The York County Board of Supervisors discussed at their Tuesday meeting the budget, sequestration and a proposal to strike the concealed weapons ordinance from county code, which passed 5-0.
The removal of the concealed weapons ordinance does not impact existing laws or rights, as the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Department already prosecutes concealed weapons violations via the Virginia State Code, according to Sheriff J.D. “Danny” Diggs.
The concealed weapons ordinance was last discussed at the Supervisors’ Nov. 20 meeting, where it was decided they would table the issue to give time for research and allow enough time to get the word out about a public hearing.
“There seems to be no need for a county ordinance,” said County Attorney James Barnett Jr.
One person spoke during the public hearing portion of the discussion of the concealed weapons ordinance. Doug Peterson of the Virginia Citizens Defense League said he agreed with removing the ordinance as it does not impact Virginia statute and it makes it easier for people who visit the county, as they only have to comply with one set of laws.
During the citizens comment period and the matters presented by the board, the conversation drifted to the budget and sequestration.
As it currently stands, York County could have a potential shortfall of $3.3 million, which includes a possible $2.9 million to cover increased costs from the school division. At a Feb. 5 joint work session with the York County School Board, County Administrator James McReynolds said an equivalent tax increase to cover the estimated shortfall would be 3.77 cents.
The county is looking at increased expenditures in compensation for both county and school division employees. York County Superintendent Eric Williams proposed his budget for the next fiscal year last week, citing $3.1 million in higher health care costs as a driving factor behind the additional $2.9 million he thinks the school board should request from the county. The $2.9 million figure takes into account $2.5 million of cuts Williams proposed.
These numbers are subject to change as county officials continue to work through the budget process. The numbers do not include firm estimates of federal or state funding either, though both the county and the school division anticipate a shortfall. The supervisors will meet at 6 p.m. March 5 at York Hall for the next work session for the budget. They hope to adopt a budget May 7.
Lynda Fairman, chairwoman of the York County Republican Committee, said her group recently passed a resolution requesting the supervisors make any spending cuts that are necessary in order to avoid tax increases. Her discussion touched on a number of issues, including present economic conditions nationwide, last year’s tax increase and the expansion of local government — because of these issues and more, she said spending cuts are a better idea than tax increases.
York County resident Robert Frailey asked the county to not raise taxes, citing bonds and taxes paid for capital improvement projects such as the infrastructure at the Marquis at Williamsburg as unnecessary spending. He also said the supervisors are not listening to the Planning Commission or to what citizens want, as evidenced by their approval of a community of townhouses at the current location of the shuttered 1776 Knights Inn on Bypass Road despite the Planning Commission recommending they vote to deny the project.
During their time to discuss general issues, the supervisors touched on the budget process, which is currently under way, and the impending sequestration, an across the board cut to federal spending set to take place March 1 that would disproportionately impact Virginia.
“I’m convinced that Congress will allow the sequestration to take place,” said Supervisor Thomas Shepperd Jr. “We will wake up and the nightmare will be on top of us.”
Supervisor Sheila Noll blasted the last Congress, calling them “do-nothing.”
“Virginia will suffer,” Noll said, “and there’s not too much we can do about it.”
Noll encouraged residents to contact President Barack Obama and national legislators to voice their concerns about sequestration. Supervisor and Chairman Walt Zaremba characterized the sequester as “suicidal” and “self inflicted.”
Supervisor and Vice-Chairman Donald Wiggins discussed the budget, asking citizens who want to cut spending where the cuts should come from. He said 43 percent of the budget goes to schools and 23 percent goes to vital emergency services, leaving 30 percent of the budget from which to cut since citizens don’t want the supervisors to cut schools or emergency services.
“We’ve got it down to barebones now,” Wiggins said. “Are we going to cut stormwater drainage? Cut sewage?”
Zaremba said the board wants as much input from the public as possible, and encourages country residents to contact the Board of Supervisors. He also said residents should look at the budget on the York County website. You can read more about the budget on the county’s website by clicking here.
Other matters:
- The Supervisors voted 5-0 to allow land in the Willow Lakes subdivision to be reclassified so that it can be developed in the future. No development is imminent.
- They also voted 5-0 to approve an accessory apartment on the second story of a detached garage at a residence on Wynne Road. You can read more about both the Willow Lakes land reclassification and the accessory apartment by clicking here.
- A resolution was adopted that increases the allowable wall sign area at the waterfront area of Yorktown so that motorists can see what the signs say from the road. The Office of Economic Development requested the change, as current ordinance only allows for signs in that area that are a maximum of 5 square feet.
- Chad A. Edmonson, operations coordinator in the Department of General Services, was named Employee of the Quarter for the last quarter of 2012.
- Two new members of York County Boards and Commissions were introduced: Sophie Cienski of the York County Youth Commission and Alfred L. Brassell of the Beautification Committee.
