Nelson County proposes $49.5 million FY25 budget, schedules three work sessions

Nelson County Administrator Candice W. McGarry introduced the County’s FY25 budget on March 12, 2024, presenting a balanced budget of $49,487,653 that includes no proposed changes to current tax rates.

McGarry and Finance Director Linda K. Staton outlined key revenue and expenditure assumptions: revenues are projected to equal expenditures at $49,487,653; real estate growth is estimated to add $285,390; meals and lodging tax increases are expected to contribute $707,026; interest earnings were projected to rise substantially (Ms. McGarry cited a 169.2% increase compared with FY24’s budgeted estimate); and $3,577,427 of year-end balance/carryover is proposed to finance capital and non-recurring items. On the expenditure side, Staton said the introduced budget is $2,277,984 (4.40%) lower than the FY24 amended budget.

Key expenditure highlights in the introduced FY25 budget include two new full-time positions (an Assistant Director of Special Projects for Tourism and Economic Development at roughly $82,417 in salary and benefits and a Family Services Specialist IV funded with partial state match), a 2% COLA and final MAG pay-study adjustments, an 11% projected health insurance increase, and capital outlay of $2,247,243 funded from carryover (items listed include emergency services vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, an IT microwave network upgrade, and voting equipment replacement). Staton said total contingency funds equal $923,981 (recurring $482,693; non-recurring $441,288).

The Board discussed the unknown final state support for schools; Staton described a range of potential funding shortfalls for the School Division between about $1.8 million and $2.6 million depending on the state budget outcome. McGarry said staff will continue to refine numbers as state action becomes clearer.

To review the introduced budget, the Board set three work sessions: March 15 at 1:00 p.m., March 18 at 1:00 p.m., and March 22 at 9:30 a.m. Ms. McGarry also noted that if the Board chooses to consider tax increases, a public hearing authorization would need to be set before March 25 to permit advertising for an April 11 public hearing.

Why it matters: the introduced budget maintains current tax rates while proposing targeted investments in personnel, maintenance and capital replacement funded largely by carryover and projected revenue increases — decisions that will be refined during the public work sessions and any subsequent hearings.

Next steps: staff and the Board will review the introduced budget in the scheduled work sessions; changes requiring a public hearing would move forward only after appropriate advertising and legal notice.