Budget Hearing – FY 2013 – 2014 Proposed Budget
The June Board of Commissioner’s meeting opened with a resounding public silence. This was the time the commissioners reserved to hear from the county’s taxpayers their suggestions, recommendations, ideas, objections, and overall approval or disgust of next year’s fiscal budget. Instead the commissioners heard not one word from any registered voter or taxpayer. Chairman Hester made it very clear that a copy of the draft budget is posted to the county’s own web-site for our review and discussion before it is approved at the July meeting. We have only ourselves to blame for the government we have accepted through our collective noninvolvement.
VGCC State of the College Overview
Ms. Stelfani Williams, President of VGCC, had a well round presentation for the commissioners regarding the state of the college. The upside of the presentation was recognition of the school’s achievements to offer a valued education to students. Sadly, the VGCC facilities are showing the impact of excessive budget constraints.
Zoning Changes
The some of the commissioners sang great praised for a zoning change that would allow an out of state corporation know as a small box discount retailer to build a new store in the Williamsboro community. A retailer who will hire 10 – 15 people to work less than a standard 40 hour workweek for minimum wage and no benefit such as healthcare. The county’s benefit is a higher property value and sales tax. Some of the same commissioners were concerned about the impact on the neighbors of a locally owned and operated business’s interest in expanding product offering. Both zoning changes were approved and both offer additional revenue for the county.
Properties Committee
Under the heading of Committee Reports and Recommendations (see the agenda posted on the County’s web-site) is the topic Properties Committee. On page 54 of the agenda is a letter from Henderson Collegiate Charter School, currently serving 4th – 6th grade students and is planning to expand to 7th grade. According to the Eric Sanchez, Co-Founder and School Leader, current enrollment is 300 students and is planning to expand to 400 students. The current enrollment is worth noting. The beating heart of the school’s request is their need for a short term lease of two county owned lots adjacent to the school’s current location. The two vacant lots are not currently earning the county any tax revenue.
Before the Board heard the recommendation of the Properties Committee the two leading opponents to the request spoke during the Public Comment period. The two opponents are Anthony Peace, President of Associated Rest and Nursing Care, Inc, and Derylvon Williams. Mr. Peace’s business is located south of the school and Ms. Williams imagines her “school” being in same location as Henderson Collegiate. Both Mr. Peace and Ms. Williams expressed the same concerns safety and access for emergency vehicles. According to both allowing the school to expand will adversely impact fire and rescue teams from accessing Mr. Peace’s business at the time of an emergency. Ms. Williams flatly stated there are 600 cars a day delivering and picking up the students attending the school. She claimed that allowing an additional 100 students would only exacerbate the traffic congesting. (For full disclosure, I arrived at Henderson Collegiate before 8 am on May 23 and 29th . I was one of the proctors for the end of year testing.) Mr. Sanchez had also registered to speak during the Public Comment period. Apparently there had been an earlier meeting of the Property Committee because Mr. Sanchez asked if he should without his comments for later in the meeting or address them at that time. Mr. Asycue indicated that Mr. Sanchez would be allowed to address the Board later. Mr. Sanchez said he would speak later.
The stage is set for Property Committee recommendation.
Mr. Sanchez walked to the podium to address the Board and I assume to answer commissioners’ questions. Mr. Sanchez, introduced himself to the Board then asked those attending the meeting who are students or parents of the school to stand. Unbeknown to the Board, Board staff, Mr. Sanchez, meeting attendees and those in the Peanut Gallery, Mr. Sanchez’s action was a critical lapse in protocol. A lapse so flagrant Commissioner Brown stood to rebuke Mr. Sanchez. She demanded the Chairman to stop Mr. Sanchez. She implored Mr. Care to intercede. While standing Commissioner Brown made her point adamantly clear, Mr. Sanchez had no reason for calling supporters of his school to attend this meeting and introducing them. She added that all she is interested in are the facts and will not be made to look like a fool. Chairman Hester interjected, I was not in the committee meeting will someone keep this conversation to the request from the committee meetings. Apparently at the committee level Mr. Sanchez was asked to produce a fire report and a TRC. I have no idea what is a TRC; Mr. Asycue said he had a copy and would make in available on Tuesday. Mr. Sanchez passed a copy of the fire report to the Board and “our notes from the TRC report”. Commissioner Brown cross-examined Mr. Sanchez regarding the notes from the TRC. Saying they are not dated, don’t know who wrote them, and how do I know these are your notes. Much later Chairman Hester asked Mr. Sanchez how many students in your school. To which Mr. Sanchez replied 300. Chairman Hester asked incredulously you have 600 cars bringing 300 students to school. Mr. Sanchez calmly said no the number of cars has been greatly exaggerated. What an understatement especially when someone who wants only the facts uses the 600 car number to rail against Mr. Sanchez.
After much discussion the Board voted to allow advertisement of the County’s intent to lease the two lots. Commissioner Wright opposed the lease because he thinks Ms. Williams has been mistreated. Commissioner Brown voted her objection.
REO Properties
A $1,000 bid for the house at 102 N. Hacienda Lane was not upset and needed only the Boards approval to finalize. Before the Board voted to approve the sale Commissioner Brown asked a question about recovering the back taxes on this property. This is an unprecedented question by any of the commissioners. Commissioner Brown said, we need to recover the taxes. We cannot allow the person who didn’t pay the tax to come back and buy the property back. Mr. Care said that the State statues do not permit that. Mr. Care continued saying we have one completed sale and one pending sale with taxes due, adding we have this straightened out going forward. Commissioner Garrison asked are we saying going forward the buyer will be vetted before the sale. Mr. Care said this is a 3 step process and before another comes to the board the share holders will be vetted for back taxes.
I think anyone bidding for a house, asking for funding, wanting approval from the Board must demonstrate their property taxes are current, not in arrears.
Did I read correctly that Deryl vonWilliams is expecting taxpayers to give her a county owned building for her GED program? May be she should pay her property taxes before asking for anything.