Lifestyle

Fauquier Times | March 4, 2020

The arts are alive and well

Debra Smyers named new executive director of Fauquier Community Theatre

By Anita L. Sherman Communi yEdi or All things art are in her blood, whether it’s admiring a painting, attending a concert or a new film, or being on stage herself.

When it comes to supporting the arts, Debra Smyers is all in. A resident of the Gainesville/Warrenton area since 2004, she has now taken on the role of executive director at the Fauquier Community Theatre. She had been co-chair with Christie Clark, who has since taken a new career path. Clark was an integral part of the theater and spent some 10 years there, first as public relations manager and then as executive director. Smyers was introduced as co-executive director at the theatre’s 40th anniversary gala in April 2018.

As of Feb. 1, Smyers became the new full-time executive director of Fauquier Community Theatre, a role that she is glad to take on. She said she enjoys working with the board of directors, community partners, actors, directors and production teams in providing the gift of live theater to audiences. Drawing on a legion of seasoned and new players, the theater productions annually offer a range of themes, from mysteries to musicals, serious drama to humor. The acoustics and stage props have improved over the years, making this local theater a “go to” destination for weekend arts enthusiasts, both in and out of the county.

“Fauquier Community Theatre enriches and entertains a range of audiences through a variety of live theater productions that enhance the cultural life of the community,” said Smyers. “Audience members enjoy being at the center of having a story unfold in front of them in intriguing ways.”

Smyers holds a Master of Arts in arts management from George Mason University and is an adjunct professor in the program. Smyers has more than 20 years of experience on the business side of the arts, including as an arts consultant, co-executive director and executive director for arts organizations. Her work includes grant writing, strategic planning, fundraising, artistic programming and producing theater as well as music concerts. She is the founder and principal of Arts Consulting International, LLC.

On the artistic side of the arts, Smyers has produced and directed plays and musicals. She is an actress and member of SAG-AFTRA. Smyers is also known as “The Arts Lady” in Warrenton and writes a monthly column about the arts for the Fauquier Times. Her lifelong passion for the arts started early when she was on vacation with her family. At the age of 7, she attended the production of Florida’s official state play “Cross and Sword – A Symphonic Drama of the Spanish Settlement of Florida” in a 2,000-seat outdoor amphitheater in St. Augustine.

“It was truly an amazing production with so many actors, elaborate costumes and props, depicting history. It truly was like traveling in time,” said Smyers of her initial fascination with that event.

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PHOTO BY CARSON MCRAE/MCRAE VISUAL MEDIA Debra Smyers loves everything about the stage, whether she’s in the spotlight or behind the scenes. She is embracing her new role as the executive director of the Fauquier Community Theatre.

“I knew at that young age that I wanted to become a teacher and also work in the arts,” said Smyers who also has a heart for social service organizations. She is the founder of Waste Not Want Not, a not-for-profit in Northeast Florida, which is in its 30th successful year of serving the homeless and preventing hunger and poverty.

As an arts lover and an educator, Smyers is keen on offering opportunities for the community’s youth.

“Arts education plays a role also, especially for our youth, as they learn about acting, singing, dancing and expanding their creativity,” said Smyers, who looks forward to the theater’s summer production of Disney’s “Frozen, Jr.” There are also several drama camps for students available at FCT.

Smyers’ enthusiasm for the county’s local art scene will bode well as she, along with the board and a cast of supporting characters, continue the story of the Fauquier Community Theatre. For more information about the Fauquier Community Theatre, visit www.fctstage.org.

Allegro student wins accolades

Mikey Goltry accepted into The Washington National Opera’s Summer Opera Institute

Staff Reports

Under the instruction of seasoned Allegro vocal instructor Bob Swift, and Allegro’s career counselor, Cecilia Dohm, 16-year-old tenor Mikey Goltry was given the opportunity to audition for the Washington National Opera’s Summer Opera Institute, a competitive summer program at

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Goltry auditioned next to the best high school vocalists in the world, said a press release.

He received a scholarship to the three-week summer program that brings passionate, dedicated young musicians together in the nation’s capital to experience opera in a professional and nurturing environment that only a world-class opera company can provide, said the release. Aspiring classical singers thrive from Washington National Opera Institute’s intense and focused curriculum, which prepares students for college performance programs and beyond. A culminating performance is set for June at The Kennedy Center on the Millennium Stage. About Allegro

Allegro offers private lessons, musical theatre, orchestra, choir and vocal ensembles, music therapy, creative aging, music academy for the blind, recording arts, literacy, visual arts and workshops.

The nonprofit is focused on giving back to the community andbringing the arts to life. Allegro aims to increase artappreciation and participation within the community and within families. Visit www.allegrocsa.org for information.

** NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ** PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021, TAX RATES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2020, AND THE PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-2025 FAUQUIER COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 7:00 P.M. Fauquier High School - Auditorium 705 Waterloo Road, Warrenton, VA 20186 A Public Hearing on the proposed FY 2021 County Budget, proposed Capital Improvement Program, and Tax Year 2020 tax rates will be held by the Board of Supervisors at the time and place noted above. This hearing is for expenditures and revenues for all County Departments, the Airport Fund, Ambulance Revenue Fund, the Capital Improvement Fund, the Conservation Easement Service District Levy Fund, the County Asset Replacement Fund, the Debt Service Fund, the Environmental Services Fund, the Fire and Rescue Tax Levy Fund, Internal Service Funds, and the School Division Funds for the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. Calendar Year 2020 tax rates proposed would be effective upon adoption with real estate taxes due June 5th and December 5th, and personal property taxes due October 5th of each year, with any due date that falls on a weekend moved to the next business day.

The proposed FY 2021 budget includes an advertised overall real estate tax rate of $1.048 which would fund all FY 2021 proposed budget requests.

The proposed FY 2021 budget, in summary form below, is for informative and fiscal planning purposes only. The proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) plan totals $99.5 million over the five-year planning period. Of this amount, $7.2 million would be allocated for public safety and fire and rescue projects, $2.6 million for judicial administration, $9.6 million for parks and recreational projects, $0.25 million for environmental services projects, $14.93 million for utility projects including $8.0 million for broadband development, $0.26 million for Airport projects, and $57.45 million for school division projects. Copies of the complete proposed budget and CIP are available at the County Administrator’s Office, the Office of Management & Budget, and online at http://www.fauquiercounty.gov/government/departments-h-z/management-and-budget. The inclusion of any item in the proposed budget does not represent a commitment by (or obligation of) the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors to appropriate funds for any item or purpose listed. The Board of Supervisors may adjust any or all figures after the public hearing. In accordance with the Code of Virginia, the local tax rates can only be adjusted downward from the advertised rates, unless additional notice is given and a public hearing held on any proposed increase. ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THIS PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND TAX RATES. Any person not able to attend may submit written comments to the County Administrator’s Office, 10 Hotel Street, Warrenton, Virginia 20186.

Paul S. McCulla, County Administrator

FURTHER INFORMATION: If there are questions, or if additional information is desired prior to the public hearing, please contact:

FY 2021 Proposed General Fund Revenue Office of Management and Budget (540) 422-8360 County Administrator’s Office (540) 422-8001 Fauquier County does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in admission or access to its programs and activities. Accommodations will be made for handicapped persons upon prior request.

General Property Tax 72.0%

FY 2021 Proposed General Fund Revenue Use of Money and Property 0.6%

Fines & Forfeitures 0.3%

Intergovernmental Transfers 0.2%

Use of Fund Balance 0.5%

Miscellaneous Revenue and Recovered Costs 0.3%

Charges for Services 0.5%

Permits, Fees, and Licenses 0.8%

Federal Revenue 1.6%

State Revenue 14.2% Other Local Taxes 9.1%

REVENUES LOCAL TAX RATES

Source FY 2020 ADOPTED FY 2021 PROPOSED GENERAL FUND Real Property Taxes $ 100,452,188 $ 103,791,198 Personal Property Taxes 26,622,000 30,300,000 Other Local Revenue 30,018,052 31,567,023 State Revenue 27,901,570 28,147,459 Federal Revenue 2,889,443 3,271,338 Intergovernmental Revenue 477,522 477,522 Use of Prior Years’ Fund Balance 987,697 987,697 TOTAL, GENERAL FUND $ 189,348,472 $ 198,542,237 OTHER FUNDS Airport Fund $ 732,851 $ 742,909 Ambulance Revenue Recovery Fund 1,482,055 1,528,849 Capital Improvement Fund 8,122,725 21,698,200 Conservation Easement Service District Fund 871,758 879,562 County Asset Replacement Fund 1,875,092 2,555,800 Debt Service Fund 13,116,310 13,298,436 Environmental Services Fund 6,250,625 8,200,378 Fire and Rescue Levy Fund 19,547,247 21,814,444 Fleet Maintenance Fund 3,517,988 3,616,038 Health Insurance Fund 35,545,564 35,798,972 School Division Operating Fund 148,285,310 154,789,452 School Nutrition Fund 5,786,346 6,140,346 School Textbook Fund 1,102,757 1,170,784 School Asset Replacement Fund 3,709,535 4,357,031 Regional Governor’s School Fund 1,695,849 1,699,879 TOTAL, OTHER FUNDS $ 251,642,012 $ 278,291,080 Less Local Support $ (110,239,713) $ (118,907,561) TOTAL REVENUE, ALL FUNDS $ 330,750,771 $ 357,925,756 Levy 1 ADOPTED TAX YEAR 2019 REAL ESTATE General Real Estate $0.855

Special District Levy (Countywide) Fire and Rescue $0.133 Conservation Easement $0.006 Stormwater Management Fee 3 $13.64

Special District Levy (District only) Marshall Electric Light & Business Improvement District $0.005

PERSONAL PROPERTY Tangible Personal Property $4.65 Business Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment $2.30 Machinery and Tools $2.30 Motor Home/Campers/Boats $1.50 Motor Vehicle Carriers (30+ passengers) $1.00 Fire & Rescue Volunteer Vehicle $0.25 Handicap Equipped Vehicles $0.05 Aircraft 4 $0.001 Mobile Homes $0.994 PROPOSED TAX YEAR 2020

$0.874

$0.150 $0.006 $13.64

ADVERTISED TAX YEAR 2020 2

$0.884

$0.158 $0.006 $13.64

$0.005

$4.65 $2.30 $2.30 $1.50 $1.00 $0.25 $0.05 $0.001 $1.030

$0.005

$4.65 $2.30 $2.30 $1.50 $1.00 $0.25 $0.05 $0.001 $1.048

School Division Operating Fund 1 49.2%

Non-Departmental 1.7%

Capital Improvement Program 1.1% Judicial Administration 2.3%

Expenditures Summary GENERAL FUND

GENERAL GOVERNMENT Board of Supervisors Commissioner of the Revenue County Administration County Attorney Finance Geographic Information Systems Human Resources Independent Auditor Information Technology Management and Budget Registrar Treasurer SUBTOTAL, GENERAL GOVERNMENT

JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION Adult Court Services Circuit Court Clerk of the Circuit Court Commissioner of Accounts Commonwealth’s Attorney General District Court Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court Magistrates Public Defender’s Office SUBTOTAL, JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION

PUBLIC SAFETY Juvenile Detention & Probation Sheriff SUBTOTAL, PUBLIC SAFETY

PUBLIC WORKS Environmental Services - Convenience Sites 1 General Services SUBTOTAL, PUBLIC WORKS

HEALTH AND WELFARE Community Services Board Public Health Social Services/CSA SUBTOTAL, HEALTH AND WELFARE CULTURE Library Lord Fairfax Community College Parks and Recreation SUBTOTAL, CULTURE

Community Development 3.3%

Public Works 2.9% Culture 3.7%

Public Safety 11.4% Debt Service 5.9% Health & Welfare 7.0%

General Government 8.4%

1

Does not include $8.80 million in Consolidated Services shared support.

EXPENDITURES

FY 2020 ADOPTED FY 2021 REQUESTS FY 2021 PROPOSED

$ 293,621 $ 298,519 $ 298,519

1,666,013 1,718,687 1,718,687

986,538 1,022,690 1,022,690 817,183 889,225 889,225 1,540,694 1,675,862 1,626,230

366,019 341,837 347,625

3,014,078 3,654,252 3,482,174 210,895 189,375 189,375 4,178,679 4,786,922 4,475,602 593,307 638,048 622,793 483,047 1,010,200 510,746 1,386,926 1,557,103 1,532,290

$ 15,537,000 $ 17,782,720 $ 16,715,956

$ 1,027,856 $ 1,089,228 $ 1,086,468 140,382 175,782 145,644 1,302,257 1,362,482 1,377,299 15,600 15,600 15,600 1,611,787 1,692,550 1,678,989 32,700 32,700 32,700

17,726 22,313 22,313

87,773 91,556 91,556 - 34,467 34,467

$ 4,236,081 $ 4,516,678 $ 4,485,036

$ 309,532 $ 309,532 $ 309,532

21,126,612 23,024,124 22,379,437

$ 21,436,144 $ 23,333,656 $ 22,688,969

$ 2,780,204 $ - $ -

5,510,630 5,796,283 5,784,984

$ 8,290,834 $ 5,796,283 $ 5,784,984

$ 489,482 $ 619,438 $ 619,438 616,995 627,086 627,086 11,808,393 12,673,471 12,665,786

$ 12,914,870 $ 13,919,995 $ 13,912,310

Expenditures Summary (continued) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Agriculture Development Community Development Contributions Cooperative Extension Economic Development John Marshall SWCD Planning Commission/ BZA/ARB SUBTOTAL, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

FY 2020 ADOPTED FY 2021 REQUESTS FY 2021 PROPOSED

$ 71,647 $ 155,524 $ 78,535 3,796,807 3,967,659 3,898,327 1,095,202 1,355,035 1,113,593 162,418 233,054 232,824 917,728 1,063,452 968,045 162,346 176,438 178,471

151,631 151,631 151,631

$ 6,357,779 $ 7,102,793 $ 6,621,426

NON-DEPARTMENTAL Non-Departmental SUBTOTAL, NONDEPARTMENTAL

TRANSFERS Airport Fund Capital Improvement Program Fund County Asset Replacement Fund Debt Service Fund Environmental Services Fund 1 School Division Operating Fund Utility Fund SUBTOTAL, TRANSFERS

$ 3,346,203 $ 3,346,203 $ 3,306,497

$ 3,346,203 $ 3,346,203 $ 3,306,497

$ 16,000 $ 16,000 $ 21,115

2,122,725 2,319,740 2,132,861

1,637,532 3,440,800 2,061,800

12,190,559 13,534,366 11,800,176 1,181,419 2,853,606 5,683,103

93,091,478 95,418,765 95,884,222

100,000 100,000 100,000 $ 110,339,713 $ 117,683,277 $ 117,683,277

TOTAL, GENERAL FUND OTHER FUNDS

$ 189,348,472 $ 200,869,182 $ 198,542,237

Airport Fund Ambulance Revenue Recovery Fund Capital Improvement Fund Conservation Easement Service District Fund County Asset Replacement Fund Debt Service Fund Environmental Services Fund 1 Fire and Rescue Levy Fund Fleet Maintenance Fund Health Insurance Fund School Division Operating Fund School Nutrition Fund School Textbook Fund School Asset Replacement Fund Regional Governor’s School Fund SUBTOTAL, OTHER FUNDS

Less Local Support TOTAL, OTHER FUNDS

$ 732,851 $ 765,002 $ 742,909

1,482,055 1,528,849 1,528,849

8,122,725 31,761,753 21,698,200

871,758 880,958 879,562

1,875,092 2,946,800 2,555,800

13,116,310 13,534,366 13,298,436 6,250,625 9,895,732 8,200,378 19,547,247 20,783,304 21,814,444 3,517,988 3,731,366 3,616,038 35,545,564 35,798,972 35,798,972

148,285,310 155,839,160 154,789,452

5,786,346 6,140,346 6,140,346 1,102,757 1,170,784 1,170,784

3,709,535 4,357,031 4,357,031

1,695,849 1,699,879 1,699,879 $ 251,642,012 $ 290,834,302 $ 278,291,080 $ (110,239,713) $ (121,348,269) $ (118,907,561)