DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 28, No. 44 | Richmond Surburban Newspapers | February 29, 2012
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
County looks at 50 cuts, hike in premiums By Jim Fields jfields@mechlocal.com Staff reductions of 50 positions and an increase of 15 percent in the cost of health insurance premiums for all employees were two of the cost-cutting measures outlined by Hanover County administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. last Wednesday when he made the initial presentation of the county’s proposed Fiscal Year
Budget changes cut 88.4 school jobs By Jim Fields jfields@mechlocal.com Almost 90 positions are being eliminated and funding for the early retirement program is being cut by more than 50 percent in the Fiscal Year 2012-2013 budget approved on Feb. 21 by the Hanover County School Board. In a 6-1 vote, with Mechanicsville District representative Glenn T. Millican Jr. voting against the proposal, the School Board accepted the $191.6 million budget. Chairman John F. Axselle III described the budget as “anything but happy,” as members agreed to eliminate 88.4 full-time positions and make
2013 budget to the Hanover County Board of Supervisors. The FY13 proposed budget is $367.4 million, a 6.1 percent decrease from the current year. The county’s General Fund budget is $199.4 million, a 1.6 percent decrease from the current year. “We expect to handle the staff reductions through a combination of attrition, retirement and reductions in force,” Harris said. “Over 40
Proposed FY 2012-2013 Budget: The Bottom Line Total Budget All Funds $191,992,608 Total Budget Inccrease — Operating Funds -5.9% Total Projected Revenue — State, All Funds $79,038,270 Percent Decrease — State 2.3% Total Projected Revenue — County, All Funds $93,528,500 Percent Decrease — County -0.9% Number of Students — Total Served 17,842 Total Number of Employees 2,470 Source: Hanover County Public Schools
the cut in the early retirement program. This was the first budget presented by Dr. Jamelle S. Wilson, who became superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools in May. “We expect the position reductions to be achieved through attrition,” Wilson said. “We tried to do the best things possible to preserve the interest of the students.” “Throughout the budget process,” she added, “I was constantly asking myself am I doing what I’m supposed to be doing on behalf of the students.”
The cuts were made to balance the budget and overcome a $13.96 million deficit. By approving the financial plan, the board will start the FY 2013-2014 budget process with a $6 million deficit. Of the positions eliminated, 52.4 were instructional staff. Cutting those positions and realigning staff due to declining enrollment increases the pupil-to-teacher ratio by 0.5 in elementary and middle schools and by one in high schools. With the cuts included in see SCHOOLS, pg. 8
of those positions were funded in FY12 and will result in budget savings, while the remaining positions had been unfunded in prior budgets and are being formally eliminated. We expect the recently approved early retirement-voluntary separation program to identify employees choosing to leave and mitigate any involuntary reductions in force.” Harris said the Sheriff ’s Office and Fire/EMS will continue to have current front-line staff-
ing resources available to provide for a safe and secure community and there would be no reduction in staff in those areas. To balance the budget, he said a $5.8 million shortfall had to be overcome. “Since personnel make up 70 percent of the budget, it has to bear a major burden of the cuts,” Harris said. see COUNTY, pg. 5
Group borne from grief still offers support to community By Jim Fields jfields@mechlocal.com rief is a long-term pain. It doesn’t matter whether your misery started yesterday, or decades past, it can twist your senses and emotions at any time. Patsi and Jerry Deans and Marsha and Darrell Rettig are leaders of a grief support group at Cool Spring Baptist Church on Atlee Station Road. Patsi, Jerry and Marsha said the program was borne out of the church’s own pain over the death of a minister’s child seven years ago. “The church came together to support the family and, shortly after her death, we
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Jim Fields/The Local
Marsha Rettig, seated, along with Patsi and Jerry Deans are leaders of a grief support group at the Cool Spring Baptist Church on Atlee Station Road.
went to church leaders and said we would like to start a support group,” Jerry said. “Within two months of her death, we had our first meeting.” While the three are well known in the area for their involvement
see GRIEF, pg. 4