Public hearing set for regional transportation authority budget
A study projects that Chesterfield County needs $22 million to fund salary and benefits increases for police and fire personnel.
Commissioners received study results during an Oct. 28 work session presented by Evergreen Solutions LLC of Tallahassee, Fla.
The study calls for $5.87 million in salary and benefits in Phase I and $16.5 million in Phase II.
County administrator Joe Casey said the timing of the study is “perfect” as the county begins preparing for the Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget. He noted that $22.38 million would be a “base injection plus a 2.8-percent step adjustment each year” following.
“We will begin the task of determining how to meet the goals,” Casey said.
“This isn’t a plan that we’re going to park on the shelf,” said board chair Leslie Haley (R-Midlothian).
Supervisor Chris Winslow (R-Clover Hill) recommended that implementation of the plan provide for flexibility and adaptability due to possible financial constraints.
Supervisor Kevin Carroll (R-Matoaca) noted the training that police officers are required to complete – 32 weeks – and added that fire department personnel must complete about six months of training.
Retaining these employees is a priority of the board of supervisors, Casey said.
“I’m very supportive of the plan,” supervisor Jim Holland (D-Dale) said.
Transportation
As part of the consent agenda, the commissioners agreed to set Dec. 16 as a public hearing date for consideration of the FY 2021-22 budget and a FY 2021-26 improvement plan for the Central Virginia Transportation Authority.
The General Assembly created the authority earlier this year through passage of HB 1541, which was sponsored by Del. Dolores McQuinn (D-Richmond), chair of the House Transportation Committee.
The law added a sales tax increase of 0.7 percent that began in October and a wholesale tax of 7.6 cents for gas and 7.7 cents for diesel that began in July.
Chesterfield County is estimated to receive between $20 million and $25 million from the sales and fuel taxes as part of its FY 2021-22 budget.
According to a board document presented by Donald “Brent” Epps Jr., the county’s director of transportation, some of the projects slated for the next fiscal year include: $5 million for Nash Road, $2 million for project engineering for interchange work at Interstate 95 and Willis Road, and $1 million for a roundabout at Centralia Road and Old Wrexham Road.
The six-year plan is estimated to pull in $117.17 million for Chesterfield projects.
In addition to Chesterfield, the authority covers Richmond, Ashland and the counties of Hanover, Henrico, Charles City, Goochland, New Kent, and Powhatan.
Greater Richmond Transit Co. will receive 15 percent of CVRT funds, and 35 percent will go toward regional transportation projects. The remaining 50 percent will be divided proportionately among the nine governmental entities.
Justice grant
Also as part of the consent agenda, the supervisors accepted a $50,650 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the federal Department of Justice and Bureau of Justice Assistance. The grant will be used to decrease the number of repeat offender domestic violence cases through the use of vertical prosecution and evidence-based prosecutorial practices by the commonwealth’s attorney’s domestic violence prosecutor. Vertical prosecution involves using the same prosecutor to handle every part of the trial process, from arraignment to sentencing.