Keeping public comments in mind, Appomattox supervisors said Monday that before they vote, they would spend the next week examining the county’s proposed fiscal year 2010 budget and real estate tax rate increase of up to 10 cents.
Six county residents spoke at the public hearing, often asking supervisors to keep economic conditions in mind and not increase taxes.
“I hope you will understand and take a look at needs versus wants,” said George Almond, of Pamplin. “Lots of us want lots of things, but what do we really need?”
School board Chairman James Williams asked the board to increase school funding by $367,000, saying the school board already cut $1.1 million before submitting its request to supervisors, and additional reductions could trigger layoffs.
Most expenditures are the same or a little less from the previous year’s budget, said County Administrator Aileen Ferguson, but the increase will go toward establishing a utilities department, manned trash pickup sites and construction money for the U.S. 460 water line. “Everyone has tried to be very conservative, considering the situation of the economy.”
Supervisors will vote on the budget May 18 after hearing new details on how a refinancing proposal could impact the county’s budget.
Here are highlights from the proposed budget:
How much is the total budget?
The total proposed budget is $40.3 million, a 7 percent increase from last year. Out of that, the school’s budget is $21 million.
Where is the money going?
The budget proposes that Public Safety will receive $3.6 million, Health and Welfare will receive $3.5 million and capital projects will receive $3.2 million. Debt payments are proposed to total $2.6 million. Also budgeted is $515,000 to form a utilities department.
Where is the money coming from?
General property taxes will bring in $12.1 million. Other local taxes will bring in $1.8 million. State money combined will be $18.6 million, with $14.6 million going to schools. Combined federal money will be $12.9 million, almost all going to schools.
What’s proposed to happen with taxes?
The proposed budget includes a tax increase of up to 10 cents per $100 of assessed real estate value, though the board could adopt a lower or no rate increase.
What was the impact of the new land use ordinance?
The land use ordinance, which taxes productive agricultural land at different rates, amounted to an overall revenue loss of about $200,000, or 1.5 cents of the real estate tax rate, Ferguson said.
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