BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

COUNTY OF STAFFORD

STAFFORD, VIRGINIA

MINUTES

Special Meeting

March 31, 2010

Call to Order  A special meeting of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors was called to order by Mark Dudenhefer, Chairman, at 6:17 P. M., Wednesday, March 31, 2010, in Conference Room A/B/C, Stafford County Administration Center.

Roll Call  The following members were present: Mark Dudenhefer, Chairman; Paul V. Milde III, Vice Chairman; Harry E. Crisp II; Gary F. Snellings; Cord A. Sterling; Susan B. Stimpson; and Robert “Bob” Woodson.  

Also in attendance were: Anthony Romanello, County Administrator; Joe Howard, County Attorney; Marcia Hollenberger, Chief Deputy Clerk; Pamela Timmons, Deputy Clerk; associated staff and interested parties.

The following School Board members were present:  Dana Reinboldt, Chairman; Patricia Healy, Vice Chairman; Meg G. Bohmke; Stephanie Johnson; Patricia Mancini; Doreen Phillips; and Ty Scheiber. 

Also in attendance were: Dr. David Sawyer, Superintendent of Schools, and associated School Division staff.

Mr. Dudenhefer gave opening remarks, welcoming all School Board members and staff.

Revenue Overview  Mr. Anthony Romanello, County Administrator, gave a presentation on the FY11 Proposed Budget Executive Summary and answered Board members questions.

Dana Reinboldt, School Board Chairman, gave opening remarks on behalf of the School Board and introduced the School’s budget presentation.  Ty Scheiber, School Board member, gave the presentation and answered Board members questions.

Mr. Sterling commented that spending is heavily weighted toward administration rather than classroom instruction.  He commented that the adjustment for last year’s budget is different that the approved version and noted that adjustments were made to pull out stimulus dollars.  He felt that there was a lot of stimulus money going into the instructional portion of the budget and asked what happens next year when there is not stimulus and inquired as to how Schools will adjust?  Dr. Sawyer responded that he would get that information back to the Board.

Mr. Milde asked what percentage was budgeted by Schools for employment.  School staff answered that it was at 100%, but that approximately 1 ½ % is not spent in actual payout.  Mr. Milde stated that if those funds were budgeted more in accordance with the actual payout, there would be a huge savings.

Discussion ensued.

Ms. Stimpson said that she is concerned that the Schools budget has grown each year since 2004 yet there has been a less than 1% increase in student enrollment and a new middle school was opened.   Ms. Stimpson further said that there appears to be no cuts made with this year’s approved budget yet now the Schools are requesting an increase in funding.  The Schools had no comment.

Ms. Stimpson further said that it was her understanding that Schools had been instructed to use Federal and State monies before county money but that had not been the practice followed by the Schools.  School staff replied that Federal funds have been rolled over because it is stipulated in the grant that those funds may be used in either this fiscal year or next.

Mr. Sterling asked the Schools to provide information on the actual amount of dollars spent on instruction last year.

Discussion ensued.

Mr. Dudenhefer commented that he felt both Boards had made progress, but there was much work left to do.  He suggested an additional meeting in two weeks, before the Board held its April 20^th meeting.

At 8:35 p.m., the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned.

Anthony J. Romanello, ICMA-CM                                  Mark Dudenhefer

County Administrator                                                    Chairman