AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HELD ON THE 24th DAY OF APRIL, TWO THOUSAND AND NINE AT SEVEN O'CLOCK P.M. AT THE RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM

Present	Present	Absent
Robert P Anderson, Chairman Ronald L. Frazier, V-Chm S. Bryant Lee Roger A Welch Edward D. Wayland	John McCarthy, Co. Adm. Diane Bruce, Clerk	None

Chairman Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 o'clock p.m. and opened the public hearing as to both the FY2010 School Board Budget and the County's FY2010 General Fund Budget. The Chairman announced that the Performance Contracting issue will not be included in the FY2010 budget and therefore not a topic for discussion at this public hearing. Performance Contracting will be considered at a later time.

Dr. Robert Chappell, Superintendent of Schools, summarized the FY10 budget proposals. Three positions have been eliminated; no step or pay increases are proposed but health benefits will be maintained; some athletic and academic stipends will be reduced or restructured; French is no longer offered; field and athletic trips will be reduced; "dual enrollment" students will pay full tuition for college credits; debt service payments are lower due to the amortization schedule; no replacement buses will be purchased; the Oxford Conference will be eliminated and reductions will be taken in the Cambridge program and Mountain Vista Governor's School. County funds in the amount of $8,509,098.00 are the same as the amount requested for FY09. RCPS is expecting $177,632 in Stimulus money, but those funds will come with stipulations not yet identified. The proposed FY09-10 budget is filed with the papers of the meeting. Also filed with the papers of the meeting are the following: Amended page 22 with note subscribed was distributed to replace original page 22 in the RCPS FY10 budget proposal; Fact Sheet, Budget Summary, Concerned Taxpayers Questions; Responses to questions by Supervisor Ron Frazier.

Budget comparisons for FY08 through FY10 are as follows:

Year	Total Budget	Aid from Commonwealth
FY2008	$12,096,934.00	$3,190,226.00
FY2009	$11,813,799.00	$2,746,400.00
FY2010	$11,602,017.00	$2,515,213.00

School Board Chairman Wesley Mills and Board members Aline Johnson and Rosa Crocker spoke on behalf of the schools and urged the Supervisors to approve the budget as submitted.

County Administrator John McCarthy highlighted the proposed FY2010 General Fund Budget. The proposed real estate tax rate is $.58: $.53 for General Fund and $.05 for the Fire Levy. This budget represents a 2¢ real estate tax decrease. The personal property tax rate will remain the same, but a dramatic decrease in revenue is expected from this category due to a decline in new car purchases and the decreased value of used cars.

Proposed spending will decrease by over $2 million. Constitutional Officer's budgets show a decrease in spending of between 5% - 25%. Health insurance premiums and VRS contributions will remain the same. One-time costs include hooking onto the Washington Wastewater System and the general reassessment. Spending will exceed revenue but accumulated surplus will cover the cost of the difference.

Two FTE positions are expected to be eliminated during the course of the year. A partnership with the Culpeper Social Services will eliminate one position through retirement while consolidating the Director's position with a position in Culpeper, reducing the local funding by 20%. A Memorandum of Understanding with Culpeper County relating to Water and Sewer personnel, will eliminate 1.2 FTEs. The reduction in building activity will eliminate .7 FTE for the Building and Erosion and Sediment Control Offices with further reductions in part-time hours also expected.

Offering support for the budgets were Sharon Kilpatrick, Amy Saxton Wayland, Danette Williams, Margaret Ann Wayland, Pattie Waddell, John Diley, Henry Gorfein and Kathryn Treanor. These speakers commented on the success of all programs within the school system, noting in particular the academic, band, athletic and culinary programs. Among many comments offered were that the RCPS is the largest employer in the county; sports programs keep children in school; there is a 100% graduation rate; the Quizbowl team will be attending the National Championships; RCPS return unspent funds each year and graduates are attending prestigious universities throughout the country.

Others speaking included Tom Junk, Roger Cordani, Walt Longyear, Jeremy Critchfield, Bernie Mills, Cathy Frazier, Kay Wilson and Wayne Smoot. Comments included opposition to too much debt, repeated appropriations for repairs to heating and air conditioning that continues to work poorly; repeated appropriations for removal of the temporary trailers that continue to be on site; lack of staffing plan as recommended in the management efficiency report; bus drivers using county cars and accountability for expenditures by line item. As to the county budget, there were questions regarding over-staffing in the Building Office.

Jimmy Deal suggested that if all residents were to pay $500 more than their tax bill, there would be no budget crisis.

David Breeden offered to volunteer time and advice on the HVAC systems and plumbing problems.

Al Henry stated that the county must look at the "long term." He raised concern that the call to place 40% of the county's land in scenic easement will result in an older population, less affordable housing and decline in student enrollment resulting in inceased costs per pupil. He urged the Board to think innovatively and to encourage green opportunities in the designated commercial areas.

Margaret Wayland urged the Board not to cut the Fire and Rescue budget.

A letter from John Kiser, (filed with papers of meeting), suggested "critical thinking" as to economic development.

There being no other comments, Chairman Anderson closed the public hearing at 9:00 o'clock p.m.

Each Supervisor thanked all the speakers for their interest and input. Mr. McCarthy announced that the Board will adopt a FY10 school board budget at its regular meeting on Monday, May 4, 2009. Adoption of the FY10 General Fund budget will be scheduled for a later date.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:05 o'clock pm.

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Robert P. Anderson, Chairman