The Shadow
WARM SPRINGS – The Bath County Board of Supervisors has amended its budget to reflect cuts in funding to constitutional officers from the State Compensation Board.
Supervisors adopted a resolution Tuesday night to amend its fiscal year 2010 budget, reducing expenditures in concordance with cuts made by the state in reimbursements to certain state-funded offices.
The reductions include commonwealth’s attorney: $1,158; sheriff’s office: $27,960; commissioner of the revenue: $4,116; treasurer: $3,192; clerk of circuit court: $9,183; and registrar and electoral board: $5,589.
These revenue cuts total $51,198.
At its October meeting, supervisors asked County Administrator Bonnie Johnson to work with the constitutional officers to identify where cuts could be made in their budgets to offset the reduction in state funding.
“This was not an easy process for our constitutional officers or for the registrar or the electoral board,” Johnson said. “This was a difficult process.”
Prior to the action taken by supervisors, Bath County Sheriff Larry Norfleet asked the board in a letter “for your assistance in offsetting the budget cuts by Gov. Timothy Kaine in September 2009. Each of our offices is affected by these cuts through the Virginia Compensation Board.”
The letter added, “Since your last meeting, you have had time to think about this situation and to speak with your constituents about it.
Therefore, we are again asking you to make up the funds lost from the compensation board and allow us to continue our level of service to the citizens of Bath County.”
The letter was signed by Sheriff Norfleet, Treasurer Mary Susan Blankenship, Commissioner of the Revenue Leta Norfleet and Commonwealth’s Attorney John C. Singleton. Circuit Court Clerk Wayne Winebriner was out of town and unable to sign the letter.
“We’re again asking you tonight if you will reconsider picking up those funds so that we can provide a level of services to the citizens of Bath County that they are accustomed to having,” Sheriff Norfleet reiterated. “I know that times are hard. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them this bad.”
Sheriff Norfleet said he thought supervisors would consider picking up these amounts if it wasn’t for the “exorbitant” amount of $27,960 from the sheriff’s office.
“I am asking that you pick up all of the constitutional officers funding with the exception of the sheriff’s office,” he said.
Sheriff Norfleet explained the rationale behind his request.
“I have been told that the governor-elect is going to reinstate public service funds when he takes office,” he said. “If he does so, then at that point he reinstates the funding for public services – for the sheriff’s office.
“Then, I would like for the county to pick up that position again, so that I can have a full staff and be able to provide all the services that Bath County deserves,” Sheriff Norfleet added.
By a vote of 4-1 with Richard Byrd dissenting, supervisors approved a resolution amending the budget to reflect these cuts in funding from the state.
“I know how hard these people work,” Byrd said. “I will continue to support these offices.”
Byrd said he expects further funding reductions from the state in the future.
“I think there are more coming,” he said. “The financial situation of the commonwealth of Virginia is bleak.”
Supervisor Stuart Hall agreed with Byrd’s assessment.
“There is no money, and other cuts are coming,” Hall said. “When you don’t have it, what do you do?”
Chairman Percy Nowlin said Bath County needs “to make this a learning situation.”
“We desperately need a rainy day fund in the future,” Nowlin said.
“Rather than bite the bullet at the state level, they’ve sent it down to us. It’s a desperate situation.
“We need to set up a rainy day fund and build on it,” Nowlin said.
Supervisor Jon Trees said the current financial constraints are not unique to Bath County.
“Everybody needs to tighten their belts,” Trees said.
Also Tuesday night, supervisors tabled scheduling a public hearing on a proposed outdoor lighting ordinance in the county.
Supervisors said they would prefer to further study the ordinance and send their recommendations back to the planning commission.
“I would ask them to refine it,” Hall said.
Following an Oct. 26 public hearing, the planning commission voted 4-0 to send the proposed ordinance to supervisors with a recommendation for adoption.
County Planner and Zoning Administrator Sherry Ryder told supervisors that 10-12 residents spoke in favor of the ordinance during the public hearing, while no one voiced opposition.
The purpose of the ordinance is to establish outdoor lighting standards that reduce the impacts of glare, light trespass, overlighting, skyglow and poorly shielded or inappropriately directed lighting fixtures. It also promotes safety and encourages energy conservation.
Byrd questioned the need for such an ordinance.
“How much control do we really want?” he questioned. “I have concerns with government making all these rules.”
“I personally see the need for this,” countered Trees. “I think we need to hear from the public on it.”
In other business Tuesday night, supervisors received an update on the reduction in lake levels at Lake Moomaw from Pat Sheridan, district ranger for the James River and Warm Springs ranger districts of the George Washington and Jefferson national forests.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is lowering the lake levels to analyze the safety of the Gathright Dam.
Sheridan said he expects the lake to be drawn down to a minimum pool of 1,554.0 feet by early January.
“They expect that they will be able to conduct all the studies they need, and they expect the studies will turn out favorably,” Sheridan said.
Sheridan added that he expects the lake to return to full pond by the spring of 2010.
“That is their best estimate of how this is going to play out,” Sheridan said.
Also during their regular November meeting Tuesday night, supervisors:
– recognized the Bath County High School building trades students and teacher Joey Altizer for their work to provide handicapped access for the home bleachers at the BCHS football field;
– heard a report on career and technical education from Jackie Stephenson, assistant principal at BCHS and director of the Mertz Career and Technical Center;
– scheduled a Jan. 12 public hearing with Virginia Department of Transportation officials on funding for repairs to a Rt. 676 bridge that has been closed since August;
– discussed the future of the Millboro Farmers Market with organizers Harmony Leonard and Donna Campagna;
– authorized the board chairman, county administrator and county attorney to procure consultants for a Thomastown and Pinehurst Heights planning grant project;
– approved an update of the Emergency Operations Plan for Bath County;
– authorized use of the SEEDS building by the Parks and Recreation Department;
– voted to forgo a Fourth of July fireworks display in 2010;
– appointed Nancy Smith to the Rockbridge Community Services Board;
– authorized a response to the state regarding stormwater regulations;
– accepted the resignation of Pete Minetree from the Rockbridge Regional Library board of directors.
