Goochland County presents budget proposal prioritizing public safety and schools without raising property tax rate

Goochland County officials presented a proposed budget at the county’s final spring town hall, saying the plan increases total spending while not raising the real-estate or personal-property tax rates.

The presentation noted the county’s overall revenues are projected higher year over year (the presenter cited an 11.4% increase, driven in part by new construction and reassessments). County leaders said general property taxes remain the largest revenue source and the county takes a conservative approach to forecasting to preserve reserves and fund capital projects.

County staff listed key spending priorities: public safety, employee compensation and school funding. The draft shows a continuing emphasis on public safety and includes the addition of five deputies and six firefighters. The proposal also includes a 3% cost-of-living increase for all county and school employees.

Capital spending for the coming fiscal year was discussed as roughly $6,000,000, with items highlighted including a new high-school chiller, respiratory and cardiac equipment for fire and rescue, a new 911 recording system and other information-technology upgrades. Presenters noted the five-year capital plan runs substantially higher and that the county maintains a 25-year capital improvement planning process.

Officials said the county’s general fund in the draft is up about 9.6%, special revenue funds about 5%, utilities funds about 29% and school funds about 5.2%. Presenters also said the county has retained high bond ratings after steady tax-rate management.

The county outlined the public schedule for adoption: staff presentations and public hearings on April 1 and a final budget adoption vote scheduled for April 15. Residents were invited to attend the April 1 hearings to comment and to contact their board representatives ahead of the April 15 adoption vote.

In question-and-answer, supervisors and staff described tradeoffs already made in the draft: some departmental requests were deferred, and one department gave up vehicle purchases so schools could receive additional funding. Officials said unanticipated state actions (General Assembly mandates) sometimes create midcycle budget pressures that can come without state funding.

The presentation and town-hall speakers repeatedly framed public safety and maintaining competitive employee pay as central drivers of the proposed increases and said the draft seeks to accommodate growth while protecting the county’s fiscal ratings.