County Administrator, Scott Stevens released his Fiscal Year 2023 Proposed Budget for James City County on March 28. The FY2023 Proposed Budget at $233.4 million is 4.0% above the FY2022 budget, with the General Fund portion of the budget increasing 7.9% over FY2022 to $218.2 million.
The budget process for FY2023 involved several key considerations, including providing exceptional services to the community, employee retention and recruitment, community appearance, and paying for capital improvement projects with fund balance appropriations. Current economic conditions have also played a role as rising prices and supply chain shortages have created difficulties in obtaining necessary goods and equipment. The County shares resources between County operations and WJCC Schools, and a measured approach was taken to ensure a fair allocation of resources that would benefit as many community needs as possible. These factors, in addition to the goals of the County’s Strategic Plan, helped to shape this proposed budget.
Highlights include:
- No tax rate change. The real estate tax rate is recommended to remain at 84 cents per $100 valuation.
- Based on information published by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), used vehicles values are at all-time highs, which is expected to be temporary. To provide some tax relief to those impacted, the County adopted an assessment ratio of only 75% of the NADA values for motor vehicles.
- Fee increases are proposed for the County’s ambulance transport services, which are impacted by Medicare rates.
- Funding for a 5% and a $1,500 increase to each eligible employee’s salary implemented in FY2022.
- Funding for 8 new full-time positions, 4 conversions of part-time positions to full-time, reclassifications of several existing positions, and new or updated career ladders.
- Sharing in the increased cost of health insurance coverage offered to employees and other adjustments to fringe benefit rates.
- Restoration of pay-as-you-go funding for the County’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- An increase in funding to the WJCC School Division of $1.2 million.
After a community meeting and a business meeting on the budget, the Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the County’s FY2023 Proposed Budget at the May 10 meeting at 5 p.m. Once adopted, the FY2023 budget will cover July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023.
Opportunities for citizen input are as follows:
The Board of Supervisors budget discussion will be held at their Business Meeting on April 26 at 1 p.m. in the Board Room at 101 Mounts Bay Road, Building F. Although there are no opportunities for public comments during Business Meetings, the public is welcome to attend. The meeting will also be streamed live on Facebook, the website, YouTube and Cox Cable channels 48 and 1048.
The FY2023 Proposed Budget can be viewed on the County’s website, https://www.jamescitycountyva.gov/598/Budget-Financial-Reports.
Media Contact:
Renee Dallman, Public Information Officer
757-253-6605; renee.dallman@jamescitycountyva.gov