MINUTES

Adjourned Meeting
April 24, 2007

Call to Order. An adjourned meeting of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors was called to order by Jack R. Cavalier, Chairman, at 5:05 P. M., Tuesday, April 24, 2007, in the Board Chambers, Stafford County Administration Center.

Roll Call. The following members were present: Paul V. Milde, III; George H. Schwartz; M. S. “Joe” Brito; Jack R. Cavalier, Chairman; L. Mark Dudenhefer, Vice Chairman; Peter J. Fields, and Robert C. Gibbons.

Also in attendance were: Steve Crosby, County Administrator; Anthony Romanello, Deputy County Administrator; Joe Howard, County Attorney and Marty Beard, Chief Deputy Clerk.

Budget; Work Session to Consider Proposed 2007 Property Tax Rates and FY2008 County Budgets. The Chairman commented.

Mr. Anthony Romanello, Deputy County Administrator, gave a presentation.

Dr. David E. Sawyer, Division Superintendent of Schools, commented further.

Discussion ensued.

Mr. Fields motioned, seconded by Mr. Cavalier, to adopt proposed Resolution R07-157 which would add $0.10 to the current real estate tax.

The Voting Board tally was:
Yea: (2) Cavalier, Fields
Nay: (5) Schwartz, Brito, Dudenhefer, Gibbons, Milde

Discussion further ensued.

Mr. Gibbons motioned, seconded by Mr. Dudenhefer, to adopt proposed Resolution
R07-157 with a change to add $0.05 to the current real estate tax.

The Voting Board tally was:
Yea: (2) Dudenhefer, Gibbons
Nay: (5) Brito. Cavalier, Fields, Milde, Schwartz

Mr. Milde motioned, seconded by Mr. Schwartz, to adopt proposed Resolution R07-157 with a change to add $0.03 to the current real estate tax.

The Voting Board tally was:
Yea: (1) Milde
Nay: (6) Cavalier, Dudenhefer, Fields, Gibbons, Schwartz, Brito

Mr. Gibbons motioned, seconded by Mr. Dudenhefer, to adopt proposed Resolution
R07-157 with a change to add $0.07 to the current real estate tax and request that staff provide further information regarding a fire and emergency medical services tax district.

The Voting Board tally was:
Yea: (5) Dudenhefer, Fields, Gibbons, Schwartz, Cavalier
Nay: (2) Milde, Brito

Resolution R07-157 reads as follows:

A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE TAX YEAR 2007
PROPERTY TAX RATES

WHEREAS, the Code of Virginia requires that the governing body establish an annual levy of certain taxes for the calendar year; and

WHEREAS, the Commissioner of the Revenue requires the timely establishment of tax levies to allow time for tax bills to be processed and received by the citizens;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on this the 24th day of April, 2007, that the following rates be and they hereby are established on real estate, tangible personal property, motor vehicles specially equipped for the disabled, personal property for fire and rescue volunteers, motor carrier transportation, machinery and tools, merchant’s capital, aircraft, mobile homes, Hidden Lake Special Service District and Hartlake Special Service District for the tax year beginning January 1, 2007:

ClassificationRate Per One Hundred Dollars of Assessed Valuation
Real Estate (Section 58.1-3200, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.) .70
Tangible Personal Property (Section 58.1-3500, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended. Includes all other classifications of personal property not specifically enumerated.) 5.49*
Motor Vehicles Specially Equipped for the Disabled (Section 58.1-3506 (12), Code of Virginia (1950), as amended..10
Personal Property Volunteer Fire & Rescue (Section 58.1-3505 (13), Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.).00
Motor Carrier Transportation (Section 58.1-3506 (23), Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.).75
Machinery and Tools (Section 58.1-3507, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.).75
Merchant’s Capital (Section 58.1-3509, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.) .50
Mobile Homes (Section 58.1-3503, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.).70

ClassificationRate Per One Hundred Dollars of Assessed Valuation
Aircraft (Section 58.1-3503, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.)3.00
Hidden Lake Special Service District (Section 15.2-2400 through 15.2-2403) .00
Hartlake Special Service District (Section 15.2-2400 through 15.2-2403).00

* The tax rate for personal property is based on assessed value which is established at forty percent (40%) of the estimated fair market value. The effective tax rate would be stated as $2.20 per $100 of estimated fair market value.

In 2004 the General Assembly capped the amount of relief the State will provided for Personal Property Tax Relief (PPTRA) at $950 million per year. The PPTRA cap took effect on January 1, 2006. Stafford County’s share of the state allotment is $12.5 million. This allotment is to be distributed among all the qualifying vehicles. For tax year 2006 vehicles qualifying received 56% relief. For tax year 2007 vehicles qualifying will now receive 53% relief.

Legislative; Approve the FY2008 Local School Funding. Mr. Fields motioned, seconded by Mr. Cavalier, to adopt proposed Resolution R07-220 with a change.

Discussion ensued.

Mr. Dudenhefer made a substitute motion, seconded by Mr. Gibbons, to adopt proposed Resolution R07-220.

The Voting Board tally was:
Yea: (4) Gibbons, Milde, Schwartz, Dudenhefer
Nay; (3) Brito, Cavalier, Fields

Resolution R07-220 reads as follows:

A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2008
LOCAL SCHOOL FUNDING

WHEREAS, a public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2008 Budget was held
Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. at Colonial Forge High School;

WHEREAS, at the April 24, 2007, meeting, the Board approved FY2008 local school funding for education at $128,900,000; and

WHEREAS, the Board also agreed to include $3.7 million of anticipated unspent local school funds from FY2007, for a FY2008 local school funding allocation of $132,600,000; and

WHEREAS, the school debt service portion of funding for FY2008 is $30,285,568; and

WHEREAS, the local school operating portion of funding for FY2008 is $102,314,432;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on this the 24th day of April, 2007, that the Fiscal Year 2008 Local
School Funding is hereby approved in the amount of One Hundred Thirty-Two Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($132,600,000); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should anticipated carryover funds be less then the projected $3.7 million the Schools will absorb the shortfall in the FY2008 School Operating Fund.

Adjournment. At 6:20 P. M., the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned.

________________________________ _____________________________
Steve Crosby                                         Jack R. Cavalier
County Administrator                              Chairman