Happy Spring Achoo!

 

Happy Spring, Achoo!

On April 1 the Goochland Board of Supervisors addressed the following items.

Public hearings on the proposed calendar year 2025 tax rates; the amended FY26 budget; the capital improvement program; and ordinance amendments to the county fee schedule were the only items on the evening agenda. No action was taken.

Director of Finance Carla Cave explained that the proposed real estate tax rate of 53 cents per $100 of assessed valuation represents an effective tax rate increase of 8.2 percent over last year due to increases in those valuations.

Todd Kaufman of Manakin Sabot contended that the county could draw down its cash reserves to reduce the tax rate, provide some tax relief for property owners, and still maintain fiscal thresholds for those reserves needed to retain the county’s excellent bond ratings. He said that he attempted to discuss these options with all supervisors during the past month, but only one took him up on the offer.

Kaufman’s comments are available on the website for the April 1 board meeting at about the 4-hour mark on the “watch county meetings” tab.

Alvarez presented an amended budget, which included funding for six fire-rescue employees, versus zero in the February 18 budget proposal, and an additional $300k for the school budget for critical instructional expenses including interventionists.

He said that the 10 percent increase in general government includes a third lawyer for the county attorney’s office and significant increases in software expenses. Large increases in public safety spending include additional positions and state-manned salary raises for those employees. The capital improvement item includes fire-rescue apparatus and a chiller for the high/middle school complex.

 Alvarez reviewed changes to the budget, which, unlike that presented on February 18, is balanced, with expected revenues equaling expected expenses.

Water and sewer user fees will increase by 2.5 percent. The personal property tax rate, which was lowered a few years ago, will remain at $2.99 per $100 of assessed valuation for vehicles.  See the board packet for the complete fee and tax rate schedule.

Charlie Vaughters, District 4 stressed that “when we look at the county’s taxes, we are dealing with a problem that is emerging at the federal level.  We must offer services to our students and public safety that maintain a lifestyle in Goochland that our citizens deserve. The reality is that the federal government is doing wrong by the citizens of Goochland, not the county government. On top of that, we do not get the support that other municipalities get because of factors put in place by the state that say we need to fund the bulk of our services and schools. We pay 80 percent of that from our county budget and are doing incredibly well, making sure the needs of our citizens are met with a balanced budget.

“I hope our citizens realize that we are dealing with a bad situation falling down upon us from Washington and the state house due to fiscal irresponsibility. We want to do the best we can, but don’t forget that we have state and federal representatives that are failing citizens in many ways,” Vaughters said. “My hope is that we are seeing much needed overdue reform at the federal level.”

Neil Spoonhower, District 2, asked Cave to explain the genesis of a state supported bonus which costs “$356K and change”.

Cave said that the state mandated bonus, which did not have funding attached, for employees of Constitutional Offices—Sheriff; Clerk of the Court; Treasurer; Commonwealth’s Attorney; and Commissioner of the Revenue—was for 1.5 percent, which totaled about $186k of possible state funds. Cave explained that, while the bonus did not have to be given to other employees, in the past, any time either the sheriff’s office or fire-rescue received a bonus, it was given to the other department. During earlier budget discussions, it was decided to give it to all employees.

“This is a great example of how we, as elected officials, sat down and worked with staff since October to figure out what was fair compensation. Then the state comes in and wants to do the right thing with our money. We’d already contributed and agreed to a three percent increase and the state comes in and forces our hand to add another 1.5 percent. I don’t think we can pay our people too much, but I’m also fiscally conservative. This is a frustrating part of unintended consequences.”

Spoonhower also observed that public sentiment that wants more services, lower taxes, no residential development but offers no solutions. He is very appreciative of citizens who listen and offer options to review going forward.

 

 

 

Jonathan Lyle, District 5, said that the current budget, as with others, has been a challenge. He thanked his fellow supervisors, especially Vaughters, for giving him great insights into capital improvements and how that might be addressed going forward.

He was the sole supervisor who, at the start of the budget process, advocated a one penny reduction in the tax rate, about$900 k in diminished revenue.  As numbers came in, reflecting across the board cost increases, he changed his mind. “That goes against my reflexive desire to cut taxes, but not at the expense of needed services.”

He did some back of the envelope math about the impact of lowering the real estate tax rate to 49 cents.  For a $300 k home that would lower the tax bill by about $30 dollars. Retaining the 53-cent rate would be an increase of $120.

On April 15, the supervisors will vote to approve the county budget for FY26, which begins on July 1, and set fee and tax rates for calendar year 2025 in the afternoon session.

April is Hunger Awareness Month. The supervisors adopted a proclamation estimating that 1,650 of Goochland’s approximately 28k residents experience food insecurity, “a situation of limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.” Also, western Goochland has been declared a food desert, defined by the Virginia Food Desert Task force as an area whose population lives more than 10 miles from a grocery store in a rural area.

The proclamation recognizes and supports the important work done by all Goochland food pantries and urges all citizens to participate in county wide food drives to support these pantries and” work towards the vision of food security for all Goochland County residents.” Go to https://goochlandcares.org/event/fooddrive/ to learn more.

The board adopted a proclamation declaring April 6-12 is Crime Victims’ Rights week.  The proclamation explains that the term victim has legal standing and associated protections. Legislation at the state and federal level guarantees victims the right to meaningfully participate in the criminal justice process.  This includes the right to provide a victim imp[act statement that ensures the victims’ voices are considered in court during the sentencing and, when applicable, restitution. The Goochland Victim Witness program is dedicated to amplifying the voices of victims and creating an environment where victims will be heard and supported.  Go to https://www.goochlandva.us/220/Victim-Witness-Assistance for more information.

Board Chair Tom Winfree, District 3 thanked all who attended in person or virtually the March town hall meetings, which were recorded and archived on the county website. He spoke of upcoming events including Goochland Day on May 17, business appreciation month, and document shredding and hazardous waste collection in June.

Winfree thanked all who participated in crafting the proposed budget. The process, said Winfree, started last fall and was very deliberate and detailed involving every department and most employees. He became aware of the high caliber of Goochland public safety, our Sheriff’s Office and Fire-Rescue and Emergency Management Department. Our schools, Winfree declared, rank in the top echelon of the Commonwealth and have a proud 98 percent on time graduation rate.

All of this has been accomplished, said Winfree while keeping the county fiscally sound, which indicates that the supervisors pay attention to their fiduciary responsibilities. “I’m proud to be living here and proud to serve,” he said.

Interim County Administrator The Hon. Manuel Alvarez, thanked employees, by name, for their hard work in helping stage the town halls and, most importantly, for finalizing the incomplete budget he inherited at the end of February.

Broadband update Firefly and other providers are still working to connect people. Go to https://www.fireflyva.com/partners-goochland/ for details.

Fire-Rescue Report Tony Gordon, Deputy Chief of Goochland Fire-Rescue presented the bimonthly departmental report. See the April 1 board packet for details. Gordon reminded all that the burn ban before 4 p.m. remains in effect until April 30 and urged citizens to be very careful while burning during this time of year when dry and windy conditions prevail. The penalty for failing to observe this law is $500.

 Goochland Fire-Rescue needs volunteers and accepts applications year-round. For more information call 804-556-5304.

Fire-rescue station 8, located near the intersection of Dogtown and Whitehall Roads in Sandy Hook, which operates out of a home the county purchased a few years ago, is now staffed 24/7. The design of permanent Company 8 is in process and construction is expected to begin later this year.

Maintenance of dry hydrants, which allow apparatus to draw water from ponds and streams, is underway and will continue for the next few months. As most of Goochland does not have access to hydrants, all water used to suppress blazes must be transported to the fire ground. Before the meeting, the new 3,000-gallon tanker, assigned to Fife Company 4, was on display in front of the administration building.

New 3,000 tanker for Fire Fire-Rescue Company 4

The Fire-Rescue Department is currently implementing changes with EMS medications. The deadline set by the FDA (Drug Chain Security Act) and reinforced by the VA Board of Pharmacy, is April 15, 2025, to transition away from the decades old traditional hospital supplied regional drug box exchange program to our own pharmacy system.  The Department will go live with the new process ahead of the April 15th deadline to ensure EMS medication is available to support patient care protocols.  Preparations for this change have been underway for months, supported by many staff hours, regional collaboration among fire and EMS departments, and the County’s Capital Improvement Program.  This new requirement has impacted EMS agencies across Virginia. 

Consent agenda items included the board authorizing the interim county adviser to execute a second amendment to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kayland Hospitality, LLC for emergency shelter services at the Residence Inn by Marriott at the Notch in Centerville. In April 2021, the hotel offered to partner with Goochland County to offer hotel rooms at 10 percent off the retail rate to provide temporary lodging. Both emergency services and the county department of Social Services are the direct contact to provide these services, which must identify the source of payment and be approved by the county administrator in advance. The term of the MOU is extend for three years beginning on April 6, 2025.

Closed session The Board went into closed session, as permitted by law, to discuss recruitment for the county administrator position.