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February 19, 2004 <br /> <br /> A strategic planning session of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, <br />was held on February 19, 2004, in the Training Room, West Piedmont Business <br />Development Center, beginning at 9:00 A. M., with Mayor Gene Teague presiding. <br />Council Members present included: M. Gene Teague, Mayor; Terry L. Roop, Vice <br />Mayor; and Council Members Joseph R. Cobbe, Bruce H. T. Dallas, and J, Ronald <br />Ferrill. R. David Blaokman, of Blackman & Associates, facilitated the meeting. <br /> <br /> School Board Members present included: Lynn Ward, Vice Chair; and Board <br />Members Nancy Baker, Cynthia Ingrain, and James Johnson. Joseph Finley, Board <br />Chair, was recovering from illness. <br /> <br /> Wade Bartlett, Interim City Manager, presented a review of the City's financial <br />status and fund balance projections. In 1996, the fund balance, excluding capital, <br />totaled $7.9 million. Mr. Bartlett projects the ending FY04 fund balance as $4.2 million. <br />Regarding the FY05 budget, increased costs to the City, due to various reasons, will <br />range between $849,000 and $1.1 million. Increases are expected with the Virginia <br />Retirement System (VRS) contribution rates, and possible increases are expected to <br />the health insurance, group life insurance, and liability and property insurance rates. <br />Other issues include sludge disposal and groundwater contamination at the landfill. He <br />stated, "The current budget allows almost no cushion to absorb any negative economic <br />disruptions or meet future demands/changes." <br /> <br /> Dr. Trollinger presented an overview of the School System's accomplishments, <br /> programs, and budget challenges. Budget challenges include the VRS contribution rate <br /> increase, life and health insurance increase, purchase of textbooks, triennial school <br /> census, meeting "No Child Left Behind" law, competitive salary schedules, roof <br /> <br />79 <br /> <br /> <br />