Orange County adopts FY2026 tax and fee schedule, tax rates and operating budget

The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously June 10 to adopt the county's tax and fee schedule, set tax rates and approve the consolidated operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2026.

Deputy County Administrator Linda Paul told the board the proposed tax and fee schedule circulated with the agenda packet reflects changes discussed during budget development, including adjusted parks and recreation user fees, ambulance billing, landfill tipping fees, credit card processing fees and land-use application fees. She said a few fees will require separate public hearings in June before taking effect.

Paul said recent updates on real-estate assessment estimates, the postponement of several capital projects (including roof work at Booster Park and the county office building) and three state-funded social-services positions reduced the local funding need. She said the consolidated budget increase was revised downward from a previously presented 6.6% to a 6.3% increase.

The board adopted an ordinance setting tax rates that incorporates reductions to the fire and EMS levy and aligns the mobile-home tax rate so total real-estate and mobile-home rates each total $0.62 per $100 of assessed value, as described in the packet. The board then approved the adoption and appropriation of the operating and capital budgets for FY2026.

Roll-call records show the votes on the three items were recorded as ayes by Miss Hale, Mr. Nickel, Chairman Johnson, Mr. Van Hoven (recorded variously in the transcript), and Mr. Marshall; each motion passed.

The budget memo cited several one-time or timing-based revenue items that helped balance the plan: an estimated distribution from the Central Virginia regional partner (noted in the memo as CVRJ) of about $450,000 pending the FY24 audit, and roughly $180,000 in potential proceeds from real-estate tax-sale properties (the staff budgeted 50% of that amount in FY2026 because about half of the two-year statutory claim period has elapsed).

Board members thanked staff for rapid updates during the final week of budget work, and one supervisor used the moment to emphasize the county's need for a diversified tax base to reduce future budget pressure.

Linda Paul noted that a small number of fee changes will require public hearings in June before they can take effect.

The board adopted all motions as presented; no amendments were recorded.