Augusta Supervisor Chairman Larry Wills: Reasons county needs 5-cent tax hike

By Larry Wills (Middle River District)
Chairman, Augusta County Board of Supervisors

The recent decision by the Board of Supervisors to advertise a five-cent tax rate increse was not an easy one nor was it a decision that was undertaken without a thorough examination of the proposed county budget and a review of the county's current and upcoming needs. Each member of the Board is also a taxpaying citizen and landowner in Augusta County. Two of us are retired and know what it is like to live on a fixed income.

Augusta County public schools
The money that will be raised from the increase in taxes has been designated for key and essential county services. The schools will get a two (2) cents of the increase or approximately $1.39 million to address salary needs that were unfunded in their balanced budget along with $1.29 million permanent funding that had been year-to-year since the change in the composite index two years ago. Over those two years, this money was taken from the fund used to address roof and major equipment repairs and replacements on county-owned structures. In addition to this, the county will also advance to the schools $1 million per year for three (3) years to address the technology initiative for the children of Augusta County. This money will come back to the county coffers when Ladd Elementary School is sold.

Sheriff's Department
With the additional money raised by the tax increase, the county will provide enough funding to the Sheriff's Department to hire four (4) additional deputies along with funding for active shooter training for the department. The Fire and Rescue operations of the county will receive one (1) cent or $697,000 for personnel, subsidies to the volunteers, and to save for future equipment purchases.

Emergency responders communications equipment
The county has many other needs that remain unfunded and will have to be funded in the future either by growth in revenues or through bonding out of the projects. These projects include many that are required by the federal or state governments but must be funded locally. The most pressing is $4 million to complete the upgrade of our equipment for emergency response brought about when the Federal Government sold the bandwidths for phone communication and now requires emergency responders to operate on a narrower bandwidth.

Storm runoff requirements
The new state and EPA regulations will require a more refined handling of storm water runoff in our populated areas. Augusta County is now an MS4 community which means storm water runoff must be controlled for both flow and quality. Populated areas such as Stuarts Draft, Fishersville, and Verona will fall under the same regulations as the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro. Each of those cities are now charging an additional fee to each of their landowners to cover their cost. That fee is not practical or fair in the county since the majority of county residents do not live in our MS4 designated areas.

New road construction and maintaining existing roads
Another major expense that will eventually be the responsibility of the county is the building of new roads and the major upgrades to existing roads. We have a major backlog of needed projects. We are currently receiving only $540,000 per year to address these needs. This compares to receiving over $2 million for secondary road improvements in 2003. I believe the future for major road improvements on secondary roads will require a 50/50 split in the construction costs of the improvements with the state.

An example of this is the Rt. 636 project in Fishersville where the county has provided over $6 million to provide a road that was badly needed to alievaiate traffic congestion associated with the hospital and the new Murphy Demming College along with the growth that is occurring in the area because of those institutions.

 Miscellaneous needs
Those are only a few of the future projects. We will also have upfront cost related to industrial recruitment for economic development, upgrades of water and sewer facilities to meet the county's fire flow requirements, upgrading the current Courthouse or building a new one, closure of cells at the landfill, along with other capital needs when they arise.

Real estate tax rate
I would note that from 1983 until 2009 the tax rate in Augusta County was 58 cents. That rate, along with the natural growth, funded the county needs quite well. As reassessments occurred, the increased revenues funded the increasing operational costs along with providing savings to pay for capital needs when they occurred.

In 2009, because of a disputed reassessment and the state of the economy, the rate was dropped to 48 cents. While this rate served the citizens of the county well for a short time and forced the county and the schools to economize and downsize staff, it is not a rate that can be sustained in the future if the county and the schools to economize and downsize staff, it is not a rate that can be sustained in the future if the county is to provide a quality educational experience for our children and the level of services from our Sheriff's Department and from our Fire and Rescue agencies that our citizens expect and deserve.

Public hearing
The Board of Supervisors of Augusta County takes seriously the responsibilities that the citizens gave to us in the election of 2011 to spend money wisely and to make decisions that are in the best interest of the citizens of Augusta County for the long term. We look forward to hearing from you at our budget hearing on Wednesday, April 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the Government Complex in Verona.

Karaffa: Augusta County budget 2014

By Supervisor David Karaffa
Beverley Manor District of Augusta County

The Augusta County Budget this year is extremely challenging. As a county we face a General Assembly that is unable to pass a budget to fund their share of our core services such as schools and emergency services, an increased demand on Fire and Rescue in terms of manpower and equipment, an on-going need for more Sheriff’s Deputies, and an ever increasing need for public school funds. On top of those items are hundreds of other increasing expenses which are significantly driving up the cost of running this great county for our residents.

The General Assembly
The General Assembly is wrestling with the idea of Medicaid Expansion and whether or not it is the right thing for the Commonwealth. I have my own thoughts on this issue, but they are beside the point. I have sent a letter to the Governor, adding to a chorus of local representatives across Virginia, asking for the Governor to separate the issue of Medicaid from the budget. Richmond needs to pass a budget so that counties and cities can be prepared for the next fiscal year that starts July 1st. Without that budget in place the government shuts down. This would be catastrophic for emergency services that have paid staff across Virginia. Hopefully, the General Assembly will come together next week and pass a budget so that we can continue to serve and protect our citizens.

Fire and Rescue
Fire and Rescue services are in a constant state of change. Across the United States safety and insurance regulations have gotten so tough that it is strangling the ability for someone to become a volunteer. It takes one year of training in order to prepare a firefighter or rescue worker for service. While the intentions of the regulations are to have a safe and well trained crew, it is taking its toll on those who are willing to commit. This has caused an overall decrease in our volunteer force in Augusta and has forced the county to invest in a large career staff to maintain the fire and rescue service. This year the Board of Supervisors has approved for an additional four career staff to be hired.

Fire and Rescue equipment costs are always on the rise. Any piece of fire apparatus that needs to be purchased is discussed in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and sometimes a million. Due to regulations, most of the fire engines can only stay in service for a certain number of years regardless of their condition, therefore causing a need to replace well operating equipment. This year we are having to put more money aside to prepare for purchasing a new ladder truck which will cost just over $1 million. In addition to apparatus, we have a county-wide radio system that has been federally mandated to be replaced. This mandate alone will cost our county $4.5 million.

Law enforcement
Augusta County is spread thin with Sheriff’s Deputies. It has been difficult for them to be everywhere they are needed; however, they have done a fine job. I commend the Sheriff for his efforts in making sure that Augusta County citizens are safe. In consultation with the Sheriff, it is pertinent to hire four additional deputies. These additional deputies will be front line personnel that will be on the streets and in our schools.

Public schools
“Augusta County Public Schools need additional funds.” That is what the Augusta County School Board is telling us with their proposed budget where they have cited a shortage of $4 million. They have a plan for saving Verona Elementary, funding technology in the classroom for all county schools, and for raising teacher salaries in order to continue to attract good teachers. I believe these are all laudable goals. I very much support Verona Elementary school and understand what it means to have it in the community so I will continue to fight to keep it open. This year’s budget will allow $1 million per year for new technology, three percent increase in teacher’s salaries, funding to keep Verona open and operating along with necessary repairs, and further fund elementary art and the middle school band. Overall, the Augusta County Board of Supervisors will be funding four million additional dollars to the public schools.

Proposed tax increase
There are other costs that are going up dramatically, not only for the county government, but also for all of our residents. Healthcare insurance premiums are mushrooming in cost. This year alone will see a 19 percent increase in insurance premiums that the county government and public schools will have to pay for their employees. Combined, this increase is over $2 million in local funds. This is just one example of how the cost of doing business is skyrocketing.

It is for these reasons that it is prudent to consider raising real estate taxes in Augusta County. Our current rate is $0.51 for every $100 of assessed value for a home. The proposed budget and tax rate would go up to $0.56, which would mean about $75.00 annually for a house that is worth $150,000. That means my mortgage will go up $6.50 per month.

Public hearing
I hope that this article has been helpful for you to understand the decisions that face the Board of Supervisors and what we are up against. Please know that what has been written here represents my view alone and is in no way represents the entire board.

If you wish to attend, the Public Hearing on the County Budget will be held on April 9, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. at the Augusta County Government Center in Verona.

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David Karaffa, 30, represents the Beverley Manor District of Augusta County on the Board of Supervisors. A registered nurse, he is the Director of Nursing at Stuarts Draft Christian Home. He and his wife, Katie, have three daughters. Supervisor Karaffa can be reached at DavidKaraffa@comcast.net or by contacting the government center in Verona (540) 245-5600. 

TONIGHT: Augusta County fire study feedback ... public invited

The public is invited to this follow-up meeting to hear the results of a fire and rescue study looking at concerns specific to Augusta County. This is an important issue for all county residents.

Monday, April 11, 2011
7:00 pm
Augusta County Government Center
Verona, Va

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES STUDY REPORT
• Introductions
• Study Presentation
• Questions

Monday: Augusta County fire & rescue study report

The public is invited to this follow-up meeting to hear the results of a fire and rescue study looking at concerns specific to Augusta County. This is an important issue for all county residents.

Monday, April 11, 2011
7:00 pm
Augusta County Government Center
Verona, Va

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES STUDY REPORT
• Introductions
• Study Presentation
• Questions