Powhatan holds public hearings on 2026 operating budget and fee schedule; staff proposes 75¢ tax rate and 3% pay raises

Powhatan County held public hearings on the proposed FY2026 operating budget and a proposed update to the county fee schedule on April 21, 2025. Thomas Vaux, the county’s budget manager, presented a summary of the proposed budget highlights and the timeline for adoption; the board took public comment on the proposals and staff said the board will vote on the operating budget at the next meeting.

Budget highlights

Thomas Vaux told the board the package as presented includes a proposed adopted real property tax rate of 75¢ per $100 of assessed value, expressed in the meeting as 6¢ above the current 69¢ rate and 11¢ above the effective rate (as presented by staff). Vaux said the proposal anticipates about a 17% increase in real estate revenues and that the budget, as presented, includes a net increase of 4.4…