Hanover County holds public hearings on FY26 budget, proposes keeping tax rate at 81 cents

The Hanover County Board of Supervisors on April 2 held two public hearings on the fiscal year 2026 budget, a five‑year capital improvements program and a proposed real property tax rate, with county staff proposing to maintain the current rate at 81 cents per $100 of assessed value.

Budget director Shelly Wright told the board the all‑funds budget was advertised at $781,900,000 and is expected to be about $782,200,000 after a reserve amendment presented to the board in March. Wright described a capital improvements program that budgets $165,600,000 in year one and $521,800,000 in the following four years; highlighted projects include $10,600,000 for an East Side parallel taxiway at the airport (design slated to begin in FY29), $11,000,000 in park improvements, replacement of two elementary schools and major upgrades at the Totopotomoy wastewater treatment plant.

The second hearing focused on the real property tax rate. Wright reiterated that maintaining the advertised 81‑cent rate would…