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Orange County supervisors hear budget tax-rate presentation and public comments; no vote taken
Summary
County staff summarized proposed FY‑26 tax rates after a general reassessment that raised real estate values about 31 percent. A deputy sheriff urged the board to approve funding for four patrol positions, suggesting a half‑cent tax increase; the board took no action and plans further budget discussion next week.
Orange County Board of Supervisors members received a staff presentation on proposed fiscal year 2026 tax rates and held two public hearings Monday, but took no votes on tax rates and said formal adoption will await the coming budget action.
Finance staff told the board that property taxes account for about 38 percent of the county's consolidated budget and that real estate taxes make up roughly 68 percent of that share — about $41,500,000 — and that an ongoing general reassessment will increase real estate values by about 31 percent for the FY‑26 budget year.
Per the Code of Virginia, staff said the county must advertise an equalized rate that would generate no more than 1 percent new revenue before declaring a real estate tax‑rate increase. Staff showed an equalized calculation of 47 cents on the general levy and 11 cents for the fire and EMS levy, a combined equalized rate of 58 cents. Staff said the current combined set of levies totals 75 cents.
The county advertised a combined rate of 68 cents for the public hearings and earlier discussed producing a draft budget next week with a combined 62 cents (47 cents general levy plus a 15‑cent fire and EMS levy), while keeping other tax rates at current levels. Staff also reported that personal property valuations are forecast to rise about 3.4 percent and listed current rates including a personal property rate of $3.75, a motor vehicle rate of $3.60 and business personal property at $2.20.
The first public hearing on a proposed real property tax increase drew no speakers or written correspondence, and the board closed that hearing. The second hearing covered proposed tax rates overall; the board received one piece of written correspondence from Ruth and Dave Williams about the tax treatment of computer equipment and peripherals used in a data center, and one registered speaker, Michael Lacasse.
Michael Lacasse, a deputy sheriff with the Orange County Sheriff's Office, described staffing shortages in patrol and urged the board to add positions. Lacasse said the department currently fields about 19 patrol deputies, with two vacancies at the time of his remarks, and said vacancies are often filled by officers who are not yet certified, which lengthens training timelines. He said outside jurisdictions are increasing pay and offering bonuses and that Orange County risks losing deputies. Lacasse asked the board for four additional positions and suggested funding them via a half‑cent increase in the tax rate. "I beg you, please give us some extra manpower so that we can make this work, so we're not burning our folks out," Lacasse said.
Board members thanked Lacasse for his service and said they would continue discussing staffing as the budget is finalized. A board speaker told Lacasse the county's leadership would "look at this and understand what your needs are and do everything I could to help you create that future" for response times as the county grows. The board said no action on tax rates would be taken that night and that staff planned to bring a draft budget with proposed rates back for possible adoption at the next meeting.
Separately, the board approved a motion to enter a closed session under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to discuss prospective business or industry location or expansion, citing Code of Virginia §2.2‑3711(A)(5); after the closed session the board certified that only permitted topics were discussed.
No tax‑rate changes or budget appropriations were adopted at the meeting.
