ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996 TAG: 9604260063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
THE FRANKLIN COUNTY board drew the YMCA president's ire when it voted down $100,000 in funding, but it will spend $54 million on other things, including $37 million on schools.
A $100,000 line item that's part of a $54 million budget might not seem like much, but don't tell that to Abe Essig.
Essig, president of the Franklin County Family YMCA, watched Thursday as the county Board of Supervisors voted to remove $100,000 requested by the organization from the 1996-97 budget.
Last year, the board - including three members who lost in the November election - voted to give the YMCA $100,000 annually for five years, starting in 1996-97.
But this year's board, with three newly elected conservative members, voted to put the first installment back into the county's general fund.
The move incensed Essig, who pleaded his case to the board prior to its decision.
He told the supervisors, "If you vote against this, then you're recording yourself as being against the youth of this county."
The board then voted 5-2 to deny the lump sum request by the YMCA, which, through private donations, has raised $3 million of a $4 million goal set to build a new fitness facility. Most of the five who voted against the money believe taxpayer funds shouldn't be used to build or operate an organization such as the YMCA.
The board did discuss funding - at a later date - a specific service that would benefit the county: a school system program to teach children to swim, using the YMCA pools when it is built.
Essig and YMCA director Russ Merritt had indicated earlier in the meeting that a rental agreement for the use of the pool would be acceptable.
But a motion to table the issue until a rental proposal could be reviewed next month failed.
So, as Thursday's vote to kill the funding took place, Essig paced in the back of the room. When the board finished its business and approved a $54.4 million county budget for next year, Essig approached several supervisors to let them know what he thought.
When he got to Supervisor Hubert Quinn, who voted against the request, emotions bubbled over.
Quinn didn't understand the figures that were used, Essig told him.
Essig didn't know what he was talking about, Quinn told him.
"I'm just glad everyone will know that you voted against the pool and the kids in this county," Essig said to Quinn.
County Attorney Jim Jefferson entered the argument. He pointed a finger in Essig's face and said, "I don't appreciate you talking down to these people."
At the same time, Merritt was scrambling from board member to board member, trying to make the best of the situation.
When he got to Quinn, he offered a handshake and said, "Hubert, I appreciate you working with us on this."
Replied Quinn, "You're not going to get my damn support, even if it's ten dollars."
Merritt says a new YMCA will be built whether the county contributes or not.
He said the county money would have helped reduce the mortgage on the facility, freeing up other funds for staffing and programs.
In addition to Quinn, board members Don Riddle, Jerre Lumsden, John Helms and Gus Forry voted to deny the request. Forry supports the funding, but said he was voting on the prevailing side so he can bring the issue up for a vote again later, as Robert's Rules of Order provides.
Chairman Wayne Angell and Supervisor Page Matherly voted against removing the line item.
The YMCA money created more fireworks than funding of the county schools, the budget item that concerned most of the 20 people who attended the meeting.
The supervisors approved a $37.4 million school budget, including $1.2 million in new local funds.
The School Board had asked for about $1.7 million in new county money, which means it will have to cut $443,000 out of its budget, according to Lee Cheatham, supervisor of business and finance for the schools.
School Superintendent Len Gereau said the School Board must decide what to take out, but he thinks programs, salaries and jobs likely will remain intact.
The supervisors also put $300,000 in a capital improvement account that the School Board can tap for needed repairs to several school buildings.
The School Board did not include the repairs in its budget proposal.
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