives to not raise rates. Jenkins said he also attended the work session on the 14th and the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) and Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) on the 18th. He said since the primary representative, Ruby Brabo, was there, he left early.
Cathy Binder also thanked Dodge for her comments. She then pointed everyone to admire the new painting that was hanging in the back of the Board Room by James "Dick" Gros. Binder said the painting, from 1976, was a depiction of how King George County was originally mapped and that the artist's family was excited to have it hanging here. Binder also thanked the King George Art Guild and Vic Mason for their help in making it possible. Binder then made a motion to appoint Joseph Gaborow to the Planning Commission. The Board approved.
Ruby Brabo then gave her update, stating she participated in the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) Rural Action Caucus conference call on the 15th. She said they discussed the creation of a rural ideas lab and a podcast on rural life. She also said that veteran and farmer suicide is high in the nation. On the 18th she attended the GWRC and FAMPO meetings and there was discussion about the organizations' relationship. She said a new Memorandum of Understanding would be pursued in the future. On the 19th she met with the Veteran's Affairs and discussed the state benefit officer locations noting that there were none in the Northern Neck or the Middle Peninsula. Brabo said that a study was presented by Weldon Cooper that projected an increase in population for those over age 55 and that the number of school-aged residents would fall. On the 19th she participated in a White House conference call on the opiod crisis.
Jeff Bueche began his report by thanking Dodge for her comments. He attended the budget work session on the 14th as well as the James Madison event at Belle Grove on the 16th. Bueche said he was impressed by the reenactor and that a lot of what he said resonated with him. Bueche said that a lot of people take it for granted but King George really is the gateway to the Northern Neck.
The Consent Agenda was approved.
The County Attorney, Eric Gregory, had no report.
Next was a presentation from Jonathon Weakley, General Manager of the King George County Service Authority. Weakley summarized two capital improvement projects that he was asking the County to fund in part or in full. He said the Service Authority is also looking at their budget right now and are working towards being more self sufficient but that these two projects were currently beyond their financial abilities at this time. The first project was to provide generators for pump stations to bring them into compliance with Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) standards. He said this was part of the current Consent Order and while there is no established deadline he felt confident that DEQ wanted the generators in place sooner rather than later. He said this project would cost about $225,000.
Weakley's second capital request was to replace the Ninde Store well house. He said he didn't bring the pictures with him tonight but that it was in dire need of being replaced. Weakley said he had a cost range and the high end of the estimate was about $198,000. This makes the total maximum request about $430,000. Weakley said they were also working on a roughly similar figure in their budget that may require a rate increase but that he was only asking the Board for assistance with the capital project funding.
Brabo stated that if the County were to help, there were strict requirements involved because the two entities were separate. She said the County needed to see either an economic development benefit or an issue with safety and welfare. Weakley said that both projects would fall under the health and safety category. He said a catastrophic failure at the Ninde well would leave residents without water which is a public health issue. He said if it were to fail, they would be required by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to provide water.
Brabo asked how much money the capital fee had brought in. Weakley said the fee, which only began last year, has brought in only $48,000. He said normally he would like to use that funding towards capital projects like this but there are other issues they have been dealing with, including the pump failures they addressed earlier in the evening. Weakley did say that he wanted to provide as much sweat equity as possible but the money would be going to meet other needs.
Dr. Neiman Young, County Administrator, added that he wanted to clarify two points. First, the funds would come out of the Capital fund which would mean no additional tax increase on residents would be needed. Second, he said the County was also working with Davenport to look at other viable solutions for funding including low interest loans. Dr. Young said that while that process is taking place, he still needed to know from the Supervisors if they were willing to commit to the expense of the projects.
Brabo asked if either of the projects was due to the DEQ Consent Order. Weakley repeated what he already said that the first project was a direct result of the Consent Order. He said the second project, at Nindes Store, was under the jurisdiction of the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Brabo said she was willing to at least entertain the first one but was hesitant to fully pay for the second one suggesting that maybe a low interest loan would be better.
Bueche asked if the second project could be absorbed by the Service Authority and Weakley said there were different options such as rehabilitating the well house or replacing it in full. Weakley said that if the Supervisors were looking for the Service Authority to cover the cost difference between the upper and lower cost estimates, that was something he could take back to the Board of Directors and look into. Weakley did caution them that repairs may not be possible due to the conditions present and that based on the last inspection it would certainly fail the upcoming November inspection.
Binder asked for Weakley to expand a little on the idea of connecting the Ninde system to the Circle system. Weakley said it would cost about $900,000 to do so. Binder added that she has seen the pictures of the well house and it absolutely needs to be taken care of.
Brabo went back to the first project being well justified for the County to cover the cost but again was hesitant to fund the second project. She suggested that maybe the Economic Development Authority (EDA) could finance a low interest loan to the Service Authority saying the EDA is always looking for a way to make money and that interest off the loan would do so. Granger said he had no problem with that if the EDA was interested.
Granger asked if a decision was needed now or if it could wait until they heard back from Davenport. Dr. Young said the final decision needs to be during the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) cycle but Davenport should have an answer by Monday before the next budget work session. Granger said he was willing to entertain helping the Service Authority and Jenkins agreed. Jenkins said that he liked the idea of looking into some halfway split between a gift from the County and a loan, especially if it was a way to ease the burden of Service Authority fees.
Bueche said he thought they were in a position to move forward. Bueche said he had no problem supporting the EDA helping with water and sewer expansion but had real issues subsidizing the Service Authority. He said they seriously need to look into restructuring it.
EDITOR'S NOTE - During the School Board Budget Presentation by Superintendent Dr. Robert Benson, the presentation on their request was difficult to hear. Although microphones had been added, unlike the earlier Service Authority meeting, at times it was still difficult to hear all of the questions and comments. You can review a copy of the School Board Budget Presentation on the school's website here. What follows is simply a high-level overview of their presentation.
In what could be considered an odd mix of a work session and a formal meeting, the King George County School Board was then invited to sit at the tables along with Dr. Robert Benson, Superintendent of Schools, and the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee members. Once everyone was seated, T. C. Collins, Chairman, called the School Board to order at 8:24pm.
Of the nearly 4,500 students in King George, one third of them are considered economically disadvantaged. Nearly half of all teachers have a Masters Degree which helps reduce teacher turnover. A first year teacher makes just under $42,000 per year. King George exceeds state averages on Standards of Learning (SOL) test scores except for History where it is only one percentage point behind. All schools are accredited and the Pre-School has the highest state rating possible. King George also earned a Silver Level Award for being environmentally efficient and Jessica Drinks of the King George Middle School was recognized as the Rappahannock Region Media Specialist of the Year. On top of that, King George has the highest graduation rate in the area.
Dr. Benson continued his presentation listing the numerous accomplishments, programs, and recognition the schools have earned. These included accomplishments in academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. His presentation was lengthy however he listed most but not all of the accomplishments.
As Dr. Benson began to present the School Board's current request for funding, including the additional staffing that was needed, Brabo interrupted and asked if those positions were mandated. Benson said they were in a sense because the schools were federally required to provide a free and equitable education for those students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Brabo clarified and asked if they were mandated or above and beyond what was needed. Benson said none of the positions were above and beyond. He said if the schools were going above and beyond, they would just hire Special Education teachers. Instead, Benson said, they hire Special Education teachers and paraprofessionals to save money.
Jenkins asked how much support came from the state grant for the Algebra Readiness Teacher. Benson said he wasn't sure of the exact amount but that it did cover a portion of the salary and benefits. Jenkins asked how long the grant was for and Benson said it was continuous.
When discussing the Chromebook computers, Binder asked if those computers went home with the students or stayed at school. Benson said they stayed at school. When discussing the administrative needs in the schools, Bueche asked how the requested truancy officer would get kids to school. He asked if the officer would knock on doors and take them to court and Benson said yes. Bueche said he was of the opinion that it was the parent's responsibility to get the children to school and that the schools shouldn't raise kids but instead educate them. When asked what system is in place now to handle this process, Benson said there is currently one truancy officer that manages the entire student population. He also said that state law says schools could lose their accreditation if they have too many absent students. Tammy Indseth also added that the school's Average Daily Membership (ADM) is impacted by truancy and that ADM is a major factor in determining state funding. Binder said she was familiar with the attendance policy changes from the state and asked if the accreditation is an optional one or mandated by the state. Benson said it was mandated by the state. When asked what the current ratio was between the existing truancy officer to students, Benson said he didn't have an exact number of cases but reminded the Board that the single employee needs to cover nearly 4,500 students.
Gayle Hock said that studies have shown most juvenile delinquency and adult criminal behavior has been linked to school truancy. She said that in the long run, by getting kids to school they are saving the community money in court costs and jail fees. Bueche said that the mention earlier of free and appropriate education shouldn't involve tracking down kids that are in the social services case load. He said the Supervisors are trying to make this a needs based budget and he felt that in the grand scheme of things this wasn't a need. Brabo added that if a student never sets foot in the school, then they aren't impacting ADM. Binder asked the most telling question when she asked Benson how he knew that the student wasn't in school. Benson said that was the point behind the need for another truancy officer. Bueche said that at the end of the day, the Supervisors give the schools a pile of money and it's up to the schools how to spend it.
Dr. Benson continued his presentation, mentioning that 62 bus drivers run 252 routes to get kids to and from school. He also said that due to the energy efficiency initiatives, the school has avoided spending nearly $350,000. Benson also said that due to the County refinancing bonds, the schools have saved over $500,000 in debt.
When Dr. Benson began discussing projected ADM numbers, Brabo questioned his projected figure of 4,350 students. When Benson began to expand on ADM and the Local Composite Index (LCI), the amount the state requires a locality to contribute to the school system, Brabo got up and handed out her own sheet of data. Brabo said her figures prove Benson's were incorrect. Benson explained that the LCI for King George had gone up since last year and therefore King George would be required to spend more on schools. When Benson began showing how much extra the County spent on schools above the LCI, Brabo again called into question the data in his presentation.
With Dr. Benson's presentation complete, one of the citizens pointed out some flaws in his math and said it called into question the school's wants and needs. Benson said he was required to present a budget of need, not wants. Another citizen asked about the IEP program and who determined if a student got an IEP. She also asked if Benson was alarmed about the number of students with an IEP or that more teachers were required because of an IEP. Benson said that students don't get an IEP overnight or just because they have a bad day. He said the student is tested by school officials and sometimes outside professionals. Once proven to be eligible, Benson said the schools have a legal obligation to meet their needs. Benson also said that the levels seen in King George for IEPs match those nationally.
Bueche ended the discussion by saying he felt like the schools were in a good position. There was a low student to teacher ratio and felt that some costs could be absorbed by the schools. He said that the County only increased spending by 1.6% and the schools increase of 6 percent felt like too much. Bueche said the schools are great and in the best position compared to the rest of the County.
The School Board adjourned their session at 9:29pm.
The County Administrator, Neiman Young, had no report.
Then there was some debate as to whether the Board should discuss the intern position. When asked, Dr. Young said the discussion didn't need to happen tonight.
Bueche and Granger appeared to desire a discussion so Bueche introduced the topic by saying he contacted each Supervisor individually about the intern position that supported all of the Supervisors. He said the discussion was to determine if the funds could be used to pay for a position somewhere else or if the intern position was justified.
Granger said he felt the position should be removed and the money should be used elsewhere. Jenkins said he thought the intern provides an excellent service but would rather use the money in another department that needed it such as the Commissioner of the Revenue that was asking for a position with a similar cost. Binder added that she felt the person in the job has done a great job and provided a good service but felt that the Supervisors were making cuts all over the place and thought the Commissioner of the Revenue had been passed over too many times.
Brabo said she wasn't aware that there was not enough money in the budget to fund the Commissioner of Revenue position. Dr. Young said there was enough money. Brabo said she didn't understand then why the intern position needed to be cut. Jenkins said he doesn't remember using the intern's services or asking for the position to be created.
Brabo said the position was voted on by the Board of Supervisors. Bueche said he had asked Travis Quesenberry, the former County Administrator and current County Engineer, for information and Quesenberry said the position was never presented to the Board or voted on by them. Quesenberry said the position was initially created as an unpaid job and that it was realized the intern needed to be paid due to their work load. Brabo said that if Dr. Young says there is enough money in the budget to fund the position with the Commissioner of Revenue, then it's not about funding. She then asked what was the issue about. Bueche said it was about funding for him. He said that even though the County may have the money it doesn't mean they have to spend it.
Brabo then said in January, when the Supervisors went through the listing of Boards and Commissions, she "graciously took on the bulk of them" because she knew there was a legislative aide that could help. She added that she was going to assume that at the next Board meeting her peers on the Board would take an equal share of the Boards and Commissions and use their vacation time or sick days to attend since she would no longer have someone to assist her. She added that she already gives more than 40 hours a week on behalf of the County and that she certainly isn't compensated for it. Granger said he was more than willing to take on any position she was willing to drop off of. Binder added that she wanted to make sure she knew which ones were mandated. Bueche said that it certainly should be fair and equitable and that he's had to take leave before to attend things. Bueche said he felt things were already pretty fair but Granger interjected and said he felt like he wasn't doing enough and that he would gladly take on more positions. Jenkins asked and Bueche confirmed that the position was still funded through the end of the fiscal year, which is the end of June.
The meeting adjourned at 9:39pm.
Meeting Attendees:
John Jenkins (Board of Supervisors)
Jeff Bueche (Chairman, Board of Supervisors)
Richard Granger (Board of Supervisors)
Ruby Brabo (Board of Supervisors)
Cathy Binder (Board of Supervisors)
Neiman Young (County Administrator)
Eric Gregory (County Attorney)
T. C. Collins (School Board)
Gina Panciera (School Board)
Gayle Hock (School Board)
Tammy Indseth (School Board)
Dr. Robert Benson (Superintendent)
Meeting Agenda
Next Meeting:
The Board of Supervisors will next meet on March 25, 2019 at 6:30 pm in Company 1.
Previous Meeting:
Read about the previous Board of Supervisors Meeting.
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