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stance of the state pushing costs onto the county. “If the state had given 2,3 or 4 percent increases, we wouldn’t be here,” he said.
Commissioner of Revenue Beverly Atkins noted that the school budget includes having the school system pay the retirement for school system employees and she felt county employees should have the same benefit.
Mr. Massie noted that the school employees have only 52 percent of their health insurance covered.
Mr. Gilkey said he favored leaving the retirement contribution in the budget. “I think it would be money well spent to keep harmony among the employees.”
Piedmont District representative Charles K. “Pete” Estes made the motion to pay the retirement system benefit. The motion passed 4 to 1 with Mr. Massie voting “No.”
The board agreed to add $600 to the budget to help the 4-H Center retire the debt it has for furnishings at the center outside Front Royal.
Mr. Massie left the meeting Monday night as the supervisors were preparing to discuss the advertised tax rate. Accountant Wally Cox advised the board to advertise a 50 cent tax rate. To advertise a higher rate would require that they run a rather confusing ad several times because the increase would come in a year following the reassessment.
Mr. Cox also said that the 50 cent rate would cover most of the ongoing costs of government, with the surplus being drawn down mostly to cover non-recurring expenses. He noted that the county would still have over $1 million in surplus, more than 10 percent of the budget.
The supervisors agreed to advertise the budget for public hearing at 7 p.m. June 1 at the courthouse. They will meet later in June to actually adopt the budget.
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