Board advertises FY2027 budget and tax rates after wide CIP debate; public hearing April 1 set

Following an extended budget work session the Board of Supervisors voted to authorize advertisement of the FY2027 budget and tax rates for a public hearing on April 1, 2026.

The advertised general‑fund budget total and the advertised tax rates were put forward for public notice as required under the Virginia public‑notice process. The advertised real property tax rate is 0.777 per $100 of assessed value (77.7¢), with advertised personal and business property and machinery & tools rates identified for the public notice. The vote to advertise was 3–2.

Budget deliberations earlier in the meeting covered a range of CIP requests: funds for Pleasant Grove water testing and initial design, consultant design dollars for a government center, public‑safety vehicle and equipment requests (ambulance replacements, turnout gear, thermal imaging cameras), school capital needs (bus replacements, flooring, bus garage work), and miscellaneous park and facilities items. Board members balanced the urgency of deferred maintenance and public‑safety equipment needs against concerns about tax‑rate sustainability in a non‑reassessment year and rising construction and insurance costs.

The advertisement does not appropriate final funds; it simply opens the FY2027 budget and CIP for public hearing, comment and possible modification. The board directed staff to publish the advertisement and return the full proposed budget figures and related CIP materials in advance of the April 1 hearing.

Vote: motion to advertise FY2027 budget and tax rates passed 3–2. The hearing is scheduled for April 1, 2026.