Proposal Goes To Hearing Next Month
A proposed Rockbridge County budget for the next fiscal year is being advertised this week that calls for no tax increases. A public hearing on the budget is set for May 4, with adoption scheduled to take place May 11.
Under the proposed budget, the real estate tax rate would remain at 61 cents per $100 value, the personal property tax rate would stay at $4.25 and the machinery and tools tax would continue to be $2.55.
Planned expenditures and projected revenues for the fiscal year 2027 budget are $68,190,604. Projected revenues include $4,590,053 in the use of reserves for capital projects, $724,905 in the use of restricted reserves from EMS recovery fees and $483,561 from capital reserves for the proposed recreation center bond payment. The proposed budget represents an increase of $2,513,954, or 3.83 percent, over the current year.
The latest estimates indicate that health insurance premiums are to rise by 23.61 percent, or $428,110. This is a significant increase over an earlier estimate that had health insurance premiums rising by 15.6 percent, or $313,125.
The most substantial change from an earlier budget draft is the removal of $1,230,000 for architectural and engineering plans for a new jail. A regional committee has been established to work on this proposed project, with anticipated costs pushed back to a future year.
The proposed local appropriation for the schools stands at $17,747,901, which would represent an increase of $463,193, or 2.7 percent, over this year.
The county’s share of costs for central dispatch has been reduced by $221,359. Additional requested funds for part-time personnel for the sheriff’s office and fire and rescue have been eliminated for a savings of $83,186.
A major unknown in the formulation of the budget is, of course, funding from the state. The General Assembly adjourned last month without adopting a budget. So, at the current time it’s not known how much funding the state will provide the schools or the compensation board for local constitutional offices.
The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene for its veto session next Wednesday, April 22. If a state budget isn’t adopted before the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors adopts its budget on May 11, the Board may need to amend the county budget on a future date.
