Coraggio Consulting
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Budget Public Hearing (Session III), Saturday, March 2, 2024

Date: Saturday, March 2, 2024
Place: Board Room, First Floor, Government Center, 1 Harrison Street SE, Leesburg, Virginia
Length: 1h 34m (video)
Official meeting video (county, Granicus): https://loudoun.granicus.com/player/clip/7609
Agenda (Granicus): https://loudoun.granicus.com/AgendaViewer.php?view_id=73&clip_id=7609

Machine transcript (speech-to-text) produced by Coraggio Consulting. Not an official county record. Names and numbers may be misspelled; check the video at the timestamp before quoting.
Speech-to-text: whisper.cpp, model large-v3-turbo. Produced 2026-10-19. Timestamps are [HH:MM:SS] into the meeting video.

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[00:01:07] Good morning. Well, good morning, supervisors. Good morning, staff, and good morning, Loudon. I'd like to call to order the March 2, 2024, Loudon County Board of Supervisors Budget Public Hearing.

[00:01:24] This room has a hearing loop. If you need hearing assistance, please switch your hearing aid to the telecom. If you have a hearing aid, rather, please switch your hearing aid to the telecom mode. If you need hearing assistance, we have that available as well. Please see the clerk to request hearing assistance.

[00:01:39] This public hearing will allow members of the public to address the board on the proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2024, and ending June 30th, 2025. The FY25 proposed budget and the proposed tax rates on real and personal property tax for tax year 24 beginning January 1st, 2024, and ending December 31st, 2000, I don't think that should say 25, I think that should say 24, 25, 24.

[00:02:11] I should say 24, that's what I thought. Okay. This is the final public hearing session for comment on the proposed budget. Any members of the public who would like to address the board, you can only do so at one session. So if you've addressed this already on this public hearing, on this budget, you cannot do that a second time.

[00:02:31] If you signed up to speak, you will be allowed at two and a half minutes. If you've not signed up yet, please see the clerk to sign up right now. If you are in the boardroom when your name is called, please come to the podium closest to you. The timer on the podium will indicate your remaining time.

[00:02:48] If you don't mind when you come to the podium, if you would state your name and then state whether or not you live in Loudoun. You don't have to state where unless you want to, but if you would state whether you live in Loudoun, we'd appreciate that. If you're providing comments via phone, I'm going to ask that you use your own watch, stopwatch, phone, whatever, to track your time.

[00:03:06] That is because you may not be able to see our timer in the boardroom, and I won't stop you when you get like to two minutes because it messes up your flow, but I will stop you when your time is up. So time yourself if you're doing this from home. When taking public input, I will first ask if there's anyone in the boardroom wishing to speak, and then I will go to people who are speaking virtually, and I will go to the moderator for that.

[00:03:31] Please note if you are talking virtual, there was a slight delay between the broadcast and the boardroom. All board members but one today have been able to attend. Mr. Kirshner had a prior event with his sons, but he did say that he would go back and watch this public hearing later on.

[00:03:53] So I think that is it, right? All right, so I'm going to call your names, and this is the thing. If you are speaking a language other than English, you will be allowed five minutes so that we have time to make sure you have your language interpreted.

[00:04:15] So if you have an interpreter with you, however you all choose to do that, you can do all your comments at one time and then have somebody interpret or go back and forth. That's up to you. But you will be allotted five minutes for that. Otherwise, it will be two and a half minutes.

[00:04:30] I'm going to call your names at least three people in advance until you know that you are coming up next. If I do not pronounce your name correctly, I apologize in advance. When you come up, please pronounce your name correctly for me, and then I will work on that, making sure I get that right the next time.

[00:04:47] All right, here we go. Our first speaker is Nicole Acosta, followed by Jill Norcross, followed by Bobby Crispin. Good morning. Good morning. Thank you Madam Chair and Board of Supervisors. My name is Nicole Acosta and I'm the President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties and also a proud member of the Loudoun Human Services Network.

[00:05:11] I'm here today representing the Community Foundation and our Workforce Housing Now campaign. I'm also a resident of the Catoctin District. As an employer and resident, the lack of attainable housing in our community is an important issue to me and one that impacts all of us. I can personally attest as an employer of a Loudon-based nonprofit that our attainable housing shortage has caused significant challenges in hiring staff.

[00:05:33] I thank the current and previous board for your leadership in addressing this complex need through the Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan. We applaud the board's commitment to building a consistent funding stream to the housing fund and urge you to consider doubling the allocation this year to the equivalent of a full cent on the real property tax rate.

[00:05:50] As we continue to work through the strategies outlined in the Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan, we need a well-funded housing fund. Even if the funds aren't utilized immediately or as quickly as desired in this one moment of time, there will come a point where all of your hard work to expedite affordable housing production will lead to a wait list of funding applications, and we have to prepare for that now.

[00:06:11] Increasing the allocation to the fund will allow Loudon to build a stronger foundation and pipeline for future affordable housing development. It will also allow more flexibility and creativity to address the needs of our most vulnerable workforce, those earning 40% or less of the area median income.

[00:06:29] These are our restaurant and hospitality staff, our retail workers, our child care providers, important, hardworking members of our community and our local economy, and they are struggling to financially survive here. We need more solutions for our neighbors who are the most housing cost burdened, and these solutions require a consistent funding stream.

[00:06:47] On a separate note, I want to thank the board and staff for continued efforts to grow the Nonprofit Human Services Grant Program and express support for the proposed allocation this year of $6.1 million. Your efforts to continue growing these resources is making a huge difference in the need being served by Loudoun's nonprofit service providers.

[00:07:06] Thank you so much for your leadership and service to our community. Well, thank you, Ms. Acosta, and thank you all that you do for our community as well. Jill Norcross, followed by Bobby Chrisman, followed by Ismar Otega. Good morning. Chair Randall and members of the Board of Supervisors, good morning.

[00:07:24] My name is Jill Norcross, and I'm the executive director of the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance. Our mission is to promote healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities that meet the diverse housing needs of Northern Virginia residents. I do not live in the county, just want to mention that. But I'm here to provide comments on the budget, and I want to thank you so much for your leadership in addressing some of the complex housing needs, including your half penny of the real estate property tax to support the housing fund.

[00:07:50] Unfortunately, the needs exceed this annual investment of $7.4 million in local resources, and therefore I also support a full penny to go toward housing in Loudoun County. I have the privilege of working in all of the Northern Virginias, and I want to share what I have heard in Loudoun this year because it has been amazing for me to see the breadth of support and awareness from diverse stakeholders, including industry leaders, businesses, residents, nonprofits, faith leaders, and advocates who share the need for more resources to solve the housing challenges here in Loudoun.

[00:08:23] This is what I've seen and heard. The Loudoun Workforce Housing Now campaign through the Community Foundation, sharing how local businesses are not able to hire and retain workers due to the housing costs and supply shortage. Loudoun Chamber, working with you through the ZOR, expressing the need for changes around housing development policies to allow for more housing density and expedited processes. Residents through the Loudoun Justice Housing Coalition and New Virginia Majority sharing real challenges around rapidly rising rents and the need for eviction prevention, especially for those earning 40% of the AMI and below. Through the Loudoun Human

[00:09:01] Services Network, nonprofit human service and homeless services providers struggling with increased need for shelter, food, and other essentials. I've heard criticisms that you don't need more money since the current funding in the housing trust is not getting spent down quickly enough. But development is a long game and this additional half cent can be deployed to meet other housing needs today like rental assistance and home ownership programs. The county is not achieving the goals set out in the Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan. Every community should have such a thorough plan as this and I commend you on tracking your progress. It is hard and complex as you know. Finally, I've heard that Loudoun is an incredible place to call home with amenities,

[00:09:39] great schools, parks, businesses, and tourism. In order to maintain this high quality of life, additional investment in housing is needed. What does the opportunity cost if you don't address your housing needs today? How much further will you be behind in ensuring that Loudoun is an equitable place to live and work for all your residents? Attainable housing is economic development. Ma'am, your time is up. Okay, thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.

[00:10:04] Bobby Chrisman, followed by Ismael Ortega, followed by Yancey Henriquez. Good morning. Good morning. My name is Bobby Chrisman. I'm from Loudoun County. In November of 2022, I spoke before you as a representative of the Citizens for the Arts in Eastern Loudoun, a group of residents seeking the county's support for a community arts center in Eastern Loudoun.

[00:10:30] I am here today to thank the framers of the new county budget for adding the Arts Center to the Capital Improvement Program budget and for identifying it as a priority program. We recently hosted 14 arts organizations and additional individual artists to an arts networking meeting.

[00:10:54] We were naturally seeking their support, but we also wanted to hear their thoughts. Not surprisingly, the universal response was that they would like to have such a center. In particular, they talked about the difficulty of finding suitable venues for their work.

[00:11:12] One group that was represented could only find a performance center that met their needs in Alexandria, a distance of some 35 miles from Ashburn. What we also learned in this gathering is that the growth of these groups adds a component of urgency to developing an appropriate center.

[00:11:33] So we could not be more pleased that in the recent proposed budget, you have recognized that an art center is not merely for an elite audience, but a venue that must be supported by public dollars. It was obvious, looking at the complex budget that was presented, that you must consider how to fund a myriad of needs and difficult choices must be made.

[00:11:57] Among those choices is support for the arts. We are confident that you recognize the social, educational, and economic benefits of an arts center for all of your constituents. We ask for your final approval of the budget for this Center for the Arts in Eastern Loudoun.

[00:12:16] You will be adding a vital component to the county portfolio of resident services. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. This is Mara Otega, followed by Yancey Henriquez, followed by Allison Paz.

[00:12:35] I think we're putting five minutes on the clock. Good morning. Buenos dias. Buenos dias. Presidenta Chair Randall y Presidente de la Junta de Supervisores del Condado.

[00:12:54] Mi nombre es Alison Paz. Llevo ocho años viviendo en Lisbon. Soy madre soltera de dos hijos. Rento un departamento. Mi estado laboral es multiservicios. Limpieza de casas, servicios de banquetes, restaurantes.

[00:13:09] Soy repostera autodidacta en pastelería y panadería. Mi meta es poner mi propio negocio, el cual se hace imposible por la situación económica, porque estoy más enfocada en preocuparme en pagar el alto costo en renta para mis hijos y no quedarnos sin un hogar.

[00:13:28] Ya he intentado buscar mi propia vivienda, pero debido a mi estatus migratorio, se me hace complicado acceder a un préstamo personal, ya que los intereses son muy altos y por parte del condado no he conseguido nada. Dicen que los apartamentos donde vivo, Potomac Station, son para personas de bajos recursos, cuando en realidad no es así.

[00:13:51] Para hacer viviendas de bajos recursos deberían ser construidas por el gobierno, el alquiler se los pagamos al gobierno local. Los departamentos donde vivo tienen un costo alto y se necesita tener un mínimo de ingresos para calificar una sola persona no llega a ese ingreso.

[00:14:08] And if you pass of that income, you don't have to qualify for two people so that the income of a single person doesn't adjust. Due to these circumstances, the concern that I have caused, not only to me, but also to my children and members of the community of work.

[00:14:25] I have had to seek help for my emotional health, because that stress causes me to get depressed. We applaud the commitment of the Junta for the support de duplicar el presupuesto de vivienda actual de medio centavo a un centavo completo.

[00:14:44] El condado debe usar esos fondos para programas de bonos de viviendas para familias de clase trabajadora que ganan menos del 40% de ingresos, mediano del área como yo. Gracias. Can we stop that clock, please? Senorita Estrano Isamara-Otega.

[00:15:03] Good morning, President-Chair Randall and Representative- Hold, hold, hold, hold, stop the clock. That was not Ms. Ortega, and so I just want to make sure I'm right on my list. There she is, because I want to make sure that I didn't make a mistake in the name.

[00:15:21] Can we tell me who this person, como se llama usted, señorita? I am the interpreter. No, no, ma'am. Who was? Yeah, the speaker who just spoke. Allison Pass. Ah, okay, gracias.

[00:15:37] Okay, all right. Yeah, okay. Thank you, gracias. All right. Good morning, President Church Randall and representative of the Board of Supervisors of the county. My name is Allison Pass. I've been living in Lisburg for eight years.

[00:15:54] I'm a single mother with two children. I rent an apartment, and my labor status right now is multi-services, cleaning houses, catering services, restaurants. I'm a self-taught baker in bakery.

[00:16:11] My goal is to have my own business, but it's impossible because of the financial situation, because I'm more focused and worried on paying the high cost of rent for my children, and so we are not without a home. I've tried to find my own home, but because of my immigration status, it's complicated to get a personal loan, because the interest rates are very high, and the county hasn't done anything.

[00:16:40] They say that the apartments where I live in Potomac Station are for people like low-income people. But in reality, it's not like that. Because to be a low-income place, they should be built by the government, and their rent should be paid to the government.

[00:16:55] The apartments where I live have a high cost, and there is a need of a minimum income to qualify. And only one person does not have that income. And if you have more than that income, you also don't qualify because then you have to qualify for two people because the income of one people is not enough.

[00:17:16] Because of their circumstances and the worry that I have, and not only myself but my children and members of my community, of the working class, I've had to hire professional help for my emotional health because that stress is making me depressed.

[00:17:35] I appreciate the board's commitment doubling the housing budget from half a cent to one cent. The county should use those funds for programs for housing funds for families of the working class that make less than 40% of the median income, like me.

[00:17:54] Thank you. Gracias. Thank you. I'm going to go back to Ms. Ortega and then Ms. Henriquez and then Ivan Castro. I'm also going to ask when the interpreter, whomever that person is, does interpret to stand at the podium for two reasons, because you can see the clock if you're at the podium, and you may not be able to see it otherwise, and because we want to make sure the camera grabs you.

[00:18:19] So, Ms. Ortega, please. Buenos días. Buenos días. Thank you. Chair Randall, supervisor, thank you. Okay, sorry.

[00:18:41] Voy a leer el testimonio de la señora Dalila González, ya que ella por enfermedad, no pudo estar presente. Dalila González es una madre soltera, tiene una hija y ha desempeñado sus trabajos en muchos restaurantes y debido a la baja temporada de trabajos hace tres meses estuvo desempleada. Hasta el pasado mes de enero que comenzó a trabajar en limpieza de una escuela, pasó varios momentos de desafíos y carencias porque no tenían cómo pagar su renta, la comida, medicinas, todo le cambió. Intentó aplicar al programa de prevención de

[00:19:18] desalojos a través de las organizaciones destinadas pero lamentablemente ella no pudo calificar por no tener una carta de desalojo y no podía asegurar llegar a ese punto por lo cual tuvo que sacar un préstamo que hasta la fecha sigue debiendo. Ustedes saben que la vivienda está cara en este condado sin embargo sacan programas que están lejos de nosotros como clase trabajadora. Los requisitos son demasiado estrictos como por ejemplo el Programa de Desalojo de Asistencia de la Renta.

[00:19:48] Si uno no tiene la Carta de Desalojo, no podíamos calificar y nosotros como clase trabajadora intentamos no esperar esa carta para no arriesgarnos a perder el lugar donde vivimos y mejor dejamos de comprar comida, medicina, para asegurar un techo digno a nuestras familias.

[00:20:06] Actualmente ya me encuentro laborando, pero aún sigo teniendo esos desafíos. Veo que el acceso a un programa de vivienda accesible para la clase trabajadora. Es por eso que lo solicitamos a toda la junta de supervisores puedan flexibilizar más los programas de vivienda y que el programa de asistencia de la renta inicie lo más pronto posible, como se había pronunciado anteriormente, verdad, al mes de abril. Muchas gracias.

[00:20:29] Gracias. Ma'am, can you step to the podium, please? Thank you. I don't want you to not be able to see your time. Okay, thank you.

[00:20:46] Dalila Coty couldn't come because she's sick, but I'm going to read her testimony. Good morning, Representative of the Board of Supervisors. My name is... Hold on. Give me one second. With respect, do you have what Ms. Ortega just said?

[00:21:06] Do you have that interpretation? I do have the paper that she just gave me, yes. What Ms. Ortega just said. So you're reading right now what Ms. Ortega just said? Yes, yes. Okay, okay. Thank you. I'm sorry I interrupted you.

[00:21:23] My name is Dalila Gonzalez-Cotti. I live in Sterling, and I'm a single mother of a daughter. I've been working at restaurants, and because of the low season, for three months, I was unemployed. Since last January that I started working, cleaning at school, I've had a lot of challenges and calamities because I didn't have a way to pay the rent, food, medication, and everything else.

[00:21:48] I tried to apply to the program of prevention of eviction through an organization, But unfortunately, I couldn't qualify because I didn't have the eviction letter and I couldn't wait until that point. So I had to take a loan that to this day I haven't been able to pay.

[00:22:07] You know that housing is very expensive in this county. And there are other programs they create that are way far away from the working class. The requirements are too strict. For example, the eviction program, if you didn't have the eviction letter, we wouldn't qualify.

[00:22:26] And we, as working class, try not to wait until that letter because we didn't want to risk to lose the place that we were living in. And we stopped buying food and medication to be able to guarantee that we will have a roof. Currently I'm working, but I'm still going through challenges and I don't see the access to housing programs or houses that are affordable for the working class.

[00:22:53] That's why I request if you could please make those housing programs more flexible and that the program to assist with the rent starts as soon as possible and that really helps the families that we are having a lot of trouble with the costs.

[00:23:10] Thank you. Thank you. Just give me one second.

[00:23:25] Ms. Henriquez, followed by Ivan Castro.

[00:23:40] So, Yancey Henriquez, followed by Ivan Castro, followed by Ishmael Perez.

[00:23:56] Buenos dias. Good morning. Buenos dias. Mi nombre es Ivin Castro, residente en la ciudad de Ashburg. En este día estoy aquí porque como residente me preocupa el tema de vivienda en este condado.

[00:24:13] Para nosotros, como parte de la familia de la clase trabajadora, que estamos en un ingreso menor del 40% anual, cada día se vuelve más inasequible el pago de alquiler de vivienda. Diciendo con esto que, como todos sabemos, no hay un control en el pago de alquiler, cada uno de nosotros viene sufriendo los aumentos desmedidos por parte de los arrendadores.

[00:24:38] Y claro que sí cumplimos con pagar mensualmente, cortando muchos gastos, que son necesidades nuestras, con el único objetivo de estar bajo un techo. Es de nuestro conocimiento que está aprobado un medio centavo destinado a la vivienda, pero que no es suficiente para cubrir la lista de demandas en esa necesidad.

[00:25:02] Today I ask the support to increase in $1,000,000, which in dollars would mean like $14,000,000, which is very little for the big demand in housing. We are here also with the coalition, supporting our partners, the Sindicato of Trabajadores of the Condado, the Sindicato of Educators, for the equity of workers, the salary just, and the things that we need in education and housing.

[00:25:32] gracias. Gracias. Good morning everyone. My name is Yvonne Castro, resident of the city of Ashburn. They say I'm here because as a resident I'm worried because of the topic of the housing in this county. For us that are part of families of the working class that are here with an income of less than the 40 percent, every day is more unaffordable to pay the rent. And I'm saying

[00:26:04] this because we all know that there is not a control on the payment of the rent. Each one of us has to suffer increases because of the owners. And of course, we comply by paying every month, but we have to cut a lot of expenses that are our needs with the only objective of having a roof. It is our knowledge that it is a proof of assent that is going to housing, but it is not enough to cover the list of demands of this need.

[00:26:39] Today, I ask for support to increase to one cent, that in dollars will be like $14 million. And of course, that's still little if we think about the demand in this topic. We are here supporting the coalition, our allies, CEU, that is the syndicates of workers of the county, LEA, one of the educators for equity, and the workers for fair salary and other things that we all need as education and housing.

[00:27:20] Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that. Is Yancy Henriquez here at all? No. Okay. All right. Thank you. All right, we're going to go then to Ismael Perez, followed by Carla Amaya.

[00:27:42] Buenos días. Good morning. Okay, my name is Ismael Perez, and I'm a leader with Virginia, and I'm a family father. I live in the area of Stirling, and as a family father, we always want the quality of education of our children.

[00:28:00] I regularly participate in the meetings of the schools. I have children in the elementary school, and as parents of the family and staff of this condado, we see the difficulty in that our children can participate in different programs, and we don't have enough resources to pay in private institutions, where our children can develop in different abilities.

[00:28:25] Pedimos el apoyo del presupuesto escolar en su totalidad para mejorar los estándares educativos en las escuelas para el desarrollo y aprendizaje de cada niño que tomen en cuenta programas gratuitos a bajo costos después de la escuela para poder implementar el desarrollo de habilidades en el deporte, arte, música, entre otros. Gracias.

[00:28:49] Gracias. Thank you. Hello, good morning. My name is Ismael Perez. I am the leader of the new majority of Virginia. I'm a parent and I live in the Sterling area. As parents, we want always the quality of education for our children, and I regularly participate in meetings at the school.

[00:29:14] As parents and working class in this county, we see the difficulty for our children to participate in different programs. We don't have enough resources to pay private institutions where our children could develop different skills.

[00:29:30] We ask for your support for the budget for the school in totality to improve the educational standards for schools and for the development and learning of each child and also to take into account free or low-cost programs after school to be able to implement the development of skills in sports, art, music, and others.

[00:29:55] Thank you. Gracias. Thank you. Carla Amaya, followed by Edik Aleman, followed by Juliet. Oh my gosh, I'm going to spell your last name, and Carla is not here?

[00:30:20] Okay, then we're going to go from her to Edith Alaman, and then we're going to go to Juliet, and the last name is R-A-S-O-A-M-A-N-A-N-T-E-N-A. Buenos dias. Buenos dias.

[00:30:37] Hola, buenos dias. Junta de Supervisores. Soy Edith Alemán. Vivo en Sterling. Hace más de 12 años, rento en un townhouse en Sterling, pago $2,350 cada mes, viendo las dificultades para poder pagarla y tener un techo digno donde vivir.

[00:30:57] Durante todo este tiempo viviendo aquí, he presenciado los altos incrementos en cada renovación por el transcurso de los años. Yo trabajo en limpieza y actualmente he estado sufriendo falta de horas de trabajo por los diferentes cambios de clima y los meses donde los trabajos bajan demasiado y se destabilizan mi economía familiar.

[00:31:23] Me veo afectada porque tengo un mes de retraso debido a que no he podido ganar suficiente para alcanzar pagar mi renta and I'm worried because I don't want to be disadvantaged. I hope that as competent authorities can take action and be able to open the program of assistance assistance for the rent.

[00:31:45] We have two years since we are in the fight and we hope that we can give the opportunity to the affected families that have suffered charges and high costs in the rent. We know that we have already opened the program of employment, pero necesitamos que los fondos de más de casi 5.5 millones puedan salir lo más pronto y asegurarnos que como clase trabajadora podamos aplicar en ellos.

[00:32:14] Ya es tiempo que el programa de asistencia de la renta pueda salir. Hemos esperado mucho tiempo y cada espera es una familia que sufre al no poder tener la oportunidad donde aplicar para poder evitar los desalojos o los desplazamientos hacia otros estados.

[00:32:31] You need to have more consciousness that we are here as a worker, that we can provide to the condado of London, and we deserve to be heard and take us into account in the programs so that we can have a better quality of life for each family that lives here.

[00:32:47] Gracias. Gracias. Hello. Good morning. My name is Edick Aleman, and good morning to the Board of Supervisors. I live in Sterling. I live for over 12 years.

[00:33:04] I rent a townhouse in Sterling, and I pay $2,350 a month, and I see the difficulties, I live the difficulties to be able to pay it and have a roof where I can live. During all this time, I've witnessed the increments every time that they renovate during the years.

[00:33:24] I work in cleaning, and currently I've been suffering lack of hours of work because of the weather change and the months where the jobs decrease and affect my financial economy. I'm affected because I'm one month late because I haven't been able to earn enough to be able to pay my rent, and I'm worried because I don't want to be evicted.

[00:33:50] I'm waiting for the authorities to make decisions to be able to open the program to assist with the rent. For more than two years, we have this fight waiting to have the opportunity, waiting for the affected families to have the opportunity.

[00:34:07] We are suffering because of the high cost of rent. We know that there is the opportunity now to open the eviction program, but we need that the funds of over $5.5 million are available as soon as possible and make sure that the working class can apply to obtain them.

[00:34:26] It's time for the rent assistance program to start. We've been waiting for a long time, and every time we wait our families suffer for not having the opportunity to apply and avoid being evicted or displaced to another state.

[00:34:43] We should be more conscious of that we as a working class, we also support the county of Loudoun, and we deserve to be heard and to be taken into account for programs, to have a better quality of life for each family that lives here. Thank you.

[00:34:59] Thank you. Juliet, you would be next, and you would be followed by Maria Hernandez, followed by Maria Alman. Good morning. Do you mind pronouncing your last name for me, please?

[00:35:19] Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Juliet. I come from Madagascar in Africa. I left my country for 10 years ago. I live now in Ashburn for five years.

[00:35:38] I am a citizen. I rent a room, one room in a townhouse. I am a reiterated person. I don't work anymore. I can't work because I have a problem about my knees, about my hips, about my shoulder.

[00:35:57] It's not possible for me to work anymore. But I am relating to social security income. I am paying $750 in my rent.

[00:36:14] It's too much for me because my Social Security income cannot afford that. My kids help me to pay my rent, but I don't want anymore my kids to pay my rent because I want to be independent.

[00:36:33] That's the reason I am here. I realized, I, segundo, I applied for Section 8 Housing Chosen Vulture last year. But I have not heard anything back yet.

[00:36:53] There are, there were only 300 vouchers for all people who applied. There are more than 1,000 people to apply.

[00:37:11] I want, we want more vouchers, we want more funds for house budgeting. I want the county to help provide housing when rent is not so expensive that the rent conforms with all our income.

[00:37:35] They should give priority to those for disabilities and seniors. At the end, if I have a house, if I have housing, it's called me afford to be happy.

[00:37:51] I would be to invite my family, my friend in my house to have a tea. Ms. Juliet, I'm sorry. Your time is up. Okay. Okay. Thank you for listening. Thank you. I appreciate it.

[00:38:06] Thank you. All right. Bye. Thank you. Bye-bye.

[00:38:30] Maria Hernandez, followed by Maria Allman, followed by Ms. Espinosa. I think it's Julia Espinosa. Hola, buenos días, Supervisores. Soy Maria Hernandez, líder de la mayoría de Virginia.

[00:38:46] Vivo en los apartamentos aquí en Lisboa. No quiero decir por miedo de ser desalojada por venir a dar mi testimonio, ¿verdad? pero tengo más de un año rentando en los apartamentos y pago $1,879 por un cuarto.

[00:39:04] Soy madre soltera, tengo dos niñas y aparte del bill del agua, luz, son servicios esenciales. Desde noviembre del año pasado entró en vigencia el servicio obligatorio de internet de $90 añadidos por encima de la renta, which I feel affected.

[00:39:26] Before I didn't have the internet service and now they're paying the service for the four months that they have advanced since I entered into account. And if I don't pay, they told me that they're going to disappear for a service that is not essential and I don't need it.

[00:39:47] But as they added in the contract, if I don't pay, they're going to disappear. Me dijeron que el servicio tuve que ponerlo hace poco, hace una semana me lo pusieron y el servicio empezó desde noviembre.

[00:40:05] Y yo sin tener ese servicio me dijeron que tenía que pagar los cuatro meses que estaban retrasados, que si no los pagaban me iban a llevar a corte. Mucha de la comunidad que vive en los apartamentos vivimos del día a día y tenemos desafíos para pagar la renta cada mes.

[00:40:25] Nuestros trabajos han bajado. Estos meses son los más críticos para la comunidad que no ganamos bien y que nos vemos afectados. Siento que muchos dueños de los apartamentos abusan de nuestros derechos como alquilinos imponiéndonos a servicios obligatorios no esenciales por encima de la renta, Maltrato de parte administrativos, discriminación por nuestro idioma, hasta sentir intimidación.

[00:40:59] Como autoridades del condado deben crear una oficina de protección al consumidor, a los alquilinos, e investigar qué pasa realmente en los apartamentos. Estamos cansados de que nos humillen y nos traten con dignidad y equidad.

[00:41:17] Gracias. Gracias. Hi, good morning, Board of Supervisors. I'm Maria Hernandez, and I'm the leader of the new mayor in Virginia. I live in Lisbon, and I'm afraid of being evicted. For over a year, I've been renting an apartment, and I pay $1,879 for one room, and part of the water and electricity bills that are essential. Since November last year, the mandatory service of internet of 90. On top of that, it started. And I'm affected because before I didn't have internet

[00:41:54] service. And now they are charging me for four months since it started. And they said that if I don't pay, they're going to evict me for a service that is not essential and that I don't need. But they added it to the contract. And if not, I'll be evicted. So the service started a week ago. But as it actually started in November, they told me that if I don't pay those four months, I'm going to have to go to court.

[00:42:20] A lot of the community that lives in the apartments, we live day by day. And we have a lot of challenges to pay the rent every month because our jobs have decreased. And these months are critical for the community because we don't make good money and we're affected.

[00:42:36] I feel that a lot of owners of apartments abuse of our rights as renters, imposing mandatory services that are not essential on top of their rent. treatments, discrimination because of our language, opt to feel intimidated. As authorities of the county, you should create an office of protection to the consumer for the renters and investigate what really happened in those apartments.

[00:43:01] We are tired of being humiliated and not being treated with dignity and equity. Thank you. - Thank you, thank you. Maria Allman, followed by Zolia Espinoza, Followed by Claudia Cuceria, Buenos Dias.

[00:43:46] Actualmente vivo en un apartamento en Lisboa junto con mi esposo. Debido a que ha bajado el trabajo en esta temporada, nos hemos visto forzados a aplicar para el programa de vivienda para prevención de desalojos, en el cual agradezco mucho el apoyo que me han brindado como clase trabajadora.

[00:44:02] Un poco más alto. En el cual agradezco mucho el apoyo que me han brindado como clase trabajadora. Sin embargo, pude notar que para poder aplicar es corto el tiempo que dan para entregar toda la información y sería de mucha ayuda para las personas que nos acercamos a estos programas, que las organizaciones que están dirigiendo estos programas estén de nuestro lado, entiendan nuestras necesidades y sean más simpáticas para poder ayudarnos.

[00:44:32] He trabajado por 30 años, siempre he pagado los impuestos, muy pocas veces he solicitado ayuda y debido a la reducción de horas, efectos de COVID-19, me he visto en la necesidad de

[00:45:09] I was trying to say, and I hope I, I was trying to say a little louder place. I think it was un poco mas alto, but I might have said a little faster place. So, I apologize. Good morning, President Chair Randall and representatives of the Board of Supervisors.

[00:45:27] My name is Maria Aleman. I've been working for several years in the commercial cleaning, but because of the 2008 recession, I lost contracts, and at the same time, I was obligated to sell my home in a short sale. As you can see, I wanted to have my own home, but because of the crisis, I couldn't have the dream of keeping it.

[00:45:48] Currently, I live in an apartment in Lisburg with my husband, and because it's low season and the jobs have decreased, we have been forced to apply for the housing program to prevent eviction, the one that I really appreciate because of the support that you have given to the working class.

[00:46:06] However, I noticed that to apply, they give you a very short time to submit all of the information. And it will be a lot of help if the people that we approach in these programs and organizations that are taking care of that program are on our side and understand our needs and that are more empathetic to be able to help us.

[00:46:30] I've worked for 30 years and I've always paid taxes and very little times I have asked for help because it is because of the decrease in the hours and the effects of COVID-19 that are being pushed to apply. I request your help, the help of all of you, for the programs of rent assistance and if that program could start to be distributed to the families before April.

[00:46:55] I request your support for the increase of the housing help from half a cent to a cent to be able to satisfy the needs of the existing housing. I hope that we can have your support.

[00:47:11] Thank you. Zolia Espinosa, followed by Claudia Clusadia and then Doris Sorano. Ms. Espinosa?

[00:47:28] She is here. She has left? Mm-hmm. She has left. Okay. Are you? Claudia Quesada. Okay. We're ready for you then, ma'am. Gracias. Good morning. Buenos días, Presidenta Randall y Junta de Supervisores.

[00:47:44] Mi nombre es Claudia Quesada. Soy residente del pueblo de Lisboa por 26 años. Estoy aquí para abogar por el Programa de Asistencia de la Renta. Que salga lo más pronto posible. Como habíamos escuchado, que estaría listo en marzo para comenzar a ser distribuido en abril.

[00:48:05] Se nos está haciendo muy difícil salir adelante a todas las personas de clase trabajadora Por la temporada de frío bajaron las horas de trabajo y el pago ha sido mucho menos. Nuestras familias están más limitadas económicamente con el temor de no alcanzar a pagar el mes de renta.

[00:48:27] Hasta los niños se limitan a comer sus antojos para llegar a fin de mes. Nuestra familia, queremos que el compromiso de todos ustedes para que este programa ayude a aliviar las necesidades de la comunidad We can stay in our homes and our children don't be worried about changing schools or communities.

[00:48:54] Thank you. Good morning, President Randell and the Board of Supervisors. My name is Claudia Quesada and I'm a resident of Lisbon Town. I'm here to advocate for the Parental Assistance Program so it could start as soon as possible because as we heard, it was going to be ready by March and it was going to start being distributed in April.

[00:49:20] It's been very difficult for us and for all the people of the working class because of the cold season. The hours of work have decreased and the payment is way less. Our families are limited financially and with fear of not being able to pay the monthly rent.

[00:49:39] Even our children are limited and they cannot even eat their cravings to be able to make it up to the end of the month. We want the commitment of all of you for this program to be able to alleviate the needs of the community and we're able to stay in our homes with our children and that our children are not worried about being changed to another school or another community.

[00:50:02] Thank you. - Gracias, thank you. Doris Serrano followed by Dalia Gonzalez followed by Belima Hernandez. Buenos dias. Buenos dias.

[00:50:19] Mi nombre es Doris Serrano. Buenos dias a todas las autoridades de la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Londo. Mi nombre es Doris Serrano. Vivo en Lisboa y líder de la Nueva Mayoría de Virginia. Trabajo en el área de limpieza de oficinas y casas.

[00:50:38] Somos una familia de cinco miembros, mi esposo y mis tres hijos. Actualmente alquilamos un uptown house. Antes vivíamos en el condado de Fairfax. Nos mudamos al condado de London con el sueño de obtener una vivienda porque nos dijeron que aquí era más barato y más seguro.

[00:50:56] Nuestros hijos podrían tener una mejor calidad de vida. Sin embargo, a nueve años de estar aquí no hemos podido cumplir nuestros sueños debido al alto costo de la vivienda y al poco acceso al programa de viviendas asexibles para la clase trabajadora.

[00:51:17] Al no tener la cantidad suficiente para poder pagar un pago inicial que van de $3,000 que necesita para una vivienda y tampoco hemos podido acceder a programas de ayuda de renta por no cumplir con los requisitos estrictos requeridos.

[00:51:37] Estamos dejando saber al condado que es importante el programa de viviendas asequibles, Que los requisitos sean menos estrictos para poder tener acceso a ellos. Se necesita más solicitudes y que sean soluciones y soluciones que requiere en el flujo de financiamiento constante como de un aumento completo de un centavo.

[00:52:04] Gracias. Gracias, thank you. Good morning, I'm Doris Serrano, and good morning to the authorities and the Board of Supervisors of the County of Lando. I live in Lisburg, and I'm the leader of the new majority of Virginia.

[00:52:21] I work cleaning offices and houses. We're a family of five members, my husband and my three children. Currently, we are renting a townhouse. Before, we used to live in Fairfax County, and we moved to Loudoun County with the dream of obtaining a house because we were told that here was cheaper and safer, and our children were going to be able to have a better quality of life.

[00:52:45] However, after nine years of being here, we haven't been able to make our dream come through because of the high cost of housing and because of this little access to programs of affordable housing for the working class. As we don't have enough to make the initial payment that could be starting at $30,000 to buy a house, We also haven't been able to access to assistance programs for the rent because we don't have the strict requirements.

[00:53:18] We want to let the county know that it's important, the housing program, to have affordable housing and that the requirements are less strict to be able to access to them. We need more solutions, and those solutions require constant finance, as is the increase of the health ascent.

[00:53:38] Thank you. Gracias. Thank you. Dalia Gonzalez, followed by Blima Hernandez, followed by Nicole Morris. Ms. Gonzalez? She is not here.

[00:53:56] Thank you. Ms. Hernandez? Vilma Hernandez? Vilma Hernandez? She's not here. She is not as well. Thank you. Nicole Morris. And Ms. Morris, after you finish speaking, will you, I'd like, will you please find my chief of staff? I'd like him to speak with you about the Women's History Month proclamation on Tuesday. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Good morning, Madam Chair and members of the board. My name is Nicole Morris and I live and work in the Sterling District. I am the Executive Director of Women

[00:54:32] Given Back, a nonprofit in Sterling that provides quality clothing and other essentials at no cost to over 24,000 individuals across the DMV each year. I also serve on the county's housing advisory board, but I am here today representing the Loudon Human Services Network, where I'm proud to serve as the chair this year.

[00:54:53] Loudon Human Services Network wants to express our support specifically for three important items in the proposed FY24 budget. First, we support the proposed allocation of $5.2 million in FY24 for the non-profit human services discretionary grants and core services contracts.

[00:55:15] These grants and contracts provide critical funding to support the safety net of services provided by non-profits for Loudoun's most vulnerable residents. Second, we support the proposed $6.49 million anticipated local tax revenue for the housing fund to address affordable housing needs. The current shortage of affordable housing options deeply impacts the people served by our human services organizations. Continuing to grow this housing fund is an important strategy in addressing this need and critical to meeting the unmet housing needs strategic plan

[00:55:55] goals. Finally, in the capital improvement plan, we support funding for the development of mental Health Crisis and Receiving and Stabilization Center. More resources for individuals experience in a mental health crisis continues to be a critical need among the people served by Human Services Organization in our county. I want to thank you all and county staff for your time and dedicated work. We know it's not easy and we thank you for your continued partnership and your response to the growing needs of our Loudoun County residents. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Morrison.

[00:56:30] So thank you for all you do in our county as well. Natalia Romero, followed by Ryan Ruzik. Natalia Romero. Okay, thank you. Gracias. Ryan Ruzik, followed by Reverend David Milam.

[00:56:52] Good morning, sir. Good morning. My name is Ryan Ruzik. I'm a resident here in Loudoun. For the last 12 years, I've worked as an attorney exclusively representing indigent defendants. most of those people are from marginalized communities, and almost all of them struggle with housing. When someone is struggling with housing, it casts a pall over their entire lives.

[00:57:20] And while this county has many resources that I think the residents here often take for granted, this community desperately, desperately needs that assistance. Dedicating Half a Cent has been wonderful work, but it is insufficient to meet the need, particularly with the incredible rise in housing costs that we've experienced. The seal of Loudoun County includes the phrase, I bide my time. A wonderful strategy for many situations. Not this one. We need to start this

[00:57:56] work now. I know that there are many demands on Loudoun's funds, and it is tough for you to decide where to spend it. But helping struggling families and their children simply must be a priority. Thank you so much for considering it and giving me some time to speak to you.

[00:58:14] Thank you, sir. Reverend David Milam, followed by Matt Charolesky, followed by Sandy Sullivan. Good morning. Good morning. Thank you for being here this morning. I want to observe that, you know, having multiple languages requires attentiveness, and thank you for paying attention this morning. I learned in my love class in seminary that attentiveness is the essence of

[00:58:49] love, so thank you for loving our neighbors as ourselves in what you're doing. I think you have a challenge of seeing both the forest and the trees when it comes to affordable housing. I know It's a priority for the Board of Supervisors, and I'm happy for that priority.

[00:59:04] I'm here as a partner with New Virginia Majority, NAACP, other organizations, myself being at Loudoun Interfaith Bridges. Father Daniel Velez Rivera put the matter very succinctly to me.

[00:59:20] He said, if you're hungry in Loudoun County, you can get food. But if you're missing adequate housing, well, that's another matter. And so it's a very complicated issue. I know being a part of community foundations meetings that it means a lot of work on just organizing how can we zone things so that there is housing, how to work with contractors who would provide that housing,

[00:59:54] I know it's a national problem, I lived in Southern California for much of my life and I've seen homelessness there and I know the housing there is even more expensive than here in Loudoun, but it's an issue that goes around. We've heard today how there are legal needs for the kinds of humiliation oftentimes that people who are working class have to go through with their landlords.

[01:00:23] needs to be advocacy for folks, ways to connect with systems that work well. But I really appreciate that there is a move to support a one cent tax that would be helpful for those who are in the 40% and below of the median average, especially with vouchers. As I learned about this. The complexities of this are so hard, and I want not just for eviction kind of protection, but for vouchers that sustain the housing for these folks. My time is up. Thank you for listening.

[01:01:01] Thank you. Good morning, sir, and you will be followed by Sandy Sullivan and Samuel Jan. Okay, can you hear me all right? I can hear you just fine. My name is Matt Szwolowski. I am a Eastburg resident. I have prepared my 220-word statement. I'm going to email that to you. Instead, I would like to react to what I am hearing right now. I am frankly outraged at what is happening with those statements in Spanish that are being translated into English. Why I am outraged?

[01:01:33] Because I came to this country 42 years ago with $10 to my pocket. I was outside of my native home country of Poland because there was a martial law and I found my way to the United States. I started here at Barber and Ross. You remember Barber and Ross at $4.25 an hour. I didn't come to the government to say, hey, give me money. Hey, rob that guy and give me that money. This is outrageous what is happening. I worked hard. I was at a poverty level for many years. I made something

[01:02:08] out of myself because of my hard work. I didn't come to ask for creating a permanent welfare class. Outrageous. One of these women said she has been here for nine years. Sir, sir, stop this time, please. The male speaker. Stop this time, please. So you can say anything you want to, but please say it to me and other people. Okay. The male speaker, the male speaker, I asked him, he has been here for 18 years. Some people are just not assimilating. Are they legally here? Why are we obligated to provide some some sort of services to these individuals i don't understand it i i am

[01:02:47] i need to retire i need to take care of my stuff i don't have money to spend on some people who refuse to learn english after 18 years and make something out of themselves this is america this is not that kind of society and i just want to say one more thing here in general in my remaining time. Functioning local democracy requires that those in power have integrity, are non-ideological, display professional ethics, and are persons of goodwill. What I have seen in the last couple of

[01:03:23] years is outrage, like hiring union, bringing union with absolutely zero benefit to us and imposing millions of dollars on us, fighting gun crime with anti-gun window stickers, imposing, dehumanizing individuals with the discriminatory equity resolution and the bag tax that in California and New Jersey they found they increased their plastic waste by 30%.

[01:03:52] My time is up. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. Thank you very much. Okay, we'll go to our next speaker, Sandy Sullivan, followed by Samuel Yon, followed by Patty Nelson. Good morning. Good morning, Chair Randall and Supervisors.

[01:04:08] My name is Sandy Sullivan. I live in the Broad Run District. I'm an elementary educator and currently serve the members of the Loudoun Education Association as their president. Our county students and educators, all LCPS employees, not just teachers, need to be supported, and the greatest portion of that support comes directly from your funding.

[01:04:27] Loudoun must ensure we're supporting our community by supporting our schools. Well-funded, high-quality public education has been shown to be a leading indicator of community success. Investment in schools is an investment in a strong community, the kind of community Loudoun wants to be.

[01:04:43] If you want educated residents and voters coming to Loudoun, the kinds of residents who bring commerce and job opportunities, you need strong public schools that will attract them. I urge you to fully fund the LCPS budget. In addition, with the Loudoun Education Association being a part of the Loudoun People's Platform, we support the budget requests of county employees through SEIU and affordable housing in Loudoun County.

[01:05:06] Thank you, Ms. Sullivan. Samuel Yan followed by Patty Nelson. It may be Samuel Yan, followed by Patty Nelson. Is Mr. Yan here, or Y-A-N?

[01:05:24] No? Okay. Patty Nelson, followed by Julius Reynolds. Of course, I know your name. Patty Nelson, followed by Julius Reynolds. Good morning, Board of Supervisors. Good morning. My name is Patty Nelson. I'm a retired Loudoun County psychiatric nurse, and I speak to you today as the Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU Virginia 512.

[01:05:46] It has been a long journey getting to this moment. For me, it started in 2010 when I discovered a union postcard in the break room of the old Ridgetop Mental Health Clinic. I'm very proud of the work that we have done, that voices of the workers who serve the citizens of Loudoun County have a place to be heard, and thank you for listening.

[01:06:06] Down to the business of the budget. In an effort to support the expanding needs of our community with a thriving workforce, we are requesting that you adopt a tax rate that supports the $41 million increase in employee compensation that includes 5% salary scale adjustment and a 7% merit raise for general county employees, the 12.4% average increase for fire and rescue and sheriff pay plans, and at least 263 of the requested new positions in 26 departments.

[01:06:42] I love Loudoun County. We are a magnificent and diverse community. And as we've heard this morning, there is among our working class, there is also great suffering.

[01:06:57] So in coalition with our community partners, we also request that you fund vouchers for tenants making less than 40% of the area median income, that you double the attainable housing funding, that you add housing department staff to help with this, because as a county employee, we know it doesn't get done if you don't have the staff to do it, and end outside contracting for transit.

[01:07:26] Keolis is a problem. This is a lot to balance. This is a lot to do. I want to thank you for your tireless efforts trying to figure out how to manage this. It's important to realize these salary increases are great, but twice in my career at Loudoun County, my take-home pay went down because benefits went up.

[01:07:47] And it's heartbreaking when that happens. You know, I have two kids to feed, and you think you're going to have a little more breathing room, and all of a sudden you don't. And my understanding is it's happened again. So we thank you for your service. We are very excited about our historic union election and future bargaining to ensure great jobs and great services.

[01:08:09] Thank you, Ms. Nelson. Thank you. Julius Reynolds, Suzanne Satterfield. And then we're going to go to Kate Campbell, who is a remote speaker. And then we're going to go to everyone who signed up today. And so, staff, please be ready to go to Ms. Campbell after Ms. Satterfield.

[01:08:28] Good morning, Mr. Reynolds. Good morning, Chair. I'm operating on fumes this morning. I just got off on my third job at 5 o'clock this morning, so forgive me. I'm in kind of a phase this morning, but I'd just like to say hopefully this is the last time that we'll have to go through this song and dance of coming before with hat and hand begging for annual salary increases.

[01:08:55] One that, as my sister Patty said, it's good, but it doesn't get at what we actually need as workers here in Loudoun. I'm going to be brief. Like Polonius said, Shakespeare, Hamlet, brevity is the soul of wit.

[01:09:14] So I'm going to tell you, I'm going to give you our demands. And these demands and ask are collective from the community as a whole. Our demands are, and I'll ask are, fund housing vouchers and tenants making less than 40% of the area median income, add a housing department staff, fully fund public education, pay county workers fairly, and that's important, and in outside contracting for transit workers.

[01:09:54] My heart is heavy as I sat here and listened to these individuals that reside in this county. We're supposed to be one of the richest counties where everybody comes because they see this narrative of us.

[01:10:16] But my heart is pained just to hear how people are struggling. And we have to do better. We have to get away from the politics of the usual because the politics of the usual impact the politics, the demographics of the unusual.

[01:10:33] We have to be better. Verily I say unto you, and as much as you have done it to the least of these, you have done unto me. let's be better. We can be better together. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Reynolds. Suzanne Satterfield, and then we will go to Kate Campbell, who was our remote speaker. Good morning, Ms. Satterfield. Good morning, Chair Randall. In the past, LCPS has

[01:11:12] made it clear that they will do whatever they want with the money that this board approves as they are not held to a line item budget. It will be no different under the current administration as they already have shown their hand. Spence did as he pleased in Virginia Beach, and he hasn't changed his stripes. Before setting up his desk, he created a top-level position for his best gal with a $250,000 salary in communications. The senior-level position was not discussed with the last board or publicly advertised. In his third month, he gave hundreds of year-round employees four days off. This was not in the budget, and he did not discuss it with the board.

[01:11:49] This school board didn't want to be bothered with the extra work of reviewing contract proposals up to $250,000, so they gave Spence a free pass to spend away. With no real increase in student enrollment, they approved a $158 million increase with $20 million for Spence's own use, and they want to build more schools. In an unusual move for a CEO, Spence pulled DEI out of HR to put his direct report, while giving them over $200,000 in travel. In a department that should not see any further increases, he wants to bring communications budget to over $3 million, which is two times the

[01:12:26] 2021 budget. To turn LCPS into whole child community schools, he added more mental health counselors and social workers. LCPS is not in the health and welfare business. They are barely getting education right. In fact, their policies have caused more anxiety among students and staff across the board. Parents should decide who treats their children, not school staff. Now he wants to fund a drug recovery. It's very clear that his focus is not on spending money in the classroom to help student academic schools. Don't let graduation rates fool you. Children are not

[01:13:03] near as prepared as they were more than four years ago to move on to college or into the working world. You've seen an alarming proficiency levels that are being ignored. Your job is to be fiscally responsible and to recognize that rejecting this outlandish budget is not defunding education.

[01:13:20] It's doing the right thing. Dina Griffiths suggested sticking to that same budget that was approved for this school year for 2024. She was the only school board member brave enough to say this and stand up. For several reasons, she backed up her stance.

[01:13:38] I urge you to please pass a realistic budget and not spend a spending spree for pet projects outside of the classroom that hurt students and taxpayers of all income levels. Thank you, Ms. Adderfield. We're going to go to the remote with Kate Campbell, and then we will go back to the room, and it will be Roger Smith.

[01:13:59] Chair Randall and members of the board, thank you for taking time to hear from us this morning. My name is Kate Campbell, and I live in Charlestown, West Virginia. I've been a service coordinator for the Department of Mental Substance Abuse and Disability Services for almost six years.

[01:14:16] I'm a proud member of SEIU 512 and the vice chair of the Loudoun chapter. I appreciate the pay increase I received in the last budget cycle, and I thank you for any future increases. But they're insufficient to keep up with the rising cost of living, specifically the substantial increase in the cost of health insurance.

[01:14:36] My take-home pay is less now than it was a year ago. My monthly income is more than $200 less, and using this insurance will cost more than last year. The other issue I want to bring to your attention relates to turnover and staffing shortages.

[01:14:51] I work with the clinical medical team, and we have struggled to see psychiatric nurse positions for over a year. One of our nurses took a $19 per hour pay decrease to work for us, expecting better working conditions. This has not been her experience, and she is considering other events.

[01:15:11] Our mental health case managers were fully staffed for a bit, thanks to some positions you added. But now they're unable to keep those positions filled and have again instated a long waiting list for services. The behavioral health outpatient program is chronically understaffed and is triaging individuals.

[01:15:29] Friendship House, ICT, emergency services, and other essential programs are continuously understaffed. This means that our most vulnerable persons and community members are being underserved. I know this has been a frustration for some of you, particularly Chair Randall, who understands the consequences of these and other staffing shortages across, I believe we can, and that the residents of Loudoun County will benefit from a healthy, robust, and well-funded public services.

[01:16:00] We look forward to bargaining a contract this year that will improve services by addressing these staffing shortages, guarantee increases in our take-home pay. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Roger Smith, followed by, I think the first name is Shaker, I think, Heidery.

[01:16:22] And then you will be followed by Georgiana Mingle. Good evening, morning, sir. Morning, supervisors. I almost hesitate to take this podium. It seems to have an aura about it of aggressiveness.

[01:16:40] I'll try and avoid that. I'm Roger Smith, resident of Loudoun County for 12 years. The budget book shows that total expenditures will increase 14% in 2025 over 2024. However, the average homeowner property taxes will increase just 4.5%.

[01:17:00] That's thanks to expected increases in data center taxes, which is a trend we have seen for many years. Without data centers, our tax rates would have to be about double what they are today, and about double that of neighboring counties.

[01:17:20] So that's great, right? Problem is, budgets only capture financial data that directly affects the Treasury in the short term. When families plan their budgets, they take into account not only what is to be immediately quantified, but also what affects them in the long term, including quality of life issues.

[01:17:42] So when you approve this budget, I ask you to consider the longer term and the quality of life issues of the kind appearing in the comprehensive plan and the board of supervisors strategic initiatives. Data centers raise plenty of issues of this type, more than I have time to raise in this forum. However, the fundamental issue is when does the harm that DCs do appear, that don't appear in the budget outweigh the financial

[01:18:17] benefits that do appear in the budget? More plainly said, when do we stop adding data centers? Of course, telling existing data centers that they are not welcome makes no sense. However, in my opinion, when the 2025 revenue budget is met, we should not seek nor approve new data centers.

[01:18:38] We should tell applicants to look elsewhere. I suggest you include text in the budget that reflects such a policy. Furthermore, I suggest that you update the Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiative 5.6 to include such a policy.

[01:18:56] Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Shaker Haidery, and you'll be followed by Georgiana, I think it's Mingle. Good morning, sir.

[01:19:12] Good morning, good morning. Hello, everyone. My name is Shaker Haidery. I'm a pharma interpreter with Special Forces and Marine in Afghanistan. I'm here to share my story about housing because I know a lot of people are in the same situation.

[01:19:31] Most of my time I need two jobs and still I'm not able to pay all my bills. I'm in debt $15,000 because I borrowed money from friends to pay my bills. Car insurance and rent $2,000 amount, gas expenses.

[01:19:50] I'm the only person in my household who is working and I have four dependents. I feel like I can't handle it. I think the county should make program to help people like us right now. 70% of our income goes to paid rent.

[01:20:08] I'm looking for a job right now, and so I can't even pay anything right now. I have to borrow money from friends. When I'm looking for a job, they all pay 13, 14-hour full-time. That would mean $560 a week, which is $2,240 a month gross income.

[01:20:31] After taxes, it will be less, maybe $1,800. My rent is $2,000, including utility, the car insurance, gas bills, and other family expenses. It doesn't add up. That's why I have to borrow money. I called the Loudoun Care to ask for rental assistance.

[01:20:51] They asked me for proof of my income. I told them I don't have a job right now, and they said, if you don't have a job, we can help you. When you get a job, call us back. If I get a job, I would call you. If I have a job, I don't ask for help.

[01:21:09] I told them I work gigs like DoorDash making $300, $400 a week, and they said that's not enough and this doesn't make any sense. There are a lot of people like me who are in a very bad situation, and this is leading to a depression for a lot of people.

[01:21:27] When you try to struggle, you try every kind of way, and you are not able to get it. and you jump from one thing to another thing, you can't focus. We need some rental assistance for housing voucher to give us some relief so that we can get break and develop skills.

[01:21:47] If we are always thinking about how we are going to pay the rent, we don't have time to build skills to get better jobs. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Georgiana, if it's Georgiana or Georgiana, Georgiana, I think it's Mingo, my NGLE is what I can see here. Good morning, ma'am. And you will be followed by Corey Brunette, and you will be followed, Mr. Brunette, by Scott Cipher. Good morning, ma'am.

[01:22:18] Good morning, Chair Lady and Board of Suavises. I'm Georgina Latibingo. I'm a 77-year-old widow. I live at Wood at Brambleton, and I live alone with hardship.

[01:22:37] I cannot pay my rent. I have to ask friends to help me, to assist me, because I used to do that for them. So I do ask of my help. My electricity and gas and everything, I have to find a way to pay it, because if not, I won't get electricity.

[01:22:56] And my social security income is not enough for me to pay other bills. So I just go about asking friends for help. And I do so, but it's not my doing to do that because I've been in this country.

[01:23:12] I came here at the age of 23. I'm 77 years old now, so I really ask for help. I'll be very grateful for you. I can get help. I went down to fill out the voucher, and I was told it takes a long time to get whatever they are going to give you.

[01:23:33] And since then I've been asking friends, I have a neighbor who helped me out with some money, which she knows I would have done it for her if I should. So I'm requesting that we do have help for everything we need.

[01:23:50] And I'm just nervous. So I please believe that the country will help us with the housing and everything that is necessary for people to feel free and be. And we'll have a peace of mind.

[01:24:10] So thank you. thank you you did just fine thank you um cory brunette followed by scott cipher followed by um angela bland good morning good morning my name is cory brunette and i live in the broad run district supervisor turner you told me we'd be out of here by 9 30 this morning i am your supervisor i'm an english learner teacher at broad run high school i'm here this morning to ask that you vote to fully fund the school board's budget.

[01:24:48] The budget is good, and big, and complicated, and imperfect. And LCPS employees deserve it to be fully funded. I respectfully ask that you not nickel and dime it, taking away part of its funds to pay for some other worthwhile project.

[01:25:07] Most LCPS employees live in Loudoun and deserve the respect of a fully funded school board budget. I speak often at the school board meetings and always end my comments by saying, LCPS will never outperform its educators. I stand before you today knowing, as most of you, that people do not move to Loudoun thinking, wow, Loudoun is beautiful. There is so much to do here.

[01:25:33] It's rich in history, yet modern. We have everything we need, but what will we do about all of those mediocre schools? Instead, I will say this, Loudoun County will never outperform its public schools. Please think hard about this when deliberating the budget. Loudoun County will never outperform its public schools. Thank you. Thank you. Scott Cipher, followed by Angela Bland,

[01:26:05] followed by Renee Hagan. Good morning. Good morning, Honorable Chair Phyllis Randall, Honorable Members of the Board of Supervisors, in particular, Ms. Kristen, thank you for the invitation for speaking today. I've been in Leesburg since the late 80s. My name is Scott Seifer. It's C-Y-P-H-E-R. I represent these people here, I suppose, the most vulnerable who are not all, by virtue of their dint of genetic allotment, right, not all people find themselves

[01:26:43] on a fixed income. I never thought I would. COVID has been very hard on people. People have lost their business people have lost their pension there is no pension so there's a lot of people out there that aren't speaking today that should maybe they're just afraid or embarrassed i don't know so so it has to do with the real estate assessments they have been going so with mr smith he can tell you much more about this but if the real estate assessments keep going up that's that's a tax yeah you could say yeah you should have seen that coming but not all people

[01:27:23] can see that coming so that is and then when you add to that the percentage that you're that's being taxed right if even if it stays the same that's an even more of a tax burden for people you're going to get well gentrification i think would be an excellent word to describe it so in terms of real estate assessments i would ask that you decrease the real estate assessments on people give some consideration toward that particularly and i've talked with miss umset about this thank you so much for people who really are bonafide disabled it'd be real easy to

[01:27:57] just check to see whether they have one of these at the DMV you know or their personal property tax for example the cars like a lot of people can afford EVs great you know I was there once maybe people who are were there will be in my place someday right you could make if cars are more than 10 years old you can drop this tax on cars, for example.

[01:28:23] I don't envy any of you. You're in a very, very tough situation, but the one thing that I think we do need is to reduce the tax burden for the residents. I'm gonna go ahead and leave, but thank you so very much for, and I have some comments already sent to Ms. Umstead.

[01:28:42] - Thank you, sir. - Bye, guys, have a nice weekend. - Thank you, appreciate you being here, thank you. Ms. Angela Bland, and then the last speaker that I have unless there's any more over there, no more over there, is Renee Hagan. Good morning, ma'am. Good morning, esteem board and chairman.

[01:28:58] My name is Angela Bland, and I've been before you all before on homelessness. Still homeless in Loudoun County. I'm a senior citizen. I've gone through terrible health problems because of not being able to get affordable housing.

[01:29:14] The only thing I can afford in this county is my storage, and that's it. I've had to sleep in my vehicle. I've even slept in the mayor's garage where her office is because of nowhere to go for protection to the point of almost hypothermia in the wintertime.

[01:29:33] And the shame of this is I've had social workers tell me they don't live in this county because they can't afford to live in this county. I was in this county to work. I've worked and worked, but I can't afford it.

[01:29:49] It took me an hour to drive here today because I'm working in Washington to come out here to speak in all that rain. I just ask you all, a penny, okay, put some barrels out in front of the police department or in front of the fire department, and let's all put pennies in it, if that's what it's going to take to help get affordable housing in this county.

[01:30:10] This is a beautiful county. Thank you all for all that you do. And I thank all the services, the people that have helped me along the way, the shelters. But being put out of shelters after 30 days, not having anywhere to go as a senior citizen in bad health, I've had two strokes and a heart attack because trying to get my housing, paying to stay at hotels because I couldn't get into housing.

[01:30:35] So please, let's all do what we can do. You know, come up with creative ways to get the housing into this county. Thank you, and God bless you all for whatever you're going to do. Thank you, Ms. Plante. Thank you. The last speaker will be Renee Hagan, if she's in the room.

[01:30:54] Good morning. My name is Renee Hogan. Hogan. I apologize. Yes. I apologize for not being in person, but I am my 88-year-old caregiver. So I have met with most of this board regarding a community center for the arts in Eastern Loudoun.

[01:31:15] I wanted to applaud your actions for taking the first step of adding this important venue to CIP. As you have previously heard, we have many artists within our county that have difficulty finding a venue.

[01:31:31] Since a recent article in the Loudoun Times Mirror regarding our networking effort for these talented visual and performing artists, I have received many emails about groups both in and out of our county, very enthusiastic about this step, not to mention the many, many potential patrons.

[01:31:57] I sincerely hope this project is voted in the budget, and any chance expediting the project so your older constituents, such as myself, will be able to enjoy the arts in our own county will be greatly appreciated.

[01:32:13] Thank you all for your efforts in listening to all of your constituents and have the difficulty of balancing all of our needs. The arts benefit everyone, just like our libraries, schools, and sports facilities. Thank you.

[01:32:30] Thank you, Ms. Hogan. I appreciate it. So, that was our last speaker for the day. I do want to remind everyone that just because that was our last public hearing does not mean there's not many ways to contact the board.

[01:32:46] You can, of course, email us at bos at loudon.gov. In fact, that's the best way to get a hold of us is to email or call. For me, at least, probably sending me a message on Facebook is not the best way to get a hold of me because for a lot of reasons and so emailing us is the best way to get a hold of us and we really do want to hear from you.

[01:33:07] During our board meetings, we do have public comment time during board business meetings. You can come speak to us on any issue during that 90 minutes so please feel free to do that. I do apologize today. I think there was a bit of confusion about who was speaking and then the interpretation.

[01:33:27] I was just wanting to make sure that the interpreter was actually speaking for the last speaker because I wanted to make sure I knew who just said what. That's very important. There are some people I will call and follow up with after this.

[01:33:43] And for now, we are adjourned. Thank you for coming out. For now, we are adjourned.

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