Showing posts with label September. Show all posts
Showing posts with label September. Show all posts

Friday, October 17, 2014

September 2014 General Fund Revenue Collections Up 5.3% From Previous Year Fiscal-Year-To-Date Collections up 6.7%

English:
English: (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
All Major Sources Accounted for the Gain

RICHMOND - Today, Governor McAuliffe announced that the September General Fund revenue increased 5.3% from the previous year with all major sources contributing to the increase.  This is the first time revenues have increased for three consecutive months since April-June of 2013.  The Governor also stated that September completes the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 and is a significant month for revenue collections. Estimated payments from individuals, corporations, and insurance companies are all due in September, along with regular monthly collections in withholding, sales taxes, and other sources.
“I am pleased to see that our revenue collections are up, however, we must remain cautious because the Commonwealth has only collected about one-quarter of its general fund revenue estimate to date. My administration will continue to take a prudent approach to help ensure that Virginia remains fiscally strong,” said Governor McAuliffe.
On a fiscal year-to-date basis, total revenue collections rose 6.7%, well ahead of the revised annual forecast of 2.9% growth.  The main drivers of the revenue increase were the individual income tax, the corporate income tax, and sales tax.  With an additional deposit day compared with last year, collections of payroll withholding taxes rose 8.3% in September. September is a significant month for collections in non-withholding, since the first estimated payment for fiscal year 2015 is due.  Collections rose 2.8% in September from last year.  Collections of sales and use taxes, reflecting August sales, rose 3.5% in September. As with non-withholding, September is a significant month in corporate income tax collections, since the first estimated payment for the fiscal year is due in September.  Collections of corporate income tax grew 6.9% in September from September of last year.  Finally, collections of wills, suits, deeds, and contracts – mainly recordation tax collections – were $26.4 million in September, compared with $25.9 million in September of last year.  The 1.9% growth in September ended 13 consecutive months of negative growth. 
On a year-to-date basis, collections of payroll withholding taxes – 64% of General Fund revenues -- increased 6.3%, ahead of the revised annual forecast of 2.7% growth.  Year-to-date non-withholding collections were $427.7 million compared with $372.8 million in the same period last year, rising by 14.7% and ahead of the annual estimate of 6.3% growth.  Sales tax collections – 19% of General Fund revenues – increased 4.6% through September, ahead of the annual forecast calling for a 4.4% increase.  Through the first quarter of the fiscal year, corporate income tax collections have grown 12.4% from the same period last year, ahead of the annual estimate of a 0.9% decline.

Read the full report here.


Friday, September 26, 2014

Gloucester, VA School Board Meeting Video, September 9th, 2014

Gloucester, VA General News For September From The Town Crier And Job Listings

Winter Homeless Shelter Efforts Continuing: The Gloucester United Emergency Shelter Team is back in action and planning for the 2014-15 winter season! Last year's effort was a success with 30 homeless individuals spending at least one night in the GUEST program. Plans are to open a homeless day shelter close to the Gloucester Moose Lodge (6536 Moose Drive). To prepare the home for use, the following is needed: (1) volunteers to help with interior modifications; (2) volunteers (individuals, church members and civic organizations, etc.) to assist with staffing the facility during operational hours; (3) monetary donations always, always welcome and needed!  Call 804-803-1755 to help! 



Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society is currently seeking a part-time Bookkeeper (20 hours a week/flexible). Must have people and computer skills including QuickBooks and Excel. Send resume and salary requirements HERE.

Gloucester County: Subscribe to Gloucester Connection Employment Opportunities e-mail service and receive automatic notification of all new job vacancies as soon as they are announced. Be one of the first to know and never miss an opportunity! Available job opportunities have been posted to the Gloucester County employment website.

Featured County Jobs: Network VOIP Administrator and Specialty Instructor. For more information or to apply on-line visit: www.gloucesterva.info/jobs

Gloucester County Public Schools: Featured jobs include: Special Education Teacher for the Visually Impaired, Physical Therapist, Elementary School Principal, Language Arts Teacher and School Counselor. Please call 693-5300 for more information and visit the GCPS Human Resources Department website.


Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisors &School Board Joint Meeting With Notes, Sept. 2014




Open letter to Gloucester County.

In the July and first September Board of Supervisors (BOS)  meeting I spoke during the citizen comment period and gave the BOS a list of things they need to do to make Gloucester County "The Land of the Life Worth Living."

Based on the grades on the two report cards I was told that I should provide you with ways to improve your grades. 

Before I do that I have to make a comment about the September 16th joint meeting.  Does anyone on the School Administrative staff have a degree of any kind?  The staff went into joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors totally unprepared.  I know I would not have any degree if I went into a test as unprepared as the School Board Staff was last night.  With the salaries we pay can’t we get someone with a degree or at least someone that knows why they are going to a meeting as employees?  If I was a member of the School Board I would be embarrassed.

I am going to look at the second item that I am grading the BOS with:  Hold Department Heads and Supervisors to high standards and get rid of them when they break the rules.  You cannot hold lower level employees to high standards if they are not practiced at the higher levels.

There were numerous examples provided in the two September meetings.

I will start with the meeting on the 16th.  The School Board staff did a great job of not having prepared anything in my opinion with a standard answer that we will get back with you later with an answer.  Do not have any more meetings with them if they do not come prepared as it's a total waste of your time.  If they do, tell them the meeting is over and that you will develop a budget for them without their input.  You give them about $10 million less than they want one year and maybe they will get the hint they need to provide open and honest communications with you.  I do not think it will happen a second time.

In my opinion the County Staff is equally lazy and predictable and like to talk in circles for several minutes without answering your questions hoping you will forget the question or answer they are not responsible.

First, tell them you want an executive summary answer, 20 words or less, and if you need more information you will ask another question again with a short answer.  I like what Mr. Meyer said about the flood document that it needed to be a pamphlet that anyone could read quickly and not a novel as it currently exist.  Hold the staff accountable and make them reduce the document to a size anyone can read and understand; we are not paying them by the pound.  What are they trying to hide?  If it is above the 6th – 8th grade reading level they are trying to hide something.  This is the level that most documents are written that are readily used by most of the population.  Above this level it is a coffee table book that is not read.

Second, when you have employees that tell you they are not responsible for what they are presenting to you?  Tell them it is with great sorrow that you accept their resignation effective immediately?  I think it was an ms ditzy that said that; I would have to go back to the agenda to get the persons actual name.  If they are responsible for preparing the document and tell you something like that then they are very much overpaid and need to leave.

Third, when they do this;  stop the speaker telling them they are done; then ask Ms. Garton to get someone qualified to make the presentation.

If you use these suggestions I do not think you will continue to have problems getting answers and employees giving you the required respect.

I am a tax payer and you need to be held accountable to “We the People”.

I have a voter registration card and know how to use it.
Respectfully submitted by

Wayne Crews
Gloucester Point District

P.S.  The school population is increasing because of the new superintendent? What has he done for us for him to make this kind of statement and can he provide proof he is responsible?  You have to go to the meetings or watch them on TV.  More entertaining than anything else on TV in the time slot.  I think the meeting made the top Nelson rating for the night in the time slot if not it should have.



Friday, September 12, 2014

Gloucester, VA Board of Supervisors Meeting, Notes, Report Card For September, 2014




Notes for citizen comment during the Sept 2, 2014 Gloucester County Board of Supervisor meeting. (This is not an exact transcript of what was said but the notes used to make comments)

Chairman Orth, members of the Board, Ms. Garton, Mr. Wilmot

Wayne Crews

During the July BOS meeting I told you in my opinion there are five things to do to fix the problem in the county.

1.  Supervisor Integrity.

2.  Hold Department Heads to high standards.

3.  Stop personal use of government vehicles.

4.  Be good stewards of the resources.

5.  Bring County Ordinances into compliance with Virginia Code

Tonight I want to talk to you about two items.

First about being good stewards of resources.  The board has no problems spending money as you just showed with the consent agenda spending about $300K of taxpayers money on lights for a new park.  I have no issues with this [funds were donated].  Who will pay for the use of these lights?

Why are we not maintaining existing facilities?  For example: at Gloucester Point Beach the fences around the sand dunes are in poor shape and look bad.  The gazebo has peeling paint and graffiti that needs to be cleaned and painted.  Not to pick on parks and Rec.  The County garage on Rt 17 across from Providence Road is in need of a coat of paint at a minimum.  The Public Utilities facility is a disgrace and does not have functioning water and sewage.  These are just a few examples of things we need to maintain before buying new and expanding.

My second item is County Ordinance.  It appears to me it is too much to expect our County Attorney and Administrator and staffs to stay current with Virginia Code.  We get notices in the newspapers in June so we know what has changed.  We have to obey these new laws when they come into effect each July.  Why is it at the Sept BOS meeting there are no changes to County Code being discussed?  Also, it appears they have no issues writing ordinances that could endanger Animal Control Officers while enforcing Ordinances that are not in compliance with Virginia Code.


How to Fix This?
Here is what you need to do:

1.  Integrity at the Board of Supervisors level.
Quit voting for things that benefit you over the county.

2.  Hold Department Heads and Supervisors to high standards and get rid of them when they break the rules.  You cannot hold lower level employees to high standards if they are not practiced at the higher levels.

3.  Fire employees on the spot if they use vehicles for personal business, except in the case of an emergency and the employee better contact the supervisors before the supervisor contacts them.  No shopping, banking, and fast food restaurants in county vehicles.  If trash is found in the vehicle from these places the employee needs to receive the same punishment.

4.  Quit wasting taxpayers money.  The Board of Supervisions and all county employees need to be good stewards of the resources.

5.  Bring County Ordinances into compliance with Virginia Code.  Mr. Wilmot can help you with this if not consider hiring a competent county attorney.

Thank you.

This is presented as notes used during the citizen comment period during the Sept 2, 2014 Gloucester County Board of Supervisors meeting and not as a transcript of the actual talk.  To get transcript please see the BOS video or County minutes.

Submitted by Wayne Crews


P.S.  It was interesting to see Mr. Chriscoe's reaction when he heard he just voted to spend money in the consent agenda as well as finding out how much of a socialist he is by his positions during the meeting.

BOS Report Card

In the July meeting I spoke during the citizen comment period and gave the BOS a list of things they need to do to make Gloucester County "The Land of the Life Worth Living."


Until they fix the items  I think they need to be graded on their progress.  So I will grade them on the five items.  Maybe the School Board needs to be graded on the same items; I would but until they get above a “F” I will not waste my time.  I will keep track so we can present your grade when your next election comes up.

If any of the board members feels the grades are not fair I will consider their appeal.


1. Integrity at the Board of Supervisors level
Quit voting  or things that benefit you over the county.



Overall

D-

D-

















Aug 14

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan 15

Feb

Mar

Apr

Robert Orth

A

D-















Christopher Hutson

F

D-















Ashley Chriscoe

F

D-















Andrew James, Jr.

F

D-















Michael Winebarger

F

D-















John Meyer, Jr.

F

D-















Phillip Bazzani

F

D-















Comment:             Aug - Dr. Orth did not vote for Ernest Lane.  Absent that night.
                        Sep - Why do you think more government intrusion into our lives is better?

2. Hold Department Heads and Supervisors to high standards and get rid of them when they break the rules.  You cannot hold lower level employees to high standards if they are not practiced at the higher levels.




Aug 14

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan 15

Feb

Mar

Apr

Overall

F

F















Comment:        
Aug - Nothing has been fixed.
            Sept - Allowed department heads and supervisors to get away with not answering your questions.

3. Fire employees on the spot if they use vehicles for personal business, except in the case of an emergency and the employee better contact the supervisors before the supervisor contacts them.  No shopping, banking, and fast food restaurants in county vehicles.  If trash is found in the vehicle from these places the employee needs to receive the same punishment.




Aug 14

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan 15

Feb

Mar

Apr

Overall

F

D+















Comment:
Sept - Appears employees are not going out to eat, however, they are still finding places to go to not work, cruising the beach.  Many different vehicles, departments cruising not including those that were actually there for work.   One month does not show a fix but it is trending in the correct direction.

4.  Quit wasting taxpayers money.  The Board of Supervisions and all county employees need to be good stewards of the resources.


Overall

D-



















Aug 14

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan 15

Feb

Mar

Apr

Robert Orth

A

F















Christopher Hutson

F

F















Ashley Chriscoe

F

F















Andrew James, Jr.

F

F















Michael Winebarger

F

F















John Meyer, Jr.

F

F















Phillip Bazzani

F

F















Comment:
 Aug - Dr. Orth did not vote for Aberdeen Creek.  Absent that night.
Sept Continuing to make rules that cost taxpayers money.  Government intrusion into property rights.  Taking property from land owners on Rt. 17 without compensation.  Restricting property owners us of their property.

5.  Bring County Ordinances into compliance with Virginia Code.  Mr. Wilmot can help you with this if not consider hiring a competent county attorney.




Aug 14

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan 15

Feb

Mar

Apr

Overall

F

F-



































Comment: 
Aug – Who told you voting for Ernest Lane was a good idea?
            Sept Mr. Winebarger wanting to add a leash law to a subdivision and people did not want it, but not willing to fix County ordinances.  Increasing liability to the county being sued for illegal laws.

I am a tax payer and you need to held accountable to “We the People”.

I have a voter registration card and know how to use it.
Respectfully submitted by

Wayne Crews
Gloucester Point District

P.S.  Why is it you can all ask tough questions when I come up there and speak but not when I am watching from home?