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Board advertises FY2020-21 budget after schools warn of $3.7 million local match; CARES funds approved
Summary
After a schools presentation that projected a 1,530-student enrollment and a required local effort of about $3.7 million, the Board voted to advertise the proposed FY2020-21 budget and accepted $1,064,054 in CARES Act funds with conditions for COVID-19-related uses.
Lunenburg County supervisors agreed May 14 to advertise the proposed FY2020-21 budget after hearing from schools officials about funding needs and also authorized acceptance of federal CARES Act funds designated for the county.
Assistant School Superintendent and Finance Director James Abernathy told the board the proposed school budget is based on a projected enrollment of 1,530 students and that the minimum required local effort totals about $3.7 million. Abernathy said the state provides roughly $8,000 per student (about 75% of the cost) and that the locality must cover the remaining roughly 25 percent; he added that the schools proposed 13 new positions including special education teachers, instructional assistants, a pre-K teacher and a tech program. Abernathy said if enrollment exceeds projections the schools will request additional funds and if enrollment is below projections they would request carryover.
Administrator Tracy M. Gee reviewed county revenue and expense assumptions for FY2020-21, noting the full-year effect of a personal property tax rate increase from $3.60 to $3.80 per $100 valuation, expected decreases in delinquent taxes and sales tax revenue due to the pandemic, and increases in VRS and health insurance costs. Gee said the proposed budget uses $854,916 from reserve funds; Supervisor Robert Zava warned that continued reliance on reserves is unsustainable and several supervisors discussed whether a measured tax increase will be needed in future years.
Supervisor Edward Pennington moved and the board voted unanimously to advertise the proposed FY2020-21 budget as presented and to schedule a public hearing. Separately, Administrator Gee said the county was designated $1,064,054 in CARES Act federal funds that may be used only for COVID-19-related expenses and that counties may share funds with their towns at the county's discretion. Supervisor T. Wayne Hoover noted FEMA funds cannot be used for the same purpose as CARES funds and supported allowing Gee to sign the funds request; the board authorized Gee to sign the CARES Act request form and accept the funds on June 1, 2020 by unanimous roll call.
