Rappahannock schools’ lobbyist: a go or no go

Supervisors weigh in on who’s to pay

Schools Superintendent Shannon Grimsley told the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors Monday that “significant progress” is being made in the community fundraising effort to fund a lobbyist through the upcoming state legislative session, but was questioned why the community was asked to pitch in, and whether a lobbyist is even necessary.

During her monthly update on the school system, Grimsley was asked by Hampton Supervisor Keir Whitson for clarification on why the task force in charge of managing the lobbying efforts chose to fundraise in the community, and said he was “pretty clear when [the board] provided the initial funding” that the school system should come back to the board and ask for any additional funds.

Whitson said, “sometimes you have to spend money to make money,” and while he appreciates the support from the community, he feels that the process is lacking urgency.

“We have had this ongoing effort at the state trying to free up funds, and three years running at least, we’ve been put in a real bind where we’re faced with – I think at one point it was a half-a-million-dollar budget deficit – and we scramble and we scrimp,” Whitson said.

“This board … tried really hard to cover that deficit in any way possible, short of a property tax increase. And I know that you rightfully point out that property tax increases are hard on your own school community … so it’s something that we all like to avoid to the extent possible,” he said.

Whitson asked why, with what he sees as an urgent issue at the state level for the schools, would they choose to “embark on a potentially protracted fundraising effort.” Grimsley said from the beginning of the discussions surrounding the lobbyist, members of the community were voicing a desire to help.

She said the fundraiser is not slowing down the work of the lobbyist, Elizabeth Parker. The plan is when Parker gives the schools a “go or no go” at the end of December indicating if she thinks a legislative change is possible, they will approach the School Board and BOS to discuss any additional funding.

Grimsley said they are ahead of schedule on raising the needed $30,000, and that around half the funds have already been raised. As of Monday morning, $13,460 has been raised.

“The idea was to engage the community that is very interested and fascinated and wants to help with this initiative. And that had been in the initial resolution that you all signed to do that,” Grimsley said. “It was the understanding that, yes, when the time came to the point of go, no go, we would have to come back and have a discussion with the School Board and supervisors to say, ‘This is what’s left.’”

Piedmont Supervisor Christine Smith said she has heard criticism of hiring a lobbyist from constituents because “it’s not something that Rappahannock has traditionally done,” and it is not guaranteed to work.

“I think we all, if we knew we could spend $30,000 and save $1.3 million — that’s a no brainer,” Smith said. “But it is a gamble, and I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I’m not convinced that anything will change until the players in Richmond change, and we don’t have any control over that.”

Chair and Wakefield Supervisor Debbie Donehey, who is on the task force overseeing the lobbyist, said the team wanted to show lawmakers that the community was willing to pitch in.

“We wanted to show to Richmond that we’re in this together, and this entire county is willing to put up even a little bit to get us over the hill to the $1.3 million, that everybody will climb that and do it together. And we’re seeing that,” Donehey said.

Ireland Hayes is a reporter for Foothills Forum, a nonprofit organization that supports local news in Rappahannock County.

Watch the Board of Supervisors 2 p.m. meeting:

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