Town reveals cost of personnel

by Tom Chillemi – 

Urbanna resident Kristi Anzivino was the only speaker during the June 18 public hearing on the Town of Urbanna’s proposed fiscal year 2020-2021 budget. This was the second consecutive year that Anzivino was the only citizen to comment on the town budget during the public hearing which was conducted electronically via computers and phones.

Among other things, Anzivino asked council to publish the cost of town personnel. She said it is difficult to determine salaries from the budget spreadsheets.

During the public hearing, Anzivino told council she was “trying to let the public see what portion of our town budget goes to personnel. The proposed budget and spreadsheet makes it difficult for citizens to determine the total amount for each position. I have asked for clarification in the past and during this budget as to what each employee is paid but no one can give a definite number because some salaries are sourced from more than one fund.”

“Taxpayers have the right to know what portion of the town budget is going to personnel and the total amount paid for each position,” she said.

In response, the Southside Sentinel on June 19, filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the town and its attorney seeking the total cost of personnel in the 2020-2021 budget. The Sentinel’s FOIA request asked for the total salaries, benefits, insurance, retirement, bonuses, etc.

This week Town Council Attorney Andy Bury, who is council’s FOIA official, replied that the total payroll plus benefits for all 19 town employees is $222,422.57. This figure breaks down as follows: wages and salaries, $187,734; FICA, $14,582; Virginia Retirement System payments, $1,055; overtime allowance, $2,625; health insurance, $16,000; group life insurance, $425.

The town has two full-time…