Press release from Jason Moore, Candidate for Supervisor District 2 – Powhatan
Candidate for Supervisor District 2 – Powhatan
Powhatan Taxpayers Alliance response to the 2011 Powhatan County Budget
It is unfortunate that the Powhatan County Board of Supervisors chose to raise the tax rate 6 cents rather than to live within its means. The Board of Supervisors chose to increase the tax burden on an already financially stretched citizenry. Senator John Watkins stated that FY2011 will be hard, but FY 2012 will be worse and that was acknowledged by Mr. Tucker in his prepared statement. We have simply kicked the can farther down the road by using cash reserves and tax increases and not creating the budget using existing revenues at the current tax rate of .71 cents. The time for deep cuts and increased efficiencies is now. Citizens and businesses nationwide have experienced deep revenue shortfalls. They have cut spending, reduced staff, reduced employee compensation to bridge these difficult gaps in revenue and must live within their means; we expect nothing less from our government. These are difficult decisions to make and we are empathetic to our county employees, but fiscal responsibility and accountability to the taxpayer must be the first priority.
CORRECTION: Budget article contained misinformation
Published: April 14, 2010
By Michael Copley
Staff Writer
There were serious errors in a story- published by the Richmond Times-Dispatch- that was posted to this web site, about the budget Powhatan Supervisors adopted Monday.
Supervisors adopted a balanced budget- $68,285,721- and set the real estate tax rate at 77 cents, three cents below the revenue neutral level. That will mean a lower actual real estate tax bill next year for most county homeowners than the one they received this year, said District 5 Supervisor Carson Tucker.
Tucker showed examples of four properties in varying price brackets and noted that in three out of the four cases, taxes owed under the new rate would go down.
The schools received $19,074,657 in county funding, plus an additional $872,000 in one-time revenues.
To be clear, the county adopted a balanced budget and the schools received enough additional money from the county to balance the school board’s budget. The school board has not yet adopted a budget.
The Powhatan Today apologizes that it allowed an article with factual errors to be posted to its web site and staff sincerely regret misinformation that went out because of it.
Powhatan raises real estate tax; layoffs avoided
JUAN ANTONIO LIZAMA TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Powhatan supervisors last night voted unanimously to increase the real estate tax by 6 cents but avoid layoffs and pay cuts for county employees the next fiscal year.
The new real estate tax rate will be 77 cents per $100 of assessed value, effective July 1. However, residents' tax bills should remain about the same because of a 13.8 percent decline in real estate values from last year.
For example, Supervisor Carson Tucker said, a home valued at $139,200 last year is now valued at $123,700. Even with the higher tax rate, the owner will pay $35.83 less in taxes, he said.
The county still faces a $1.5 million shortfall in the budget, and it has already cut more than $500,000 in one-time expenses, which include six vacant positions, replacement of sheriff's vehicles and computer equipment. The remaining $1 million difference will have to come from other savings, officials said.
The $68.3 million budget the board of supervisors passed for fiscal 2011 is 7 percent less than the current $73.3 million plan.
The school system's shortfall was larger: a $3.1 million gap in its spending plan, which the supervisors approved as part of last night's package.
Powhatan schools are reducing some services, cutting six teaching positions through attrition and reducing salaries by 3 percent for the superintendent and assistant directors; 2 percent for teachers, supervisors and principals; and 1 percent for support staff.
Even with those cuts, the school budget was still short about $700,000, which supervisors covered with an additional $872,000 allocation for schools.
Tucker said the board hopes the extra funds will prevent the 1 percent pay cuts teachers and staff were facing.
"We implore the school board to use this $872,000 to eliminate the need for these school board proposed salary reductions," he said, adding that supervisors recognize the school board makes the final decision where the money goes.
Tucker said he would be taking a 25 percent supervisor's pay cut for the 2011 budget cycle. The other supervisors did not say they were taking reduced pay. The board opposed reducing county employee salaries because they are already earning less than competing localities.
He said that the approved budget relies on unknowns. It is hard to say if the economy will worsen or if it will improve or if the state will further reduce funding. If that's the case, they'll be back next year and make deep cuts again, he said.
"Personally, I believe we're going to see further cuts in state aid to counties, most specifically schools," Tucker said.
"If the economy deteriorates further and if the commonwealth cuts funding again next year, we are facing layoffs next year."
County Leaders Abuse Travel and Waste Taxpayers Dollars Letter to the Editor in Powhatan Today, March 10, 2010 by Nelson L. Batterson
The recent editorial in the Richmond Times Dispatch was correct - Delegate Lee Ware’s bill impairing Freedom of Information (FOI) requests should be “killed and buried in an unmarked grave.” Was the bill really targeted to curb harassment from one individual or was the Board of Supervisors looking for a way to chill requests from county residents? I believe the latter.
I recently did two requests, one seeking the questionable expenses of county officials, and a second seeking information about the county’s wasteful $25,000 option to purchase land for an industrial park on Genito Road. In both cases based on what I received did not believe I was provided complete information. Again, based on what I received, I believe some county employees and elected officials have personal motivations for chilling FOIA requests from residents like me.
For example, last summer Carolyn Bishop – county administrator, Bob Cosby - BOS Chairman, and Joe Walton - member of the BOS traveled to Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee at taxpayer’s expense. Their spouses accompanied them. The stated purpose of the trip was to pick-up a plaque that could have been easily mailed.
Expenses show rooms were upgraded from traditional rooms to more expensive garden terrace rooms. Additionally, travel was not done in the most economical manner. Records show Mr. Cosby drove his personal vehicle and was reimbursed $641.30 for mileage while Mr. Walton flew roundtrip for $237.39.
Information I received regarding the proposed Industrial Park was equally shocking and also incomplete. Without any input from residents, the county elected to spend $25,000 for an option to purchase land on Genito Road - land currently zoned agricultural. Additional monies were wasted on studies that should have been considered in advance of the option. I have been unable to obtain under FOIA copies of all studies and their associated costs. What taxpayers know today is that the BOS wasted at least $25,000 on a non-refundable option.
Goochland County currently posts all county expenditures on their website. Powhatan County should do the same and go a step further by posting all FOIA requests and county responses as well.
As a former sheriff of Powhatan County, I have always believed an informed citizenry makes for good government. I don’t believe it is any coincidence that the BOS allegedly requested Delegate Ware to introduce his bill after my second FOIA request.
