The public speaks

The public speaks

The Board of Supervisors heard from eighteen people during the public hearing portion of the meeting. The great majority of those speaking expressed their support for the adoption of the full budget, but those few in opposition expressed strong feelings about “top heavy administration”, high per capita costs, and uncontrolled and escalating expenses. One speaker, referring to Mrs. Dietel’s suggestion that a committee be empanelled to investigate alternative funding solutions, suggested that another committee be formed to “go into the school to find out how to cut expenses.”

Comments from the Board of Supervisors focused on relative costs of the Rappahannock schools.

Bob Anderson inquired about administrative costs and noted that Rappahannock County Public Schools administrative costs were “about the sixth highest in the state.” Ron Frazier agreed with Mr. Anderson’s concern about administrative costs. He said that with declining enrollments and increasing technology the administrative costs “should be going down, not up.”

Bryant Lee held out hopes that the closing of the George Washington Carver/Piedmont Technical Institute could lead to the sale of the institute’s facility in Culpeper, and the possibility of income to Rappahannock County.

Roger Welch referred to the prospect of a tax rate increase to $1.00, and cited tax rates in neighboring counties (e.g., Green at $0.76, Culpeper at $0.83, Madison at $0.72, Fairfax at $1.06).

Mr. Welch said that his personal opinion was that “we can’t go to $1.06,” and he expressed hopes that “Mrs. Dietel’s idea can go forward.”

The Board of Supervisors will meet at the County Courthouse at 7 p.m. on April 30 to consider budget adoption. The meeting is open to the public, but there will be no public hearing.

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