Board moves $10,000 for local domestic‑violence services, sets FY26 budget public hearing

The King George County Board of Supervisors voted to move $10,000 from contingency to fund Empowerhouse, a nonprofit domestic‑violence service provider, and authorized the county administrator to advertise the fiscal 2026 operating budget and associated tax rates for a public hearing.

Sheriff Giles asked the board to reconsider earlier work‑session recommendations that had left Empowerhouse without funding. He described Empowerhouse’s local services — a 24‑hour hotline, shelter, court advocacy and on‑site presence in King George — and requested $10,000 to support the agency’s local operations. The motion to add $10,000 from the contingency fund passed after discussion about prior-year contributions and the county’s fiscal constraints.

The board also voted to advertise a $138,458,371 fiscal‑year‑2026 operating budget and to set tax rates for the public hearing: $0.68 per $100 assessed value for real property and $3.25 per $100 of assessed value for personal property. The budget authorization means the board will hold a formal public hearing on the proposed budget at its May 6 meeting.

Why it matters: the funding decision restores a modest grant to a locally active domestic‑violence agency that Sheriff Giles said uses office space in the county and provides emergency services and court advocacy. The budget advertisement begins the formal public process by which citizens can comment on county spending and tax levels.

Discussion points and board comments

Board members questioned the size of the increase from previous years ($5,002.50 in 2023 and $6,000 in 2024 were cited) and debated whether the contingency fund was the right source. Several supervisors said they supported the agency’s mission but were mindful of contingency and longer-term trend lines for outside agency funding.

County staff recommended that, if the board chose to fund Empowerhouse, the offset come from the contingency line so the net budget totals would not change.

Votes at a glance

- Empowerhouse funding: Motion to move $10,000 from contingency to Empowerhouse (mover: Sheriff Giles; second: unspecified). Outcome: passed. Vote summary on the motion as recorded in the meeting transcript: some members expressed reservations about doubling prior-year support, but the motion carried.

- FY26 budget advertisement: Motion to authorize advertisement of FY26 budget of $138,458,371 and set tax rates (mover: County Administrator/motion introduced by staff). Outcome: passed. The budget will be presented at a public hearing on May 6, 2025.

What’s next

County staff will publish the budget and hold the statutorily required public hearing; those who want to comment on the budget and tax rates should plan to attend the May 6 meeting. The Empowerhouse funding will be reflected in the next budget documents and in the outside‑agency schedule.

Ending: Board members encouraged residents to follow the public‑hearing schedule and to use the hearing to register views on the budget and outside-agency priorities.