[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6096224,"mediaKeyId","2833231-f3515eec6585b26bacc329a5aa5e4308","parentId",2833231,"title","Residents press Goochland supervisors on rising assessments and unchanged tax rate; county and supervisors pledge review","audioSeconds",984,"startMs",4048000,"endMs",5032000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833231-f3515eec6585b26bacc329a5aa5e4308&start=4048&end=5032","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833231-f3515eec6585b26bacc329a5aa5e4308/thumbnail_4048000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6096224/Goochland-County/Virginia/Residents-press-Goochland-supervisors-on-rising-assessments-and-unchanged-tax-rate-county-and-supervisors-pledge-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096224-16db5e0adbea2848d1ac52542a0c7338/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155928&Signature=ldzppAEfR09mUzrcCHWPSXeBx~Qx4o-rkLpJ-K852oaBPgXrykdi4T~J0cO7aO5awej90wGSUo9bVZe7JeXvccRAk7h9NPUTygi69gjsXwboSlzjj-hh2Ef8arsREq9aDxASQkynhNMMljFrVBJmTuIiZW74xokEqFSD7Ohh7NacRL1Y9qjbMVfM3WvJYmNQM1TC11hCJB7DgyixW9zCWhaYDU1QpjC-oDJehUvE4Es9VToM5YHv7XlBRNQCvoWydSgvUFD1PUNa0Y-9iIDqSMvMLuIy1lI7tHYs8G7Yf9rTeyxZDs3Upc5X6S0DtQ~MVebCI0Rd44DEfMf7DgdBzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Goochland County, VA","date","2025-04-01T13:37:31.593Z","article","Multiple residents used the town-hall public-comment portion to press county leaders about sharply higher real-estate assessments and the fact that the county has maintained its tax rate, which residents said amounts to a tax increase.

Speakers described personal situations (fixed incomes, large assessment increases) and asked why the county had not lowered its tax rate in response. Supervisors and staff responded in several ways: they said state code requires assessors to analyze recent sales and to keep assessments in line with sales; they noted Goochland’s assessment-to-sales ratio cited in the meeting (presenter said about 97.5%) and explained that the county’s Local Composite Index (LCI) and reassessments affect school and county revenue. Officials acknowledged the timing challenge — the budget must be adopted by April 15 — and said a comprehensive reinspection program or a full reassessment is a systemic, longer-term fix rather than a step that can be executed between the town hall and the budget-adoption date.

One resident alleged the assessor’s office is not performing regular inspections required by professional standards and reported having raised the issue with board members by email; that resident said they had received limited follow-up. Board members and staff said they would review assessment processes and procedures going forward and invited residents to the upcoming budget hearings and conversation with staff.

During the discussion, county officials also described tradeoffs already made in the draft budget: some departments deferred vehicles or other requests so additional funds could be given to the schools. Supervisors reiterated they must balance rising costs for services and matched the county’s fiscal constraints against the need to maintain services and capital plans.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Supervisors and School Board Members Joint Town Hall, Districts 2 and 3 March 31, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents raised concerns at a Goochland County town hall about sharply rising property assessments and the decision to keep the county’s tax rate steady, saying the combined effect increases tax bills.","taxTitle","Goochland County, Virginia","taxId",30989,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096229,"County officials report Firefly and grant-backed fiber expansion in western and rural Goochland",164,1300000,1464000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833231-f3515eec6585b26bacc329a5aa5e4308&start=1300&end=1464","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833231-f3515eec6585b26bacc329a5aa5e4308/thumbnail_1300000.jpg","/articles/6096229/Goochland-County/Virginia/County-officials-report-Firefly-and-grant-backed-fiber-expansion-in-western-and-rural-Goochland","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096229-cb5c0da4dc46ed0ac9117d01f0e43061/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155928&Signature=ACvf5M~ovIi0MjyIjoBOvZzCOpeE5AeN~l2s0Z69z-Hhvn6luRJdJI4afxz6OWtdVXAugVw0RnbcFMQoNT2lNKVq6wHsvwTGXkLGdp2p2yfoHGrxx6p~ZSQEdofIgQfxxy8U74GMmZIL4kkITSLp6cZIi3qVO0WdcMRtDTVE0NJcwTS5KpUwRgFf7~PAssWI1iOVFFkorZTW7O~7T-C40Rm6oJrYDcFO26~PTDW8w~uKQY-B5ssfDbUwXcyjzk0IZ5fXUC4abpBqiD2VFVCNhXy1ijRRUAJ3CVyDDb2dUKnwuZvGeAUUWE3OeQtMZVYEkN5h-3V8tB1VIwQiRKz7VA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paul Drumwright, the county’s Community Affairs Manager, gave an update on broadband projects underway and planned in Goochland County.

Drumwright described two concurrent efforts: earlier work by Port 80 that served part of the Crozier area and a larger, ongoing Firefly Fiber project extending fiber to parts of the western county and additional Crozier neighborhoods. He said sections already marked “in service” on earlier maps have expanded and that mainline splicing and customer drops are now taking place in several service areas; Firefly aims to complete the current build phases over the coming months and finish targeted areas by the end of the year.

Drumwright described a separate grant-awarded project (a July 2024 award referenced in the presentation) that will begin construction in early 2026 after current grant commitments are finished; red dots on the county map denote new grant-funded connection points. He asked residents who want service to register with Firefly online so the company will perform a connection to homes in covered areas; attendees were told the standard $100 connection fee will be waived if households sign up while crews are in the neighborhood.

County leaders said Dominion completed its utility work and that Firefly is now engineering and beginning drop construction in the next areas. Drumwright invited residents to follow up with county staff for questions after the meeting.","Goochland County staff said ongoing contracts with Firefly Fiber Broadband and prior work by Port 80 have extended service into several rural areas, and a grant will fund additional builds beginning in 2026; residents were urged to register with the provider to get a waived connection fee while crews are in the area.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096233,"Goochland County schools outline priorities amid modest budget growth and staffing investments",3209,736000,3945000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833231-f3515eec6585b26bacc329a5aa5e4308&start=736&end=3945","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833231-f3515eec6585b26bacc329a5aa5e4308/thumbnail_736000.jpg","/articles/6096233/Goochland-County/Virginia/Goochland-County-schools-outline-priorities-amid-modest-budget-growth-and-staffing-investments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096233-9d9fd0a51bffc6795b51bf80c7623feb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155928&Signature=SJgSzsh5P9Z~3vnvMxx8dLbE1WmaTpJINeoZQGjdzK8K-louCiEyRip4MAWMWWqcTeGCYcRTOAKhmpbHKdj5pmC7P-Bu~gwURfP~bxQ4nQ4lILAPQ9X0-qKopeyyyQ2SjQ8rOw-laFHBkJl9xPdafcURMEkt-IkdMoJkbYEQfHQVK5hAj869n9G2r2xnW32yNhgttQPpOyceHD67QZ85HQgZWcxTdeJQONtLaNs~wMzORiteJdZDHYlsZwntLL5~KSNTE5Rooyew7NGzglCBStkqR7noqx0-fKuhC5OCSJCxOqOzLKIWwJLjvmNWsBynK~zXy0HojJCin-iBtUAtMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","School board chair Meredith Moses and school finance staff presented the school division’s strategic goals, recent academic highlights and the schools’ portion of the draft county budget.

Presenters said the division’s priorities are to maximize student academic potential, expand career and technical education (CTE) opportunities and improve organizational climate. The school presentation noted consistent enrollment overall, with a local reconfiguration after opening a new elementary school that shifted students between elementary campuses.

Finance staff described the schools’ fiscal picture: the school budget was presented as growing by roughly 2% year over year in the division’s slides, with the board of supervisors proposing an approximate 6% increase in local funding for the schools. The schools said about 84% of their spending is on salaries and benefits and that their funding mix remains heavily reliant on local revenue; presenters noted the locality’s Local Composite Index (LCI) places the division in a position that requires a larger local share of education costs than many peers.

The schools described investments the division intends to make: restoration of deferred technology contracts, vehicle replacements funded through the CIP and expanded staff support at a growing elementary school (creation of an assistant principal role). Officials said they aim to preserve small class sizes and to provide a range of post-graduation options for students.

Presenters cited recent performance metrics — high graduation and accreditation rates and state rankings on reading and math — as context for the budget request and said the division will continue to pursue efficiencies where possible.","School leaders presented the division’s budget priorities at the town hall: maximizing student achievement, supporting staff through a 3% raise, restoring deferred technology contracts and funding career-technical education; the schools said local funding still provides the large majority of their budget.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096237,"Goochland County presents budget proposal prioritizing public safety and schools without raising property tax rate",799,26000,825000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2833231-f3515eec6585b26bacc329a5aa5e4308&start=26&end=825","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2833231-f3515eec6585b26bacc329a5aa5e4308/thumbnail_26000.jpg","/articles/6096237/Goochland-County/Virginia/Goochland-County-presents-budget-proposal-prioritizing-public-safety-and-schools-without-raising-property-tax-rate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096237-a2fdf55dc4c52aa8c2b2d4c6dd7d2df8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155929&Signature=XL9ijgleTx6T8K9btdUg-a--8bEmpmlV2e~gvLzr0-IsGRPjy2~D8O0agHK9q2grVcDy2M4xhWQ2yL3QFhyONFbtlpkv6hjKopLUK9HFS6~cbrQCmSV--mAf~hHjvVNCQ4N63OdLEfXTFjnNSTDWMi0lhJcsA97A1fb-mcreTDxqhozn-qmk1knf6tErGM-t9AaGglNENN4hgmoHDIOU6lbru7k5pCfGhFi0SQaRG2pZaDEtdfeerLznhQthfTfL2dkS~pSKlaXRZdtVqLjpay0QS6GPoAeB3HlhGJxps7IXNpdeB~nFZdk2YXuNRlWGgVNMTJzvAr3ADH-HDEAObg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Goochland County officials presented a proposed budget at the county’s final spring town hall, saying the plan increases total spending while not raising the real-estate or personal-property tax rates.

The presentation noted the county’s overall revenues are projected higher year over year (the presenter cited an 11.4% increase, driven in part by new construction and reassessments). County leaders said general property taxes remain the largest revenue source and the county takes a conservative approach to forecasting to preserve reserves and fund capital projects.

County staff listed key spending priorities: public safety, employee compensation and school funding. The draft shows a continuing emphasis on public safety and includes the addition of five deputies and six firefighters. The proposal also includes a 3% cost-of-living increase for all county and school employees.

Capital spending for the coming fiscal year was discussed as roughly $6,000,000, with items highlighted including a new high-school chiller, respiratory and cardiac equipment for fire and rescue, a new 911 recording system and other information-technology upgrades. Presenters noted the five-year capital plan runs substantially higher and that the county maintains a 25-year capital improvement planning process.

Officials said the county’s general fund in the draft is up about 9.6%, special revenue funds about 5%, utilities funds about 29% and school funds about 5.2%. Presenters also said the county has retained high bond ratings after steady tax-rate management.

The county outlined the public schedule for adoption: staff presentations and public hearings on April 1 and a final budget adoption vote scheduled for April 15. Residents were invited to attend the April 1 hearings to comment and to contact their board representatives ahead of the April 15 adoption vote.

In question-and-answer, supervisors and staff described tradeoffs already made in the draft: some departmental requests were deferred, and one department gave up vehicle purchases so schools could receive additional funding. Officials said unanticipated state actions (General Assembly mandates) sometimes create midcycle budget pressures that can come without state funding.

The presentation and town-hall speakers repeatedly framed public safety and maintaining competitive employee pay as central drivers of the proposed increases and said the draft seeks to accommodate growth while protecting the county’s fiscal ratings.","At a town-hall presentation, county officials outlined a proposed fiscal 2025 budget that increases spending for public safety and schools, funds capital projects and includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for county and school employees while keeping current real-estate and personal-property tax rates unchanged.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents press Goochland supervisors on rising assessments and unchanged tax rate; county and supervisors pledge review

County officials report Firefly and grant-backed fiber expansion in western and rural Goochland

Goochland County schools outline priorities amid modest budget growth and staffing investments

Goochland County presents budget proposal prioritizing public safety and schools without raising property tax rate